Shay pulled a small trowel off a loop connected to her backpack and started digging.
Several layers down she uncovered a small stone adorned with Oriceran symbols. The stone was a matte silver sitting in a glowing dome of light that prevented any dirt from touching it.
“Well, fuck,” Shay muttered, biting her lower lip. “Come this far.” She took several deep breaths and pressed her injured arm to her side, darting her good arm into the field and snatching the stone from the field. Nothing happened. “Really? A little luck for a change.” She blew out the breath in her lungs.
The stone felt warm to the touch, but not impressively alien or magical otherwise. She pulled out a soft cotton cloth from her backpack, wrapped the stone, and tucked it in a mesh pocket inside the backpack.
“Time to get the hell out of here.”
Her trip back to the Alpha Explorers’ sub-tunnel went swiftly, and she was just about to enter the main tunnel when she heard the splash of footsteps up ahead. She slowed her pace, the echoes of the running water cloaking her steps.
“That bitch is probably already dead,” murmured a man’s voice. “There had to be some sort of trap. She must have set it off. We can go get the artifact now.”
“We should have just jumped her when we had the chance,” said another man. “We should go in there, knock her ass out, and blow the tunnels like we planned. Glad I brought the charges. Who the hell knew someone would attack our dig?”
“Maybe it’s karma.” The man chuckled.
Shay took shallow, quiet breaths as she approached the main tunnel. From the sound of their voices, they were closer to the main drill rather than further up the tunnel. She readied her gun, counted silently to three, and made a half turn into the opening.
Two very surprised Alpha Explorers turned her way.
“Oh, fuck,” said one of the men.
“Guess shit didn’t work out for you,” Shay said with a grin. “I’ll be leaving now. I won’t kill you if you toss your guns my way. I’m feeling generous.”
“We don’t have guns.”
Shay didn’t believe them, but as long as the men didn’t go for a weapon, they didn’t need to die. She could secure them and their weapons.
“You didn’t bring guns on a dangerous expedition?” She kept her gun steadily pointed at them.
“That’s why the fucking mercenaries and Witch were hired. How the hell did you beat Yulia?”
Shay snorted. “Don’t bring a wand to a gunfight. Now… let’s keep this simple. Get down on your knees, hands behind your back and I’ll zip tie you. Too bad for you, turns out there was no trap on the artifact.”
“What the fuck? There had to be.” The bigger man gave a quick glance at his duffel bag.
“Uh uh uh…” Shay waved a finger at them, stepping close enough to pull the duffel bag to the side. She could tell by the heft she had found their weapons.
“I told you, Jim,” said his shorter but just as bulky compatriot. “It wasn’t about the trap at all. It was about that translated inscription. Only when the time is right will it present itself again. The magic needed to seep into Earth from Oriceran for the artifact to reappear.”
“Luke, that’s not necessarily…” Jim groaned and nodded at Shay. “It doesn’t matter now.”
Shay gestured with her gun at the ground. “He’s right. Doesn’t matter now. I’d feel bad about this, but none of you have the nicest rep. Be happy I’m not blowing your brains out just to be careful.”
Luke shook his head. “Come on. We can cut a deal. We’ll split the profits with you.” He smiled. “We dug the tunnel.”
“And why the fuck would I split the profits? I have the artifact, and you have nothing but a bunch of dead mercenaries.”
“I don’t recognize you, which means you’re new to the game. We could be useful contacts, get you jobs. Hell, you’re pretty damned impressive, maybe you should join our company.” His smile was strained.
“Thanks, but no thanks. I have my own contacts. Now get on the damned floor. I’m losing patience.” Shay glared at the men.
Luke locked eyes with her, hatred and defiance in them. “Jim, you thinking what I’m thinking?”
“Just like Alexandria all over again.” A smile appeared on his face.
Shay narrowed her eyes. “I’m tired of playing fucking gam—”
Both men jumped backward and to either side of the tunnel. Shay clipped Luke in the shoulder, but the large drill took the tomb raider’s next several rounds meant for Jim. The intact treasure hunter clumsily unzipped his coat and yanked out a gun.
Luke groaned on the ground, blood staining his shoulder. “Fuck it then.” He reached into his pocket and laughed.
Shay looked between the two men, spinning around and climbing toward the surface. As she neared the surface an explosion rocked the tunnel behind her. Another shattered the earth in front of her, knocking her off her feet and coating her with a shower of mud and rock.
Her ears were ringing as she pushed herself up and continued stumbling forward. Water was pouring freely from the lower blast, filling the tunnel. Shay didn’t look back as she rushed toward the surface.
“Help me, please!” Jim’s voice was an echo from deep inside the tunnel. “I’m pinned. Blowing this shit up wasn’t my idea.”
Shay kept running as she yelled over her shoulder. “Yeah, but shooting me was, fucker.” A loud groan echoed in the chamber as the side walls collapsed into the lower tunnel.
The tomb raider emerged back at the surface, enjoying the caress of the night wind. She moved away from the cave entrance and made it another thirty yards when an odd cracking sound caught her attention. She turned around. Her phone chimed several times, but she ignored it.
A sink hole had formed around the new tunnel and the entrance was rapidly filling with
