Mesu followed closely. They had arrived faster than she had expected. Em had already gathered a layout of what they were looking at infiltrating. There were more guards than Em had first told them about. Zoe had thought that more might have been called in after a couple of deaths were discovered from the first scouting mission.
Tai, Mesu, and Anna snuck down a couple of floors and were waiting. It was up to the rest of the group to cause a distraction and pull as many as they could out of the building. Zoe reassured Mesu that they would know when the time came to find their treasure. A book was what they were looking for, along with anything valuable they could carry.
This book was a religious artifact that a buyer offered a high amount for. It was thought to be housed at this old temple. Mesu had watched as they entered and hadn’t recognized the symbols or murals. She was sure that it was used for religious purposes at some point. Zoe was unable to answer why this person wanted the book. It would likely be added to a collection and not see the light of day again. The book would be moved from one tomb to another, where it would add value to a shelf. Mesu was not one for reading as her lessons had been stopped, and even if she was, the language used would likely not be known to her.
A screeching startled her as it traveled down the halls. Mesu clutched to make herself even smaller in their hiding spot. Footsteps passed by their spot hastily. More half barks were heard as another few sets of legs passed them by. Silence followed as another group shuffled through their area.
“Alright, should be clear. Let’s go.” Tai was the first to get up as she spoke. The other girls followed and stayed behind her as they moved to another staircase. It led further down. Mesu started to worry that they were getting lost. Tai navigated the floors like she had been there before. It was a level of confidence that Mesu admired.
They rushed downstairs and to an intersection. Mesu’s instinct pulled her to the right, which she felt was why Tai went left instead. She followed as they passed a couple more rooms and had a large area open up to them. The smell was the first thing that hit Mesu. Her last meal came up, and she staggered to the wall. It took a second for Anna to have the same reaction.
A laugh came from a makeshift seat near the end of the room. A twisted bellowing sent vibrations through the area. Mesu’s eyes adjusted to the dark, and she wished they hadn’t. The source of the laugh was a pile of flesh. Layer on top of layer of the pinkish skin made her stomach wish there was more to expel. Anna found a little more and dropped to a knee. Mesu swallowed hard and gripped her knife as she joined Tai side by side.
The dim lights illuminated what looked to be an old place of worship. It looked to be mostly intact, with benches and items scattered or dropped with no care over time.
More sounds came from its mouth. Mesu couldn’t tell if they were words she knew.
“Look to the right of the thing. A pedestal. That symbol on the book matches what we were told.” Tai kept her voice low. The thing stopped talking and stood. “I guess it didn’t like being interrupted. Grab it and go.” Tai sprinted toward the thing. Mesu took this as her time to act and followed.
“Down!” Mesu rolled as she caught a glimpse of something large flying towards them. It had sent a pew flying through the air at them as they approached. They were halfway to the creature. Mesu broke from the path Tai was taking and ran towards the book. One of the dog-faced minions emerged from the shadows and was heading right for her. Mesu pulled her arm back and braced for impact. It never came as the figure fell to the ground. She saw Anna loading another arrow. Mesu jumped over the body and grabbed the book. It was heavier and larger than she had imagined.
Mesu was forced to walk back to the hall as she only had her arms to carry it. She caught glimpses of Tai fighting the monster, which was twice as tall as any of them. It was hard to focus on the task and watch the dance that Tai was putting on. Anna was helping out as much as she could, but the arrows jutted out of the mountain of flesh. Mesu wondered if the thing would be acting like this if it just knew what they had come for. It was too late to tell.
Mesu reached the hallway and started to fashion a carrier for the book with extra rope and part of a cloth on the ground. The stress made it much more difficult than it needed to be. Anna kept watch on both sides of the hall and fired off an arrow when she had a clear shot.
“Okay, I got it.” She stood up, holding it on her back, and almost fell back when she first felt the weight.
“Cover me!” Tai sliced again at the beast and broke into a sprint. The thing screamed out and pounded a great club on the ground. The shaking continued as it followed Tai at a much slower pace. Another arrow fired by Anna didn’t phase it. Anna backed up with Mesu following. They were deeper in the hall as Tai got closer. Mesu was the first to start running once she saw Tai and the monster not slowing. She was shocked it had legs and was moving as quick as it was. Anna followed, and they got to the steps up to the next level.
The monster continued to follow. The hall was significantly tighter, and somehow it was fitting and coming through. Mesu felt that did make sense. Somehow it had to get down here. Its speed was slower but still fast enough to chase them. Mesu ran up the steps as Tai waited to make sure the other girls were clear. The book weighed down on Mesu as she got up to the next level. Its weight didn’t feel lighter after the steps; She cursed it. Her speed was slower, but they ran through hallway after hallway. The additional staircases were chores, and Mesu knew she would be carrying this book on the way back to town to condition herself for these situations.
The beast kept coming. The smell was not as bad as it was in the makeshift throne room. The yelling behind them continued. Daylight was a welcome sight, and Mesu was now stumbling through the halls as her legs fought her progress and the additional weight. The adrenaline wore off, and she fought for the steps.
Russ was waiting at the doorway and picked up Mesu just before she was able to exit. The relief that washed through her body was one of the best things she ever felt. He ran her over to a tree close by and sat her against it with the book still on her. Mesu slipped her arms out of the pouch as she saw the beast emerge from the structure. She felt bad that she wasn’t joining, but she watched and learned. It was some lessons she would be carrying over to the next adventure.