The Dark Spirits Beneath by Kason Laufenberg (lightweight ebook reader txt) 📕

"Oh my god, you are like the neediest goddamn student out here!" James groaned, "Fine! I'll be right over." With as little effort as possible, he proceeded to stroll over to look into the newly excavated pit, expecting to see nothing of importance, and continuing to prattle on as he does, "Okay, okay.. Where is this big something...?" But now his words were abruptly halted, as he gazed down into Layla's pit, at her discovery, mouth agape. "What the... How did you... Is that... how did you even know... a goddamn Hopi burial cache? Do you realize how rare all this is? And get a look at the condition of that jewelry, and..."

Layla smiled, listening to him trail off in disbelief, knowing that she now had his full and undivided attention. "That's not all. Give me a hand with this," she quipped, as James was already climbing down into the pit. Together, the two of them quickly unearthed bit more of the area behind the remains themselves. Efforts, that continued to reveal the incredibly intact remnants of a curved adobe wall, that joined up with the cream-colored one at the surface. The one Layla had hit her head on when she fell. The complete structure seemed to continue well past the extent of the small test pit. "I think," Layla continued, "that this was a kiva or some other kind of ceremonial structure or something! And if the curvature of this wall is any indication... I mean, it probably the biggest one we've ever seen, out here, or anywhere else!" As Layla said this, she breathed out a sigh of relief, knowing that her secret abilities had once again paid off, just like they always seemed to.

Layla waited for the shocked expression of awe and jealousy on her colleague's face to wear off, not seeing any indication that it will any time soon. James continued to examine the remainder of the findings, awestruck, and stammering, "But... how did you... who would've ever known...?"

Layla found she couldn't help it. She shrugging innocently and betrayed the faintest of knowing smirks, as all she could think to modestly say at the moment was, "I told you. Instinct."

Chapter 4

Confusion and Mistrust

"What? What are you staring at?"

"I'm just... thinking..." James' gaze was penetrating, locked on Layla, in a mixture of bitter resentment and skepticism, as his eyes reflected the dancing flames of the campfire that glowed nearby.

Layla, clearly uncomfortable, was making every effort to avert her gaze and avoid the silent, aggressive inquisition she now found herself to be the unwitting victim of. "Well, think you can stop it already? It's starting to creep me the hell out."

"I'm just... I'm just trying to figure out what's really going on with you here. I mean, no one just wakes up and is suddenly that lucky."

"Honestly, Layla, can you blame him for thinking that way?" The girl sitting next to James chimed in, voicing her support of the interrogation, through a thick, but clearly Americanized British accent, "I mean, come on... You kept... this... from all of us!"

"I..." Layla stammered to find the words to aid in her defense, "I've been completely honest and open the whole time... This?... This is nothing... I didn't hide anything from any of you!"

"Yeah, you did. And especially after what happened the last time we were out on a dig like this...?" the voice of the other girl seemed quick in cutting Layla off and firing back an accusatory response. "Remember? That Zuni site bullshit in Arizona?"

"Yeah, I gotta say," James continued the tactical assault of their classmate's character. He had begun to straighten his posture, in that cocky-confident sort of way, only too happy to be receiving the unsolicited support, "this is starting to feel a hell of a lot like the last time."

"Oh, come off it! It doesn't even matter. You know she hasn't got a bloody thing," the girl exploded, calling out Layla on her obvious deception. Increasingly irate, she leaped to her feet, knocking over the folding camping chair as she does, before continuing, "just that one, worthless card to play... That's it!"

"Guys... I swear, there's more going on here with me than just that," Layla knew that pleading her case at this point was of no use. Still, she had no intention of letting them gang up on her without at least attempting to fight her way out. "But if you really think you can stand in my way, be my guest."

"This is so stupid! She's lying!" James made no effort to hide his opinion that this was enough, as, by all accounts, he figured he had her cornered. "You're a terrible liar... I had you figured out back then, too. I just didn't have the proof."

"Oh, okay..." Layla let out a nervous chuckle and extended her hands in the universal symbol of dude, calm the hell down. "First, blink," Layla continued, brow furrowed, squinting in clear annoyance. "Second, you really think so, Sport? Okay, fine then... prove it now..."

Layla crossed her arms, and sat back down, hoping to exude some sense of confidence. James just paused, continuing to stare at her with an intensity that was very clearly beginning to make her feel even more uncomfortable than she already did. The other girl sat back as well, to observe the unfolding showdown, seemingly just as anxious to see her own suspicions either confirmed or denied. Knowing there wasn't really anything else she could very well do either at this point.

Never breaking his intense gaze, James leaned forward. Clenched tightly in the right hand, he already knew what he needed to do.

Hesitating, only for an instant, he slammed his hand down, rocking the unsteady foundation of the red and white Igloo ice chest, as the contents inside slosh violently with the disturbance. Slowly, he lifted his hand, revealing a pile of crumpled Guatemalan bills, and a carelessly piled stack of discarded playing cards. To