Checking out the Museum.

Way back in the day I had studied history a little and mostly enjoyed the subject; people were more interesting back before we got this whole stupid idea of civilised society. Yeah, this would be a pretty decent little job to cut my teeth on.

"Well, if Dana's not in then I might as well give that case a look," I gave a halfhearted laugh, "My wife is always telling me I need to get more cultured, so a museum might do the trick."

Mary grinned at my enthusiasm and handed me a small red folder. "You'll find all the details in that, but mostly just head over to the museum any time after lunch and they'll be happy to do the interview."

I took the offered folder and casually flicked through it, nodding along at the details. Luckily, an address was provided so I could actually find my way to the place. Even after a couple of days I was still having trouble finding my way around.

"Well, I'm sure you'll do great with the article," Mary said. She said it in the kind of soft voice that makes men want to jump tall buildings and she followed that up by reaching out and touching my shoulder, an action that sent a jolt straight through me. She leaned in and looked at me intently, "I think we'll do great things together."

For several heartbeats I was lost in those blue eyes of hers, utterly transfixed. Christ, she was so close, I could smell her jasmine perfume. With no effort at all I could just reach out and kiss her....

But then she broke away and strolled back to her office, ass swaying hypnotically as it did. All I could do was sit there, lost in a daze imagining all the depraved things I wanted to do to that ass.

Fuck, I really am blue-balled aren't I?

I spent most of the morning setting up my work computer and getting everything sorted out. It was small tedious but nothing really stressful and every so often I distracted myself by checking out my new coworkers.

Apart from occasionally turning a page in that big hardback of hers, Meagan appeared stationary. From where I was sitting, I wasn't even entirely sure that I could see her breathing. It was fascinating, in a kind of creepy way.

Sarah was a different situation. Unlike our other coworker who seemed indifferent to the world around her, Sarah seemed painfully aware of my presence and I could feel her pained gaze on me several times throughout the morning. The few times I tried to glance over and take a look the young woman would duck her head and try to hide behind her desk. As soon as lunch hit she grabbed her bag and hurried out of the office. She was absolutely terrified of even being in the same building as me? What the fuck was going on with this girl?

Sighing to myself, I gathered up my things and headed on out. I drove around lazily for a while until I came across a small cafe and ordered myself a mocha and a couple rounds of ham and cheese sandwiches. I ate slowly, killed as much time as I could and drove towards the museum.

Well, "museum" was perhaps giving it too much credit. The building itself was nothing like the city museums I had been in before, lacking entirely grandiosity and feeling more like country club of sorts. Though, upon entering I couldn't help but be overwhelmed by the sheer amount that was on display.

An entire wall was shelved with ancient weapons; a Mauser from World War II, a bayonet from World War I, musket from the Napoleonic era, and what even looked like a battle axe from Viking times. It was the same on the opposite wall, though it was adorned with all manner of tools rather than simple weapons.

It was the centre of the room that caught my interest the most however. There stood several glass cases on display; a suit of medieval armour, what looked to be a genuine Egyptian sarcophagus, an Athenian vase depicting some kind of nude woman, as well as an African ivory mask that was fashioned in the shape of a snarling fanged face.

What drew me in however, was a blue crystal object that sat unattended towards the back, unlike the others it's display case ajar. Looking at it I felt...well, honestly it was like a warm tugging drawing me to it.

The object looked like a crudely carved out piece of blue crystal that was roughly fashioned into the visage of skull, though it was only a very rough approximation. Visually, it was offputting, its blue rictus grin enough to frighten small children. But there something about it that drew my attention beyond the horror. A humming in the air. It was calling to me. I needed to touch it, to hold it, to press its warmth against me.

Reaching out, I placed my hand on the blue artefact and felt the world shift around me. There was an explosion of colour and sound, so varied and numerous that I felt as though I was trapped in a vortex of sensation. I saw visions of pyramids, stone alters, entwined serpents, feasting jaguars and...writhing naked bodies...

But just as soon as it came, all went to dark, silence filled my ears and it seemed as if time and space ceased to exist.

Consciousness returned to me and I found myself lying on my back staring at the ceiling. Fear and confusion took hold and I jolted up, gasping for air, feeling disoriented and more than a little queasy. I could hear the blood rushing through my body with every pulse and beat of my heart.

Rising to my feet was a challenge, but slowly I staggered to my feet, stumbling away over to an old desk to get my bearings. For a horrible moment I thought I was going to be sick all over the beautiful oaken desk I was leaning on, but eventually the feeling passed. I blinked several times, wondering what the fuck had just happened.

Did I just have a seizure? Did I have an undiagnosed tumour fucking with me? Was this a brain aneurysm? I'm reasonably young, but it can happen. Fuck, my brain going to shit is just what I need right now.

I glanced back at the case, wondering if perhaps the blue skull-stone had some sort of chemical cleaner on it that caused my reaction. I felt my eyes nearly explode out of my head when I saw that the glass case was now empty, replaced only by a pile of sapphire dust. Jesus Christ, is my head really that bad?

This was getting weird and I was feeling pretty shit. I stumbled around in daze for a bit before coming to rest at the doorway, trying to catch my breath in the fresh air.

I left in a rush, not keen to wait around for some old geezer to discover the empty display case. Once I was in the car and on my way, all I could think of was how ...viciously horny I felt.