"I am not going to fall to my death, ok?"

Ethan picked up the book and prepared to leave, but stopped short when a sudden thought crept across his mind. What if I leave now and this loser dies? That horseface will think I murdered him and will put me behind bars!

Bryan was assessing the statue when his gaze caught the frozen form of Ethan. "Why? I thought you were going to leave."

Ethan grunted, put the book back down, and scanned the statue and the frankincense holder above it. "Uhm, you sure there isn't any other way? We could grab a ladder or something, you know?"

Bryan rolled his eyes and saw the fading brightness of the afternoon light. "We haven't got much time to do searching, and besides, the lady might come any time soon. We are doing this now!"

Ethan wiped his eyebrows and tried to calm his frightening mind. "And how exactly are we doing this?"

Bryan pointed to the statue and then to a small window that was affixed to the dome. "We climb all the way to the top of the statue and reach that windowsill." He then motioned to the dangling frankincense holder. "Then we grab the holder and swing all the way to that panel."

Ethan gulped back his fear and tried to concentrate, his eyes almost seeming like they were about to doze off. "I'm going first, as I don't trust you at all! What if you try to sabotage me?"

Bryan rolled his eyes and scoffed. "Sure, go ahead!"

Ethan strode near the statue, his hands filled with sweat and his heartbeat already rising. He tried to put a strong grip on the statue's hand to halt his body upwards, but his sweaty hands gave away. "You mind hoisting me up?"

Bryan chuckled and made a mocking face. "I thought you were so good at everything, but you're just pennywise!"

Ethan tried to control his surging anger, his mind looming over the task before him. Just wait till I get up there!

Ethan stepped on Bryan's back as he mounted on the floor. He grabbed the statue's shoulder and climbed up on it, which was effortlessly easy because of the ground support. Wiping away the bead of sweat that had accumulated on his forehead, he stretched himself to the window and sat on the windowsill.

Bryan stood up and heaved a huge sigh. "Now stand up on the windowsill, grab the holder, stride a few steps backwards, and run to make a swing."

Ethan obeyed the instructions, his hands trembling while holding the holder. Bryan turned back to roll his sleeves and prepare for climbing the statue when suddenly a loud scream echoed throughout the hall that startled his body.

"Aaah! Hey you! Help me out of here!"

Bryan turned back to see Ethan dangling to and fro, hanging onto the frankincense holder. "What the hell! I asked you to swing to the portal and not to swing and play!"

Ethan tried to muffle his screams, but each and every second seemed excruciating to him. "I tried, ok? But it didn't work! And come fast, it's burning my-"

Bryan's gaze followed down to Ethan's pants and the tip of the holder. His eyes bulged out as his mind filled with sympathy. "Uhm, is it lit?"

Ethan felt his insides burning as his body rummaged with endless thoughts. "Yes, you dumbass! And if you don't help me, my entire future lineage is at risk, ok?! Come up here quick!"

Bryan tried controlling his laughter as he took a few steps backward and started running towards the statue. He effortlessly swung his body straight to the shoulders of the statue with the help of the huge marble hands. He leaned towards the window sill and stood on it, catching the dangling holder along with Ethan.

"I'm going to swing you, ok? Just be calm and jump when it's the right time."

Ethan forced his mind to concentrate and nodded dutifully. He gripped the metallic chain of the holder, ignoring the burning sensation emanating outside him. Bryan leaned back on the narrow window sill, both his hands firmly gripping Ethan. Before Ethan could think, he found himself flying towards the portal. Eyes shut close, and he jumped to his instincts. I'm dead!

Bryan caught the swinging holder and stepped onto it. He used one of his legs as a propeller by kicking himself from the window, and the holder dutifully swung him straight to the portal. Bryan looked at the crouched Ethan and rolled his eyes. "Come on already; we're running out of time!"

Ethan stood straight and peered at what looked like an endless pathway before them. He prepared to walk but stopped short when a pair of strong hands tugged at his shirt. Bryan pointed towards a small depression on the panel where they were standing. "Our eyes are playing tricks with us. It's not an endless pathway; rather, it's a step. All we have to do is jump down."

Ethan nodded and jumped down, half expecting to get hit by something. But before he could open his eyes, a strong light blinded him. As his eyes adjusted to the strong light around him, the scenery before his eyes struck him with awe.

Gilded artifacts adorned every surface, their golden hues shimmering in the ethereal glow of the torchlights that hung at each corner of the room. Jeweled crowns glinted like distant stars, and an array of suits of armor stood sentinel in the corner. Delicate ceramics were hustled along a corner, each stroke of its design whispering tales of Moorish artisans.

Ethan felt like he was in a magical trance. As his gaze swept across the chamber, it fell upon a shimmering cascade of Spanish coins scattered haphazardly across the stone floor, which lay down like fallen leaves. He stooped down, picked up a handful of coins, and stuffed them into his pockets. He prepared to pick some more but stopped short when his eye caught a pair of judgmental looks thrown towards him.

"Thou shall not steal."

Ethan rolled his eyes and prepared to empty his pocket, but stopped short. He saw a silver ring on his finger, which he bought at a discount shop back in Manhattan. He removed the ring and threw it across the stone floor. "True, but nowhere does it say that thou shall not swap."

Bryan scoffed, and before he could rebut, his eyes darted towards a large object at the center of the room. Excitement coursed through his veins as he darted towards the object before him. "And this is the lovers of Teruel."

Ethan's ears picked up the words, and he ran in full speed towards the tomb. Suddenly, static sounds filled the room, which sent shivers down his spine. He brought out the cube from his pocket, and his eyes picked up each and every word that appeared on the screen.

"In shadows deep, where whispers lie, beneath the moonlit, starry sky, a tomb sits silent, cold, and still, it's secrets waiting to instill."

Bryan ruffled his hair and gave off a quizzical look. "That doesn't make sense. The Lovers of Teruel is a well-known tale, and the tomb is actually a very famous tourist attraction. So how is it that it's a secret?"

Ethan couldn't help but nod in agreement. "Wait, there's more to it."

He passed the cube onto Bryan's hand, his eyes pacing along with the fast flowing words on the screen. The more words the screen threw, the more puzzled their expression grew.

The air is thick with ancient dread,
As if the souls of the long-dead
Are beckoning with spectral hands,
To reveal what the darkness demands.

Within the crypt, wrapped in shadows,
Darkness abides,
Whispers murmur of a forgotten lore,
Echoing through the corridor.

So venture forth into the blight,
For there lies the answer to time and space,
But only those who brave it's grasp,
Shall uncover the truth at last.

Ethan sat on the cold stone floor, his nerves throbbing within in exasperation. "This is pure gibberish. There is no forgotten lore here! The lovers of Teruel is a famous legend."

Bryan sat beside the tomb, his fingers feeling each and every edge of the weathered marble. "Ever seen a corpse?"

Ethan raised an eyebrow, lacing his face. "Haven't seen a dead one yet, but have seen living ones though." That horse face and you, of course.

Bryan's fingers still traced the tomb, his eyes not leaving the marble structure. "You want to see one?"

Ethan gulped as fear rushed throughout his body. "Erm what? Look, you are really creepy right now, ok? Are you possessed?"

Bryan gave a steel-cold look towards Ethan and smirked. "We're opening the tomb."