With the power of Snitch Gravel's flashlight, they could look around properly. The bridge they'd seen turned out to actually be two narrow bridges, barely two feet wide, that led to where they were now sure the jewel was. All they had to do was get there.

"I don't like this," Snitch Gravel said. "There shouldn't be two bridges."

Kyle agreed. He saw no point for two bridges either. And if Snitch Gravel was right and they were indeed the first people to ever set foot in there after the builders, it became a lot more complicated. Because it meant they couldn't tell if there were any traps on those bridges or not.

As if guessing his thoughts, Snitch Gravel pointed the flashlight under the walkways, into the darkness. There seemed to be no poles or any other structure beneath . Which only left one possible trap.

"Do you think it will crumble under us?" Kyle asked, his voice even.

"Not both of them. And if my guess is right, not one or the other either." Snitch Gravel straightened and turned off the flashlight. The cavern around them seemed much darker with only the headlamps. "My guess is that parts of the bridges will fall."

That was Kyle's guess, too. It would be too easy if they could just choose one bridge or the other. Burying his confusion regarding the means by which a cave of this size was built and how those bridges were even standing, he stepped to the ledge of the platform. The sound of dripping water kept him company.

"I think it might be a natural cave," Snitch Gravel said, answering the silent question.

"Underground?"

"Why not?" He shrugged. "There are lakes underground. Why wouldn't there be caves as well? They just used what they already had."

Not that it mattered, but Snitch Gravel's theory made more sense than someone actually digging up the place. Filing that bit of information for later, Kyle knelt before the two bridges. There was merely a foot between them which made the whole thing incredibly cramped. But, on the other had, these structures were not meant for people of their size.

"There has to be something different about them," he muttered. 

He hovered his hand above the bridge on the right, wondering if it was safe to touch it. But then again, if their theory was right, they had to step on them. So, taking a deep breath, he brushed the dust off the bridge. There was nothing but a simple stone slab underneath, barely big enough to stand on.

"What are you thinking?" Snitch Gravel asked, leaning over behind him.

Kyle moved to the next bridge and cleared away the dust. This time, the slab was a myriad of tiny suns knitted together, just like the platform above them had been.

"I think we need to step on the suns," he said, standing.

Snitch Gravel crouched before the bridges and studied one, then the other. "I agree, but I also think that we should confirm." He pressed his hand against the normal slab and pushed.

Nothing happened. Tilting his head in confusing, Snitch Gravel moved to the sun slab and pressed that one down, too. The cave stayed silent.

"This is odd," he mumbled.

"Maybe it's triggered by a larger weight," Kyle suggested.

"Good point." Without further ado, Snitch Gravel stood and stepped on the clear slate.

In the sound of shattering stone, the slab crumbled under his feet. He jumped back before he could plunge into the abyss below. 

Kyle clenched his fists, fighting the need to thump him across the head. "You know I could've wrapped the rope around you before you did that, right?"

Snitch Gravel waved his hand. "I knew what to expect, so this was easy." And just like that, he stepped on the other bridge.

Kyle groaned and waited, knowing he'd have to move since they didn't both fit on one slab. Snitch Gravel crouched and brushed the slab in front of him, then looked to his left and hopped in front of the crushed slab. Kyle followed, stepping on the bridge. The structure felt flimsy under his feet, but held. Once Snitch Gravel stepped forward, he followed, crossing to the left bridge.

"Huh," Snitch Gravel mumbled.

"What?"

"There's actually some space between the next two slabs." He paused a second, then hopped to the right bridge.

His feet fell through. Kyle's heart jumped to his throat for the moment it took for him to realize that Snitch Gravel fortunately fell with his butt on a stable slab. A lot of swearing ensued as he pulled himself further back to safety.

"What. The hell. Is wrong with you?" Kyle asked between his teeth. "Do you have a death wish?"

Snitch Gravel didn't answer for a moment, and when he did, his voice was rattled. "I didn't expect it to collapse. I was sure two consecutive steps forward were impossible."

Kyle considered his statement, then got to his knees and reached forward, brushing the edge of the next slab. The little light proved Snitch Gravel's theory to be right. There were no suns on the edge.

"Apparently you were right." And he would've assumed that he'd have to step forward on the other bridge not to the side. This doubled the possible combinations. "Fuck. We need to be more careful."

"Agreed," Snitch Gravel said, his voice still a little wheezy.

With careful moves, he got to his feet and made the necessary calculations. Then, after a deep breath, he jumped on the square in front of the one Kyle had checked. It held, but the distances were getting a little too big to hop safely on tiny slabs.

Kyle glanced over his shoulder, but they'd barely started. Swallowing heavily, he followed Snitch Gravel across the bridges, his heart jumping every time anything crumbled, doing his best to stay within the slabs. Even in the dim light, he could see the sweat coating the back of Snitch Gravel's sandy shirt the further they got. Kyle wouldn't have minded taking the lead, but there was no way they could get around each other. He wasn't even sure they had the space to try securing the tiny bit of rope they had left around each other.

The bridges seemed to go on forever, and the darkness around them felt like an uncomfortable, humid blanket. The deeper into the cave they moved, the trickle of water seemed to fill the emptiness around them. Kyle was unpleasantly reminded of his near death sensations. It was always cold and watery and felt like a cave. Maybe it was some sick form of premonition that only foreshadowed that he was going to die in there.

About two thirds in, Snitch Gravel asked for a break.

"You okay?" Kyle asked.

He just nodded, his entire body twitchy. "It's just very taxing to base life and death decisions on ever-diminishing information."

Which was true since the space between the slabs was getting larger and it was getting very hard to reach over and clear the dust without losing their balance and falling over.

"Do you want me to go first?" Kyle offered.

"I wouldn't mind, really, but how?" There was a trace of sarcasm in his answer, but it was lost among what sounded like a mix between exhaustion and pure terror.

"We're nearly there," Kyle said instead.

Snitch Gravel glanced over his shoulder. The truth of the affirmation seemed to soothe him the slightest bit because he gave a curt nod and clenched his fists. He then jumped on the next slab which fortunately didn't give out under him.

They kept hopping from slab to slab, the jewel coming ever closer, the distance between jumps longer as Snitch Gravel thought over each decision. Not before long, the jewel was close enough to catch the light from the headlamps, so they had to be careful not to point the beams directly at it and blind themselves.

"Who would've thought that would be a trap in itself," Snitch Gravel mumbled, keeping his head down.

He had a great point and the back of Kyle's neck already hurt from having to constantly keep his face down. But the bridge was almost over and he couldn't wait to reach that platform and shove that damn stone somewhere where it could no longer hurt anyone.

"Well, this is a problem."

The words felt like nails digging into Kyle's brain. Sweat already dripped down the sides of his face and he was so done with this.

"What happened?"

Snitch Gravel didn't answer, just turned to the side so that Kyle could see past him. There seemed to be no more floor left. He squinted and finally caught sight of the next slab. It seemed to be the final one before the platform, but also impossible to reach and check if it was safe. And they'd definitely have to jump on it. His gaze moved to the left bridge, but the situation appeared the same. A great gap spread out before them and the final slab on that side was parallel with the other. Just like the slab on the left within their reach was right next to the one Snitch Gravel stood on.

And that was when he realized how devious the final trap was. There was no way to check which lane was safe. They'd just have to pick one or the other.

"Is the slab next to you safe?" Kyle asked. His voice came out hollow as he tried to figure out a way not to die by crashing into the abyss.

Snitch Gravel quirked an eyebrow, but turned nonetheless and brushed his hand against the slab on the other bridge. "It's safe," he declared.

Kyle bent his knees, ready for the jump, when he froze. What was he doing? Had he really come to blindly trust Snitch Gravel? After all, if he was lying, it was pretty clear that there was only one way forward and he wouldn't need Kyle anymore. The conflict tore him up, especially when he realized that he really did trust Snitch Gravel. And he'd been seconds away from taking his word for it and potentially dying for being a gullible idiot.

"What's wrong?" Snitch Gravel asked.

Kyle hated having to do this, but too much was at stake. So he had to ask again and just look for the telling signs of a lie. "Are you sure it's safe?"

Snitch Gravel didn't answer, just frowned. Then, his eyes narrowed as if he realized what the purpose of the question was. It didn't make him open his mouth, just step on the right bridge and leave the safe slab for Kyle.

Feeling like a moron, Kyle hopped forward. "Sorry," he mumbled. "You technically wouldn't have needed me anymore if it wasn't safe, so I had to be sure."

"I thought we were above petty backstabbing."

"I think so, too, Bob."

Snitch Gravel turned to face forward, a smirk on his face. "Point taken. Still not telling you my name." The amusement slipped off his face. "One of those slabs will crash."

Kyle knew that. And unfortunately, he didn't want either of them to die. "Maybe we should tie what's left of the rope around each other. That way, if you fall, I'll be able to pull you back up."

"And what if you fall?"

Kyle shrugged. "Cut the rope, I guess."

Snitch Gravel hesitated, and Kyle was sure he would refuse, so the fact that he nodded was rather shocking. But he'd take it, so they each made a harness for themselves, put them on, and turned back to face the front.

"Just so we're clear," Snitch Gravel said, "the rope's not long enough for just one of us to jump forward."

"Nope. We're actually going to have to jump at the exact same time to avoid pulling each other back."

Snitch Gravel huffed. "Figures. Nothing's ever easy for us, is it?"

"We used to think it might be for you."

"Well, it's not. Especially when I'm on my own." He took a deep breath and glanced forward. "Might as well get it over with."

Kyle had the impulse to ask for the big secret right then and not potentially die not knowing, but once Snitch Gravel bent his knees, he did the same. The secret wasn't as important as finishing this and getting back home to his family.

"On three. One. Two... Three!"

Kyle jumped forward. Maybe a fraction of a second before his boots touched the stone, he noticed there were no suns on it. The slab crumbled under his feet and he felt through into the void below. The rope strained and stopped his progress, but he kept slipping into nothingness. He'd always known Snitch Gravel wasn't strong enough to pull him up, so now all Kyle had we're the few seconds before the rope would be cut.

It was cold and dark, and the sound of dripping water from his darkest nightmares was there, in the background, convincing him that this was it. He was going to die. And oh, he how wanted to live, if only for another few seconds.

The rope yanked him up a little.

Heart pounding in his ears, he glanced upwards. It was hard to see anything, but the light of Snitch Gravel's headlamp helped pinpoint his position. Which was very oddly pointing towards the ceiling, as if he were lying down, even if Kyle was logically aware there was no space for that.

Then Snitch Gravel's body plummeted as well, and the rope pulled Kyle a little higher. For a second, there was confusion. Then his brain caught up with him and panic overtook him again as he realize what Snitch Gravel had done. He'd basically let himself fall in as well, the rope resting against the slab. It was a wonder their bodies hadn't crashed together and get thrown into the void.

Kyle grabbed the rope and struggled to pull himself upwards. It was hard since he was heavier than Snitch Gravel and their flimsy balance offered him too little of an advantage. But he managed to touch the slab, wrap his fingers around the outer edges. He noticed the sun design just as their rope rolled across it and into the emptiness beneath them.

He'd been expecting this, so the jolt of his harness, though uncomfortable, didn't unbalance him. Cursing under his breath, Kyle pulled himself up on the slab, Snitch Gravel still dangling beneath him. Once up and partially safe, he could tell what had happened.

Snitch Gravel had prepared himself for the possibility of Kyle falling so the moment he'd reached safety, he'd leaned back as much as possible so he'd be able to pull Kyle back up. At one point, maybe he'd even propped his feet against the edge of the slab and let himself fall back. Until he'd completely fallen over, possibly hoping his weight would pull Kyle back up.

Which was a brilliant plan, really, except for the fact that it had left both of them dangling over the slab with nothing stopping their rope from rolling over and joining them in the pit of doom. Fortunately, he'd managed to get back up right before that happened. And now...

"I need you to help me pull you back up," he called down to Snitch Gravel.

"We don't both fit on there," came the obvious answer.

"I'm aware. But I want to try getting to safety and I don't think I can jump the distance with you dangling around my neck. Just hold on to the edges here to loosen the pressure."

Snitch Gravel seemed to agree because he began climbing up the rope. His fingers dug into the slab as he struggled to lift himself up. Kyle grabbed his wrists and helped him rest with his upper body on the tiny bit of safe bridge they had left.

"Look, you're better off cutting the harness," Snitch Gravel said. There was sweat dripping down the sides of his face and his skin looked pale and clammy.

Kyle glanced from Snitch Gravel to the stone platform before them. It was closer than it had seemed from their previous position. The rope was long enough. So without any explanations, he jumped forward. The thick stone felt amazing under his feet after the flimsy slabs and he almost felt like lying down and hugging it. But instead, he took a few steps back to give Snitch Gravel the necessary space to join him.

Once they were both safely on the platform, they laid back, stretching their arms, and just stared upwards. They couldn't see the ceiling of the cave, but it didn't matter. They'd gotten over the bridge and they had a few moments of safety.

After a few well-deserved deep breaths, Kyle's mind started spinning again, trying to compute everything that had happened since entering the air vent. It felt like a million years ago. The bridge in itself felt like a century.

"You saved my life," he said.

"And you mine, many times," Snitch Gravel retaliated. He sounded exhausted.

"No, I mean... " Kyle sat up and leaned his forearms on his knees. "You risked your own life to save mine. That thing you did..."

"Was stupid," Snitch Gravel mumbled, sitting up, too. "We could've both died."

"Exactly. So why did you do it?"

Snitch Gravel glanced over his shoulder. The light on his headlamp caught the jewel for a second and flooded the cave with light. He turned back to Kyle, biting down on his lower lip.

"Because we got through this together. And it's together that we should get that jewel."

"Then let's grab it and get out of here."

Since his pulse had finally calmed down, the pressure of time was back. They both got to their feet and did their best to keep the light away from the jewel.

"Do you think there are any more traps?" Kyle asked, taking the headlamp off his head so that he could point it at the floor.

Snitch Gravel did the same and headed for the altar the jewel was on. "Doesn't seem like it. There are no more warnings." He crouched and shone the light on the stone. "Just the story of the jewels."

"Really?" Kyle joined him, but he couldn't understand any of the writing. All he could think about was how excited Sam would've been to see this.

Snitch Gravel fumbled in his rucksack and took out the map and a pencil. Then he placed the map facing the stone and used the pencil to capture the carvings on the only bit of paper they had left.

"Can I have that once you're done?" Kyle asked.

Snitch Gravel huffed. "I'm doing this for Sam as well. He's on to something and I want him to enlighten me. I can't read Aztec that well."

With a grin, Kyle left him to it and focused on their surroundings. There really didn't seem to be any traps left. So, without further ado, he reached out and grabbed the jewel. He'd half expected a pressure trigger, but nothing happened. It just felt like it always did. Cold, sharp and strangely malleable in his grip. He glanced over his shoulder and an idea came to him.

"We should just throw it into the pit of despair."

"What?" Snitch Gravel raised his face and glanced from him to the rock in his hand. "Thanks for grabbing it without me."

"You wanna hold it or something?"

"What do you mean throw it?"

"Who's ever going to find it down there?"

"What if we need it?"

Kyle narrowed his eyes. "Need it for what? I thought you said you didn't want to use them."

"I don't. But that doesn't mean we won't have to. The Counters have six of these. They could modify the satellite or find another way to use them."

Damn. Snitch Gravel had a point. They'd basically have to steal them back at some point. Until then... Kyle glanced at the jewel in his hand again. If they could only throw all of them in here...

"We need to go," Snitch Gravel said, folding the map and placing it back into his rucksack.

"Okay." Kyle shoved the jewel inside his much smaller back pack and strapped it back on.

Snitch Gravel threw him a glance, but didn't comment on the fact that he was keeping the jewel. Instead, he took out the big flashlight again and pointed it around. Without the jewel to blind them, they could finally glance around properly.

"The exit can't be back where we came from," he mumbled.

Kyle agreed. In all the messed up temples they'd been, it never was. So the two of them headed to the back wall. It looked like sold rock, but it didn't take more than a few minutes for Snitch Gravel to find a small tunnel hidden between two portions of wall.

"The optical illusion was fantastic," he commented as the two of them walked down a narrow tunnel which was obviously not man-made so most likely devoid of traps.

"I don't think that's the only protection this entrance holds," Kyle said, shining his light around the cave. "It would be much too easy."

"I wouldn't call this slippery floor too easy."

Kyle quirked and eyebrow. "Compared to what we got through getting here?"

"Fair point. I just can't imagine what else could be blocking the exit."

As though forcing him to eat his words, a mountain of boulders blocked the tunnel in front of them.

"You were saying?"

"Shut up and let's move them."

It was grueling work, but the ancient people didn't have a serum riddled monstrosity on their side, so it took Kyle a little over half an hour to move enough boulders to form an exit. The rest of the way outside was another tunnel which was a lot less humid, even if uncomfortably low. And then, suddenly, the air was fresh again, and after brushing away a layer of thick vegetation, they ended up in a downpour at what seemed to be dusk.

"We're out," Snitch Gravel breathed.

"Yeah..."

It was a little hard to process. Just like it was hard to process that it was the same day. Their stay in the temple, or whatever it was, seemed to last forever. And they actually had the jewel. Without Sam being involved. The idea in itself felt preposterous.

"I think we should walk as far away from this place as possible before setting up camp," Snitch Gravel said.

His words made Kyle jump because it was a suggestion rather than an order and that felt odd on itself. "Agreed. Just in case. No one needs to know about this place." Even if the entrance was well covered and there were very little chances people were actually around.

In mutual agreement, which was strangely becoming a habit, they started walking due east. With the adrenaline rush fading, Kyle's muscles started aching again and his head felt groggy.

We got the jewel. I almost died. Snitch Gravel saved me.

What now? What now? What now?

Where to? Where were they even going and what was the plan? He wanted to ask, but couldn't muster the energy for it. If he knew, Snitch Gravel wasn't saying anything either.

What's your name? Why won't you tell me? Why was his first name such a mystery?

"You okay back there?" Snitch Gravel called over his shoulder.

"Yeah. Just a little tired. I'll be fine."

Snitch Gravel froze. Kyle froze too as the sound of shifting vegetation reached them. As silently as possible, he moved next to Snitch Gravel, his gun out, ready to intercept whatever was coming. It didn't sound like an animal. And soon enough, it became obvious it was not.

Fumbling with death-inviting imprecision, a man stumbled out of the undergrowth, swearing under his breath, trying to fold what looked like a map. It took him a moment to notice them, and he froze, staring with wide eyes. Kyle didn't know him, but the stiffness in Snitch Gravel's back spoke of danger.

"Boss?" the man stammered. "Is that really you? I thought you were dead!"

Snitch Gravel's entire posture shifted as he stood tall and the familiar all-knowing smirk lifted the corners of his mouth. "Dear Nicholas planning my funeral already?"

"Um, no. Um..." The man's gaze shifted from left to right as if someone could save him from the conversation. When his wondering eyes finally focused on Kyle, his entire frame gave a flinch. "Boss, is that--?"

In the blink of an eye, Snitch Gravel shot forward and pinned the man against the nearest tree, his forearm over the guy's throat.

"Tell me, Lucas. Why are you here?" he said between his teeth.

"I was...looking..." The man's words came out splattered and drenched in fear.

"Looking for me to make sure I'm dead?"

"Of course not."

Kyle could see the lie from miles away. And Snitch Gravel's little problem suddenly caught meaning. As if to confirm, Lucas glanced at Kyle.

"Why is he with you?"

"Don't answer that. He's a traitor," Kyle said.

"Yes, I know." Snitch Gravel's other hand squeezed the guy's throat. "He'll be running right back to Nicholas with the news and they'd send someone out to make sure I don't return. Or just..." His eyes fell on the map still in the goon's hands. "Leave me lost." He yanked the map away, and moved away, studying it.

Kyle lifted the gun higher to make sure the man was aware he still wasn't allowed to move.

"Yes, this is what we need," Snitch Gravel muttered. "Take him out."

He had to be kidding. "Take him out?"

"That's what it's called when you need to shoot someone." Snitch Gravel didn't seem half-interested in the matter as he continued glancing on the map.

"I'm doing no such thing." And Kyle couldn't believe Snitch Gravel had the nerve to ask him to just shoot someone.

"He can't alert anyone of our presence."

"Yes, agreed, but that doesn't mean you can order me to kill him."

Snitch Gravel folded the map and rolled his eyes. "Please. Not like you haven't killed anyone before."

"Not directly and not if I could avoid it. You can't order me around."

Snitch Gravel opened his mouth, probably to order him around some more, but he'd had it. He was not getting into this, not after that clusterfuck of a day. So he pressed the gun into his hands.

"You do it." And he walked off.

He'd maybe walked on for five minutes when the vegetation rustled behind him. He stopped and waited until Snitch Gravel caught up to him.

"You didn't have to do that," he said, his tone meek.

"I'm not one of your goons."

"I know you're not. Just a force of habit, I guess."

Kyle raised an eyebrow. He had expected sarcasm, an attempt to shift the blame, not acceptance.

"I'm sorry," Snitch Gravel said.

That was even more shocking. "That's alright. Did you kill him?" Though he hadn't heard a gunshot, so he doubted it.

"No. Turns out I avoid murder as much as possible myself. I just knocked him out and moved him a little so he's hopefully lost."

Kyle nodded in acceptance. It was the best they could hope for. "What's on the map?"

"Our way out of here. We have a base in the jungle. Old smuggler hide out in a bunker built during political unrest."

"And we can go there? Won't your little problem get in the way?"

Snitch Gravel heaved a sigh. "Not if we play it right." He raised his face and looked Kyle straight in the eyes. "Not if I bring you as my prisoner."

Kyle had expected that, but it was still annoying to hear. "And how does that involve a 'we'?"

"You'll have to play along. You're not my prisoner, Kyle. If we're going in there, which is our best chance at survival, you're coming as my ally."

End of part II

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Surprise update because CC has reached 10k! Which is amazing. I only reached that milestone on a work in progress once before and it was much deeper into the story. Thank you all so much. It means the world that the final book in the series is getting so much love. And just as well, you get the end of part 2.

Can you believe this? Snitch and Kyle got the jewel. Without Sam. And they have a way out of there. I hope their little adventure was exciting. Traps are so hard to come up with.

And do we have a possible alliance? Snitch Gravel's little problem is also becoming fairly obvious. But that makes going into the belly of the beast even more dangerous. And more fun.

So stick around for part III when we're setting everything up for the climax and everyone finally getting their answers.

All support in the form of votes and comments are appreciated.