Seekers of the Crypt; the Lost Artifact

Prologue

Five teams of archaeologists and excavators came to a remote village in Nepal in search of some ancient tomb where it was believed that treasures were being hidden. Aside from treasures, locals believed that it also holds some secrets.

The five groups are from London, China, Australia, America, and Russia. All of them are renowned archaeologists and skilled excavators. Even though their skills are top-notch, they still had a hard time exploring the passages.

In just the first chamber, many of their men were killed when one accidentally stepped onto a tile that triggered the mechanisms on the walls that shoots up poisonous arrows.

When they got past the arrows, they suddenly fell down a trap door that killed another great number of their men. Only those fortunate enough to grab unto the hanging chains survived. And as they climbed down that chamber, they navigated the dark passages while trying to figure out the murals painted on the walls.

On one huge wall, they saw a mural that depicts an image of a huge snake that looked like a dragon, and there were human figures that were drawn to worshipping the giant snake. Next to it is a giant scorpion, surrounded by bats and huge centipedes.

The leader of the team from London, Joseph Beauford raised his torch closer to the wall and examined the murals. Slowly a wide smile grew on his face.

“The viper, the scorpion, the bats, and the centipede.” He paused and his fingers traced the murals.

“We came to the right place.” He added.

The leader of the Australian Archaeology team, Arthur Moore approached the mural as well and looked intently at the drawings.

“He is right. This is indeed the right place. The place where the treasure was said to be hidden and protected by the snake, scorpion, bats, and centipedes.” Arthur said.

The leader of the American team Thomas Gates was about to approach the murals when the ground shook and the ceiling began to collapse. All of them run for their lives as the passageway was getting buried in the rubble.

The huge group was split into two as they went in two different directions. Those that went right were mostly the excavators, and they all fell into another trap. They all fell into a deep pit and were impaled by pointy limestones. While those who went left were the main teams of the five archaeologists.

As they hit a dead end, one of them, the leader of the Chinese group named Zhang Yi Chan found a lever in the walls and pulled it. The wall opened up and they all went inside right before the ceiling collapsed on them.

When they are safe inside the secret chamber, that is when they noticed that, that chamber was a shrine. A spacious shrine where there is a statue of a huge snake; it was the one in the mural.

“雕像，是蛇王。” Zhang Yi Chan blurted and the rest of them looked at him like he grew another head.

(The statue, it’s the snake lord.)

“How about English, mate.” Arthur Moore said and Zhang Yi Chan rolled his eyes.

“He said the statue is the snake lord.” Joseph Beauford said.

Then the leader of the Russian team approached the statue and started examining it, while Thomas Gates focused on inspecting the walls. Both Zhang Yi Chen and Joseph Beauford on the other hand are looking around the chamber.

Everyone was busy looking around when Zhang Yi Chen suddenly leaped towards the top of the snake statue, surprising everyone. Arthur and Thomas looked at the tall Chinese archaeologist as he inspects the statue’s head.

“I didn’t know Chinese can fly,” Thomas mumbled.

“They can’t, they are just very fast and agile,” Arthur said.

The leader of the Russian team, Anton Rosocov scoffed.

“Жалкий.” He sneered.

(Pathetic)

Joseph then turned towards the Russian and looked at him.

“I don’t think being able to jump so high is pathetic. We are all trapped in this bloody chamber and who knows when we will be out of oxygen.” Joseph said and Anton glared at him.

Then Anton stalked his way towards Joseph and grabbed his collar.

“Ты пытаешься сказать, что ты лучше всех нас, потому что ты понимаешь меня и этого китайца?” Anton hissed.

(Are you trying to say that you are better than all of us because you can understand me and that Chinese?)

Joseph looked at Anton and smiled.

“Я не сказал этого, вы сказали.” Joseph said.

(I did not say that you did.)

Anton was about to punch Joseph when Zhang Yi Chen landed right beside them and caught Anton’s fist.

“I know a way to get out of this chamber.” Zhang Yi Chen said, and everyone looked at him.

“You can speak English and you have been making us wonder what you were saying,” Arthur whined.

Zhang Yi Chen ignored them and then he went towards the wall that has a snake engraving on it. And on the two holes, he placed the two red stones that he took from the top of the huge statue.

Once the stones were placed, the ground shook and the wall moved upwards revealing a door. Once the door was completely open, all of them gaped at what their eyes fell unto – treasures.

They all walked inside the chamber and inside were all kinds of treasures; including gold bars, golden statues, jewels, and many more. The men that were left were all astonished to see the treasures that they started pocketing all those they can get their hands on. But the five leaders of the teams are wary of the place, especially Zhang Yi Chen. Joseph on the other hand found another secret passage and it leads to the exit.

Anton then picks up one gold bar and then he smirked. Then he looked over his men and gave them a curt nod. As soon as he did, his men started grabbing every gold bar that they can.

“I found the exit, but it’s a difficult way,” Joseph told everyone.

Then Joseph led them towards the exit. But they all halted their steps when they noticed that the floor was moving like a seesaw.

“What in the god’s name is that floor?” Thomas asked.

“It’s like a seesaw. The floor covers the passage towards the exit. We need the weight taken from this site towards the front to lower the floor and reveal the door.” Joseph explained to them.

“We need to take turns and keep the weight until everyone manages to get past the door,” Arthur said.

“The momentum is also important in this,” Joseph said.

“In that case...”

They all turned around when they heard the Russian speak. But they are also surprised to see the whole Russian team pointing guns at them.

“Я хочу, чтобы вы все уступили дорогу мне и моим людям к выходу. В противном случае мне придется убить вас всех.” Anton said.

(I want all of you to make way for me and my men towards the exit. Or else I will have to kill all of you.)

Joseph and the others glared at the Russian men. All of them have no choice but to do what Anton told them to do. They aid Anton and his men with their loot, across the moving floor.

After they managed to get Anton across, they thought he will help them but instead, he smirked.

“In tomb raiding, every man for himself,” Anton said in English and then he shot the edge of the floor making everyone step back and have the floor lose its balance. Because of that, Joseph and the others fell into the pit.

They fell deeper and their bodies hit the vines, limestones, and protruding rocks. When their bodies hit the bottom, they all groaned as they hit sand instead of solid ground.

When they finally had the strength to sit up, they looked around and saw their remaining men are dead. All that was left was Joseph, Arthur, Thomas, and Zhang Yi Chen.

“That bastard I hope he chokes on that gold.” Thomas hissed as he picks up a pebble and threw it away.

“Where are we?” Arthur asked.

“I believe we are in the bottom of the cave; the deepest part,” Joseph told them.

Zhang Yi Chen stood up and started looking around. As the others stood up, they all decided to find their way out. But as they do, they encountered huge bats flying toward them. They run away from it, but Arthur was bitten by one of the bats just below his ear and because he was injured they slowed down. Good thing Zhang Yi Chen found a small crevice that they can fit and they went in to hide from the bats.

Joseph tore the hem of his shirt and he tied it around Arthur’s head to stop the bleeding.

“That’ll do for now. As soon as we get the bloody hell out of this place, we’re taking you to the hospital.” Joseph said and Arthur nodded.

Thomas slumped on the ground and had his back against the cave wall, wiping the sweat on his eyebrows.

“I am craving a warm bath at this moment.” He said.

“Herbal bath is the best after this. It’ll relax all our muscles.” Zhang Yi Chen said.

Joseph, Arthur, and Thomas looked at Zhang Yi Chen.

“It’s astonishing to hear you speak English” Thomas blurted.

“I studied in America and Paris. Learning to speak English is a must.” Zhang Yi Chen said and the others chuckled.

“You should’ve spoken in English sooner. We were having a hard time deciphering what you mean.” Arthur told Zhang Yi Chen.

“I was careful around the Russians. I can’t seem to trust them.”

The others nodded in agreement with what Zhang Yi Chen just said. They were chatting as they relax when they didn’t notice those crawling on the cave wall. Oversized centipedes are crawling on the wall and it was too late for them until Thomas was bitten.

Thomas screamed and he dropped to the ground, writhing in pain. That is when they all noticed the centipedes. Joseph volunteered to carry Thomas as they flee from the centipedes. But as they flee, they made a wrong turn and it led them towards a smaller cave.

They halted their steps when they saw the huge scorpions littered on the ground. But what stunned them the most was the huge snake coiled in the middle of the cave.

“Tell me I am only hallucinating and that huge snake is not real,” Arthur said.

“Ssshhh.” Zhang Yi Chen shushes him.

But it was too late as the huge snake woke up and slithered its way towards them. Its head was at least the size of a Galapagos tortoise, and its durability was incredible as it manages to smash against the cave wall when they dodged its attack.

As they continued to dodge the snake’s attack, Zhang Yi Chen was stung by a scorpion. His movements may have been slowed down a bit but he still manages to lead everyone and tell them what to do and where to go.

When the snake uses its tail, it manages to hit Joseph which resulted in Thomas getting thrown off his back. The snake then coiled its body around Joseph and it was getting ready to eat him as a whole. The others were panicking and do not know what to do to save Joseph. But then, Zhang Yi Chen draws out his sword and leaped toward the snake. He managed to graze a part of the snake’s body but it was no use as the snake gulped Joseph as a whole. Zhang Yi Chen sneered and attacked the snake again, but the snake meets his attack. As Zhang Yi Chen continues to dodge the snake’s attacks, it kept crashing against the cave wall, and Thomas and Arthur noticed the hissing coming from the cave walls.

When the snake hits the wall again, Zhang Yi Chen leaps and attacks. He cut off the snake’s head and then slit its body open. Once the snake’s body was cut open, Joseph rolled out of the snake’s stomach onto the ground. He then gasped and started coughing.

Zhang Yi Chen then helped him get up, but then both of them fell to their knees as their injuries are making them weak. Then Thomas and Arthur approached them.

“I can hear something from the walls.” He said, and then Zhang Yi Chen and Joseph looked at them weakly.

“What is it?”

And before Thomas could respond, the place where the snake hit the most suddenly collapsed, and a strong gush of water came in. The water rose quickly and the four of them were swept away and pulled under. They tried to swim but their weak bodies made it hard for them.

When they thought that it was over for them, the water suddenly gained direction and they were swept towards it. And before they know it, they were out in waterfalls. When they fell into a lake, they swam towards the shore and crawled up to dry land.

“We’re alive!” Arthur exclaimed but then, they all passed out.

********************************.

The next time they woke up, they are all in a hospital ward. And ever since waking up in that ward alive, friendship was formed. Even when they went back to their respective countries they never lost communication.

But as they went back to their lives, they slowly noticed the changes in them. Thomas somehow enhanced his once photographic memory and his eyesight has gone from bad to a clear 20/20 and he can see well in the dark. Arthur had also noticed that somehow his hearing became sharper than before. His hearing also evolved in the sense that he could use eco-location.

It came to light that Zhang Yi Chen’s blood suddenly became poisonous when he was bitten by a dog and it died right away. Not only that, but his family also noticed that some insects stayed away from him as he repels them.

Joseph, on the other hand, was once diagnosed with hepatitis before he went on that exploration but when he came back, his hepatitis was gone. And the doctors that examined him were astonished when his wounds heal fast.

Because of what happened to them, they all agreed to meet in London and find out what happened to them. Before meeting them, Joseph did a lot of research.

“I did a lot of digging, research, and everything but somehow I cannot come up with an answer,” Joseph told them.

“I think I do.” Zhang Yi Chen said and everyone looked at him.

“What did you find out?” Arthur asked.

“We were all bitten right?” He asked and they nodded.

“Remember the murals?”

When Zhang Yi Chen mentioned the murals that are when they remembered the murals on the walls of the tomb; the huge snake, the scorpion, the bats, and the centipedes.

“The snake lord was believed to have blood that can heal any disease and injuries. Thus in the mural, it was worshipped by people. The kind of scorpion in that place is very uncommon. Its whole body is poisonous that even other insects and animals stay away from it.” Zhang Yi Chen explained.

“The scorpion stung you and somehow you gained the scorpion’s poison?” Arthur asked and Zhang Yi Chen nodded.

“Seems so.”

“So are you saying that because the snake ate me, I absorbed its ability?” Joseph asked.

“It could be a possibility.” Zhang Yi Chen answered.

“Does it apply to us as well?” Thomas asked Zhang Yi Chen.

“Basing on the symptoms that you said, it’s a probability. Arthur gained the bats’ ability to use eco-location and sharp hearing, while Thomas can see well in the dark just like the centipedes.” Zhang Yi Chen said and then they all fell silent.

They all leaned back and took a sip of their coffee.

“I don’t know if I should be thrilled that I can hear every conversation in this place,” Arthur grumbled as the others looked around the restaurant.

“I think we should keep this to ourselves, and to be honest it’s a great help in exploration,” Joseph told them.

“So you mean after everything we’ve been through you still wanted to go down those tombs and explore?” Tomas asked in disbelief.

“Yes, why not? I realized it’s more exciting to explore now, especially since I have met the three of you.” Joseph said.

That was the start where the four of them began to work together exploring unknown places such as ancient tombs to uncover their secrets and find treasures. All their expeditions have been successful and they have gathered knowledge tied to those sites they have explored.

Some of that knowledge was something to support what they already know, but some are new knowledge that blew their mind. Not just because they are outstanding but because it’s out of this world, and it made them realize that that knowledge is needed to be protected.

Since then the four of them founded a secret organization that explores different unknown places, ancient tombs, and more, not to just gather knowledge, and seek treasures but to also protect those that are beyond their comprehension.

They are now called – the Seekers.