Kylee Monger

  Archeological Dig Site

  Jerusalem 6:50am

  November 21, 2022

  Kylee reached up to wipe away the sweat trickling down her forehead. The worn fabric of her sleeve only served to leave a dusty smudge in it’s place. The scorching sun blazed high in the sky. It was too damn hot to be this early. Undeterred by the blistering heat, she had dedicated herself to the task at hand, tirelessly chipping away at the compacted dirt surrounding her discovery. Hours had passed as she toiled, her fingertips becoming calloused and her nails worn down to the quick from the repetitive digging and dusting.

  She imagined the weight of others' gazes upon her, their curious stares observing her steadfast refusal to employ the use of tools at this late stage of the dig. But this morning, she was alone. Kylee's determination stemmed from a place deep within her, a primal urge that drove her to eschew the aid of instruments and connect directly with the earth. It was a practice that resonated with her soul, a part of herself she showcased without inhibition. Everything else about her, she knew, was an intricate facade, a carefully constructed persona that masked her true essence—a deep fake designed to keep others at bay and shield her sociopathic core.

  At first glance, Kylee Monger embodied the quintessential image that pops into your mind when struggling to recall the actress who played alongside your favorite male hero. She exuded an aura reminiscent of a statuesque Lara Croft, albeit with a shorter, posh-spice-esque cropped hairstyle that added a touch of modernity. Her American identity resonated in every aspect, making her the epitome of every prepubescent dream that teenage boys held close. Even her daring nose ring became an integral part of her allure, adding a rebellious edge to her appearance. In this local community, she stood out in a manner that was almost jarring, drawing attention that bordered on the offensive. It was her unmistakable swagger, the way she carried herself with unapologetic confidence, that caused even the elders to utter silent prayers as she strolled by, awestruck by her magnetic presence.

  As her fellow dig team members had long departed from the site, she shed her fa?ade, revealing her true self in the solitary presence of the box and her unwavering intuition. Weeks had passed since she began delicately etching away at the encasing, but her current efforts intensified, driven by an urgency that pulsed through her veins. Three of her right-hand fingers were wrapped in bandages, evidence of the toll this laborious process had taken on her. The other two digits bore the marks of heavy calluses, a testament to the countless hours she had dedicated to this endeavor.

  Sensing that the culmination of her painstaking work was imminent, Kylee reached into her pocket with her free hand, retrieving her phone. The anticipation in the air was palpable as she navigated through her device, her fingers moving with a practiced ease. With a decisive voice, she commanded, "Alexa, initiate a video call with Jo."

  "Johanna," Kylee greeted with a warm smile, her voice filled with excitement as she peered into the camera. "Guess what I—"

  But before Kylee could finish her sentence, her words were abruptly silenced by an unexpected sight that flashed across the screen. In less than a second, the shocking realization struck her like a lightning bolt. Johanna had unintentionally answered the call while in the midst of a deeply private moment. The shock was palpable as Kylee's eyes widened, her mind racing to comprehend the situation. She couldn't help but think, "Covid protocols, my ass!"

  For a brief moment, Kylee contemplated ending the call, averting her gaze from the intrusive scene that had unfolded before her. However, a low, alluring moan pierced through the audio, capturing her attention. It wasn't Johanna's voice—it was the voice of Kylee's own partner. In that pivotal instant, Kylee's hand hesitated, the desire to disconnect the call warring with an overwhelming curiosity.

  Instead of terminating the connection, she found herself squinting, subtly tilting her head in an attempt to adjust the angle of the camera. A moment later, Johanna shifted position just enough to provide the clear view Kylee had been waiting for, confirming her suspicions. Her heart sank as the truth became unmistakable—her best friend and trusted business partner was engaged in an intimate relationship with her own boyfriend.

  Without uttering a single word, Kylee swiftly terminated the video chat, severing the connection between them.

  *****

  Johanna

  Johanna rolled off of Ryan, catching her breath as she retrieved her phone from beneath the tangled sheets. As she pulled it out, she noticed a recent video chat notification, and a surge of panic washed over her. "Shit!" she exclaimed, causing Ryan to sit up abruptly, his concern evident.

  "What happened?"

  "It's Kylee, and it was in the last two minutes," Johanna replied, her voice filled with urgency. "I somehow answered the video chat!"

  "Shit!" Ryan echoed, his panic mirroring hers as he scrambled to get dressed.

  Johanna hastily grabbed the nearest shirt, only realizing halfway through that it belonged to Ryan and not her. She quickly abandoned it, making a beeline for a chair in the corner of the room, desperately searching for something that belonged to her. "Kylee video chatted me just a minute ago," she explained frantically.

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  Ryan paused in his tracks, a mix of fear and determination etched on his face. He looked at Johanna, then down at himself, and back up at her. "Regardless of whether she knows or not, this isn't stopping. She's in Israel."

  Johanna quickly pulled her top down over herself and pulled her hair back into a high ponytail, only to release it and redo it in a lower ponytail, attempting to alter her appearance. She needed to convey the image of someone under the weather, sipping soup and cocooned in a heated blanket. Taking a deep breath and gazing at her reflection in the mirror, she mustered the necessary emotions and dialed Kylee's number. She didn't want to risk another video chat, as the guilt on her face was undeniable, and her surroundings could easily give away her location. As she prepared to make the call, a sudden wave of nausea overcame her, and she rushed to the sink, vomiting.

  *****

  Kylee

  Kylee's phone continued to buzz incessantly for several minutes, demanding her attention. Initially, she ignored it, focused on the task at hand—carefully dusting the box she had successfully removed from the wall. Engrossed in the process, she found a certain serenity in excavating while purposely disregarding Johanna's frantic calls. The phone would pause momentarily, only to resume its buzzing as the voicemail notifications played out. After what felt like the tenth consecutive round of ringing, Kylee halted her actions and fixed her gaze upon the intrusive device. She realized that she wouldn't be able to concentrate on anything else until she silenced it.

  With a swipe of her finger, Kylee answered the call, but her intention to speak was interrupted by a sudden fit of coughing. The dust that had settled beneath the phone had found its way into her windpipes, prompting the violent reaction. After clearing her throat, she managed to respond, "Kylee, what's up, girl?" Johanna's voice rang through the line, laced with concern. "Are you okay?"

  Taking a moment to compose herself, Kylee smiled, a mischievous glimmer in her eyes, as she screwed the lid back onto her canteen. She found amusement in Johanna's desperation, sensing the weight of her guilty conscience. "Jo! We have a problem," Kylee finally declared, her voice steady. She paused, allowing her words to hang in the air.

  "It's not what you think!" Johanna's voice trembled with a mix of fear and relief, unsure of how much Kylee might have witnessed.

  Kylee's smile broadened as she played with Johanna's uncertainty, relishing the anticipation. "The site is being closed down," she interrupted, cutting off any potential self-incrimination. Silence followed, pregnant with unspoken thoughts as Johanna grappled with the unexpected turn of events. She hadn't anticipated this twist in their conversation. "An unexploded ordnance landed on it. I tried to call, but the signal died. Officials are cordoning it off as we speak."

  "What?" Johanna's stunned voice held a tinge of disbelief, struggling to process the shocking news. "They can't work on it there. If something happens, the entire site will be destroyed, and months of work will be..." Her words trailed off, her frustration evident.

  Johanna let out a frustrated huff, then fell silent. Meanwhile, Kylee tilted her head, her gaze fixated on the box she had liberated, sensing something amiss about it. "I'm going to make some phone calls," Johanna abruptly switched gears, her business mindset kicking into gear.

  "Don't!" Kylee interjected, her voice firm. "I was a shift away from freeing the box. I'm going to come in the night. I'll have it and be on my way in two days."

  "No! You could get caught, and you might lose your visa," Johanna pleaded, concern seeping into her words.

  "I won't. Get better!" Kylee's response was brief but laced with determination. It stung Johanna to realize that, despite their current circumstances, Kylee was still looking out for her well-being. And yet, she couldn't shake the guilt of her actions, of betraying her friend with Ryan. Johanna glanced back at Ryan, still lying on the bed, and muttered, "I'm sorry."

  "For what?" Kylee inquired, her curiosity piqued.

  Johanna hesitated, deciding against disclosing the true nature of her remorse. Instead, she redirected the conversation, masking her conflicting emotions. "My reaction. I feel terrible. I went into business mode. I should have asked if you were okay. Were you around when it landed? I'm glad it didn't explode! Because of you, not the site!"

  "Oh, no. I arrived this morning to see soldiers. I can't even get to it right now. I'm at our coffee place. I've got to go, though. I'll call you tonight," Kylee explained, her voice tinged with urgency.

  "Stay safe!" Johanna replied, her concern evident. "You know me. Tell Ryan I said I love him."

  Before Johanna could respond further, Kylee disconnected the call once again, leaving Johanna to process the whirlwind of emotions and the complicated web they had woven.

  Devoting her undivided attention to the box, Kylee focused on carefully scratching at the crease of its lid. As her fingers traced the edges, a revelation washed over her—a realization that the only thing holding the box shut had been the weight of the surrounding rocks. With a sudden surge of anticipation, she applied gentle pressure, and to her astonishment, the lid swung open effortlessly. Grasping it firmly with both hands, she prepared herself to unveil the contents within.

  However, as she lifted the lid, a peculiar shift in perspective caught Kylee off guard. She tried to steady herself from the dizzying feeling by closing her eyes.

  “Have a seat, child,” a voice resonated, not through the air but within her mind, soothing yet commanding. The words wrapped around her, a comforting shroud with an underlying threat.

  A wave of confusion and curiosity enveloped Kylee as she opened her eyes. Before she could react or respond, her vision blurred, the edges of her reality fraying as the presence she had unleashed began to intertwine with her own essence. Her perspective shifted in a disorienting whirl of power and possession. She could see her own hands forcefully slamming the stone box into the wall from which it had been unearthed. But she was seeing it more like a movie playing out for her as she had no control over her body.

  She was no longer merely Kylee Monger, archaeologist; she was the vessel through which ancient power would once again assert its will upon the world.

  The box had been more than a container; it was a gateway, and she had just turned the key. And it had destroyed it’s prison.

  ****

  One week later, Johanna

  Johanna sat on her couch, engrossed in a book, when her phone buzzed with a new message. Setting her novel aside, she eagerly picked up her phone and saw that it was a text from Kylee. A smile spread across Johanna's face, relieved to finally hear from her friend after a week of silence and uncertainty from the whole team about the events at the dig site. It was odd. Noone picked up their phones when she called.

  "Hey Johanna! Guess what? Those gorgeous heels we've been eyeing for weeks are finally on sale at the mall! Can you do me a huge favor and pick up a pair for me? I'll pay you back, promise!" Kylee's text read.

  Johanna's excitement mirrored Kylee's, as the prospect of snagging a deal on those coveted shoes had been a topic of discussion between them for months. She quickly typed a response, her fingers dancing across the screen with eagerness.

  "Kylee, that's fantastic news! Of course, I'll grab a pair for you. I can already imagine us strutting our stuff in those fabulous heels. Don't worry about the payment—I've got you covered. See you at the mall!"

  With the text sent, Johanna couldn't contain her anticipation. She leaped off the couch, leaving her book behind on the coffee table, and hurried to her bedroom to freshen up. Selecting her favorite pair of jeans and a trendy blouse, she slipped on her trusty sneakers, fully aware that she was about to embark on a serious shopping adventure. But the fact she hadn’t heard from Kylee or the team in a week and then suddenly this text out of nowhere nagged at her. It was a weird.

  As she stepped out of her apartment, a sense of excitement and camaraderie filled her heart. Johanna couldn't help but envision the joy of finding the perfect pair of shoes, not only for herself but also for Kylee. The prospect of spending a fun-filled day at the mall with her friend brought a sparkle to her eyes and a skip to her step.