Jack Canyon and The Curse of The Spider Queen | CHAPTER FIVE

Words: 1739

Jack Canyon had poured his heart out to Sophia Stone, his assistant for four years and ex-girlfriend. They didn't even last two months after their return from Mount Sinai. Were things different now? Were things different again after all the heart-felt emotion? Jack had made sure not to let her get too close, but yet, the sandy blonde woman still loved him. It must have been his ruggedness, his confident, adventurous air.

The plane ride had been an awkwardly quiet one for the duo. It was a first. It didn't involve any sleep between either of them. Sophia simply didn't know what to talk about, which was another first. She always had something interesting to say, which was one thing Jack loved about her. She also had a quick wit about her, which made working with her fun. Then again, her retorts and jokes put Jack on edge and kept him on his feet. It also confused him about her feelings.

Jack sighed heavily as he pinched the bridge of his nose. He had spent the last eighteen hours or so reading up on his lost friend's diary. It was a long and drawn out riddle. It made absolutely no sense to Jack at all. He hoped being on location would help solve the mystery. He was glad he had brought Sophia along. She was his linguist. She could interpret anything he needed, whether it was spoken or written.

Standing on a grassy patch of land inside the city that had been built in or around 1450 BC, Jack looked around and at the diary page of Machu Picchu. He could see the Temple of the Three Windows to his left, the Temple of the Sun behind him, and the Temple of the Condor to his right. He remembered that and examined the map that John Baxter had drawn.

"Well," Sophia said breaking the silence.

"The Inca Rope Bridge is over that way," Jack said. "It crosses the Urubamba River. The Inca Trunk Bridge is to my left." He motioned with his finger, pointing at the map. Then he pointed out, trying to find the hidden exit John Baxter had illustrated.

"Jack, this place is huge," Sophia stated. "We'll never find it."

"I can do this," Jack argued. "It's not rocket science!"

"Good thing," Sophia replied. "You can barely do basic science."

Jack pointed his finger at her as if he was warning her. "This way," he said as he headed off to the right and up the staircase. Once he was on top he searched for the sacred pools. "Alright, beyond this is the Industrial Mortar District. Come on."

"I'm coming," she said sternly.

Once he reached the edge of that area, he saw nothing. "What the. . .?" He looked off the edge and down at the long distance between him and the mountainous terrain below. "There's nothing here."

"So much for our little rocket scientist," Sophia said sarcastically. "You must be reading it all wrong."

"I'm not reading it wrong," he urged as he shoved the leather-bound diary into her chest. "Look!"

Sophia rolled her eyes and shook her head as she opened up the journal and began examining it. "Jack? What is this?"

"Huh?" Jack asked as he got up from the edge and moved back to her. He looked down at where her finger pointed. "It's the map's compass."

"I don't think so," she told him. "Those are generally at the bottom. This one is drawn at eleven o'clock on this page."

Jack examined it closer for a moment, noting that the sun-like drawing was indeed in that position in accordance to the drawing of Machu Picchu and all the bridges.

"There are no cardinal points," she pointed out. "I don't think this is a compass. I think this is telling us a time."

"Why?" Jack asked, confused.

"Come on, genius," Sophia gave in answer. "You know more about John Baxter than anyone else."

"Why don't we just have some kind of seance and ask him what the hell he meant?" Jack asked, growing angry at the riddles left behind by his friend.

"Jack!"

"What?!" He yelled out as he turned and looked at her with a fury in his eyes that would scare a child into crying. He received the usual look from Sophia. It was a look she gave when he was angry. She was calm and pretty. Jack looked away for a moment.

"Jack," she spoke softly. "Just relax and think."

Jack sat down for a moment and closed his eyes. "I don't know what I'm doing, Soph."

"Sure you do," she replied as she sat down beside him. She handed him the diary. "What's important about the sun? What does it mean to the Incas?"

Jack sighed heavily and pinched the bridge of his nose. "The Incas worshiped nature. Ithi was their sun god, and perhaps the most important god, as the sun is the most important aspect of life. Though, Viracocha was the most worshiped god."

"Jack, we're not back at the university," Sophia reminded. "No Inca religion lectures."

Jack nodded as he realized now wasn't the time for teaching her about the Inca religion. "Okay," he said as he started to think clearly. Then he looked at his watch. "It's ten o'clock in the morning. We wait."

"Wait for what?" Sophia asked, confused.

"Eleven o'clock," he replied simply. "Then we'll know what to do." He had figured it out. The Incas believe highly in the sun. So, whatever John Baxter had to show them would appear at the eleventh hour.

Sophia sat with Jack through the whole hour. It was horrible for her. She was annoyed with the silence, but annoyed with Jack's sighs too. He was the most impatient person she had ever met. He was never good at just sitting and waiting. Sophia did her best to refrain from shouting out at him. So far, she had done all that in her mind. Then Jack sighed once more. "If you don't stop that, I'm going to throw you off the edge of the cliff."

"Sor-ry," Jack said angrily. "You'd think with all the time you have put in on the job with me, you would be used to this."

"Well, some things you can't quite get used to," she stated. "And those things annoy the hell out of me."

"What time is it?" He asked.

"We have a few minutes," she replied as she looked at her watch.

Jack looked down at the journal page on Machu Picchu and its bridges. Then he looked around at the city ruins one last time before turning his attention out to the area where the bridge was supposed to be. There was nothing there. Why did Baxter draw a bridge where none existed?

As the sun shifted into place, it became visible. Somehow, the sun's beams brought the bridge into light.

Jack and Sophia were both in awe at what they saw. No advanced technology could do this, but the Incas had somehow done it. A wooden rope bridge appeared a few feet below. Jack mentally noted that the mirrors could have been used to do this. After all, magicians used mirrors to make things disappear.

"Alright, let's go," Jack said as he put the journal into his back pocket.

"How on earth did Baxter find this?" Sophia asked, still in awe of the display of ingenuity.

"He had an entire team up here scouring around to find clues about the Spider Queen," Jack explained. "I'm sure one of them discovered this thing while examining this place."

Sophia walked along the bridge, noticing little bits of silver in the wood, which must have acted like a mirror to hide the bridge from intruders.

Jack smiled as they were halfway across. He glanced back at Sophia, but noticed that the bridge was slowly collapsing. "That's not good."

"What?" Sophia asked as she turned to see what he was looking at. As the sun was moving out of position, the bridge was vanishing from sight. If they didn't hurry, they would not make it to the other side.

Jack grabbed Sophia's arm and pushed out front. "Go. GO!" He urged her.

Sophia began to run toward the end of the bridge, which led down to the peak of the next mountain. It was a long bridge.

Jack glanced back once in a while to check the progress of the vanishing bridge. It was a few planks behind him, and still moving fast. The sun would be out of position and the bridge completely gone within minutes.

Sophia glanced back, only to have Jack shove her off the bridge and onto the mountain peak. She stumbled and fell, rotating around and landing her back against a tree.

Beneath his feet, the bridge vanished and Jack fell. It was baffling that it would just dematerialize.

"Jack?" Sophia called out. "JACK!"

His hands arose from the side of the cliff and grasped the ground. Sophia rushed to him and grabbed his hands. They both grunted as she pulled him up. When she pulled him up, he fell on top of her.

"Thanks," he said as he kissed her cheek.

"Oh, God," she said in disgust. "I'm going to be sick."

"Hey, you saved me," Jack reminded her.

"And the worst you could do is kiss me?" Sophia asked. "You could wait until we're back home and just give me a simple raise in pay, but you had to kiss me?"

"Relax, you won't die," Jack told her. "I promise."

"Well, I can't guarantee that you won't," Sophia said angrily. "Kiss me again, and you'll find out."

Jack shook his head and laughed out loud. "Who has your panties in a bunch anyway?"

"My panties are none of your concern, Jack Canyon."

"Could I at least try to get them un-wadded?" He asked with a devil may care grin.

"If I thought I could follow this journal without your help, I'd toss you off this mountain," she told him coldly.

"Oh, come on, we both know that you find me irresistible," Jack stated.

"Well, since you mentioned it," Sophia began, "I do kind of need you."

"See?" Jack said with a big smile on his face.

"You still owe money on my car," she said before heading down the mountain.

"That woman. . ." Jack told himself as he began to follow her.

Jack Canyon and The Curse of The Spider Queen | CHAPTER FOUR

Words: 2030

Jack Canyon burst through the entrance door to Mr. Stone's museum. He made his way toward the back and down a stairwell to an examination lab, where artifacts and mummies were often carbon dated, autopsied, or simply examined. Jack's long time friend, Martin MacNeer, sat at his desk in his office just outside of the examination lab. Jack walked on by and into the lab, making a ruckus as he kicked the door open. That caught Martin's attention.

Martin rose from his lunch which consisted of a sandwich, turkey and mayo on rye bread. There was also a small slice of pickle to the side that was half eaten. He shifted around his deskt and between chairs and file cabinets to get out and into the hall. Through the lab door windows he noticed movement. Without a word he sneaked up to the door and peeked inside. He was slightly relieved it was just Jack, so he moved inside. "Jack, what on earth are you doing down here?"

"Mac," Jack replied as he spun to see the medical-archaeological examiner. "I need your help."

"What is it?" Martin asked as he moved closer to see what Jack had brought him. He spotted the dead woman and immediately backed off. "No. No way, Jack."

"Oh, come on," he begged. "I need to see what killed her."

"I could lose my job over this," Martin stated as he stood firm on his decision.

"Mac," Jack spoke softly. "How many times have I helped you out of tough spots, huh?"

"Don't pull that on me," Martin said sadly. "I'm not supposed to examine human bodies that aren't archaic."

"I need to know why she did, Martin," Jack said wtih a stern tone to his voice. "It's important."

Martin remained silent.

"Didn't I get you this job?" Jack asked. "I don't remember. Refresh my memory. You couldn't get a job because--"

"Okay, I'll do it," Martin said, stopping Jack from saying anything else. He remembered his problem working as a medical examiner. He was hooked on some drugs and lost his job due to that addiction. He was lucky enough to have Jack get him a decent job and get him back on his feet and off drugs. Martin began putting on his gloves. "This could take a while."

"I have time," Jack responded as he pulled Baxter's journal from his back pocket.

Maya and Sophia arrived at the museum moments later, where Sophia's father met them in the main entrance area.

"Sophie," he greeted her. "What brings you here?"

"Jack called me," Sophia replied. "Have you seen him?"

"No, I'm sorry, I haven't," the elderly man spoke. "What happened?"

"He said Clarissa and Marissa were dead," Sophia explained. "And John, too."

"John Baxter?" Robert Stone asked. "Well, I don't know why Jack would have come here."

"I don't know either," Sophia replied to her father.

"The only other person in the building would be Martin," Stone added.

"Martin MacNeer?" Sophia asked.

"Yes, why?"

Sophia looked at Maya and then back to her father. "Jack's down there." She pushed by her dad and made her way toward the stairwell in the back.

"Why?" Stone echoed. He had no choice but to follow his daughter and her friend down to the lab.

Sophia and Maya were the first to arrive in the lab with Martin MacNeer operating on a cadaver. Behind them Mr. Stone appeared. He was in shock.

"Martin," he said in a weak voice. "What on God's green earth are you doing?"

"This is for--" He paused and look around for a moment. "Where's Jack?"

Everyone scanned the room at once, but saw no one else.

"This is for Jack," Martin finished his previous statement. "Her name is--"

"Clarissa," Stone said as he moved closer. "I'm going to find out what's going on. I'm going to find Jack."

"Where is he?" Sophia asked.

"I think I have an idea," Mr. Stone answered as he headed back upstairs.

Sophia moved forward toward Martin. "What killed her?"

***

Jack said in a dusty old office with some papers that hadn't been touched in years. Those pages had a yellow tint to them. The aged look of the office made the place look more like an ancient shrine or sepulchre.

"It's not your fault," a familiar voice rang out.

Jack looked up to see John Baxter. It must've been a part of his imagination, because he knew Baxter was dead. "Sure feels like all of this is."

"Come on, now, Jack," he said moving out of the shadows. "Clare and Mare knew the dangers. In fact, they knew more so than I did. I just would not listen."

"I should have been the one who had taken that job," Jack stated. "I will come find you."

"Jack," Mr. Stone called out forcing Jack to snap out of the daydream. "I knew you would be in Emily's office."

"I can't believe you didn't have it cleaned out," Jack said. "In fact, I can't believe all the people I know or knew worked here at one time or another. John, Clarissa, Marissa, Emily, Sophia."

"It's not your fault, you know?" Stone stated.

"That's what everyone tried to tell me," Jack spoke sadly. "That's what everyone keeps trying to tell me."

"No, Jack," Stone said as he moved closer to the mahogany desk. "John Baxter went down to Peru because I told him to."

"What?" Jack asked, confused.

"You didn't take the job, remember? You had to teach a seminar on archaeology. I might have forced some hands to make this all possible, because John's life long dream was to prove the Spider Queen existed. I wanted him to go achieve this dream, Jack."

"It's that stupid curse," Jack realized. "I mean, curses are just voodoo mumbo jumbo. The only piece of evidence John ever had was the scroll with the curse on it. It was washed up on the shores of Peru. It's been speculated that the Spanish found the Spider Queen, stole her goods, perhaps killed her, and ran off."

"I've read John's book," Stone interrupted. "The curse sank their ships. Half of her treasures are lost at sea. The scroll just washed ashore and was picked up by some Peruvian kids building sandcastles."

"Yeah," Jack nodded. "That's it."

"I know what you're thinking," Stone sighed. "I'll sanction a rescue mission."

Jack looked up at the elderly man for a moment. "Everything in my head says John is dead, but my gut tells me something different."

"Then go," Robert Stone told him. He spotted the open diary. "John's diary?"

"Yeah," Jack said glancing down at it. "I was reading some of it. I think I could find out where he had been and where he is lost."

Stone just nodded at Jack. "I suppose Sophia will tag along?"

Jack stood from the dusty leather chair, grabbed the journal and made his way toward the door. "You know she loves adventure." He walked along with Robert back down to the examination lab.

Sophia and Maya turned as they entered. "Jack, finally," Sophia spoke through the silence. "What's going on?"

Jack showed her the diary, "This." He shook it in the air for a moment. "Did you find out anything, Mac?"

"Yes," Martin answered. "She died of exhaustion, but there's something in her blood that I found odd. It's an unknown pathogen."

Jack simply nodded at the medical examiner.

"The Curse of the Spider Queen," Stone muttered.

Sophia and Maya looked at one another and then back at Jack.

"Get me a ticket to Cusco," Jack announced to Stone. "I'm going to find out what happened to John. Thanks, Martin." He turned and headed out of the lab. He had all the information he needed. Some unknown force had killed her. Was it the Curse of the Spider Queen?

Sophia motioned for Maya to follow her as she turned to follow Jack out. "What's going on?" She asked, stopping Jack halfway down the hall.

"John Baxter was down in the Peruvian jungle," Jack replied. "I don't know what happened, but he was on the trail of locating the Spider Queen. He vanished or died. This journal that Clarissa brought me was John's. It may lead us to him or perhaps show us what happened and lead us to the Spider Queen."

"Jack. . ." Sophia said, but it didn't stop him.

"I have to do this," he continued. "I owe John so much. This is going to be quite an adventure. We start at Machu Picchu and go from there. What do you say?"

Sophia looked at Maya for a moment, only to see the Indian woman shrug. "I guess someone has to keep your sorry ass out of trouble."

Jack smiled at her, "That's more like it." He looked down at the creamy-colored shirt with rusty horizontal and vertical stripes and pants. "Though, I think I should change first."

"Oh, you definitely should," Sophia giggled. "This is so not you."

"I don't know," Maya interrupted. "I kind of like it." She smiled and winked at Jack as she moved on down the hall.

Jack gave a cocky grin before catching Sophia's annoyed look. "I'm on track."

"I hope the train hits you," she said coldly as she moved down the hall behind Maya Rajah.

Oh, come on," he cried out as he pursued her.

***

At Jack's off-campus office and apartment, Jack threw off his shirt and searched his closet for a T-shirt. "Ah, good," he said as he pulled out a dark gray shirt and pulled it over his head. He felt more comfortable as he slowly changed from teacher to archaeologist. He pulled off his pants and began searching his drawers for his Carhartt pants. He smiled as he spotted the ragged and dirt stained Washed Duck Work Dungaree pants. Small pockets on the thighs allowed placement of tools, and there was a loop on once side for a hammer. They were the perfect work pant. Besides, they were the only pants tough enough to withstand the thrashing that Jack's adventures usually contained. These pants that Jack slowly fit into were a rusted brown color with faded places that had been worn slightly. He buttoned the waist and zipped them. He sighed relief and picked up his suitcase, which he tossed onto his bed.

It had been nearly an hour since he left the museum. His mind was racing with so much emotion. He began to think about Emily again, when Sophia arrived.

"Maya's on her way back home," she said as she entered. Then she paused when she noticed Jack's expression. "What's wrong?"

"Nothing," he replied. "I'm fine."

"I know better," Sophia told him. "What's going on?"

Jack ingored her and looked down at his watch. "Your dad was lucky to book us a flight so early. We leave in just under two hours. I better call a cab."

"Jack Canyon!" Sophia said sternly. "What's going on?"

Jack sighed heavily, as if the entire world was on his shoulders. He knew how Atlas felt in Greek mythology. "John Baxter was Emily's father. Remember my first assistant?"

"Yeah," she said.

"Well, I was engaged to her," Jack said as he slammed his packed suitcase shut.

Sophia was stunned as to what she should say. This wasn't the Jack Canyon she knew. "Jack. . ." That was all she could get out. Her usual sarcasm or harmful words or jokes were nowhere to be found. "I didn't know. I never thought you--"

"Could love someone?" Jack asked with watery eyes.

"You just never seemed the type," she answered. "I'm so sorry."

Jack nodded at her. "We were to be married after we retrieved the Mask of Medusa. She died during that little escapade."

"I remember," Sophia said rubbing Jack's back.

"Ever since, it has haunted me," he continued. "I have been afraid to fall for anyone again."

"So, that's why we didn't work so well?" Sophia asked about their personal relationship.

"I'm sorry," he replied. "I've always covered up my feelings with flirting and jokes."

"Oh, Jack," she said sadly. She placed her arms around him and squeezed him tightly.

Jack Canyon and The Curse of The Spider Queen | CHAPTER THREE

Words: 2017

A knock came at the door just as Sophia was complaining to
Jack about being late again. She sighed heavily as he
constantly argued back. She paused and looked around the
lavish living room-like office. "Jack! You're going to be
late for class, yet again."

"Well, then, it won't be anything new," he stated as he
straighted his button up shirt. Then the knock came again,
interrupting Jack. "HOLD ON A MINUTE!" He turned his
attention back to Sophia, who had the most impatient look on
her face.

"Are you going to get that?" Sophia questioned him.

"Fine," Jack said allowing the fight to dissipate. He jerked
the door open to see a dark skinned woman standing before
him. He was shocked. "You!"

"Were you expecting the Easter Bunny?" Maya Rajah asked with
an annoyed tone to her voice.

Jack turned as if he was going to allow her access to the
room, but he slammed the door as he spun.

"JACK!" Sophia cried out.

"What?" He returned as Sophia moved to the door and pulled
it open.

"I'm glad to see you too," Maya stated as she entered the
room and sized Jack up.

"I'm sorry, Maya," Sophia apologized.

"Why exactly is she here?" Jack asked angrily. "The last I remember she was trying to kill us."

"I told you, Jack, she's here for our lunch date," Sophia answered. She paused for a moment and looked at the clock. "You're late."

Jack followed her eyes to the clock and noticed the time. He spun around on a heel and dashed out the dark wooden door in a rush. He jogged down the corridor, though careful not to bump into anyone or knock them down.

"What a wonderful boss you have," Maya said coldly.

"I'm so sorry about him," Sophia spoke sympathetically. "I don't know what crawled up his skirt."

"It's ok," Maya replied. "Are you ready?" She looked at Sophia's blue jeans with frays designed into the seams. Her eyes noticed the scuffed brown leather boots, then followed the feminine body up her thighs and slightly wide hips to her waist. The sandy blonde girl wore a tight fitting v-neck shirt which was red.

Maya's dark skin was accented with her orange collared shirt. She also wore dark jeans which looked brand new. She shook her head swishing around her short black hair that had recently been highlighted.

"Yeah, let's go," Sophia stated as she picked up her wallet and headed out with the woman. She never carried a purse, since they were too easily stolen and also very feminine. Sophia was a tom boy at heart. Why else would she work in the grit and the dirt and the mud?

***

Jack darted across the grassy knoll outside the center of the school yard that was known as The Quad. He made his way through the Quad and down the hillside toward his building. He reached out and grabbed the railing on the steps, jerking himself around and up a few steps. He skipped as many steps as he could without looking crazy or falling. Finally, he reached the entrance, breathless. He tried to catch his breath as he walked quickly down the hallway. He turned into his room from the back and everyone turned to look at him. He was ten minutes late. "Hi, class."

***

Sophia and Maya walked slowly down the sidewalk of the campus toward the restaurant nearby. It had a variety of foods from various cultures all over the world.

The building was a beautiful white with a crimson border, roof, and doors. The sign on the roof was black outlined in red, reading simply: The Spot.

Sophia held open the door and allowed her guest access first. When Maya was in, she followed behind her. The mixture of aromas was strong enough to knock one off guard. At one point, it smelled as if you were in India. Then another, you were in Mexico. Then America. Then China.

"So, what's your cardiovascular poison?" Sophia asked with a slightly mischievous smirk.

Maya didn't give a confident look to her host. She had heard how bad American food was on the heart and the arteries, but all fried food and fast food was bad. She had a great figure and didn't want it ruined in the land of the obese.

***

Jack stood before his class more composed than he was before. He had been sweating from all the running, but now in the air conditioned room, he was dry. "Alright, class," he spoke as he looked around. "Inca civilization. . . like many Central and South American civilizations was wiped out by the Conquestadores."

"We already know all of this," a student called out.

"Yes, but did you know that some might have survived? The Moche people, the builders of the great Machu Picchu, might have survived the onslaught of the white man."

"What are you saying?" A brunette in the front row asked.

"That part of the Inca Empire continued on," Jack continued. "The moche were believed to have not been killed off by the Spanish, but by climate changes."

"But Machu Picchu was destroyed by the Spanish, right?" Another student asked.

"The Spanish did arrive there, but the residents had been killed by smallpox," Jack explained.

"So, how could they have survived?" Another student questioned.

"Anyone here read a book called 'The Moche Migration'?" Jack asked. "It was written by a man, a close friend of mine, named John Baxter."

***

"So," Maya said sitting with Sophia at one of the tables. "What happened with you and Jack?" She looked down at her cheeseburger and fries.

"Nothing to tell," Sophia said, avoiding the question. She dug her fork into her sambal sotong, which was an Asian dish that Maya recommended. Sambal sotong was a chili paste with garlic and onions and squid. "Are you sure this is good?"

"Come on," Maya said staring at her burger. "We said we'd recommend food to one another and try it. Now, what's with you and Jack? I do remember you kissing him on my plane." She took a bite of her burger.

Sophia sighed and took a mouthful of the sambal. She paused for a moment and received a stare from Maya, who awaited a comment. "This isn't bad." suddenly, she reached for her glass of tea. "Hot! Hot!"

Maya gave a smug smile.

"Funny," Sophia said with a red face. "Ok, Jack and I didn't make it too far. We tried dating a few times."

"Mmhmm," Maya moaned as she sipped her tea.

"I don't know," Sophia admitted finally. "Jack seems afraid."

"Afraid?" She almost laughed out loud. "Why would Jack be afraid? Or better yet, what is he afraid of?"

"I don't think he's afraid of women, or me," Sophia explained. "I think it's deeper. I haven't quite figured it out, yet, though."

"Commitment issues?" Maya asked.

Sophia shook her head slowly. "I just don't know. Something is bothering him though."

"He'll come around. Don't worry."

***

"John Baxter?" A student asked. "He was that older archaeologist who went down into the Peruvian jungle along the Inca trails from Machu Picchu to Cusco, right?"

"He followed in the footsteps of the Incas, yes," Jack replied. "He was a great mentor to me. Many of his theories led me to question things, to look deeper."

"So, what do you think, Mr. Canyon?" A young female red head questioned.

"I think many secrets lie within the jungles of Peru," he said simply.

The doors in the back burst open causing an uproar in class.

"Great," Jack said to himself, though the room echoed a little. "Someone is later than me." He looked at the person walking. No, they were stumbling. "Not only late, but drunk." He jumped off the stage and headed toward the person. "Excuse me! Excuse me!"

Then he noticed her. It was Clarissa, one of Baxter's colleagues. She fell, but was quickly caught by Jack.

"Get me some water," Jack cried out as he fell to the floor with her. "Clare? Can you hear me? Clare!"

"Jack," she spoke with a parched voice. "John." She couldn't say anymore. She closed her eyes for a moment, but was shaken by Jack.

One of the students brought Jack the glass of water from his table on stage.

Clarissa sipped it slowly before speaking again. "John," was the only thing she could say. She handed Jack the journal that belonged to John Baxter before she quit breathing entirely.

"Clare," Jack said softly. "CLARISSA!" Tears streamed down his face, because he had known this woman for most of his years in archaeology. She and her twin sister had been there for him when Emily died. He would never forget all that they had done for him. He buried his head into the woman's dusty and cobweb-covered safari jacket. Then he glanced over at the weathered journal.

***

"You know, this is really against my religion," Maya told the sandy blonde girl about eating beef.

"Well, from what you know about the religion spectrum, it shouldn't matter," Sophia replied as they sat idle in conversation. They had finished lunch only moments before. "Religion is just a bunch of rules. In fact, they're not even given out by God."

"True," Maya said as they were interrupted by a cell phone ringing. It was Sophia's phone.

"It's Jack," she sighed heavily as she turned the phone on silent mode.

"Not going to answer that?"

"He probably just wants to bother us," Sophia responded as she folded her arms. She was getting tired of Jack's bickering and had considered quitting many times. "It can't be that important." She glanced at her watch. "Besides he's still in class."

"You should ask him what is problem is," Maya added as she glanced at the door.

Sophia got the hint. "Let's go," she said rising to her feet. She led the way out of The Spot cultural restaurant. "How are things over at Mount Sinai?"

"Well," Maya stated as she exited and headed down the sidewalk. "It's quiet. Nothing like two years ago." She and Sophia shared a laugh. "Though, I suppose you never mentioned to Jack that you and I have been friends since then."

"Or that we meet frequently for lunch," Sophia admitted as she looked down at her feet.

"It's ok," Maya comforted her. "I don't mind being the mistress."

Sophia pulled her phone from her pocket as it began to ring again. "Jack."

"Answer it, hon," Maya said as they came to a halt.

Sophia decided it was best to go ahead and answer the call, but she sighed heavily before doing so. "What is it?"

"I need you," Jack said abruptly. "Now."

"Hi," she responded sarcastically. "How are you?"

"I'm sorry about earlier, Soph, but this is important," he told her. "It's about John Baxter, Clarissa, and Marissa."

"What is it?" Sophia asked in an annoyed tone.

"They're dead."

Sophia's heart dropped into the pit of her stomach. She could hardly swallow. She had been so rude to Jack just to be rude and mean, since he had been earlier. Now, she felt the complete opposite. She felt horrible and sad. She could not even form words.

"Just meet me at your father's museum," Jack said. "I'm on my way there now."

"Why?" Sophia asked, but she received no answer. "Jack? Jack?" She paused for a moment. "Jack Canyon?" She slammed her flip phone closed and stuffed it into her pocket. "Come on, Maya, we're heading to the museum. Something's come up that requires attending to."

"Never a dull moment with Jack, eh?" Maya asked as she marched with Sophia to the parking lot outside of Jack's office. She stopped in awe of the car Sophia was climbing into.

Sophia smirked at the Indian woman. She might have been a tom boy, but she still loved her convertibles. After all, her other car was ruined by her boss and his usual trouble.

Maya sat down in the passenger seat of the Pontiac Solstice.
.

Jack Canyon and The Curse of the Spider Queen | CHAPTER TWO

words: 2389

"Oh, God, Jack!" Sophia Stone could hardly catch her breath as she panted deeply. Sweat poured down her face causing some of her hair to stick to the side of her face. "Jack," she said exasperated. "You're killing me. Stop."

"Oh, Sophia, I'm so close," he told her excitedly. "Just a little longer."

Sophia breathed deeply trying relax, but she couldn't. "Come on, Jack!" She paused for a breath. "I can't take much more of this pounding."

"Where's your stamina?" Jack asked.

"If you don't stop, we're never doing this again, because I'll never be able to walk after this," she stated.

Jack stopped and stared at her. "Fine, we'll rest here."

"Help me with my pack," Sophia pleaded.

Jack walked over to her and took the weight of the pack off her shoulders as she slipped her arms out.

"Thanks," she said gratefully as he set the pack down. She sat down on a nearby stump and pulled the canteen off her pack. "Why are we out here again?"

Jack looked back at her from where he was standing. He had been looking out at the landscape of the mountains. Then he pointed out at the horizon. "You see that?"

"What?"

Jack pulled her up and pointed at a stone structure in the distance. "That."

"Yeah, what about it?" Sophia asked, unsure of what he was getting at.

"That is the temple that I was talking about, Soph," he stated. "I told you we were close."

"It's in the side of a mountain," Sophia pointed out the obvious.

"Apparently, there's some kind of hidden entrance at the top," he said. Then he gave her a cocky smile. "Don't worry, we'll find it. Then we'll be the first people here in a thousand years."

"And this is the Temple of who?"

"The Temple of Gaia," Jack told her before realizing his arms were around her waist. He quickly released her and took a step back. "The temple was supposedly lost during an earthquake. I guess it slid into its current position."

"And no one thought to check the side of the mountain?" Sophia asked taking her seat again on the stump.

"Well, some miners discovered it; and the IAI wants us to explore it," he told her. He had taken on a few jobs with the International Archaeological Institute since he founded it a year ago.

It had been two years since Jack and Sophia came down from Mount Sinai. He became quite famous and rich and in demand since then. With the money he gained, he put it towards a better future for archaeology with an international institute that could work with the United Nations on securing artifacts all over the world. Sure, it seemed legitimate, but Jack needed the IAI to fund his adventures of rescuing lost relics that are potentially harmful to mankind if in the wrong hands.

Also, within his time, he became a part time teacher at the local university in the archaeological department. It didn't go well at all, either. Jack was often bombarded with questions and interviews about Mount Sinai, God, Noah's Ark, and Eden, as well as the Book of Origin. Not to mention the college girls in love with his rugged looks and adventurous appeal.

He cut lectures down to twice a week and spent as much time away from his campus office as possible. The free time helped him establish the IAI and talk to the UN. Jack asked several colleagues to join the IAI supervisor's board. Long time friends, such as Fred Morris and Sophia's father, joined to support the betterment of collecting and restoring antiquities.

Jack looked at Sophia for a moment. "Are you rested up?"

"Yeah, I'm ready," she responded as she placed her canteen back into her pack.

"Alright, let's go get the Arrow of Apollo," he told her as he moved forward.

Sophia slipped her pack onto her shoulders and followed her boss through the terrain once more. She was silent for only a few minutes before talking again. "So, what's your plan for this year?"

"What do you mean?"

"Well, you keep complaining about the teaching position," she mentioned.

Jack sighed heavily. "I don't know what to do, Soph. All the students care about hearing from me is about the Book of Origin and all that religious mumbo jumbo."

"You're still not a believer in God?"

"No, I believe in that big blue ball of energy on Sinai, but that mystical and mythical God in the Bible, I don't."

"Some people thought your views were outlandish," she reminded him.

"Thanks for bringing that up," Jack responded. "I had the proof right there in the Book of Origin." He sighed. "See? This is what bothers me. I mean, the religious people, even after finding and translating the Book of Origin, they still refute the find."

"Well, you could've allowed them access to God's lair, you know?"

"But then everyone would swarm Sinai looking for answers to the meaning of life," he replied. "Maybe I should just give up teaching. It wouldn't bother me so much if I could teach about something other than my adventures."

"That's what they're interested in," Sophia announced. "Not archaeology itself, but the fun and adventure behind it."

Jack shook his head. "Don't get me wrong. I enjoy teaching, but I want to teach about civilizations long gone. Not the wet and wild river ride that included very angry Brazilians mercenaries and guns."

"See," Sophia pointed out. "That sounds far better than anything you have to say about Babylon or Atlantis." She gave him a slight smile before he used his arm to block her path. She looked down at his arm, which was across her chest. "Not exactly the kind of place I like you touching, Jack Canyon."

"Sorry," he apologized. "I just don't want you to miss your step." He pointed down at the bridge that led up to the top of the next mountain. Some of the boards were missing.

Sophia looked down at the broken board she would have stepped on. "So, how do we get across?"

"Very cautiously," he told her. With that, he stepped onto the closest board and started across. He glanced back once in a while to check on Sophia. "Just watch your step."

"Why do I always get into these messes?" She asked aloud, but mostly to herself. "If I didn't work for you, Jack, I would have a nice office job that's safe and secure."

Then the bridge jerked.

"Oh, shit!" Sophia cried out.

"Don't move!" Jack called to her. Then it jerked again. "GO! MOVE!"

"Make up your damn mind," she yelled as she began to run toward Jack.

He caught a glimpse behind her of the frail rope giving in to their weight. "Not good," he told himself. He grabbed Sophia's arm when she drew closer and dragged her along as they ran across the failing bridge.

Then the rope bridge jerked and snapped at the other end making it fall.

Jack pulled on Sophia's arm tossing her over onto the firm ground at the other end of the bridge before it completely collapsed.

Sophia rolled forward and into a tree, which she leaned her back against for support. She looked around for Jack, but couldn't find him. "Jack?"

A masculine hand reached up over the cliff and gripped the ground. Jack pulled himself up onto the top and rolled onto his back for a moment.

"I thought I lost you," Sophia said sadly.

"I didn't know you cared that much," Jack replied as he tried to catch his breath.

"No, but had you died, I wouldn't have been able to find my way home." She gave him a smug look. She picked herself up and straightened her clothes when she stood. "Now, come on," she spoke. "We're almost there."

Jack sighed and rolled his eyes as he got to his feet. "A while ago, she was complaining," he told himself.

"So, where is that secret entrance that you spoke of?" Sophia asked.

"How am I supposed to know? That's why it's a secret." He looked down the side of the mountain at where the temple had slid to. "Interesting."

"What? What is it?"

"Nothing," he responded to her question. "Just interesting it didn't just fall to the bottom." He turned away from the edge of the cliff and started searching for an entrance. "You know, we could just repel down and climb through the face of the temple. It would be easi-"

It was as if the ground had opened up and swallowed Jack whole, because in an instant, he was gone.

Sophia moved toward the hole that he had fallen into so she could find him. "Jack?"

"I wish you'd stop calling out my name," he said angrily as he stood and dusted himself off. "Makes me feel like a child."

"Well, you do keep getting into situations like a child would, you know, like falling into deep holes."

"Are you going to stand up there and tell me everything I've ever done wrong, or are you going to come down here and help me?" Jack asked her, adding tone to his voice.

"I'm capable of both," she replied before sliding down into the hole. "Lead the way, mischievous one."

Jack gave her a stern look before proceeding down a corridor. The hall turned left and right and left and right again and again, over and over. It was like a freaky maze of turns.

"Do you know where you're going?" Sophia asked.

"I'm a guy," Jack answered in an annoyed voice. "I have a great sense of direction."

"Great, we're lost," Sophia argued. "Maybe we should ask for directions."

"Well, alright, but I don't think these guys would be helpful," he said as he pointed at some cocooned bodies on the wall. All that was visible were their skeletal heads.

"Who are they?" Sophia asked, disgusted.

"Worshipers," he replied as he continued down the stone wall hall.

As they proceeded, they entered a large chamber that locked down on them. The entrance was closed and there was no way out.

"Son of a bitch," Jack mumbled as he noticed his foot was on the mechanism that caused the room to lock down.

"Can't blame this one on me," Sophia stated as she looked around the room. "Come on, genius, find a way out."

Jack sighed heavily and rolled his eyes are his secretary. He stepped forward a few feet, quickly pausing as a large rod on the other side of the chasm in the center of the chamber.

"I wonder what that's for," Sophia spoke as she examined the rod.

Then a stone to Jack's right slid open and another rod with u-shaped iron pieces arose from the hole. "Horseshoes?"

"Must've been a big horse," she mentioned as she saw the large horseshoes.

"They've always been this big," Jack explained. "Ever get a new horseshoe set from a store? Big damn horseshoes, I tell ya."

"So, what's this have to do with anything?"

"I think it's the way out," Jack said. "Though, I wonder how many I have to put around the rod."

"Jack, don't move," she said. "You're on a pressure plate."

"Shit," he muttered.

"I found something," Sophia told him. She ran her hand along the ancient Greek writing. "It says you can't move from your spot and have to get one shoe around the rod. You get three tries. Miss and die."

"And who ever said you couldn't get hurt playing horseshoes?" Jack said sarcastically. "Alright, here goes." He picked up one of the shoes and tossed it across toward the rod, missing it. "Hm, I wonder how it knows when you've had three turns."

Sophia noticed when the horseshoe landed that a small stone receded into the floor. "Um, Jack, that side is entirely make of pressure plates."

"Great," Jack groaned as he picked up his second shoe. "Here goes." He hurled the second one across to the rod, but missed once more.

"Jack, I don't intend to die in this chamber," Sophia announced.

Jack's jaw tightened in annoyance and anger. He didn't even notice Sophia picking up the last shoe. "Do you think you can do better? Huh?!"

She reared back like a softball pitcher and threw the iron horseshoe around the rod. It spun as it hit, and whirled around the rod.

Jack gave her a look and continued to stare at her.

"What?" She asked as she caught his glare. "My father was a horseshoes champion in his youth and thought he could turn me into one. I learned how to play, but never made it to a tournament."

"Show off," Jack told her.

The door on the other side of the chamber opened as a stone slid across the chasm and met the other side, forming a bridge for them to cross.

"Ladies first," Sophia offered in humor to the sore loser.

Jack shook his head and continued through the chamber. Once they exited, they entered another corridor. "I'm sick of all these halls and rooms and death traps. Why can't anything ever be easy?"

"Well, Mr. Adventure, where would your fun be then?" Sophia asked punching him in the shoulder.

"Just once I would like a simple and easy task," he told her as he entered another chamber. He spotted the golden arrow upon a pedestal in the center of the chamber where a beam of light shined down upon it.

"Well, here is your simple and easy, Jack," Sophia told him.

"Yeah, that's the scary part," Jack stated. "This is too easy."

"But we just accomplished a task, so maybe this is our reward."

"It's never that easy, Soph," Jack said as he took a cautious step forward. Nothing happened, so he took another and another. Finally, he was at the pedestal. He took a deep breath and reached out for the arrow. Once it was in his hands and free of the stand, he stood still. "It can't be that easy."

Sophia simply shrugged. "Don't just stand there waiting for the place to fall down around you. Let's get out of here while we still can."

Jack placed the Arrow of Apollo into the pack on Sophia's back and lead the way out.

Jack Canyon and The Curse of The Spider Queen | CHAPTER ONE

Words: 848

Present day. . .

"John," a voice called through the radio, but there was too much static for it to be heard clearly. John Baxter was standing before a large and corroded stone wall with text. He was copying it down in his leather-bound journal and translating it.

"JOHN!" The voice came through clearer this time.

"What?" He replied angrily. He was so close to finished this.

"Clare and I are over at Site B," she told him. "We've found something you might want to see."

"Well, I'm currently busy translating-"

"You really should see this," she stated. "This could be a break through."

John sighed heavily before responding. "Fine," he said slamming his journal closed. "I'll be there in a moment, Marissa." He looked at the carved words on the wall. "I'll return to you soon." He ran his hand along the text before heading out of the chamber. He had been working at the newest area of the temple, which they designated: Site E.

Once he arrived at Site B, an abandoned portion of the expedition, John spotted Marissa with her twin sister, Clarissa. "Clare bear?"

"John, I'm sorry if we've pulled you away from something important. . ." Clarissa responded upon seeing him. "It's just that we've found this, well, we're not sure."

"It's a door," Marissa announced. "Or at least that's what I've translated it to say. Take a look."

John stopped for a moment before examining the door. "Why are you two here, anyway? We left Site B days ago."

"Well, we came upon a scroll at Site F and it lead us back here," Clarissa explained. "It mentioned paces, turns, and halls. Then finally, this." She pointed up at the door.

"I tried to translate it according to what we believed the language was," Marissa added. "Looking at it, it appears to be Incan, or some form of it, with a hint of Latin. Now, I'm not saying our initial assumption was incorrect, but for the life of me, I can't figure out what this says."

"Well, what do you have so far?" John asked when she paused.

As she spoke, she pointed at the text, so he could follow along. "The path is ahead. Laid behind the door way. Enter and be dead. The curse. . . I dunno."

"No," John corrected. "The path is ahead. Laid behind this gate. Enter and be dead. Go back before it is too late. The curse of the Spider Queen resides. Nowhere can you hide."

"Why must it all be in rhymes?" Clarissa asked.

"Poets usually wrote these things on scrolls for someone to carve into walls and doors," John admitted.

"What's the difference in a door way and a gate?" Marissa asked.

"A gate was generally a break in the wall," John explained. "Often times, it was a better way of keeping unwanted things out."

"Or in," Clarissa stated as she looked at the words "curse of the Spider Queen" again. "Maybe we shouldn't be here."

"Oh, come on," John shouted. "I've been doing this sort of thing for thirty years. There are no such things as curses."

Marissa and Clarissa just gave glanced between themselves.

"You two have been with me for the better part of those years, too," he added. "Now, come on. Let's open this gate."

"I don't see a release," Clarissa told him. She felt along the wall for one. "Nothing."

John examined the door's edges to see how it might have been sealed. Then finally he felt something. "Wow. This was well hidden."

"What?" Marissa asked curiously.

"This," John said as he pressed in a small stone that unlocked the door. He rose to his feet as the large gate slide open. He pushed his safari hat's brim up, sitting the hat high on his head. He gave a cocky grin as everything settled and they saw a sarcophagus in the middle of the room.

"Is that. . .?" Marissa asked as John stepped forward into the room.

He looked at the dust and cobweb-covered coffin. "The Spider Queen," he said.

The room began to shake violently and some of the stones in the walls fell down around the expedition team.

"It's collapsing!" Clarissa yelled out. "Let's go!" She and her twin sister darted out, but John didn't follow. She turned back and re-entered the room. Grabbing him by the arm, Clare dragged John along. "We need to go!"

The gate to the room began to seal again forcing them out. As they progressed down the corridor, all the doors they had opened were shutting.

"Shit!" John exclaimed. "Run! Now!" He urged the women to keep moving and keep picking up speed. They were back to Site A, but still not out of the temple which spanned several miles.

They spotted the exit, but the door was already half way down. Before they could reach it, the door lowered another two feet. When they arrived, Clarissa slid underneath it, but with little room for anyone else to exit.

John tossed her his journal. "Find Jack Canyon. Jack--" Then the door was closed completely.