In the Face of Darkness

By Damon Lee and Nefetoria P. Mack

Does evil exist?

Walter, a renowned archaeologist, struggles to make sense of what is happening in Peru. There, deep within a jungle temple compound, an oppressive force has emerged. In the shadow of such depravity, Walter will learn that true evil does existand hes about to experience its many faces and incarnations. The scholars curiosity wrestles with that inner voice, telling him to be weary of the darkness lurking in the shadows.

Amid all his questions and fears, Walter knows one thing as certainty: unless it can be stopped or contained or destroyed, this entity will consume everything and everyone in its path. How can any man hope to combat this level of evil? Before he realizes it, Walter is consumed by darkness and let loose a horrible evil upon his family and the world.

They are not alone.

This evil pits neighbor against neighbor, husband against wife, parent against child, and turns friends into enemies as it turns their nightmares into reality. Will their love be enough to vanquish this much hatredor will they need a power beyond their own to overcome it?

• Language: English
• Publisher: iUniverse
• Release date: Nov 13, 2014
• ISBN: 9781491745458

Damon Lee

Damon Lee, Christian philosopher and speaker, is the author of several books, including In the Face of Darkness and Eternity’s End. He is a student of philosophy, theology, psychology, and astronomy. When not writing, he teaches and works as a youth program director. He lives in upstate New York with his wife and kids.

Book preview

IN THE FACE

OF

DARKNESS

DAMON LEE

AND

NEFETORIA P. MACK

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IN THE FACE OF DARKNESS

Copyright © 2014 Damon Lee and Nefetoria P. Mack.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced by any means, graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping or by any information storage retrieval system without the written permission of the publisher except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

This is a work of fiction. All of the characters, names, incidents, organizations, and dialogue in this novel are either the products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously.

Author Credits: Adam Mack

iUniverse

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Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Thinkstock are models, and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Thinkstock.

ISBN: 978-1-4917-4546-5 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-4917-4547-2 (hc)

ISBN: 978-1-4917-4545-8 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2014918121

iUniverse rev. date: 11/06/2014

Contents

Prologue

Part One    Uncovering The Darkness

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Book Two    Shroud Of Darkness

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

Chapter Eleven

Part Three    All Consuming Darkness

Chapter Twelve

Chapter Thirteen

Chapter Fourteen

Chapter Fifteen

Chapter Sixteen

Chapter Seventeen

Part Four    Overcoming Darkness

Chapter Eighteen

Chapter Nineteen

Chapter Twenty

Epilogue

To the two women in my life who taught

me how to love and keep the faith… Elizabeth and Enid

To the dream, to the journey and to the hope;

That someday I would be here, at this very

Moment, bringing the scope of the imagination

Into the realm of our world,

Where I can share this joy with all of you.

Keep supporting the dream

And keep following the path towards the unknown.

PROLOGUE

Nancy took a deep breath. She stared at the door at the end of the hallway. Her palms were sweaty and she was exhausted. She had gotten so used to being afraid that she hadn’t noticed how badly she was trembling and nearly dropped the coffee mug. Nancy normally prided herself on always looking her best. She had not showered in two days and her shiny full bodied blond hair lay flat and dull on her shoulders. Nancy only had time to brush her teeth and change her clothes before the doorbell rang. She put the cup to her mouth and swallowed the last of her drink as she opened the door to see that Dr. Soya was finally there. He looked at her and was very shocked to see her in this state.

As he entered the apartment he could smell the cigarette smoke on her. That was not the Nancy he had known for eleven years. He had just seen her a few days ago. If he hadn’t known her before then, he could have easily mistaken her for someone else. There were dark rings under her eyes. He could tell that she had a bruise on her face and that she tried to cover it up. He could see that Nancy had a bandage on her forearm and bite marks on her neck. Something was definitely going on there. He entered the hallway and noticed how cold it was in the apartment. I’m here now. He said trying to offer her a smile, some form of comfort but he could tell it had little or no effect. Dr. Soya jumped suddenly by the wailing coming from the other end of the hallway. He looked at Nancy and all he could see was fear and sadness in her eyes. She reached in her pocket and took out a cigarette. Nancy’s fear began to creep into Dr. Soya as the wailing began again. I’m going to check on her, see if there is something we can figure out.

Nancy didn’t respond to his words and all she could do was take another drag from her cigarette. As he walked toward the room, he felt her grab his arm. Dr. Soya, be careful. Her words were choked and forced. As he looked at her, his heart melted. She was a woman in crisis. There was something desperate about her, something more that was going on with her than he could tell. He grabbed her hand and gently pulled it off of his arm. This was something that was new for him. In his twenty five years of practice he had never experienced what he was feeling now at that very moment. That’s not my baby girl in there anymore, she said plainly. There were tears in her eyes as the words left her mouth. He could tell she was holding herself back from sobbing. Dr. Soya shook his head at her and went towards the room. Nancy watched as he opened the door and closed it behind him. She felt like she would finally get the help she was begging for, and the answers that she so desperately needed. No one was able to offer her anything close to an answer.

All Nancy wanted to do was to get her life back together. As Nancy began to think about how and when this all began she walked over toward the counter separating the living room and the kitchen. She grabbed John’s bottle of whiskey and poured it into her coffee mug. Her hands were trembling and she was cold. She had to hold onto her mug with both hands to keep it from slipping out of her hands and falling to the floor. If she had to think about it, she would have to say that all the weirdness began the night she woke up and heard that weird chanting that seemed to be coming from nowhere and everywhere all at once. It was a strange whisper that slowly got louder. It was a language that she had never heard before and as she listened to it, it seemed familiar and almost enchanting. That entire night was weird. It began early in the morning, well before sunrise. She remembers it all too well. Thinking back to it, the weird chanting seemed to be at first coming from across the hall, and then from above her. Nancy had gotten up to check on Norah who was sound asleep. Her husband John had just left earlier that day for a week-long conference. That was the first time in over three years she would be alone for more than two days.

The chanting seemed to be everywhere all at once as though it was somehow coming from her house and at the same time, coming through the walls. It was a little unsettling and she began to feel things she had no words for. Before she could get upset enough to say or attempt to do something about it, the noise stopped. It seemed as though the chanting simply faded away rather than just stop because someone turned off a radio or something. Then the strangest thing happened, the entire apartment began to shake. Nancy’s hands began to shake as her mind replayed the events of the past four days. It took all of her strength not to drop her mug. She needed to be strong, even if it were only pretend. If she allowed herself to admit the truth of her situation, she felt as though she would simply lose her grip on reality. Nancy walked back to the hallway and stared toward the door at the other end. It was quiet; too quiet. She hoped that was a good sign.

Finally someone other than herself would witness her nightmare and she would not feel so isolated and alone anymore. She set the mug on the stand in the hallway and lit another cigarette. She hadn’t had a smoke since college but now she was going through more than a pack a day. As she stood in the silence of her hallway, her mind went back to that night and feeling the entire apartment shake as though there were an earthquake, only to learn later that no one had recorded any tremors or anything close to it in the area. Nancy thought it was the first sign that she was going crazy. She was beginning to realize that she was becoming saner and aware of a world many people take for granted; a world that people do not always like to admit or accept exists; but here she was, drowning in its reality. Nance remembered when she lost her footing and nearly fell over. She remembered hearing a loud crash and a scream that sent a shiver down her spine. She couldn’t explain what the sound was or what could have made such a sound, but what scared her most was that it was coming from Norah’s room. Nancy ran as best she could to her daughter’s room. As she opened the door the trembling stopped and she could see her child sitting on the foot of her bed, just staring off into space. The window was open and a strong breeze blew the curtains back. Nancy remembered the dazed and confused look on Norah’s face. She went to her and held her close, trying to offer her comfort. That was indeed a strange night. She remembered looking out of the window, out into the darkened sky. They were on the tenth floor and Nancy always remembered to lock the windows at night even though there was a small gate on the window. Nancy remembered that night like it was yesterday. She held Norah in her arms until she was asleep. Norah didn’t speak and it was like she was under the influence of medication or something. She seemed drowsy and sleepy.

Nancy laid her down and covered her up. Nancy went to close the window and noticed that the locks were still engaged. That was the first in a series of odd things that would plague that apartment. Looking back, Nancy thought how was any of it even possible? How could she have been so ignorant to the series of events that would pave the way for the madness that would consume her life? Nancy watched the door to her daughter’s room and listened for Dr. Soya. The once bright room that would become a place unrecognizable; so much so that Nancy began to fear going inside her own daughter’s room. Nancy was startled and nearly dropped her cigarette. She heard a loud scream followed by a long eerie silence. When it seemed like the silence would consume her, she heard a piercing scream again. It was louder and more agonizing than before. It was like having to listen to the slaughter of live animals. Nancy jumped again it startled her so. She was so afraid that whatever it was that was in the room, would seep out into the rest of the apartment and nowhere would be safe for her.

The lights flickered and Nancy knew that something was about to happen; something that wasn’t going to be very pleasant. Nancy heard a shrill cry that pierced her heart. She tried to hold back her tears and feelings of dread. It sounded like Norah and yet it wasn’t possible for her to make such a sound. Of course nothing would surprise her at this point. But that was her little girl in that room. She remembered being in the hospital and giving birth to that beautiful baby girl. She remembered the first time she rolled over and the first time she laughed. She remembered the first time she tried to walk. Nancy remembered a lot and she tried to hold on to those memories. It was those thoughts and images that had kept her fighting for her child, and kept her focused on finding an answer and not allowing the insanity of her situation to overcome her. She didn’t even know what her situation really was. Nancy remembered all the joy of being a parent, the hope and the love that she carried. But as the screams filled her ears, she dared not take another step closer to that room. She was filled with hesitation. She wanted to know what was going on inside, but could not bring herself to move. The hardest part for her was going through all of this by herself. Nancy held out calling John for two day. Two days that seemed like two weeks and finally she called him.

John was on his way back and should be with her soon. She remembered the constant calls she would make to John when Norah was first born. She was unsure of herself as a parent and called him for the simplest of things constantly. This was one of those things that maybe she should have called him sooner about. She had been under a lot of stress the past few weeks with the opening of a new boutique. There was a lot of pressure for her to succeed and when things began to get strange, she easily dismissed them. Nancy thought that she should have paid more attention. She should have been a better mother. Tears began to fall from her face as she felt so defeated. She wanted John there and needed him to be with her. She felt like somehow this was all her fault. There must have been something she did, didn’t do or could have done to not have Norah go through this horrible ordeal. It was amazing how quickly things could go from not so bad to worse. Nancy slid down the side of the wall and sat on the floor with her knees in her chest. When she finally did call John he thought it was nerves as well. It took multiple calls, pictures of the bruises on her and Norah, plus a video that finally convinced John that this was a serious matter that he needed to rush home for. John was a good husband. He was supportive and very caring. She wanted him with her right now.

There was a loud bang coming from the room and another scream. Nancy’s eyes fixed on the room door. She wanted to know what was going on inside, but was too fearful to get up and check herself. She did not want to believe that her child, her sweet baby girl; that she could be the reason behind such madness. That was not a thought Nancy wanted to entertain. She was far past denial, but the reality of her situation was something she could not face, out of fear of breaking down totally. She was doing all she could to keep herself together at that moment. Norah needed her to keep it together. Her baby girl was counting on her to be strong and to be the anchor she needed back to normalcy. Nancy began to feel the temperature suddenly drop. It began to get really cold very quickly and she could feel her body start to tremble. Nancy tried to steady herself but found it difficult. The sounds coming from the room began to send waves of horror through her body. The doctor and Norah were the only two in the room and yet she could hear the wailing of what sounded like hundreds of people. The sound was so loud she was surprised that no one complained about the noise. She tried to not allow the situation she was in draw too much attention from the neighbors. The building was good for giving people their privacy which in this case was very helpful. Having to explain away the happenings of the past few days was not something that Nancy would have been able to do. She just told people that Norah was very sick and had to be treated in house due to the rarity of her condition and the ease of in-home treatment. In truth, no one knew what was wrong with her and did not believe many of the things Nancy described her as being able to do. She was only able to get the doctor to do a house call after showing him the video and pleading.

He agreed to come over during one of her episodes which normally lasted about an hour or so. His clinic was not that far away so he was able to make it in time. He had been Norah’s doctor since she was a baby and knew them fairly well. Dr. Soya was a pediatrician that had a specialty in psychiatric medicine. Nancy could see her breath now and feel the hair on her arms stand up. She could feel the floor beneath her vibrate and her heart sank farther in her chest. Nancy had no idea what she should do. She was at a total lost and felt so out of her element as to almost give up completely. What the hell was going on? Why was this happening? Nancy screamed in panic as she heard the front door unlock. She looked at the door and as it opened, a familiar face came inside. It was John. She felt a little relief but could not bring herself to get up and go to him. Nancy! I’m here! John says dropping his bags at the side of the door and running towards her. He knelt down beside her and could hear the wailing himself. What the hell is that? Nancy, what’s going on? She could only sob and fall into his embrace. John had just arrived but was quickly at a loss as to what was going on. He could feel that there was something different about the apartment. In fact, he could feel the difference in the environment the moment he came into the complex. It was weird and almost terrifying. He could not believe this was happening to his family. He did not even know what it was that was happening to them. He held Nancy tight. He could feel that she was scared and she looked exhausted.

He wanted to be there for her and at the same time, his concern for his daughter began to grow. John could hear sounds that he couldn’t identify and wondered what the noise was and where was it coming from? He tried to get up but Nancy pulled him back down close to her. She was obviously terrified of something and did not want to let him go. Her grip tightened and he almost lost his balance as a result. Nancy. I’m here now. We’ll get through this. His words were as comforting as he could make them. He leaned into her and kissed her forehead. She seemed to melt in his arms. She relaxed for a brief moment. The wailing stopped. Silence filled the apartment and its echo was deafening. Nancy and John both turned and stared at the room door. Doctor Soya is in there. Nancy said. John tried to stand up and Nancy’s grip loosened. He stood to his feet and took a few steps toward the room door. He looked back at Nancy. She was not the woman he remembered. She was always so put together and organized. She had a tendency to overreact at times but she was never this disheveled. John turned back toward the room door and took a breath. His little girl was inside that room. He wasn’t sure what was going on or why, but he needed to see her. He needed to help her in any way he could. After a few more steps there was a loud banging on the other side of the door. He jumped it startled him so. John tried to keep his composure. He needed to be the steady one, the one in control. Both Nancy and Norah needed him to be that.

He took another step as the door itself began to shake as the knocking became more intense and louder as though the door would soon burst off its hinges. John hesitated and as he was about to take another step forward, the doorknob began to turn. He stopped and looked back at Nancy again. She was starting to cry and held her hands up to her face. The door opened and revealed a darkened room inside. For a moment, John did not want to take another step closer. He could feel the hairs on the back of his neck stand at attention. His heart began to race and he began to perspire. He slowly walked closer toward the room. There was a horrible smell coming from the room that flooded his senses. He had to keep himself from losing his lunch. But there was something else. It was more than just a smell; there was also a sense of despair and a darkness coming from the room that he could not describe. The closer he got to the entryway the more he felt like he was about to enter an unfamiliar place. He was about to go into something that was no longer his eleven year old girl’s room.

Whatever cheeriness and light that came from this room and the little girl that slept and played there was no more. He left a bright room filled with color and life. He came back to an unknown reality where darkness and fear and the stench of decay saturated the air. He looked back at Nancy again. As he entered the room, his heart sank in his chest. The memories of what once was were strewn about like trash. He looked around and saw a shadowy figure sitting at the head of the bed, holding what looked like a ball in its hands. It was Norah and her hair was disheveled and covering the front of her face. He had never seen her like this before. The windows were wide open and a strong wind blew into the room. As the curtains moved about, it would let in a little bit of light and for a brief moment he could see the room clearer. He looked around and could not see Dr. Soya anywhere. Norah baby, it’s me, Daddy. His words were scratchy and filled with fear. The curtains moved again and revealed more of Norah. Her face had long and deep scratches in it and dried blood matted down her hair. John attempted to move closer and as he did, he could hear her laughing. It was not the laughter of a girl. It was deep, gargled and of something else. John wanted to reach out to her and to hold her, but fear would not let him. He hesitated going any farther.

The curtains moved again to reveal that the ball in Norah’s lap was no ball at all. John’s eyes widened at the sight. He could not believe his eyes. He took a step back. Norah slowly raised her head and caught his eye. John nearly screamed. Her eyes were not the eyes of his baby girl. They were white and cloudy and there was something missing, something he could not quite understand. She threw what was in her hands at John and as a reflex he caught it in his hands. He screamed and stepped back. He slipped in something and fell backwards. What he first believed to be a ball left his hands and then landed on top of him. John screamed again. This could not be real! This could not be happening! It was the head of Dr. Soya. Its mouth was opened in mid scream and its eyes were gone and clawed out. John tossed it aside and tried to get up but kept slipping in something. The curtain moved again to reveal that there was blood everywhere. He was sitting in blood.

There was blood on the walls and on the ceiling. It was as though each time the curtain moved it revealed a part of the room that was somehow hidden. Norah was standing at the edge of the bed with her arms stretched toward the ceiling. She was covered in blood. Welcome home, daddy! the words came from her mouth but were not of his little girl. The door slammed behind him and caught his gaze for a moment. He looked back toward the bed and could not see Norah. He got up and found himself alone in a darkened room. This could not be happening. What the hell was going on? John’s hands were trembling. A small part of him wished he had not gotten on that plane to come home. He had no clue that this was what he was rushing back to. The curtain moved again and revealed that he was indeed alone in the room. John took a breath. He moved toward the door and heard screaming coming from the hallway. It was Nancy. He grabbed the doorknob and tried to open it but couldn’t. Nancy! I’m coming Nancy! he shouted as he fought to open the door. He struggled with the door for a few moments. The screaming stopped and then he was somehow able to open the door. He looked down the hallway and could see Nancy and Norah. He screamed and felt the fear and sadness in his heart intensify.

Nancy was on her knees and Norah stood over her with a knife in her hand near her throat. Norah looked at John. She had an evil grimace on her face as though all of this was some elaborate joke. Norah, what are you doing! he screamed. He took a step closer and she pressed the knife close to Nancy’s skin. Nancy screamed and John stopped. John, I’m so sorry. Please forgive me! she whispered. Norah began to laugh as she yanked Nancy’s head back, exposing her throat. She took the knife and slit her neck from the right ear all the way to her left ear. John was horrified and frozen. Norah then threw Nancy to the floor like discarded trash and watched as blood poured onto the hardwood floor. John couldn’t bring himself to move. He couldn’t believe what he was seeing. He watched as Nancy began to gasp for air and in seconds lay still. All John could do is watch in horror. He didn’t know what else to do. Norah stared at him for a moment and then turned toward Nancy. She jumped on top of Nancy with the knife and began stabbing at her wildly as though she had lost her grip on reality. John fell to his knees. He did not want to believe what was happening and what he was seeing right before his eyes. As he watched Norah continue to stab at Nancy’s lifeless body of all he could do is weep. Before John could think or try to react, he felt the temperature drop dramatically.

He was suddenly freezing and could see his breath. The lights began to dim and slowly go out. He could feel his hair standing on end. He could feel something different, something he could not quite explain. It was something that felt more sinister than before. It was a feeling like he and Norah were not the only ones in the apartment. The floor beneath him began to rumble. He tried to get up but felt immobilized as though something were preventing him from moving. Norah stood up with the knife in her hand dripping blood on the floor. She slowly walked toward him. John tried with all of his strength to get up but he couldn’t. Norah opened her mouth and screamed. The sound seemed to not just come from her, but from all around her. The closer she got to him, the more terrified he became. He became disoriented and felt that his ears were bleeding. He could feel himself being slowly pulled backwards. He looked back and he was being pulled towards Norah’s room. He began to pick up speed and soon found himself inside the room which seemed darker than before, if that were even possible. He tried fighting again to no avail. He felt himself thrown across the room like a child’s toy. John screamed in pain as he hit the floor. He looked around him and was surrounded by some kind of darkness that was more than just the result of a room with no lights. This darkness was alive and appeared to be moving. The door slammed shut. John tried to hold in a scream. He knew that he was alone in the darkness and yet he could sense the presence of something else. The curtain moved again and for a brief moment he could see what appeared to be shadows on the ceiling and on the wall. They seemed to be moving about as though swimming, as though the walls and ceiling were made of liquid. He could feel the darkness all around him. He watched as it began to descend upon him and even rise up from the floor. The curtain moved again and he looked up and saw Norah standing on the bed above him holding the knife. He tried to move but couldn’t. John’s only reaction was to scream, and he did so as loud as he could. He knew that was the only option left for him to do.

A Great Civilization is not conquered from without until it has destroyed itself from within.

W. Durant

PART ONE

UNCOVERING THE DARKNESS

CHAPTER ONE

Walter was nervous. His hands shook a little as he walked down the aisle to find his seat. The attendant smiled at him and he forced a smile back. Walter had traveled all around the world. He had seen many sights and yet he still got nervous every time he got on a plane. As usual he was the first on the plane, which he did intentionally. Walter liked having a few moments of calm and security before the calamity of everyone else boarding the plane. He sat by the window and began to stare. Walter had received a letter from his colleague Simon Peter. The letter was in regards to his colleague’s latest adventure in Peru. Simon Peter had unearthed something amazing and was in need of help. Walter had known Simon Peter for many years and the fact that he asked for help was a rare thing indeed and a cause for concern.

As Walter thought about it, he realized that Simon Peter seemed unusually distraught. He couldn’t let go of the feeling that something else had his friend in dire need. It was something that he could not put his finger on and Walter didn’t like that. He was used to solving puzzles and figuring things out. This was something that was perplexing and the more he thought about it, the more confusing things became. Walter knew his colleague all too well. They spent almost twenty years working together. Walter looked up to Simon Peter and in all the years he had known him he had not once asked for help in any site he was working from. Maybe it was a pride thing or something else, but Walter was only ever invited as an observer, to witness and bask in Simon Peter’s success. Walter knew though that his colleague did respect and value him and all of the work Walter himself had done. But Simon Peter was a man who took charge and always managed to do it on his own. There was something different about the letter and the last few emails he had received.

Simon Peter was obviously panicked about something, and then Walter found out that they had lost contact with the dig site and no one had heard from Simon Peter or his team for over a week. That was when Walter knew he needed to act. He called up his team, out of which two were available to join him. Walter purchased tickets the very next day and now he was on a plane ready to head the search for Simon Peter. Walter got the go ahead from the director early that morning and was relieved to have the support of the museum. He was informed that they were to meet up with Raul, the guide that Simon Peter used to take them into the jungle where the cave was discovered.

Walter was definitely more on edge than normal. He couldn’t get past this feeling that something might be seriously wrong. He prayed that it wasn’t and that he had just misread the situation. This was more than just a trip to aid a colleague. It was about coming to the aid of a dear friend and mentor. Walter himself was practically world renown in his fields of Archeology, Anthropology and History. He also taught at Columbia University while maintaining an office at the American Museum of Natural History where he worked with Simon Peter. Walter had travelled the world, uncovering its hidden treasures and getting lost in the wonder of its history. He had published more than his share of books and even had a few guest spots on a number of shows on both the History Channel and National Geographic. He had unearthed a Sumerian artifact that landed him on the cover of National Geographic. For a man in his late fifties, he had accomplished much. But this was more than just a trip about his field of expertise. It was a trip that was more personal to him. Walter took a breath. He felt hands on his shoulders and was startled somewhat. He looked back and saw his assistant Marcus smiling at him with a big excited grin. Walter was so lost in his own thoughts he had not paid any attention to the passengers beginning to board. Walter felt strange and had to look around to get his bearings. He seemed more out of it than normal and could not help but feel he should not be on this plane. Walter couldn’t figure out why, but something was nagging him about this trip. He pushed those feeling aside and looked at Marcus and forced a smile.

Marcus was so headstrong and task oriented that he would not notice Walter’s state of mind. I’m excited Professor! Marcus exclaimed. He was like a little kid. He had been with Walter for almost three years now and was looking forward to the big one as he called it. He wanted his name on center stage. Walter just nodded in response to Marcus’ ramblings. He didn’t have the energy to engage Marcus longer than necessary. It looks like good old Simon Peter found something big! Walter didn’t respond. He turned around and sat back in his seat. Marcus eventually took the hint and sat back down as well. Walter had to admit though that Marcus was right about one thing; this was the big one. Simon Peter had stumbled onto something. Looking at his notes and reports, this was like heaven for one of the world’s leading authorities on the Mayan civilization. It could very well be one of the biggest and most important discoveries of a lifetime. That Simon Peter could have discovered definitive proof of how the Mayans actually vanished without a remnant left behind was amazing. This would be his crowning achievement.

The curious thing that made this particular site of interest is that before now, the Mayans had not been known to be in that area. There were no Mayan temples, cities or other artifacts to indicate that the Mayans had settled there. With all of the good and positive possibilities, why did Walter feel so nervous? He took an envelope out of his jacket pocket. He stared at it for a minute. He had read it at least four times and was about to read it again. He began to replay in his mind its contents. He opened the envelope and held the letter in his hands. This nervousness he felt about this trip was definitely about more than his apprehension about flying. It was very different and Walter couldn’t help but feel like he shouldn’t even be going. A voice somewhere deep inside of him, from a place he was no longer familiar with filled his mind and heart with anxiety like he had never felt before. Walter found his feelings to be a bit more than he could handle. He found he needed to take a deep breath and be intentional on his desire to be calm and not to worry. He didn’t know why he was feeling this way. It was getting so bad that he felt himself trembling as though he was having a panic attack.

He couldn’t get the thought out of his mind that he should get off the plane; a feeling that kept pushing him to be anywhere but here. If it were anyone else but Simon Peter, he probably would have followed his body but today his emotions won out and Walter closed his eyes and trying to calm himself down, thinking of comforting thoughts. Hey Professor! came another soft voice somewhere in front of him. Walter looked up and scanned the faces of the passengers boarding the plane. He saw one of his graduate students, Julie smile and wave at him. He returned the gesture. She sat down several rows in front of him. This would be Julie’s second trip with Walter and her first out of the country. This trip was short notice but he was relieved when Julie said she would be able to make it. Julie was a hard worker. She was a little self-conscious and quiet at times, but she was bright and worked very hard to get the best results. She was good with languages and computers. Julie had become an invaluable member of his team and although she lacks many of the traits the other graduate students had, he would offer her a job with his team when she was done.

She reminded him of himself when he was that young, when Simon Peter took a young naïve Walter under his wing. For a moment Walter was able to relax. With thoughts on the more pleasant and promising things in life, he was able to get away, but only for a moment. He soon realized the letter was in his hands. He unfolded it and began reading. Walter didn’t tell the rest of his team that he thought Simon Peter was in any kind of real danger or that he may have had an emotional or psychological break. All they knew for certain was that communications with the dig site were down and no one had been in communication with Simon Peter for more than a week. His transmissions and correspondence had stopped suddenly and they were going to offer any assistance they could.

As Walter read the letter, his thoughts focused on his relationship with his friend and mentor over the past twenty years. He remembered meeting him for the first time. Simon Peter was a short stocky man with balding silver hair. He wore these huge red rimmed glasses at the tip of his nose and always lowered his head to look at you from over his glasses. He was a brilliant man and loved to laugh. Simon Peter shared his passion and joy of being time travelers as he had called it. To journey into the past and gaze at the lives and cultures of those now lost to us. He painted this beautiful picture of holding on to more than just an old item or trinket, but a part of a memory with a history that you can connect with as you stand in that place holding that item. You can transport yourself back to that time and get a vision of what that culture must have been like. The way they interacted, the way they lived, loved and died. A part of their legacy remained intact as long as we invested in their memory. Walter fell in love with that vision. It was the reason why he studied History and Anthropology and received his doctorates in both those fields. It was by accident that he fell into archeology as well, but it was always Simon Peter’s influence and drive that kept him going.

There were so many times when he wanted to give up and give in. Walter’s thoughts went to the night of the plane crash, when he lost both his wife and his brother and sister in law. It was a terrible accident that left him a single father of three girls and a nephew who would become an orphan. He took his nephew in and they became one big family. It was Simon Peter’s constant guidance and encouragement that helped him in those dark times. Walter looked up to him in so many ways and felt like he owed him so much. His success and good fortune was due to Simon Peter and his influence.

This trip was the least he could do if his friend was in any kind of harm. Walter could hear the attendants as though they were in the distant background he was so deep in his own thoughts. He could faintly hear them give their safety and informational tips. He continued reading Simon Peter’s letter:

Dear Walter;

I hope this letter reaches you well. It has been over three weeks and we have only touched the surface of what may be the biggest find of my lifetime. What we have found here is what appears to be a complete history of the Mayan Civilization. It may even give some clues into how they all vanished. It is strange and beautiful all rolled in one. I can’t wait to show you when I get back. I thank you so much for your support with this. I know there were some who thought that I shouldn’t head this up. I know I took Leslie’s death pretty hard. She was my rock and supporter. You, more than anyone else, know what I went through, but I am well. I say all of this to you because I have begun to notice some things around here that I cannot explain. I get this feeling, this awful feeling that we shouldn’t be here, like somehow this whole thing is going to blow up in our faces. I can’t put my finger on it but the guides are beginning to become fearful and it’s more than just superstition. You know how I normally feel about that. I am confiding in you because I need someone to talk to. If I mentioned any of my feelings to anyone else they would assume I have not gotten over the loss of my wife and heading up this expedition was too soon. I am telling you that what I feel has nothing to do with that. I’ve been having these strange dreams and hearing things. At times I could swear I could feel someone watching me. I know it is not all in my head and all nerves or stress. You know me better than that. In all the years you have known me, I have never said this to you, but I am saying it now. I feel scared and I ask that you keep me in your prayers…

Walter felt the plane begin to move. Simon Peter had been through a lot the past two years. His wife Leslie’s cancer, which they thought was in remission came back more aggressive than ever. After a very difficult four months of fighting, she lost the battle, and Simon Peter took it real hard. He was nearing the end of an illustrious career and many felt he should have retired to enjoy the rest of his life. But his work was his life, especially without Leslie. Simon Peter was well into his seventies and his health wasn’t what it once