The Lamp

As the women pull on the book, its frame comes away from the wall. Behind it is a small chamber that seems to have been forgotten by time. Within it stands a brass lamp of the style typically seen in stories about genies. Its tarnished, once golden exterior a dark greenish-brown.

“Ha ha, we’ve got it!” One of the thugs grabs the lamp, and rubs it. Mist spews from the lamp, and forms into a creature. Her appearance resembles the top half of a woman, below her waist is merely a cloud. Her skin is green, and she is naked like Lara.

“Who awakens me from my slumber?” She asks in a booming voice.

“We do!” The thugs say in unison. “We would like to wish for unlimited wishes!”

“And this is your single wish?” It asks.

“Well duh! We only get one wish. Isn’t that how the legend goes?”

“Very well!” The genie waves her hand and both Lara and the thugs are transported into a pile of gold trinkets. All of them are buried up to their necks and struggle to move.

“You said you wanted unlimited riches. This is the price of your wish. There’s always a bizarre catch with my wish granting.”

“Curses!” As the thugs argue over their foolishness, the genie approaches Lara.

“And what of you Lara Croft? You are in dire straights, but I can grant you a single wish to assist you. What do you desire?”