Hell's Earth Part 1: Hell Come

Chapter Two: Holy Intervention

           Several days had past but the frantic voice on the phone still rang through his ears. He was lucky to have any hearing left after the call. Tao poured himself a glass of bourbon as his thoughts still swirled around his head of a historic archaeological discovery. "Leave it to Ruben!" he poured another glass before writing and submitting his letter of resignation to the tour company of the Vatican. "I'm going to miss this gig." He then called the airline to book a flight as soon as possible. Even before the wheels of the airliner touched down at McCarran International, Ruben was already at the gate to meet his long time friend.

          Ruben and Tao attended Vallerum together and had a majority of the same classes. After Tao had decided he wanted to be a history buff indoors, Ruben decided to enjoy a more adventurous lifestyle as an archaeologist. After graduating, they went their separate ways but always stayed in contact. Tao was more of a mellow type of person only taking things as they came but never stressing. He almost always showed up in public with messy hair, bright colored t-shirts and cargo shorts. This time, he traded is flip flops for tennis shoes. For Ruben, it was never easy to miss his friend in a crowd. "Ruben, long-time-no-see you hot headed nomad!" "Tao, you're still going for the beach bum look as always!" They shook hands and patted each other on the back. "Ruben, I have to admit, before you sent the pictures of the wall that you were babbling on about, I thought for sure the desert sun had finally melted your brains into soup!" Ruben laughed as he escorted Tao to the limo. "I'm glad the Vatican didn't stop your drinking habits!" Tao was nervous when flying. Spiced Rum always helped. "Spare no expense right Ruben?"

          The limo snaked around the winding roads away from the sprawling city lights and jackpot winnings. The cactus standing in the desert resembled black figures standing guard against the darkening sky. Tao swore to himself that some seemed to move. The lights of the limo added to the already bright almost sun-like shine glowing in the desert. "My team has not moved an inch after Dr. Trina translated the message from the Vatican. It has left everyone on edge and I need your expertise, Tao. I wouldn't ask if this wasn't important." Tao walked down the stairs and into the tunnel. He noticed Vincent wasn't there. "Where's Vincent?" Ruben was beginning to steam. Trina knew why he was late but didn't bother saying anything. A few minutes later he got out of a station wagon that looked reminiscent of an iconic car from a mid-eighties movie, and quickly buttoned up his beige t-shirt and finished putting his tan cargo shorts back on over his hips. Bethany dropped him off but not before giving him a proper as she called it "See you again soon!" Trina was at the foot of the stairs glaring at him with her arms crossed over her chest like a jealous ex-girlfriend. He just smiled back at her as he walked down. Ruben scolded him as Tao was examining the stone wall that loomed over the team, almost as if it was mocking them. Tao slowly examined the carvings. After several minutes of silence, Tao spoke. "And there is no other explanation? We have nothing else to base this information on?" Vincent told Bethany he would speak to her again later. He turned off the phone and placed it into his pocket. The team just shook their heads. "This is bigger than all of us and my professional opinion is that this wall is a gate to hell!" Ruben, Trina, and Vincent all sat on the gritty sand floor. "This gate has been sealed and every type of war monger, figurehead and anyone with even a thought of taking over the world has found this gate and engraved on its holy markings with any all means possible that they had access too. The Egyptian hieroglyphs suggest they were written by twelve high priests and they were directed by Hatsheput. Alexander the Great used his knowledge he had gained from his sorceress. Attila the Hun used every possible priest and sorcerer he had at his disposal to ensure this gate would never be accessed. And look here, the seal placed by the Vatican. Look here, though. The outer ridge is covered in Third Reich emblems and German writings." He continued to brush away the sand and dirt and revealed an even larger part of the wall which now was nearly sixty-six feet wide and six feet high. "There is blood on this and lots of it. It seems as though Hitler tried one last ditch effort to take over the Earth but died before figuring out the ritual!" It also seems like in more recent history Saddam Hussein, Osama Bin Laden, and a few other terrorist nut jobs tried opening this gate too but when in the hell were they able to get here and without being detected by the government?"