Collection of Stories

Waiting for the world to let you in.

She traced her finger along the intricate carvings and stepped back to admire the ancient stone. "It matches the description." Aris muttered, comparing the faded scroll to the monument. The stone wall was covered with sigils and symbols and pictures of things she could not understand. Aris doubted she ever could...Unless she saw what it hid.

She turned around to face the torch bearer. "You, What's your name?"

He frowned, confused."Me?"

Aris rolled her eyes. "Yes, you. Who else is there?" she said, her voice echoing around the almost empty cavern with shadows flickering on the walls.

"Eson" he replied quickly, hoping there weren't any more questions.

"Good. Okay, Ericson, Do you know what this place is?"She asked, turning back to the esoteric carvings,grinning.

"No." He shuffled uncomfortably. He'd been told to stay away from the Gate.There's evil spirits there, boy. They don't like visitors.Besides, she was starting to give him the creeps.

"Behind this wall something that I cannot even begin to comprehend." Aris walked around the edge of the cavern and stopped where the carvings ended. "You see this? The stone is different. Why would anyone move stone from somewhere else into here when you already have stone in plain abundance?" She stared at Eson for a moment, expecting an answer. He said nothing.

Aris started to pace, furiously voicing theories, each of which she began to pick out the flaws in. "It can't be a status symbol. Even assuming that the nearest civilization made this, it's in the middle of nowhere...Underground! There's no one to see it. So maybe it was of religious significance, a tomb or temple of sorts? That could be it... It would almost make sense if it was some kind of shrine but we still don't know who made it, how they made it and why they made it...Masonry on this level of craftsmanship would require metal tools, which were introduced by early traders and this was clearly made before that time. There's just so many questions and so little answers..."She stood still for a moment, staring at the chiseled mystery. "Your people...They call it the Gate, Yes?" It was barely a whisper, but Eson could hear her voice clearly. It was the only sound.