The Temple of Life Part 5

With Baya’s guidance the three navigate the sprawling tunnels, passing chambers and dark corridors. Eventually they arrive at what looks like the innermost chamber. On the wall opposite to them is a beautiful and grand depiction of the god Osiris standing with three other gods and a whole lineup of ankhs beneath them.

"That's Osiris, his brother Set and mama and papa Nut and Geb. And ooh! There are those ankhs I was talking about!" The angel flies to the mural and points at an alignment of graves close to it to the side. Each of them has a golden ankh fitted on the grave lid. Suddenly Monica feels a weird sensation as she looks upon the seven graves and the artifacts on each of them. "Incredible... these... but these are obviously meant for the..." She looks at Baya who is relaxing and stretching his wings. "Yup. Those are the six great priests of this temple. Oh, and the prophet of Osiris himself. Really. He was a real big deal back in the day. Ankhs were his idea. You know, he might've actually been divine. I just remember how good his foot massages were! Ah..."

Monica shakes her head and points at the graves concerned: "No... it's not that. It's just that... these graves... are they cursed? Will we... perish if we remove the ankhs?" Nolan looks at Monica not believing it. Before she seemed so sure of logical thinking and reason. What has gotten into her to believe these curses? The boy shrugs and pouts: "How the heck am I supposed to know? You just gotta try it. It's not an issue to you, graverobbers, huh?" Monica clenches her fist and looks at Nolan who is examining the ankhs and the two share a thoughtful look.

In addition to the seven graves and the large mural on the wall, there are only trinkets and trivial treasures around the room, but while looking around Monica's eyes are attracted to one of the tombs. It is odd. One of them looks not like the rest. It almost looks like... wood?

"Wait... Nolan. Do you see the same as me?" The girl walks over to the wooden coffin and Nolan frowns and looks closer as well. "I-it is wood... how... this should've turned into dust ages ago. Should we..?" Nolan asks carefully and Monica thinks. She gets up and without hesitation snatches one ankh from another coffin. "MONICA!" Nolan screams and watches as Monica weighs the golden ankh artifact on her hand. "I'm fine. We should get all of these and then open the wooden one. Come on. Before someone interrupts us." The man can’t help but admire her resolve. How can she stay calm? Is it that she just wants to see it? The thought makes Nolan worried.

As worthless as it feels, the three start piling up the ankhs and putting them in a bag. Afterwards the two start crowbarring at the coffin until the lid pops open and a putrid smell fills the room. The two start gagging as Baya laughs delightfully in the corner of the room: "There you go, filthy graverobbers! Four millennia old farts!" Not minding Baya’s bratty comments Monica puts her flashlight in the coffin and there is indeed a mummy inside. This one is not coming alive though as there's no crystals in the room thankfully.

"This is... wait. This is that prophet you mentioned, isn't it?" Nolan says and Baya nods smiling. The mummy is wearing elaborate jewelry and there is a curious staff lying just next to it. Nolan and Monica both recognize it. It's the Djed, the symbol of osiris. It looks almost like a mace with how large the end is, and could definitely hurt someone. "This... This is... incredible..." Monica looks at the remains of the old prophet's mummy. The most curious thing is how the mummy is in almost perfect condition. It's almost like it was only buried a week ago. "H-how is this even possible? Is it the... staff?"

Baya flies over and peeks inside the coffin and gets a worried expression. "Oh... wow... that's kinda creepy... I-I was at his funeral. And he looks just like he did... H-he seems... Oh wow..." The angel's jaw drops and he looks up at Monica who is shaking in wonderlust. "You have to try! Bring him back to life! You have to!" Monica grabs the boy by the wrist and pulls him closer as he shakes his head. Nolan takes the girl by the shoulder and holds her back: "Monica... maybe we shouldn't..."

Monica shakes him off and makes the boy get over the coffin and holds him: "Please! I c-can't die not knowing if it's possible! They are coming, please! My career will be complete! Be kind! Let me have this!" Monica moans desperately as Baya looks at her weirded out. The woman places an ankh over the body. She steps back with shaky legs and a blush on her sweaty face. Nolan sees her intense eyes, they creep him out. It’s not normal, this woman is too much into this. Monica gasps and clasps a hand on her chest and grips her breast firmly. There is a glimmer in her eye as she looks at the ritual with almost a childish anticipation.

Baya gulps and looks at the others shyly and then reaches for the ankh while Nolan hears menacing footsteps in the hallway behind them. Monica sits down blushing as Baya's gentle hands make contact with the artifact.