* A WEEK LATER *
"Keep me updated on the events. Don't forget to call me.", Sharon said on Mohan's way to pickup point for the exploration team.
"Well I was thinking of switching off my phone to be at peace from your constant nagging."
"Very well then, forget your advance payment."
"Boss ! Did you take my joke seriously? Haha , do you want a fist in the abdomen massage as an apology "
"Very funny " , Sharon said sarcastically, "keep this 1000$ and enjoy your trip."
"Yes sir", Mohan saluted mockingly.
Once Mohan reached the boarding point Sharon said goodbye and departed.
Taking a deep breath Mohan gave his luggage to the staff loading it and went into the bus which would take them to airport.
As soon as he entered he saw Mr. Daniel and a grumpy Mr. Hilton. He greeted Mr. Daniel and ignored the other. He found a window seat at the back and relaxed. As he got no friends due to his upfront personality no one bothered him.
After sometime the bus moved forward on its way to airport after everyone had arrived. Upon reaching there they boarded a direct flight to Johannesburg O.R. Tambo International Airport , South Africa. It was a very long flight and upon reaching there everyone decided to rest there itself before continuing on journey further. After proper rest and rejuvenation the group moved on to Kimberley and found out the lodging where they have to stay for a month or so exploring the newly found ruin which was given the name, 'Antha site 101'.
Next day we set out for the Antha site 101 located 10 kilometres away from the town into the rocky terrain. When they reached there Mohan saw several other explorers already gathered there from different parts of the world. Mr. Daniel had already briefed the group about rules and conduct. He also informed them as to how the site was discovered which was a bit funny story. A young boy was being chased by buffalo and to get out of it's sight he went into an opening beneath a giant rock . When he got in the boy slid down a vent which led to an underground chamber. Luckily his friends saw what happened and informed the authorities concerned. The boy was saved and in the process it was found that the structure Underground is ancient.
From there the local archeological department took over and found out that the opening in the rock was created very recently due to weathering. To their utmost shock the chamber which was in a state of utter devastation and dilapidation had evidence of human activity dating back even before the first known civilization. From there premier institutions and organisations in the field were sent invitation to come and explore the ruin - Antha site 101 .
Mohan looked at the very normal rock and the surrounding and wondered how the region beneath would look like. As he was wondering he heard Mr. Daniel call the group. Everyone moved to surround him .
"We have got clearance to go down but before going keep few points in mind.
- No one shall touch anything beneath without prior permission and supervision.
- Do not disturb the experts working there. You are free to observe.
- You find something interesting or need any help you just have to approach either me or Mr. Hilton.
- Enjoy the history."
We all followed Mr. Daniel to the artificially widened hole in the rock along with a hanging ladder to go down. One at a time the group descended. As soon as Mohan found his footing and stepped aside for others to come he saw the chamber and his breath stopped for a moment. The chamber was indeed in a state of collapse but from what he can see through the flood lights installed , it was grandiose with pillars supporting the land above, few of them broken. There were etchings everywhere eyes can see . Although one cannot perceive their meaning it can be seen even from an untrained eyes that the etchings had pattern and were not random in their arrangement. Another thing that caught attention were the symbols drawn upon the walls. Experts were loitering around the chamber examining every nook and cranny.
" Alright students you are all on your own now. Remember the rules and enjoy your time here.", said Mr. Daniel and moved on to join a group examining the pillars etchings whose members he seemed to know of. Mr. Hilton also gave few words and moved on to his own research. The students divided in groups of two and three scattered towards whatever they found interesting. At last Mohan was left alone to fend for himself.
Mohan found it uncomfortable but was also glad that he was free to observe whatever he liked. The chamber was vast and was divided in several sections through pillars and now broken wall like structures. The entry or exit at the end of the hall was blocked by debris and boulders with people working to remove it.
Mohan started from the nearest pillars and walls and started moving throughout the chamber. He observed fascinating symbols which looked like unknown creatures with few human figures there too. All of it was mesmerizing and unbelievable at the same time. It was hard to accept that the history humanity knew as of now was incomplete and limited. He observed the etchings along the wall and floor and started following whatever pattern that came to his mind while looking at them. At last he reached a section of chamber not far from the point where debris were being cleared. This portion was hidden from view due to the wall and pillar position but got no major attention from the people arround due to lack of etchings along this portion. Not only that but also the crack in the flooring here kept them away. As Mohan was looking in the room like portion he was attracted in it unknowingly. He walked along the walls tracing it with his fingers and reached a corner. He found a heap of dust in the corner. Without any thought in his action he moved the soil with his leg. As he did so he felt a bump as if a rock is in the soil heap. Curious he wore his gloves in the left hand and searched for the rock piece. After finding it when he raised and took a good look he was awestruck. It was something like a transparent crystal filled with multicolored dots. It was the most beautiful piece of anything he had seen in his lifetime and the idea of keeping it for himself crossed his mind. He shook his head and stood up to go and report his findings to Mr. Daniel.
"What have you got there boy?" Mohan's mood plummeted hearing Mr. Hilton's voice. As Mohan was about to respond Mr. Hilton's eyes drew towards the crystal. Mohan could see Mr. Hilton's eyes widen in slow motion. His facial expressions changed to that of amazement.
"Where did you get it?", he asked while pouncing towards Mohan to take the crystal. "Give it to me boy. Let me have a look.", he said hurriedly.
Mohan got out of his way and started towards the hall to find Mr. Daniel as the expression of Mr. Hilton warned Mohan that he can't be trusted.
"I'll find Mr. Daniel and you can observe it from there sir."
As Mohan was retreating from the room he felt Mr. Hilton move but before he could get to do something he found himself in a chokehold. Mr. Hilton was a healthy middle age man who used to workout and that put Mohan in a disadvantageous position as he cannot overpower Mr. Hilton to free himself. He struggled with everything he got. Both of them disbalanced and fell on the ground with a loud thump. He heard something crack but as he wasn't the one feeling pain he thought that Mr. Hilton was harmed. The fall released the chokehold so Mohan could breath again. Breathing heavily he started crawling towards the hall but before he could cry for help Mr. Hilton was once again upon him. Mr. Hilton sat on Mohan's back and covered his mouth with his hand. With his another hand he started reaching for the crystal which was still grasped in Mohan's hand. Mohan outstretched his hand to keep the crystal out of Mr Hilton's hand.
As he was losing breath he heard another crack and then another. In all this Chaos and on brink of death he realised where the sound is coming from. As soon as the realisation came, the ground beneath them collapsed throwing them in a free fall. Mr Hilton at the last moment leaped from his position and caught the edge of the broken floor. The next sensation Mohan felt was something indescribable. Pain ... Pain.... Pain everywhere. Lying down in his pool of blood which traced the lines of a peculiar etchings on the floor he was on now, Mohan in his last moment saw Mr Hilton pulling himself up and heard the crystal released from his hand clanking on the ground full of etchings full of his blood.
Mohan thought he would meet death and the unbearable pain would go away but something else happened instead. There was a bright flash of light from where the crystal should be and then Mohan was drowned in an ethereal blue light. His pain sort of shifted into background and what took over was clarity. His body became transparent fog like and the last thing he witnessed before losing consciousness was destruction - pure and utter. The crystal exploded into what seemed like a nuclear explosion and for a movement Mohan's consciousness shifted outward following the Wipeout of the lives and any remanant of the ruin Antha site 101.
It was then that his consciousness returned to his ethereal self and he blacked out.