Page 15 of Legend of Scorpio

“Never had a chance. The radar spotted an anomaly, which isn’t unusual. I began chipping and had just uncovered the doorway when the seal attacked.” She craned to look. “Is this really a ruin?”

“Yup. Those stairs you rolled down finished in this room.” He spun to show her, the faint glow letting her see.

Her mouth rounded. “How is this possible? The Antarctic was never settled.”

“That anyone knew of. Congrats, you can add archeologist to your resume now.”

Her lips twisted. “It’s kind of ironic since I have a thing for ancient civilizations. I blame Indiana Jones. All my vacations are usually to spots where I can explore the past—the pyramids, Aztec temples, Machu Picchu.”

“I’d say this place is as old or older,” he stated, setting Rebecca on her feet but keeping an arm around her in case she proved unsteady.

“How is it I can see? Is the rock glowing?” She tottered from him to place her face closer to the surface before running her fingers over it. The light remained steady, not reacting to her touch.

“I do believe we’re inside a sizeable meteorite, and the light is because it’s reacting to my presence.”

“And you say you’re not an alien.” She snorted. “Any idea who built it?”

“I don’t know, but the symbols around the door are very old Zodiac ones.”

“Really?” Her brow arched. “Guess that means you found what you were looking for.”

He shook his head. “Not yet. There’s nothing here except that hole in the wall.” He pointed. “I tried reaching in, but it narrows quickly and I couldn’t feel much inside.”

She glanced at the crevice and, without hesitation, stuck her hand in it. Her tongue peeked from her lips as her eyes went out of focus and she murmured, “I wonder if there’s a catch inside here somewhere.” Her arm went inside past the elbow.

“That’s much farther in than I made it.”

“Aha.” An exclamation that was followed by an audible click.

She withdrew her hand, and her lips curved as a section of the wall shivered before sliding out of the way. “Tada!”

“Good job unlocking it.”

“What do you think is in there?” She poked her head into the opening, but the illumination of the chamber didn’t extend that far.

“No idea, hence why I’ll go first.” He stepped in front of her, ignoring her rolling eyes.

“Oh please. Pretty sure there’s nothing alive in there that can hurt me.”

“Said every person who died before going into a strange new place. Just give me a second to see if it’s clear before you enter.”

He stepped into the dark space, and once more, a mere brush of his flesh against the walls caused them to illuminate, showing an innocuous tunnel. He immediately distrusted it. Call it his astral sense, but something was amiss.

“See anything?” she asked, sounding far too close.

“Careful. Stay where you are,” he exclaimed. “I think the place might be trapped.”

“This is not a movie,” she scoffed, shuffling to his left. “Those kinds of things?—”

An audible click had him whirling. He threw himself on Rebecca, taking them both to the floor in time to avoid the blade that whistled as it swung past.

She lay under him, wide-eyed. “What was that?”

“A warning.”

“A good one, if you ask me. I think that’s our cue to leave.”

“Agreed. You should head back up.”