Vanessa looks at a statue.
“They look like angels,” Pilch comments.
Vanessa points to the closest one, “Gargoyles.”
Pilch shrugs, “Still gorgeous.”
Vanessa looks closely at a statue. Monte sees a door on the other side that Yusif is already moving toward, “Come on, let’s go.”
“I ain’t leavin’ without a souvenir. For my mom, of course,” Oddball says as he picks up a coin and flips it into the air.
“No. It’ll slow you down,” Monte tells him.
Karl has walked to the center and is filling his pack with treasure.
Yusif looks back from the door, “It is death to take from them.”
“Who?” Pilch asks.
Yusif points to the statue that Vanessa is inspecting.
“I’m telling you, they ain’t gonna mind. Right, pal?” Oddball tosses a coin at Karl to get his attention. Karl looks in his direction and smiles.
“It looks so life-like; the quality is excellent,” Vanessa touches the statue and jerks her hand back, “Oh my god! It’s not stone.”
“What is it?” Pilch asks her.
“It’s real,” she says quickly heading for the door.
“We’re leaving,” and Monte turns to leave.
Oddball turns to go, but when Monte can’t see, he scoops up a handful of coins and pockets them. The ground trembles.
Muller is at the door, “Karl, leave it.”
“Not on your life,” he lifts the bag up over his shoulder with a grunt. The ground rocks.
“That can’t be good,” Pilch says and runs for the door.
“Shit,” Monte yells.
A gargoyle slips from the wall landing on the ground, wings flapping.
“They’re alive!” Muller screams to Karl.
Monte grabs Vanessa and pushes her out of the room. Oddball runs for the door.
“Behind you!” Monte screams at him.
A gargoyle flies toward Oddball, who turns and throws a handful gold coins at it, “I don’t want it; I don’t want it!” She dives at him, claws extended. Oddball screams and ducks, and she sails over him.
“Run!” Monte screams waving Oddball on.
Three gargoyles descend on Karl.
“Sarge, help me!” Oddball shrieks as the gargoyle swings around. Monte pulls Oddball through the door. The gargoyle is closing in on them and as they burst through, Muller slams the door closed. They hear Karl’s screams from the other side. The door crashes, and Muller is pushed back.
“I don’t think they’re staying inside.”
Yusif helps him hold the door. Another crash, and they both are pushed back. Oddball jumps in to help. Three hits rock the door, knocking the men down. A gargoyle stands in the doorway holding Karl’s severed head. Monte levels his gun. The Gargoyle knocks him onto the ground and flies down the hallway. Another steps out and looks at Oddball. The creature growls, showing its sharp teeth. Oddball crawls back against the wall, “I’m sorry! I’m sorry!” Oddball reaches in his pocket and starts throwing gold coins into the room. The Gargoyle raises her hand back, ready to strike with razor sharp claws, “Couple more.”
Monte levels his gun at her.
“I wouldn’t,” Yusif advises him.
Monte looks to see the rest of the Gargoyles standing in the doorway, ready to attack.
Monte looks to Oddball, “Sorry, son, you’re on your own.”
Oddball tosses in the last of the coins and looks into the room, “There you go! That’s all of ’em.” Oddball smiles. The Gargoyle stares at him.
“Oh, shit,” Oddball says.
With a rush of air, the other Gargoyle flies back into the room. Oddball cringes. The one in front of him leans down and waves her finger ‘no.’
“Yeah, got it. Real sorry, won’t happen again.”
She speaks in an ancient tongue and then scratches Oddball’s cheek, just enough to draw blood. Oddball shakes with fear as she slams the door closed. He lies back on the floor with a sigh.
Pilch smiles, “Think she’s fresh on you.”
Oddball looks over to him, “I wonder what she said.”
“Do not touch me, my possessions nor my heart,” Vanessa translates.
“Trust me, I ain’t touchin’ nothing that bitch has got!”
Monte looks around the tunnel they’re now in. It’s lined with human skulls from floor to ceiling. At the far end, a speck of red light can be seen.
Pilch looks around at the skulls, “Must be thousands.”
“There is no end to man’s greed when it comes to gold,” Yusif states, “And in this place, they must pay for it.”
Monte leads the way forward, “Let’s make sure we don’t become wallpaper, too.”
Oddball looks to the light at the end of the tunnel, “That don’t look like sunlight to me.”
Yusif nods, “We are almost there.”
Oddball stops, “So let me get this straight -- the door to hell is just ahead, and you want us to just walk up and close it?”
Yusif nods and continues on.
Oddball shakes his head, “Something wrong with that guy. He’s always too calm.”
Yusif leads them to an intersection and stops. He looks ahead, toward the light.
“Look,” Pilch says and points to the wall where Karl’s head is surrounded by ancient skulls.
“Bastards,” Muller says.
“The door, we must hurry,” Yusif says.
From the other corridor, they hear the rush of running boots. Monte looks toward the noise, “Go! We’ll keep them off your back.”
Yusif starts moving toward the light.
“Pilch, go with him,” Monte orders.
Pilch and Monte lock eyes, tension in the air. Pilch nods and turns to go.
“Wait,” Monte says and Pilch turns back to find Monte’s hand extended.
Oddball and Muller take up firing positions, preparing for the onslaught. Oddball stares down his sights waiting, “Dear Mom. I’m standing in a skull-lined cave under the desert. On one side of me is an army of undead. On the other side, the gate to hell. Hope all is well back in Sioux Falls. Love, Oddball.”
Vanessa shakes her head, “You certainly have a way with words.”
“That’s what my drill sergeant told me.”
Vanessa looks to Oddball, Monte and Muller with weapons ready, “Do you have an extra gun?”
Oddball hands her a pistol with a smile.
“Thanks,” and she kisses him on the lips.
Pilch stares at the hand for a long moment and then reaches out to take it. The two men grip hands firmly.
“Go,” Monte tells him, and Pilch starts after Yusif.
“Stop!”
Pilch looks back to see Belial at the tunnel’s entrance and runs after Yusif.
Monte looks to Belial, “No stopping him now.”
Belial glares at Monte, “You will live to see the end of days for this.”
Monte nods, “So be it,” and Monte shoots Belial in the head.
Chapter 18
Pilch and Yusif walk carefully down the tunnel. Pilch looks over his shoulder as gunfire erupts behind them.
“Get ready,” Yusif advises.
Something moves ahead, “What’s that?”
“I was told the gate would be guarded.”
“By who?”
“My father.”
Pilch sighs, “No, guarded by who?”
Yusif smiles, “The ones who opened the gate. Sumerians.”
Ahead, four skeletons step from alcoves in the wall. Yusif draws his scimitar as a Sumerian advances, his sword held low, the point waving back and forth.
“Welcome to 1943 asshole,” Pilch fires, and the Sumerian’s skull explodes. The rest charge for them. Pilch fires again, and another goes down.
“Do not go gently,” Yusif mutters.
The last two skeletons attack with their swords. Pilch uses his rifle to block a swipe. The Sumerian easily knocks his rifle from his hands and draws back for the deathblow. Yusif blocks a swipe and quickly swipes the head off the skeleton Pilch is facing. He has saved Pilch but opened himself up for attack. The last skeleton catches him in the side. Yusif goes down with a cry, and the skeleton raises his sword. Pilch fires his pistol, taking the skeleton’s head off.