Lost City

He stands in the courtyard of the lost city, holding an old scroll of ancient parchment. The archaic language written thereupon is similar to the primitive languages he had studied most of his scholarly life. It speaks of treasures hidden beneath the old city, though some of the text he could not decipher. He knew the password, but he didn’t know what it would unlock. Picking up the head of the god, he places it in the niche above the nearest door. Nothing. He methodically walks from door to door, inserting the head into each adjacent niche. Frustrated, he moves to the center of the courtyard, circling. What had he missed?

Looking down in defeat, he discovers a familiar square shaped indentation. Could it be? He inserts the square base of the head into the cavity. It clicks into place. For a moment, there is nothing but stillness. Then the earth begins to rumble. He just manages to leap out of the way, as the blocks on which he had stood part. An enormous statue rises from the ground. The head that he so recently held stares down upon him with seeming animosity. His fear and excitement are palpable. On the right foot of the statue is a stone keypad. Referencing the parchment, he presses with great effort the stone with the red sun, followed by the yellow moon and the orange star. Quickly backing away, he watches in amazement as the statue’s right foot slides backwards revealing an underground staircase. With a silent prayer, he turns on his headlamp and descends the stairs.

Reena’s Xploration Challenge #314