Even though it’s such a strange thing to see someone so young calling himself a spirit guardian, you pay attention to your husband’s warning and keep your mouth closed.

“What can we do?” Walter asks Anubis. “The statue was destroyed….”

Anubis nods. “Which only allowed the curse to be released and spread over a wider area. It’s going to be harder to break the curse, though not impossible.”

Grant speaks up, his arms wrapped around his own stomach as he stares at the floor. “Anubis said that breaking the curse will make everyone who died permanently dead. That includes…includes Martin and Paul.” His breath hitches.

Your hand tightens on Walter’s. “Grant, I’m sorry,” you say quietly.

“One of our work colleagues has already been harmed by one of the dead. Perhaps even killed,” Walter says. “We have to put a stop to this. If we can.” He squeezes your hand tightly; almost to the point of it being painful. His next words are to Anubis. “What can we do?”

Anubis opens his mouth, but before he can answer the question, the ground beneath you starts shaking. A low, ominous rumbling reaches your ears and you wrap your arms tightly around Walter, using him to help you keep your balance.

Walter wraps his arms just as tight around you and the two of you cling to each other, managing to keep your feet all through the quake. Even when the ground stops shaking, you don’t let go of your husband, holding onto him as you cast a glance back over your shoulder.

Just behind the car, two caves have erupted from the ground. Both look identical, with dark mouths that are impossible to see inside. However, you feel a strange magnetic pull towards the cave on the left.

“You need to enter the cave you feel drawn to,” Anubis says quietly from behind you. “Enter it and bring me the item you find there.”

You glance back over your shoulder at Anubis. “Do you know what it might be?”

“Only that you will recognise it when you see it,” the guardian answers.

Nodding, you look at Walter. “Are you ready?” you ask softly.

Your husband kisses you in answer, his hand stroking down your spine in a way that makes you groan and arch into his touch. Then, he lets go of you, gun in hand, and shifts to stand right next to you.

Taking a firmer grip on your own gun, you walk next to your husband. You pause only for a second before you step into the cave, walking side by side with Walter.

The inside of the cave is pitch black. The air is damp and you can taste that on your lips. You pause for a few seconds to allow your eyes to adjust long enough to make out the walls of the cave and then you begin walking forward.

The only sound that reaches your ears is breathing, both yours and Walter’s. You shift closer to your husband, wanting to take his hand, but unwilling to do anything to distract either of you from the potential threat. Not that you expect your guns can do much against this kind of threat.

After the two of you walk several more feet, you squint, able to see a light forming ahead of you. In spite of your intentions, your free hand seeks out Walter’s and the two of you grip each other tightly as you move steadily towards the light.

The cave opens up into a wider cavern with stalactites dangling from the ceiling. Water drips and runs down your back, making you shiver and press closer to your husband. Just for a moment, though, as you can’t miss what’s in front of your eyes.

At the far end of the cavern is a box, made out of dark oak wood. The lid is closed, but something about it makes your skin crawl. Something bad is contained within. At the same time, you know that this is the object Anubis was referring to; this is what you need to bring back to him. There’s just one problem.

She paces in front of the small raised rock that the box rests on, standing between you and it. Her clothes are still tattered and her head is bowed. She still carries the bloodstained dagger in one hand and you can hear her muttering to herself. You can’t decipher what it is she’s saying, or even what language she’s speaking in.

But she doesn’t seem to be aware of you and Walter. Can you sneak around her to get to the box? Or maybe it’s better to just approach her head on and take her by surprise.