Off Highway 187

Kendra strode through the doorway, floors creaking under her tattered sneakers. The box in her arms weighed heavy with books and notepads. Her laptop swung in a bag over her shoulder and a small duffle bag that carried her pathetic excuse for a wardrobe on the other side. Four shirts, two warn out pairs of pants and not one matching sock. The rest of her possessions would arrive with her partner Zia in the next day or two or as soon as she finished her last project at the photography studio.

         The nearest neighbor was a family of four about a mile down the road and she didn't know of any more in the next five. The forestry formed a thick wall collage of nature. Despite its density the land still felt refreshing and open “It feels like home already.” She took a big breathe and cherished the success of their first real home together. Five years they spent waiting for this and the moment had finally come. Untreated floors, chipping paint and all, this was their home now. She envisioned herself lying in bed the sun shining the morning rays on her refreshed skin.

         Her phone vibrated against her leg and she maneuvered her stuff to the ground while trying to grab the phone. Hope you’re enjoying yourself at our new home!!!! Good luck with all that work I know you’re going to get done.

         You know me too well :p, but yeah I think I might. This place is a little busted now but we’ll make it perfect. Love you. She turned the phone off and slipped it into her pocket. Time to explore! She flipped on the series of switches next to the door and the house lit up like an empty stage.           

         Her heart excelled at the thought of finishing the remodeling, every place her eyes looked she knew what it could become. What they would make it into.

         I got a pocket got a pocket full of .. ANSWER YOUR PHONE! She laughed pulling the device from her arm band, what a great way to interrupt her mood music. The key to picking a good ring tone is to make sure you laugh every time it rings. You never want to sound angry on the phone, especially not towards your lady.

         “Hey baby! How was work?” She heard her voice echo as if coming through a speaker. She turned around and Zia ran up to her and embraced her. She jolted with fear at first and then embraced her partners body against her with and with quick kiss she backed away.

         “Did I tell you I finished that project the other day?” She said with her cheeks pursed to a smile, “I bet this place was beautiful when it was taken care of.”

         “Wanna see our bedroom, baby?” She hopped up the stairs, her lovers hand in hers.          

         A loud crack sounded from behind her and she felt the hand slip from hers, Kendra turned as a gut wrenching scream came from her partner who had disappeared. “Babe!” The wood had been so weak the stairs gave out beneath her.

         A gentle click sounded below and it lit up, strange and dim and yellow but it lit none the less. A strange place for a light to be, it didn't seem to be a room.

         “What a Mason vows to shield, let him die but never yield.” Zia said in a trembling voice. “It’s written on the wall. . .in blood.”

         Kendra ran down by the window grabbing the ladder and climbed down to see what she was talking about. The blood looked old, maybe mixed with ink, written in perfect calligraphy. A jeweled dagger lay in the center of the floor.

         “What do you think this is for?” Kendra picked up the extravagant blade, pricking her finger with the tip. “Pffffst, it’s sharp.” She squeezed a little drop of blood from her finger.

         “Well there is a random slit in the wall under the word yield…maybe stick the dagger inside of it?” She did as Zia suggested, what else could it be for? It clicked into place and the sound of tumblers began to roll and click and roll again. The wall receded to reveal a lavish tomb. FORGIVE ME MY BROTHER, THE CODE PRECEDES US ALL, engraved into a plaque that lay on the skeletons chest. Did the last owners know this? Is this the last owner?

         “What the hell do we do now?” Kendra gasped at the dead body.

         “I guess. . .it’s not like he’s hurting anyone down here.” Zia shrugged, “Maybe we should seal the room off for good.”

         “You don’t think the cops should know about this?” Kendra argued, throwing her arms into the tightly crossed position displaying her disapproval.

         “I think if I know anything about the free masons it’s to stay out of there shit. This tomb was put here for a purpose. What if we tear it down and it unleashes some sort of Masonic curse?”