Two - A Chilling Tale

"Excuse me? Excuse me? Uh, Miss, excuse me?"

A young man had arrived at the desk and wanted to check out a stack of books, and she had been completely oblivious to the fact.

"Oh, I'm sorry." Josie set her newspaper aside - baring the title TEMPLE TALES ATTRACT TOURISTS! - and helped him check out his books.

As soon as the clock struck her lunch break, she dashed down the street from the library to the cinema, eager to catch the matinee showing newsreels.

"Back again, Miss Scarlett?" called the woman behind the ticket booth.

"You know it!" She strode right inside and settled into her favourite seat - in the middle but just a little off-centre, just a little bit - and waited for the magic to start.

What have you got for me today, news? she wondered. What tales do you have to entice me today? Those were the questions, the winning questions.

The lights dimmed and the screen blinked to life as the projector started rolling, and she grinned in the dark room in pure excitement, the film light washing over her.

Eye on the Globe

Newswire: Riddle of the Lost Tourists!

"The intrigue of The Temple of the Forbidden Eye continues! A matronly movie star made young again, and the paupers who became Rockefellers in these ruins. But, a darker tale has surfaced: Many visitors are claiming loved ones have disappeared inside. Could it be they looked into the eyes of the idol? The reports reach Indiana Jones who returns to the site of his great discovery. Our newsreel camera follows Dr. Jones as he enters the temple..."

TOURISTS LOST IN TEMPLE!

Jones's signature hat was pushed down low over his eyes, casting shadows across his face and somewhat hiding his appearance.

She would do anything to be in his shoes.

Oh, Josie didn't care at all for the fame, she just wanted to be able to explore ancient sites and make discoveries herself - was that really so much to ask? Apparently so.

She would get there one day. One day, she would live her dream.

"There he goes - off he goes to make another world-famous and world-changing discovery. He's certainly living the dream..."

"Oh Josie, if I didn't know any better I would say someone has a crush on Dr. Indiana Jones," Millie remarked while the ladies were at the cinema - again - during their weekly film date, which Josie had become all the more thankful for lately, as it meant another newsreel update for her.

"Well I know you do."

"No silly, you!"

Josie's jaw fell open. "That's not why I go to watch the newsreels! I go to hear more of the story."

"Sure, if that's what you want to say."

"Oh goodness, Mills, you're unbelievable! I wonder if they've found anything on the lost tourists."

"Oh Josie, I think you enjoy the news more than the film itself!"

Honestly, she was. "Oh, hush, here it is-"

Eye on the Globe

Newswire: Riddle of the Lost Tourists Continues!

"One week ago our cameras followed Dr. Indiana Jones as he entered the famed Temple of the Forbidden Eye. Now, one week later and still no Indiana Jones - could Jones himself have locked eyes with the Idol, or will he solve the riddle of the lost tourists? When and if he does, Eye on the Globe will be there."

Keep your Eye on the Globe

The End

Josie's jaw fell open once more. "Oh no - that, that can't be it!"

"Oh hush!" hissed Millie. "The film is starting."

But the next thing both knew Josie was up and out of her seat and shuffling out of the dark cinema, leaving a very confused Millie in her wake.

"Josie - Josie!"

But she barely heard her friend - she was on her way to the nearest telephone.

"Uncle Marcus - it can't be!"

He sighed over the phone. "I'm afraid it's true, Josephine."

"Lost, and for a whole week - and still no sign of him or any of the allegedly missing tourists?"

"Nothing at all. Not even so much as a trace." He sighed deeply again, and she imagined him rubbing a hand over his face. "First the loss of funding, and now this. I'm afraid it seems this expedition was cursed from the very beginning."

"Well, it is a so-called cursed temple. I'm sorry, Uncle Marc. I wish there was something I could do."

"Thank you, Dear, but I'm afraid there's very little any of us can do at the moment, except for wait. Perhaps others could venture into the temple, but that would only risk more losses..."

"Hang in there, Uncle."

Another sigh. "Thank you, Josephine. Though I'm sure Indy will find a way, he always does."

"Yes, apparently so."

The call ended then, leaving her mind spinning.

I wish there was something I could do...

But what could she do? All the way in England where she was. And she was in no position to assist in such an endeavor, even though it was the stuff right out of her dreams...

I wish there was something I could do...

I wish there was something I could do...

Again, thank you to the pre-ride films which I found on YouTube!

Thank you so much for reading and I hope you enjoyed! :)