Finder Cloudburst Chapter 3, Part 2
The ancient, stone door was
adorned with strange carvings,
perhaps an unknown
series of words?
I wondered at how I
was going to open a
door with no handle,
knob or hinges.
I noticed adornments
carved in each corner, but
the stone was raised up
as if placed there.
I pried a corner off.
The expertly crafted
stone piece lifted out
quite easily.
As the stone came loose a
sound of movement came from
within the door, like
a rod dropping.
I removed the other
three corner adornments
and three more rods moved
within the door.
I was delighted to
find that the door opened,
swiveling on a
central pivot.
Then a pungent stench burst
from the blackness beyond
the door, a scent of
must and decay.
Stone was cut from the hill
to form a descending
hallway lined with brick
housing shadow.
I lit my oil lantern
and held it aloft to
brighten the gloomy
path before me.
I crossed the threshold that
divided daylight and
unknown underground
dark mystery.
I descended deeply
down away from the light
and into the stench
of fresh wrought death.
Sudden realization
pierced my mind like an blade.
What fresh death is in
a long sealed tomb?
I gathered my courage
and delved deeper inside.
The hall ended in
a large, round room.
I have been inside of
a place like this before,
the catacomb in
Fleagrass Village.
But our catacomb is
laden with recent and
long dead ancestors.
This place is not.
A single corpse lay on
a central stone slab in
the round room. I moved
to the room’s rear.
The stench emanated
from the ancient body
that should not still be
putrefying.
The table behind me
contained golden jewelry,
two clay tablets, a staff
and a coin pouch.
I put the artifacts
into my backpack and
took the staff in hand.
Then I heard it.
The mouldering body
was sucking air into
long dead lungs. It turned
to look at me.
The dead lungs expelled
air in a shriek that
chilled my flesh like an
icy wind gust.
I fled the dead man’s vault.
The shriek kindled fiery
terror that burned through
my panicked mind.
I spared a look behind
and saw a plume of fire
erupting from the
dead body’s hand.
I dove to the ground as
the fire soared over me,
striking a tree that
burst into flames.
I regained my feet and
followed the Fierce River
back to Fleagrass. I
ran with no stop.
This fire flinging dead man
is following me and
I am terrified.
What can I do?