Tony had to move fast; he was not about to lose the chance he had so long waited for. He swiftly stabbed Travis deep in the chest, and then he turned his attention to Sally. Protected by the marble statues, Tony smiled at her as he slowly slit her wrists one by one.
Just ten yards away, and without ammo, Jason found the strength he needed. He made a run towards Tony.
Kate started to scream as blood dripped rapidly from Sally’s wrists, but what she saw next horrified her even more. Sally’s body slowly began to rise from the sacrificial table. Her head, arms and legs dangled as she rose three feet into the air.
It was now or never. Jason was only four yards away from Tony as he dove through the air just like an attacking football player would do when charging an opponent. Jason hit his target hard, his arms gripped Tony around the waist causing both men to fly across the floor.
Kate ran towards Sally, also looking where Jason and Tony fell, but to her astonishment, they were gone, disappeared into thin air. Now she had to face the only obstacle left, the death God of the underworld. Sally’s body rose higher and higher into the air. Kate watched the evil figure as it spun around with flames emerging from its hands in Sally’s direction. Kate had to stop the flames before Sally’s body burned to ashes. Without thinking, she managed to jump onto the stone table, taking hold of Sally, pulling her down just as the flames passed within inches of her. She then threw herself over Sally’s body, protecting her from the Mayan god Ah-Puch. Expecting at any moment to be burned alive, she waited for the flames to engulf her, but strangely enough, nothing happened. Slowly raising her head, she looked around, nothing, she and Sally were alone inside the cavern. She then looked down at Sally, who was still losing blood; her body felt cold to the touch. Kate checked for a pulse but could not find one. She quickly ripped pieces of her shirt, tying Sally’s wrists in an attempt to stop the bleeding. Then she began to perform CPR, pumping Sally’s chest and giving her mouth to mouth resuscitation.
“Come back Sally! Don’t give up on me now!”
Tears rolled down Kate’s cheeks onto Sally’s cold white face. She repeated CPR again and again, not willing to give up.
“Please God! Don’t let it end like this, take me instead!”
The flamed torches around the cavern began to die down. Exhausted, Kate laid her head across Sally’s chest as she lay lifeless beneath her. It was over she thought as she listened to the silence all around her.
She was about to stand up when something caught her eye at the far end of the cavern. She wiped her eyes from the tears, trying to make out what it was. She could see a small glowing light moving through the air, just like a firefly would do. The small orb approached her closer and closer, lighting up the dark shadows as it floated slowly towards her.
Frightened and not knowing what to expect, she backed away nearly tripping over Jason’s gun. With trembling hands, Kate picked it up, pointing it at the approaching orb. Suddenly it stopped just above Sally, hovering and pulsating as if it were alive. Kate stood where she was, staring at it, hypnotized by the flashing light. It began to glow brighter and brighter, so bright that she had to cover her eyes. Then something strange happened. The orb began to spin faster and faster when all of a sudden it descended, penetrating Sally’s chest. Her whole body lit up, light glowing through her skin. Kate watched Sally as her back began to arc. She then bravely moved next to her, watching as she began to shake vigorously. The next instant Sally exhaled as the small round light emerged from her body and into the air. Startled, she took a step back, waiting to see what was going to happen next. The orb floated above Sally for a few seconds before turning into the form of a young girl. She was dressed in white clothing with jewels worn around her neck, resembling an ancient Mayan princess. Kate couldn’t believe what she was seeing. She smiled up at the young girl who then smiled back at her before disappearing into the darkness of the cavern. Sally’s body slowly rested back on the stone table without moving. Kate approached her, not certain what had happened. She was looking down at her when Sally’s eyes slowly began to open. Sally turned her head to the side, looking up at Kate.
“Where is my father?” She asked.
CHAPTER THIRTY-SEVEN
Jason and Tony toppled over each other as they hit the ground hard. Both men equal in size and strength rushed to their feet. Jason took a blow to the stomach. Then Tony’s fist came smashing down across his face. With blood dripping from his lips, Jason fought back, elbowing Tony in the chest, knocking him from under his feet falling flat on his back. Jason raised his foot, and brought it back down, but Tony quickly moved to the side as his boot hit the ground only inches away.
Tony saw Jason’s injured leg and struck at it dead on, opening the wound again. Jason shouted out in pain as he tumbled over holding his leg. Tony now stood above him with his Bowie knife in hand.
“Get up! Before I kill you where you lay, just like I killed your daughter!”
Jason lifted up his jeans leg, reaching for his knife as he got to his feet. The two men faced each other lashing out with their knives. Tony received a few cuts to his hands, while Jason not quick enough due to his injury was taking a beating. Tony laughed each time his blade struck Jason, who was now limping on one leg. Tony continuously directed his attack at Jason’s leg. He was losing blood fast and knew he couldn’t hold on much longer. Tony came at him again and again. Jason blocked as many blows as he could, but he knew time was running out for him. He looked around for his gun but could not see it. He could neither see Kate or Sally. His whole surroundings seemed different to him. He saw Tony rushing towards him as he tried to get to his feet, but he fell back down again. It was over. Blood was everywhere, and he didn’t have the strength to carry on. Jason was giving in; he had lost the battle and was waiting for it to be over, waiting to die.
Tony towered over him, holding his knife with both hands, ready to strike the last deadly blow.
“Die you FBI pig!” Shouted out Tony.
But nothing happened, everything came to a halt. Jason looked up at Tony, his knife only a few inches from his chest. Tony was still as a statue. Stunned at what he was seeing, Jason moved out from under the knife. Then it emerged from amongst the shadows. The underworld god was heading towards them. Tony’s body was now in the hands of Ah-Puch. Just like a puppet, his body performed to each movement of the Spirit’s hands. He was lifted up, then spun around to face the underworld god, who spoke out in a deep growling voice.
“You have entered my domain where you are not welcome! This place is a place of the gods, spirits from another realm!”
Ah-Puch released the grip it had on Tony, allowing him to speak.
“We had an understanding. I gave you three sacrifices in return for my being granted a passage here. He is not welcome. You should exterminate him like a bug!” said Tony, pointing at Jason.
Ah-Puch approached them even closer. Stretching out his hand, he pointed behind Jason and Tony, where immediately a dark corner of the cold cavern lit up. There in front of them was Kate embracing Sally, who was still alive.
“The girl lives. Only two sacrifices were given to me,” said the underworld god.
Jason crawled towards his daughter, shouting out her name, but she neither Kate could hear him. Father and daughter were in different realms. Sally was in the land of the living while Jason, who had held onto Tony, had unwillingly crossed over into the land of the dead.
Tony couldn’t believe it. He called out.