Jack Canyon and The Curse of The Spider Queen | PROLOGUE

Words: 1677

4 1/2 years ago. . .

Lightning struck the ground near Jack Canyon, barely missing
the archaeologist, as he leaped over a stone wall to avoid
the booby traps of the ancient Greek temple. He fell down
covering his head as lightning hit the wall. He peeked for a
moment over the top of the wall looking for the device that
was emitting the electricity.

"Jack," a feminine voice called as a young brunette neared
him from behind. She, too, was seeking cover. "There's
never a dull moment, huh?"

A sudden outcry of gunfire rang through the chamber hitting
the wall. Jack pulled the girl to safety between two
pillars.

Emily smiled as she was held close to Jack. She faced him
and could smell his slightly sweaty scent, but it didn't
bother her. She kept her nose close to his chest. Her hands
held onto the tail of his light gray t-shirt. "Saving me,"
she said. "Usually its the other way around. You know, I
never quite figured out why you don't carry a gun with you."

"It's a lot more fun this way, don't you think?" He asked as
he looked at the incoming goons.

"Oh, yeah, loads," she replied sarcastically. "So what's the
plan?"

"I'll tell you as soon as I come up with one, Emily," Jack
told Ms. Baxter, his assistant. He pushed himself off a
pillar and darted across the room. He dodged a lightning bolt
that was thrown at him by the orb in the center of the room.
He was drawing the bolts of electricity toward the men with
guns. He was in luck, too.

"It'll be a miracle you don't get yourself killed, Jack,"
Emily told herself as she watched his daring spectacle. She
was in awe that he managed to take down one of the men. She
shook her head and continued to watch.

Jack watched as the other two neared the slope up to the
chamber. He leaped over a short stone wall and tackled one
of the three men, barely avoiding another strike by the
lightning device. With a precise punch to the stomach, he
knocked the wind from the man. Before Jack could turn
around, he was hit in the jaw by a big fist. At least, it
felt big.

Emily grimaced as she watched the fight.

Jack shook off the pain and fought back with a few hits of
his own. He ducked as lightning shot across the room and hit
the wall, sending shards everywhere, even on top of the man
Jack was battling with. Luck was on his side; and he wasn't
about to stop now.

one of the men was creeping along the short wall and nearing
Emily. Her nerves were beginning to tremble as the man drew
near. She was a fighter, but he had a gun. Without thinking
much about it, she waited for him to near. She attacked him
by tackling him, forcing him into the wall. She heard his
back make a crackling noise.

Jack's attention was on Emily as she stayed strong. Then a
scream echoed through the chamber. He wasn't sure if it was
his or Emily's. She had been hit by the device's
electricity. He jumped over the walls and ducked to avoid
the same fate as Emily. Finally, reaching her, he held her
in his arms.

"Jack," she spoke softly.

"I'm going to get you out of here," Jack told her.

"Take care of my dad, will you?"

"Don't talk like that," Jack said with a lop-sided smile.
"You're a strong woman. You can fight this."

"I love you, Jack," Emily admitted as her eyes fluttered.

"Stay with me, kid," Jack urged her as his hand found hers.

"Tell me-- Jack-- Tell me that you love me," Emily demanded.

"I love you, Em," he replied just before she let go of life.
Jack almost began to cry. He squeezed her hand hard and
tightened his jaw. He shot up from where he was and ran to
the other man, who was still searching for him in the large
chamber. He leaped onto a fallen pillar, dodging a bolt of
lightning, and pouncing on top of the last man standing. He
began punching and punching, but he could only see red. He
partially blacked out, unable to remember much except for
anger. He just lost the most important person in his life.

Then everything stopped.

Jack fell back into a seated position on the ground with his
back on the fallen pillar. He looked at his blood-drenched
fist and the immobile body on the ground. He breathed deeply
and tried to calm down. He was on a mission. He still had a
job to do. For Emily.

The white orb in the center of the room hummed loudly as it
sat idle upon a three foot stone stand.

Jack needed to shut it off before getting the artifact. He
could do this. He was smarter than these booby traps.
Wasn't he? He stood and dusted off his dark brown Carhartt
canvas pants. With one last look at Emily, he jumped over
the pillar and rolled once he hit the ground. He jerked up
the shield of a fallen Greek warrior and barely blocked the
lightning.

The shield reflected the electricity and thrust it back at
the orb rendering the white ball inoperable.

Jack stood and dropped the mirror-finished shield, before
moving forward. The altar was just ahead with his prize on
it. He stepped cautiously up the steps. He smiled as he
reached the top and reached out for the mythological relic.
"The mask of Medusa," he sighed happily and gave a cocky
grin.

***

Back from Thermapylae, Greece, Jack Canyon returned happy,
but deeply saddened. The good news was that he had the mask
of Medusa safe from anyone who would use it unwisely. The
bad news was hard for him to accept. It would be even harder
for him to explain. He knocked lightly on a large wooden
door and awaited for someone to open it.

An elderly man named John Baxter answered the door in shock to see Jack standing there with Emily in his arms. "Oh, god, Jack!" He cried out when he saw the burn in her chest. "Come in!" John closed the door behind Jack as he moved inside and lay Emily down on a couch.

Jack sat down on the floral designed couch as Mr. Baxter knelt on the floor in front of his lifeless daughter.

"How did it happen?" The man asked through his sobs.

"I was occupied with some grave robber who was trying to kill
us," Jack stated. "One sneaked upon her, and she fought with
him. I don't know if she forgot about the trap or not, but
it hit her."

"Did she die instantly? Was she in pain?"

"She looked peaceful," Jack answered as tears streamed down
his face. "I got to her before she died, though."

"What did she say?" John weeped.

Jack cried hard, but tried to restrain himself. "She told me
to take care of you, like you told me to take care of her
four years ago."

"What else did she say?" John asked.

"That she loved me," Jack stated as he wiped away his tears,
but more came.

John moved toward Jack and placed his hand onto his wrist.
"You would've been a fine son-in-law, a fine husband."

"Thank you," Jack told him as he stood up. "I'll arrange
everything for her funeral. Right now, I should get over to
the museum and get the mask to the curator."

"Take care, Jack," John told him.

"I'll see you around, John," Jack stated as he walked out the
door.

***

Jack's next stop was the museum on the other side of town.
He marched up the front steps and into the building. From
there, he found his way to the curator's office. The elderly
man behind the desk looked up as Jack knocked on his opened
door.

"Ah, Jack," he stated with a smile as he stood. "I guess you
have it?"

"Yes, Mr. Stone, I have it right here." Jack pulled the mask
from his pack and set it onto the desk.

"Perfect," the curator spoke as he looked over the artifact.
He looked up for a moment when he realized something was
missing. "Where's Emily?"

Jack's eyes dropped to the floor as the question arose. "She
died. The booby trap in the temple got her."

"It wasn't Sheppard?" Mr. Stone asked.

"I took care of him and his men," Jack replied.

"I'm sorry to hear about your loss," Stone told him.
"Listen, I'll pay for everything for her funeral. I'll send
your payment tomorrow." He looked back at the mask. "You've
done the world a great service."

Jack was headed out of the office, but stopped and turned his
attention back to Mr. Stone. "But at what cost?"

"I'm sorry she died, Jack, but I mean it. This mask is a
dangerous artifact that must be preserved by the right
people." He pressed the call button on his phone.
"Margaret, send her in."

A slim lady in jeans and a tank top walked in with her hips
and sandy blonde hair swaying. She smiled at Jack as she
moved to the desk.

"I need you to catalog this, Sophia," Mr. Stone told her as
he handed the mask to her.

"I'll get right on it, dad," she spoke softly as she turned
with the mask in hand. She gave Jack another smile, since
she thought he was cute.

Jack watched her exit with swaying hair and hips. "Your
daughter? I didn't know you had a daughter."

"It's better that way," Stone said with a smug smile.

Jack laughed slightly and turned to leave. "You know where
to find me." He continued onward with a hot bath and long
night's sleep on his mind. If he could sleep, after this horrible day.