Lost and Forgotten Ch. 03

I was able to get close enough to see the body on the ground. The body was shriveled and in a quasi-fetal position. The thing on the ground appeared mummified and ancient. It reminded me of the bodies left behind after the eruption of the volcano near Pompeii. I agreed with the sheriff it was a sick joke. The others caught up with me and I told them.

"It is a practical joke or stunt of some kind."

"John." Dworkin greeted me. "Oh my god. Who would do that?"

"I don't know. I agree with the sheriff that this is a sick joke."

"I'm going to bed. Night all." Dworkin said as he waved us goodnight.

"I think he has the right idea," Elsbeth said sensuously.

We returned to the hotel and Simone was waiting. I told her what had happened, and she looked genuinely distressed. I tried to assure her it was just a prank and that seemed to improve her mood. When I commented that we were heading to bed she looked at all five of us and made a disapproving sound. We followed her to the front desk and she retrieved the keys to the penthouse. We were being upgraded for the night. Simone conducted us to the elevator and gave us a little history about the infamous penthouse suite. The locals had nicknamed it Notorious. Some of the parties and sinful debauchery that had occurred in the penthouse was legendary. Meghan informed me that she was leaving tomorrow so that she could be home and ready for work on Monday. I would make her last night here memorable. The elevator stopped on the top floor and Simone unlocked Notorious for us. The entire top floor was the penthouse. There were plenty of beds, showers, and places to make love.

"I'll check up on you later. If you need anything dial zero." Simone purred and handed me the keys.

"Is everyone so generous to you?" Elsbeth wondered and I just smiled.

"I hadn't noticed." I said as I walked around seeing what was available to us. "There's a hot tub!"

I powered up the motors and lights and began stripping down. The others appeared, and mom had a bottle of alcohol in each hand. It was time to relax and ignore what happened today. I couldn't say forget. I never forget anything anymore. A few shots later and mom urged me to share. I stood up and retrieved my phone. The GoPro's memory card was still lodged into the port. I removed the card and placed it safely away from the water of the hot tub. I swiped the screen and bring it to life. A message from Jacen was waiting for me.

'Watch this first before you show it to anyone else.'

The dire warning shook me to my core. I muted the phone, so they couldn't hear my narration. I hit play. I remembered the events, but I was seeing it from a slightly different perspective. I watched it all unfold. The ladies gave me all the time I needed. They silently sat and enjoyed the water. I jumped ahead until I saw the footage of the inverted pyramid. I paused the video and Jacen displayed a 3D rendering of the monolith. He had cleared up the image and showed the familiar symbols I had first seen in the cemetery and on the small stone I had purchased. I handed the phone to mom and told her not to touch the screen. I saw the shock on her lovely features. She showed Jynx and she confirmed her fears.

"Where is this John?" Mom asked.

"I found an air shaft cut by the original team that worked on the railroad. I hoped it would give me access to the tunnel and the train." I said and took the phone back. "Instead it opened up into a large cavern. At the center of that area is that pyramid. I used a program to clean up the markings on its surface."

"It is the same." Jynx said. "It looks just like the one in the cemetery."

"Can we see?" Diana asked, and I leaned over and showed her and then Elsbeth. "How the heck?!"

I sat back and hit play. I watched as I began heading for the exit and kicked the rat. I remember the sound of its body skittering across the floor of the cavern. The footage showed as I picked up the petrified corpse. Despite sitting in the hot tub, I felt a chill run through me. I barely heard my mother's voice. Jacen turned off the phone and that combined with my mom shaking me roused me back to the present.

"It wasn't a stunt." I hissed. "That scream was genuine." I stood and grabbed my pants. My lighter spilled out of the pocket and hit the floor. The silvery gleam was clearly visible, and I looked to the window. For just a moment I thought I saw a silhouette. I blinked, and it was gone. It was empty. I got out of the whirlpool and grabbed the wrought iron latch and yanked it down. I pulled the window open and there cut deep into the roof shingles were claw marks. It was as if some heavy quadruped had climbed up and spied on us as we sat there oblivious. It knew. It had tracked me here and it had killed that poor woman on the street.