“Let’s get out of here,” he said.
“Wait.” She looked at the medallion, then back at him.
“You want to open it?”
She licked her lips and nodded.
He glanced at his teammates, who all shrugged. Except Harrison, who raised his gun to the low-ready.
“What are you doing?” Shane asked.
Harrison looked at him like he was crazy. “Mummies, man.”
Shane looked at Kinley and raised an eyebrow. “See?”
She rolled her eyes and gestured to the medallion.
He chuckled and gripped the edges, straining to turn the wheel. He managed an impressive twenty degrees or so before his strength gave out.
“Here. Switch out,” Devon said. He swung his rifle behind his back and took Shane’s place. He managed another few inches before switching out with Jordan. Harrison stayed in the background, ready to shoot any cursed undead that popped out.
Little by little they turned the wheel until it was upright and settled into something with a deep thunk. They stepped back and glanced around the room.
Waiting.
For…nothing. Nothing happened.
“Now what?” Devon asked.
“I don’t know,” Kinley said. “I mean, the temple has been here for thousands of years. Whatever was supposed to do…whatever…could be stuck, it could be deteriorated, or…” She shrugged.
“Or?” Shane asked.
“Or there’s nothing to find and the medallion was just upside down.”
“What if we push on the wall?” Harrison asked.
“Not worried about mummies now?” Jordan asked.
“Oh, I’m still worried, but I’m invested now. I want to know what’s behind the wall.”
“Kinley?” Shane asked.
She shrugged again. “Sure.”
Shane’s teammates joined him along the wall, two on either side of the medallion, and braced their shoulders. “One…two…three!”
He grunted as he put his weight against the wall, his feet sliding on centuries of dust on the floor. He wanted the damn thing to move. He didn’t want to see the disappointment in Kinley’s eyes again.
The wall lurched a foot and they stumbled upright, looking at each other in astonishment.
“Holy shit,” Harrison said.
“Keep pushing?” Devon asked.
“Hang on.” Kinley peered at the edge of the wall. “Does anyone have a flashlight?”
“Here.” Jordan held out a small black light.
