Wind Sage

There was something about walking through a remote jungle that left Daisy with the ultimate sense of utter bliss. Perhaps it was the near-deathly heat, or the plants that tingled against her body suit, or the fact that the animals all sounded like they wanted to kill, but jungles were fun. Daisy had spent the first thirty years of her life never going into something like that--but then again, thirty was the year of fun.

It's to save people, she told herself, but it didn't quite feel like that.

It's to get a tan, she thought, but even she knew that her skin was more likely to burn than it was to get even a smidge darker.

It's to...oh, fuck it, it's for my damn job. And somehow this is going to relate to saving people, she thought. It would be easier if her best friend, Eliotte, was there, but he'd taken the month off on vacation. Wimp. He just didn't want to deal with jaguars. The last time she compared his beautiful kitten Marie to a bigger cat he corrected her with an evil glance. Alas, some people were just not made to deal with bigger versions of cute, domesticated animals.

"Who's going down first?" Null asked, stepping in place next to Daisy as she pushed herself deeper into the jungle. "My bets on Nightbolt falling into some hole, or Epoch pretending he's manly enough to battle a lion."

Daisy laughed. "Don't think there are lions out here."

While she got along well enough with her coworkers, there was always something out of place about Null. She was too...cheerful. Always there with confidence and always ready at the helm to get a project started. Yet underneath, her eyes seemed almost dull at times. Daisy wasn't one to talk much. Despite the fact that she was happy, grief never really left a person.

It changed you in more subtle ways.

"Think they'll be something cool waiting at wherever we're headed?" Daisy asked. Mosquitoes bit at her legs through the outfit and she grimaced. No amount of Off could save her.

"Maybe."

It was a silent trek for the most part. They were in South America, digging their way through the jungle and trying not to die before they could find the energy signature.

"Whatever this is, it better be worth it," Daisy muttered. She had enough bites to make her regret not wearing double layers. Yet as a stream of sweat poured down her chin, she knew that there really was no 'best option' for this trip. "I can't believe this is the first vacation I've had in years and it's sweating to death with no pub in sight."

Null laughed, holding a tree back so the rest of them could get through. The team followed behind Rescue, who always led in situations where they weren't comfortable, and they looked just as heat-stroked and dead as Daisy felt.

"Cheer up," she said to Nightbolt.

He groaned, wiping dramatically at his reddened face. They were all miserable--swamped in more ways than one.

"Hey, we've got a beat!" Null ran forward, holding the energy-sensor in her hands. Indeed, it beeped loudly, the red pulsing dot growing far bigger than before. "We must be close."

And, like all things in life, it hit them by the time they went down the next bend. Just on the outskirts of the millions of trees cut the sun--a rare sight in the deep canopies that hid them from the outside. With the light came that of a tomb, the ground raised up high to create a pyramid-like structure that rose at least fifty feet in the air. Wind cut through, blowing far stronger than any little gusts they'd gotten during their two-hour walk up to it. Lines were carved into the structure, making forms and figures that seemed to tell stories on the sides of the tomb. There was a hole in the center that looked like someone had dug their way into it.

"Someone's been here before us," Daisy muttered.

"Think so?" Null looked at the sensor. It was going crazy. "They must be inside."

Daisy nodded and turned to Manipulator and Antidote. Antidote, the only male on their team, took the lead, walking up and rubbing his hands across the structure. It was a typical white-male character of him, but Daisy longed to touch it too. She'd just seen too much of Indiana Jones to make a mistake like that.

"Looks like some type of beast they're fighting here," Antidote mused. "Think it's still around?"

Null rolled her eyes. "Of course not. Let's get inside, I'm betting whoever this is must be inside this...temple?"

"Not for worship," Daisy said, thinking back to her days in history class. "It's a tomb. They buried people inside."

"The more we wait the better chance you have of burying me inside. God, I'm dying," Nightbolt complained. Dealing with supers meant dealing with super attitudes--and fits.

"Y'all better stay out here. We'll let you know if we need you for anything," Daisy said. She motioned to Null, who was already making her way inside. "Let's find this...energy."

As she passed through the hole in the wall, she caught glimpse of the bird-like creature the carved figures were attacking. It was large, had a beak bigger than the stick figure's bodies, and their weapons seemed no match for something that terrible. She shuddered. It's just a drawing. Would make a cute little animal, though. Bet I could make a doll out of that. Maybe orange for the beak, bright red for the body? Ooh, a green would look nice too. The possibilities were endless.

Stepping inside meant losing all light they had before. All of them turned on their flashlights and began to explore. The area was large and seemed to be mostly destroyed, as though someone had come through and tore the place up. The walls held the same carvings as that of the outside. Stick humans fought against the bird beast. Every wall seemed to show the beast, revered throughout this civilization just as much as it appeared to be feared. While most Olmec tombs featured the jaguar, this one seemed entirely dedicated to that strange, large bird.

They'd barely gone twenty feet in before they caught sight of the bones.

Human remains littered the floor of the tomb, yet something told Daisy that they weren't meant to have died there. Another shudder passed through her, creeping across her back just as a scuttle shot through the room. A loud noise, akin to that of a growl, came from the darkness before them.

"Sensors still going crazy. It's got to be in there," Null said, yet even she didn't seem eager to keep going.

"That's a lot of bodies," Manipulator commented.

Daisy nodded. Her spidey-sense of danger said to get the hell out of there, but they were Rescue. Bad situations were their deal. It was the entire reason she'd joined with them--to save people after she couldn't save those who mattered most. It's probably nothing back there. If it is, we'll call combat in. Whatever it is will be more scared of us than we are of it...

Even so, her feet didn't want to move forward. Another growl, this time higher pitched, echoed around them. From the few holes in the ceiling of the tomb came little rays of sunlight, hardly penetrating the deep darkness, but it was from their glow that she saw a bamboo pole stretching forward.

Bamboo didn't move. It didn't grow in South America.

That wasn't bamboo.

With a shriek, the growl transformed into a loud bark, and the creature ran forward, it's long, stemmed legs coming at them faster than a jeep. They hardly had time to drop their lights and run before it was upon them, it's wings beating until a great storm of dust rose up. They couldn't see. There was no exit--just dust, dust, and holy shit!

"Combat!" Daisy yelled but her voice was lost in the confusion. The creature let out another shriek and she felt it rattle inside her ears. "Now would be a really good time to get your asses in here!" She hit the button to call them on her earpiece several times but only static answered.

She tripped over a bone and hit her ass hard. Wheezing, she tried to push herself up but a large, furry--no, winged--body hit hers. Thuds resonated throughout it's body as it shoved her against the ground and she gasped, hitting it, but it wasn't attacking her. It didn't notice her at all.

Blood splattered as it's beak cut through the body that had started to pummel it. Pocket Watch, normally one of the stronger girls on the SHADR team, went down in a stream redder than her hair. Null pulled Daisy up and they immediately went into action--Null going for Pocket while Daisy used her powers to make the dust stop swirling so hard. She blew a stream at the bird, who had finally noticed her.

"Oh shit, Kevin, now is really not the time for this," she muttered, rolling her eyes as she flicked her wrists and sent a large burst towards it. Her energy was sapped, nearly gone, but it was hero time.

This time, it's growl came with a charge, the bamboo legs hitting her in the head as it flew onto her, talons three inches long digging into her shoulders.

"Polly, I don't have any fucking crackers right now!" She hit it with air again, managing to shove it off her as the combat team finally got in there. Or, the one combat they had that wasn't a goddess and the rest of the PR team.

Nightbolt pushed her to the side and hit the bird with a stream of static. It crisped up before them as he burnt the creature. It was down in seconds, yet their team was worse for wear. As they got out, she saw that Pocket Watch was gone, her body entirely mangled by the bird's mouth. It'd ripped her throat in half and pulled her clavicle out of her body. Daisy cursed again.

"Is she the only casualty?"

"Looks like it got Pierre as well," Null said, shaking her head. Pierre's body was to her left, almost entirely unrecognizable.

Nightbolt drug the bird out into the open, tossing it onto the ground with Hourglasses' help. The glass that he'd created inside didn't help one iota--still, she was grateful for the manpower. Nyelia had remained outside the entire time, picking at her nails, and she scoffed at the creature.

"It's not wise to kill such an animal," she said, and that was that.

"What the hell is that thing?" Nightbolt asked.

The research department was all over the body--Rilla, Epoch, and Rover, that is. Their fourth was a great loss, but one look at Null's now dull energy source told them all that this had been what they came for.

"Nightingbolt, now's not the time," Daisy said. "Let's get back before anyone else loses their life. We have the source--we're done here." She wanted to make the wind come back but she had no more energy left. Her body ached from where that thing had fallen on her and her head hurt from where she'd banged it against the floor. Fighting sucked.

And two more were dead.

She closed her eyes and wished herself anywhere but where she was.

Instead, she opened them to the deep South American jungle with two of her teammates dead, a fried bird carcass, and enough mosquito bites to make her feel like she'd already obtained malaria.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Null

DID NOT HAND IN

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Manipulator

DID NOT HAND IN

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Antidote

SKYDIVING WITH A FAULTY PARACHUTE

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Nightbolt

Sebastian had long since learned how to manage himself in the spotlight. He could keep his composure in front of any camera, never wincing at the flash or feeling exposed behind the wall of microphones pointed towards him. It wasn't a skill that came easily. Hours practicing in front of mirrors, weeks of speech therapy and etiquette drilled into his brain, had created the perfect public machine. Being a superhero wasn't just about fighting the bad guys— it was about convincing the people that you weren't one yourself. Which is the only reason he could stand on the makeshift stage now, posture perfectly straight despite the piercing pain in his ribcage, with a dazzling smile still plastered on his face.

The questions came at a rapid-fire pace, barrelling into him like bullets from a machine gun. He let them bounce off his body, building up in the space between them until the impatience of the press threatened to overflow.

"How long have the metahumans been here in Guatemala?"

"¿Tenías permiso para entrar en la tumba?"

"Are you considering this official SHADR business?"

"¿Ha habido algún daño a las ruinas?"

Sebastian pushed back his sunglasses, feet shifting ever so slightly towards the girl who stood on his left. He motioned for the crowd to still, palms raised towards the sea of reporters until he was free to speak. "There's absolutely nothing to be concerned about here." The promise felt heavy and thick on his tongue, each word sending fresh waves of pain through his body. Keep it together, Nightbolt. Nothing felt right. "We did a routine investigation of an energy surge, that's all." Each word was well practiced, the lie perfectly recorded by every microphone and camera. "Right now, we're speculating that some plates shifted beneath the earth and tripped our sensors." Sebastian chuckled, giving the press a small, disappointed shrug as he finished speaking. "Nothing you can't learn about in a textbook."

It was all wrong. An act, alibi given life through Sebastian's lips. He knew what lived in that tomb. What horrors were buried beneath the deep earth. Cameras flashed, lights burning holes in his vision as he tried to force back the memories threatening to spill out of his head.

He knew he wasn't supposed to go inside the ruins. That had been made clear to him before they'd ever stepped foot on the plane that would take them to Guatemala. His job was to stand outside, to keep watch for anyone who tried to approach without authorization.

But they'd been gone for too long.

His hand brushed the cold stone doorway to the tomb, tracing the intricate carvings that decorated it. Pocketwatch was still watching the perimeter. She was faster than he was, capable of slowing down time long enough to search the whole grounds a thousand times over again. How much time had passed? An hour? It felt like longer. Beneath his thumb, a bird had been etched into the stone. Perhaps once, the grey markings had been covered in vibrant colors— but time and rain had decayed what once was.

Eyes darted towards the stairs that retreated into the tomb. It would take a matter of seconds for him to slip inside. To find the others. Nobody would notice he was gone.

"We did secure legal rights from the Guatemalan government to be here," Pocketwatch cut in. Her face was firm where Sebastian's was smiling, a sense of security blanketing her words just enough to settle down the fears of the people. "The tomb is entirely undisturbed, we left it exactly how we found it." She reminds me of Freefall. The thought twisted in his gut painfully as he watched her speak, pushing a loose strand of hair out of her face. But the similarities wouldn't fade— each ounce of confidence that radiated off of her only strengthened the truth he tried to hide.

A voice spoke up from the crowd, shouting above the rest to catch the two heroes' attention. "How are you responding to the claims that several of your teammates were injured inside the ruins?"

Sebastian's heart pounded in his chest as he stepped through the main chamber. In the back of his head, something screamed for him to run. To escape while he still had a chance. But he couldn't. All he could do was move forward, drawn in by an invisible force.

It was impossible to look away from the bodies that littered the ground. Most of them had decayed decades ago, leaving only skeletal remains that clutched at their weapons the way a mother cradles a child. Others were newer—partially decomposed, bits of cloth and flesh still clinging to the insect-riddled remains. Nausea burned in his stomach, bile rising in the back of his throat as he stepped through the horrors. Nothing on earth could have done this. Sebastian knew that this was something different— something unholy.

But in the corner, one of them was still breathing.

A gentle chuckle left his lips as he shrugged. "Well, I can't speak for all of them," Sebastian answered at last. "But I can assure you that our team is just fine."

"What's going on?" The boy was dressed in all grey, head bowed to the earth. Each breath he took was a hiss between clenched teeth, blood seeping through the front of his shirt from a wound Sebastian couldn't see. With trembling hands he tried to reach for the wounded hero, fingertips barely brushing against the cloth before the boy flinched. Sebastian pulled back immediately, body crouched against the cold stone as he tried to locate the source of the bleeding. "Tell me where you're hurt," he pleaded, panic straining his words. "Let me get you to the medics."

The boy shook his head, knees dragging against the stone as he pulled himself onto all fours. "It attacked us," he spoke at last, voice raspy and dry. Sebastian could see his eyes now, the glossy look of pain that had overcome him as he struggled to move. "Combat's handling it right now but —"

He blinked once, twice, and a third time before the world started to filter back in around him. Keep it together, Sebastian scolded, but nothing felt right. People were dead. Others were dying, hidden away with the corpse of the monster that was responsible for this travesty. Nobody could know, those were the orders. Not now. Perhaps not ever.

From the crowd, a man raised his hand. His dark eyes bored into Sebastian's. For the first time in ages, the heat of the stage and the crowd began to feel overwhelming. "Los lugareños han informado de escuchar un grito cerca de la tumba." The man tilted his head to the side, gaze firm and accusing as he continued to speak. "¿Tu equipo escuchó algo?"

Sebastian paused a moment too long. Unforeseen hesitation leaving him staring out into the crowd without answer. "He wants to know if you heard a scream," Pocketwatch whispered. Graciously he smiled, thanking her without saying a word for the translation. He couldn't breathe, the air wouldn't leave his chest.

A scream? No. It was something different. It shattered his eardrums, a high-pitched screech that dissolved Sebastian into writhing agony. The creature crawled along the ceiling, talons exposed and beak decorated with dripping strips of fresh meat. A tail lashed out from behind it, decorated in bloodied scales that offset the golden brown of its feathers. Sebastian could see the deep gashes in its flesh, wounds from the heroes it had fought. But there was no sign of them now. And there was nowhere to run.

He moved on impulse, tossing his body on top of the wounded boy crumpled against the floor. His eyes slammed shut, heart pounding in his chest as the bird slammed into the ground. Another scream pierced the air, Sebastian's whole body shuddering as each wave of sound crashed over him. Sparks gathered between his fingertips, skittering and dying against the damp stone. The bird's claws scraped the ground, gouging the rock as it stalked towards them.

Something hard collided with his ribcage, throwing Sebastian off of the wounded hero. His head cracked against the stone, a gasp of pain spiraling through him. White stars exploded in front of his eyes, vision flickering in and out until he was almost certain there had never been another person in the room with him to begin with. He was alone, backed into the corner, unable to escape the beast that hunted him through the dark.

Slowly, Sebastian cupped his chin in the palm of his hand, eyes darting towards the sky as he pretended to think. "Not that I can recall," he answered at last, a gentle hum following the words. He smiled at the man standing in the crowd. Pulling off his sunglasses, Sebastian tucked them into the front collar of his shirt. "But I'm afraid, you'll have to wait for our superiors to finish the investigation before any answers like that."

The lightning that coursed through his body wasn't enough. Nightbolt wasn't enough. 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Pocket Watch

It was hot. Gods it was hot.

No matter how many times I tied up my frizzy hair, it kept sticking to the back of my neck. It is literally one of the worst feelings in the world. Luckily the Rescue team was kind enough to cut a path for us to walk. The jungle was lush, full of every hue of green. In any other circumstances, I'm sure it would have found it beautiful.

The company was fine. Though most of my "teammates" weren't very talkative. Most of them were from the Combat and Rescue departments. Meaning that they were always on high alert for unseen threats. That's not to say I wasn't as well, but I could at least pretend otherwise. Some of these people were so tense with concentration, it looked like they were about to pop a blood vessel.

Suddenly, a vine whipped up. It was such a blur, I didn't have to react. It slapped me right in the face, leaving a burning sensation that I knew meant one thing. I was going to bruise. With a loud growl I whipped my head up and looked around. The jungle was nothing but green, no signs of life, outside of the party. Who, might I add, was now beginning to stare.

My eyes quickly scanned the group. Each face held the same surprise as me, revealing no malice or humor. I sighed, and moved on. There was no situation where I could explain myself and not come out sounding crazy.

Still, it bothered me. If my team hadn't lashed out, then what did?

Time stretched out lazily as we travelled. The sun only peaked through here and there, to signify any passage of time. One foot in front of the other, slowly turning into miles. Yet the sun hardly moved. I growled, feeling like I was trapped within my own bullet time.

The team halted. Again. This time though, as each member passed through the cut gate of the foliage, there were gasps, sighs and little noises of celebration. I was towards the back, keeping an eye on our tail, since most of the combat people were overeager to find a fight in the front. This came back to bite me, since I was dying to know what my team thought was so amazing.

The Rescue member held the gate open for me and gave me a solemn nod. I nodded back, and passed through. A few thorns poked into my arm as I passed. I gasped but pushed through. Before us was a beautiful sight. Well, comparatively beautiful. After hours of nothing but pure green of trees, bushes and vines (even the water was green), seeing the browns and greys of this place was a miracle.

On top of a small hill, on top of carefully built stone steps was a small stone building. It looked cobbled together, and then smoothed from years of rain and storms. It was plain, with minimal decorations, but it was at least something. Along the front and sides, were strange symbols. They were pictures, no doubt, very similar to the Egyptian hieroglyphics.

"Fascinating." I whispered to no one in particular. My eyes were glued to this strange building. My feet moved without my saying so. My exhaustion, my (most likely) heat stroke, my frustrations melted away. This was... This was a perfect preservation of an ancient history before me. I had to get a closer look.

Up close, I found that the images were carved in. The work was smooth, with continuous lines, as if they never began or ended, but simply were. Marvelous, amazing. I breathed these words, my fingers delicately tracing the patterns. One line in particular caught my eye. My hand followed it, and found that it wasn't a line. Well, it was, obviously, but it was a part of a larger picture. I leaned back, and tried to see it. The image was still too obscured. I hated to move away from the smooth stone. With a huff, I stepped back and flinched.

There was a door, nearly blending in with the side of the wall. On both sides of it was the same scene, mirroring one another. It was crudely done, as it tried to actually depict something outside the simple patterns. There were three figures, all about the same size. Two of them were facing the third, which looked different than the first two. From what I could tell, the first two were human, or at least humanoid. They were large, with sticks raised up in their hands. The third, well it looked human... humanish. Its legs were thinner, but longer, and its arms were misshaped and weird.

"Hey, do you think they took artistic license on this human shape?" I looked over my shoulder towards the group with a smile. A few members were scouting the perimeter, a few others were hunched over the scanner that we had been following towards the energy, and lastly, a few were looking at the same building as I was. Except, they just stared in awe, instead of really studying it under a closer eye. I sighed, none of them heard my joke either.

Just then, the hairs on my arm raised up and I gasped.

Immediately, now by instinct, I summoned my power. The world blurred. The scouts moved as if in Jell-O, each powerful stride became comically slow. Everyone else looked as if they weren't moving at all. I scanned the area, nothing but small hills of grass, of another building similar to the one I stood next to. Tree, tree, tree, bird, tree... wait.

My vision snapped back towards where I saw the animal. Except, it wasn't an animal, it was more of a creature of nightmares. It was a little way off, and obscured by shadows but I saw enough to be shocked. It was tall, as tall as any man. All over its body was these greasy looking dark feathers, that ruffled and shook with the creature's emotion. Its gaze was piercing through its bright yellow eyes. I shuddered, the thing was a monster.

I gasped, releasing my bullet time. "LOOK OUT." I shrieked as loud as I could muster. When I met confused and shocked glances, I pointed daftly. No words could begin to describe what I wanted to say. One of the combat guys understand quickly, and looked at the beast. He yelped and leapt forward.

The beast jumped from its hiding spot, clearly knowing the game was up. It slashed with claws that it had been hiding under its wing-like arms. It squawked with a high-pitched whine. Everything about it was the literal worst.

The horrible shriek of the monster jolted the others into action. The beast was quickly surrounded and trapped by the team. It slashed wildly, blindly hoping to find a target to hit. I turned away, hating the sight of bloodshed on either party. Not since...

No, not now. I chided myself between shallow breaths. Now is really not the time.

I, instead, turned my gaze back to the carving. My eyes raced about, finding more meaning in the piece. The third figure, the strange twisted figure, no doubt was this creature behind me. The longer legs, the winged arms, it all made sense. Then, I saw the final detail that I had missed.

Dammit Ava.

In the center of the third figure, this bird man's, chest was one of the men's sticks. For some reason, this depicted the bird's death. There was no before or after, no blood or death. Just the moment, the single frame of it being killed.

"Combat, you need to kill it!" I shouted out to the group. The beast was still being surrounded by our superior numbers. However, now it had adopted a more defensive tactic. It would only swing if approached. Smart bugger.

"Yes thank you, Pocket." A voice answered in return.

That's when it happened. One of the combat team members lunged forward. She was a graceful woman, poised and powerful. I felt the slightest pang of jealous. Still, she moved forward with her hand stretch up. A bolt of lightning formed in her hand, in the shape of a spear. Its jagged end went straight up to the beast. It cried.

At the last moment I looked away, unable to bear the sight of it. The beast let out more horrible cries, choking more and more as time passed. Then suddenly, with a loud snap, the jungle turned dead silent.

Yay fieldwork.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Hourglass

DID NOT HAND IN

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Nyelia

The steps to the pyramid were not as grand as her own had been. They were not carved with delicate designs, singing her praises in the stone, threatening her enemies or any who would seek to do her harm. They were just—steps. And now, sixteen metahumans climbed up them to the entrance of a temple. Nyelia was grateful for the sunlight on her skin. The research lab was a cold, underground place, and Rilla rarely had the "emotional energy" needed to take her outside. But she could feel it on her bare skin now, breeze fluttering against the cloth that made up her combat wear.

Rilla was talking. She hadn't stopped since they'd landed on the sight. "Isn't this fascinating?" she asked, to nobody in particular. "The Olmec's were the cornerstone for ancient Mesoamerican life!" Her eyes were shining bright with excitement, a journal clasped in one arm and a flashlight held tight in the other. "These pyramids could have been built up to three thousand years ago." Nyelia resisted the urge to scoff as they climbed each step, tossing her hair back over her shoulder to get it out of the wind. I am older than these pebbles, she thought jealously. And yet she wishes to know nothing about my life. "I never thought I'd get to go inside one. God, if my dig crew could see this! We know so little about them but they inspired so much—"

But as they started to reach the top, Rilla's voice faded away and the open mouth of the temple pulled itself into focus. Nyelia's heart began to hammer. She could smell the wet stone from here, the soft trickle of water as moss grew into its cracks. A shiver of cold air rushed over her. It is not the same, she tried to remind herself. But images of the merciless walls flickered in front of her eyes. She would be stuck in there. Unable to escape. Entombed by stone, crushed by the darkness that permeated from it. It would grind away at her senses, reducing her to a shell— a husk of who she was. The steps were coming to an end. Around her there was laughter. Faces brimming with excitement. She slowed her pace, ascending upwards at the back of the group. The sunlight seemed too bright in comparison to the gaping mouth of the temple.

She stopped at the last step, unwilling to cross over the line where shadow met sun. "I wish to remain out here," she announced. Few people heard her, diving into the entrance without hesitation, but her message was not for them. It was for Rilla, who stopped just short of stepping inside to look back at her companion.

"What?" she asked, confusion seeping into her tone as her nose wrinkled. An exasperated sigh left her lips as she went back to Nyelia's side, trying to nudge her forward. "Come on," she pleaded. "It's a temple! I thought that was your thing?" A bitterness akin to fear flooded her tongue, coating her mouth with a heavy residue that refused to let her speak. All she could do was stare at the receding beams of light heading inside. This is not the Hollow Space. The words wouldn't stick. Nyelia couldn't bring her body to move forward.

She shook her head slowly, prying open her jaws to force the words free. "I don't want to go in."A face looked out from the shadow of the temple, glasses pushed back against his face as he looked at Rilla expectantly. The flashlight in his hands flickered off as he stepped forward. His name is Pierre. He was nicer than some of the other men Dr. Manco had brought home, but Nyelia refused to give him any attention.

"Okay, well," Rilla's eyes darted between the goddess and her new companion, " I'm going inside." She stepped forward as she spoke, journal pressed against her chest as she left Nyelia standing in the sunlight. "You can go back to the car." I despise the car. With every word, Rilla's form began to slip more and more into the darkness. "I'm sure there's nothing in here that might hurt me and—" She paused, lips parting slightly as she pointed at Nyelia. "By extension, hurt you. Right?"

It was a game. A ruse to get her to enter the mouth of the temple. With an indignant huff, she charged forward, head bent to the ground in order to avoid seeing the rock ceiling overhead. Nyelia clung close to Rilla, echoing her footsteps but only a breath behind. The flashlight's beams lit up every corner of the sharp hall, but could not cut into the inky blackness ahead. This is not the Hollow Space, she repeated. This is not— rocks skittered beneath her feet like insects on the run. Nyelia wanted to join them, to shrink down into something small enough to slip through the thinnest of cracks.

"Look at this," Rilla cooed. Her flashlight was aimed at the walls, illuminating the depictions painted there. "They're gorgeous, aren't they?" Humanoid figures did battle with something that vaguely resembled a bird. Its body was feathered, but its wings were thick and grey and a serpent's tail hissed from behind it. There were too many limbs. Too many fangs. Too many eyes. This is a demon, Nyelia told herself. And the mortals who face it are fools.

A glint of white caught her eye. Nyelia looked at the foot of the mural, where a skeleton lay curled with a spear clutched in its grip. With a gentle hum, she let her fingers wind around the wooden shaft and yank the weapon free. Bones clattered to the ground in a disorganized pile, prompting them to turn around.

"Nyelia!" Rilla's voice was scolding and low. "That's an artifact."

Slowly, she shook her head, feeling the delicate balance of the spear in her hands. "It is a weapon," she corrected, casting her eyes to the journal still open in Rilla's arms. "Much more effective than your own." It has been a long time since I last held a weapon. The thought brought a comforting smile to her face as if the enclosing walls were suddenly much further away than before.

Rilla opened her mouth to argue, snapping shut the journal as she stepped closer to the goddess. But a quiet hand reached out to stop her, Pierre's face still peering into the darkness even as he spoke. "Dr. Manco?" His flashlight was pointed at a fixed place on the far wall, unwavering. Nyelia followed the beam of light, letting her gaze land on a mural almost identical to the first. In this one, the bird creature was devouring the entrails of those who tried to kill it— a spear lodged firmly in its bloody side. What made her breath stop short, however, were the deep gouges buried in the stone. Too deep to belong to any mortal, dragging along the wall as if making a path for them to follow.

Nyelia took a step closer, letting her feet guide her deeper into the temple with fascination. "Do you think this is what caused the surge?" Rilla whispered. Their footsteps echoed behind Nyelia's, flashlights illuminating the endless path in front of them. Suddenly, it became all too apparent just how quiet it really was. Where were the others? How far in did they go? When the gouges turned, so did they, bypassing the main chamber of the temple. Death was worshiped here. Nyelia could feel it in her heart as if a fist had wrapped around the sturdy organ and squeezed.

The murals became more violent the further in they dove. Blood and sacrifice were depicted against the stone, along with the tears of those who tried to run. But the creature remained in every painting. Watching. Feasting. Hailed as a king and growing gluttonous off of fear. A quick flash of a talon across the stone sent dust and pebbles scattering to the floor. Nyelia's head jerked up, feet coming to a stop as she surveyed the endless stone above. "Rilla?" she asked, but the archaeologist only hummed in response, furiously writing down notes as she watched. "We must—"

"Just a moment," she said at last. "I need these notes."

Something moved. Inky black eyes stared downwards from the ceiling. Teeth glinted in the low light. "Rilla?" A crack shattered the air, stone meeting stone as the sky above them began to fall down to earth. Nyelia gasped once before the rock collided with body.

The world swam in front of her, a dizzying kaleidoscope of noise and light in the absence of either. Rocks shifted above her, their weight pinning her down. Nyelia struggled to rise, a sharp pain ringing in her temple. She touched her forehead gingerly, fingertips coming back sticky and red. Is this— blood? Her eyes darted across the darkened hall, searching for the beam of the flashlight but finding nothing. No movement, only soft groans of pain cast out into the darkness. And then something heavy. Labored breath, coursing down her spine, thick enough to strangle the quiet cool of the room.

Nyelia's hands propped her body against the floor, a growl of exertion leaving her lips as she tried to force the stone off of her. This isn't right. I should not hurt like this. Rocks tumbled over one another, pushed away as she used all of her strength to stand. The breathing grew closer. Heavier. "Show yourself," she hissed. "What are you to bring us here?"

As if in reply, the flashlights began to flicker. Their cold, white light illuminating what had dropped the stone on top of her.

The creature was the embodiment of disorder, a medley of animals crushed into something complex and hideous. Six limbs, sporting talons like swords and a reptilian tail that thrashed with all the cunning of a snake. Pitch black eyes ringed its skull, a crown of vision giving it sight in all direction. Every one of them was focused on the intruders. From its elongated beak, rows of razor-edged teeth demanded blood. A high pitched ringing pierced the air when it screamed, unfurling leathery wings from its back to beat the air. Pain shot through her body like a branding iron. Nyelia covered her ears, desperate to block out the noise.

Her eyes caught the shape of the spear, buried beneath rubble. Nyelia dove for it, letting the wind plow into her body as she fought against its wrath. Fingernails scraped stone, clawing desperately through it to reach the weapon. Slowly, the neverending screech dissolved into words. "Bow before me!" the creature demanded. Forcibly, Nyelia wept, streaks of blood streaming down her cheeks as the voice carved itself into her soul. "I am a god made flesh— reborn from the siren's call of chaos!"

Around her, Nyelia could see the others fall. Rilla was pulled to her knees, forced to bow as the wind ripped through her body. Through bloodstained eyes, she could see Pierre do the same. A tight knot formed in her stomach as she staggered. The creature thrashed its wings, the narrow hallway acting like a tunnel from which they could not escape. Nyelia's whole body rippled, air torn from her lungs in a gasping breath as she struggled to stand. Do not kneel. Her knees trembled to keep her body upright. Nyelia tightened her grip on the spear, letting it be her anchor to the ground. Shutting her eyes, she took hold of the twisting, gnawing feeling in her gut. Do not kneel. It was as if a single string was extending out of her body and into the universe, reaching out in all directions. Nyelia yanked it towards her. Please.

Like a rock against the ocean tide, the wind parted around her body, succumbing to her wishes. The howling faded, letting air rush back into her lungs. Nyelia stood up, shoulders straightening and eyes cast forward. Around her, the temple trembled, caught in a vortex of opposing strengths. "That," she scolded, words rasping in her throat, "is enough." I am the goddess of the wind. The energy inside of her was surging, every molecule in her body ripped apart and forced back together again.

The creature hissed, great wings folding back against its body. It opened its elongated maw, dried blood and flesh tangled between its teeth. Each one of its many eyes focused on her, darkness spreading into an inky blackness that threatened to swallow her whole. "You dare to challenge me, abandoned one?" Nyelia could feel its breath against her body, putrid and hot as it stalked forward, but she refused to move. Her fingertips tightened around the spear. A thick, dripping tongue slid across its lips, giving birth to the laughter that echoed through the air. Around them, the wind ripped and tore at the stone of the temples, howling into the walls. Her heart crept quietly into her throat as it approached, pounding against her flesh.

A low, rumbling hiss filled the air, the sickly sweet scent of rot wafting after it. The monster hungered for her fear, for the smell of mortality to drift from her skin, for her resolve to cower beneath the threat of being devoured. "Your shattered bones will make my nest." Nyelia did not move, not even as the creature's fangs came inches from her face. I have given this speech, she reminded herself. She could remember the weeping, pleading bodies at her feet; a rich river of blood coating the floor. And I do it better. She could remember the forgiveness, the people spared from wrath and blessed with prosperity. "I will rip your body apart and feast on—"

The spear went through its lower jaw. Nyelia could feel the resistance as she shoved the blade through bone and into soft, wet muscle before finding home in the creature's skull. "I have no patience for you," she spoke softly. A dry wheeze echoed from deep inside of its body, teeth unable to snap shut as the body toppled to the ground. As the monster died, so did the wind around them.

A cloak of heaviness draped itself over Nyelia's shoulders, exhaustion pushing the air from her lungs. I am not what I once was. Her fingertips were coated with splintered wood, clinging to her flesh but unable to puncture through. Feet scrambled behind her, bodies wobbling and shaking as her companions started to rise. Rilla's hand brushed her shoulder as she passed, hurrying to the cooling body of the beast. Nyelia watched her approach, watched her hesitantly touch the leathered wings. Look, her gaze pleaded. See my strength. I am the one who should have your awe. I am your goddess. But Rilla only sighed, crouching beside the corpse as its blood began to pool on the ground. "Did you have to kill it?"

Something bubbled up inside of her, a heavy hotness that flushed her cheeks as her teeth ground against one another. "Yes." The answer was curt and final. She hoped that it would get the other woman to face her, to realize the error of her ways, but to no avail. "It would have destroyed the temple." And you, she wanted to add, eyes darting over the gash across Rilla's forehead and the blood drying on her face— but the words would not come out.

Rilla barely listened, her hands stroking the soft feathers and matted fur that made up the creature in front of them. "The Olmec's bird god," she whispered softly. "It's—real. And incredible."

Shescoffed, casting the corpse a disdainful glance as she wiped the blood from hercheeks. "It was weak." The tiredness that had begun to seep through her bonesgrew stronger. Inside of her body, the surge of power ebbed away into nothing. Ineed to rest. But the look of fascination on Dr. Manco's face kept