Indy and Penny walked side by side through the winding tunnels, each noticing and commenting on the various inscriptions and treasure lined walls. Indy noted that the walls seemed to be getting richer and richer as they moved through the labyrinth. He took that as being a good sign.
"So how are you doing?" he asked Penny, trying to keep her thinking and alert.
"Pretty terrified." She said smiling softly, "I'm just praying we don't run into any more of these Egyptian contraptions. I've had enough for one day."
Indy chuckled. "We'll have the Ankh soon and then we'll be out of here, Penny," he assured her as they turned a corner. "The place seems to be just a storing ground" He mused.
"With a few protections I mean." He added, noticing the scowl emerging on the young woman's face. "It's almost like a vault. It can't be too big. Trust me"
"You better be right" she replied, marching onwards. Indiana liked that she hadn't given up, he could think of a few past companions who would've run screaming by now.
He held out his hand to halt Penny as they approached a stairway leading down ten or so feet. It was a grand staircase, each stair carved beautifully and adorned with more hieroglyphics.
"It has to be down here." He said. "Looks like the end of the line. We grab the ankh and head back upstairs and out through the trapdoor. Then we're out."
She nodded. Once Indy was sure she was ready, he started descending the lavish staircase and moved into the last chamber with Penny at his heels. He thought about drawing his trusty revolver, but thought better of it, thinking he should have his hands free. He stepped into the chamber, and immediately noticed the artifact.
It was on a ledge in the wall about twenty feet away. He squinted to make out the ankh. The chamber itself was quite thin but long. This room had no gold and no special markings, making it a rather unspectacular space. There was just enough room for Penny and Indiana to stand side by side. It was a dead end with just the artifact in place in a small hole in the wall.
"Is that it?" He asked Penny, looking straight up at the Ankh.
"That's it." She replied. "Let's get it."
Indy looked around for any traps. Finding none he furrowed his brow and looked back up to the ankh. It was surprising to Indy that there was no pedestal for it. It was literally stuck in a hole in the wall. Usually when Indy treasure hunted, the items he sought were surrounded with beautiful treasures and the artifact held up like an item of worship.
He thought it was very strange how it was simply tucked away. More strange, he wondered why there were no visible traps. In his experience they were subtle but noticeable to his keen eye.
He saw no pressure pads, no boulders overheard (he checked for those these days) and no arrow slits.
Indy shrugged and stepped forward, confident that there were no traps.
He was surprised when he found himself falling.
"Indy!" Penny screamed as she watched him disappear.
He grabbed onto the ledge just in time, his head poked up very confused. He stepped onto solid rock but instead went through it. With Penny's help he hoisted himself up and looked around.
He had seen this before. Only in reverse. He remembered perhaps one of his greatest quests when he recovered the holy grail. One of the trials required him to walk on an 'invisible' bridge, though in reality the bridge itself was designed in a way to cover its true form. A full stone bridge.
Indy supposed now he was dealing with the same, only the walls and sides had been cleverly disguised that there was a floor in front of Indy, but there was only a deep fall.
"I fell for it." He said to a stunned and concerned Penny. He laughed at her reaction seeing him fall through a floor.
"See? It's a fake. There's no real floor here. It's an illusion from the walls." He shifted his vision side to side as he could see the outline of the cliff faces each side of the room. The drop would have certainly killed him.
"My god." She cried. "I had no idea. I couldn't see."
Dusting off his hands he now considered his next move. Since the floor was gone there was no visible way of getting to the Ankh of Tanis. It was far too far for him to jump.
With a thought he unraveled his whip.
"You're going to whip it? Please." She teased, patting Indy, unconvinced of his skills with a bullwhip.
Indy took off his hat and dusted it off, and replaced it, as he tended to do before concentrated. He held the whip back, and looked behind his shoulder.
"Oh yeah? Watch this." He grinned, and cracked the whip, hitting it's target perfectly. He yanked the whip back quickly and the gold Ankh soared through the air to quickly for Indy to react with his hands full and promptly flew into Indy's already bruised face.
Not being able to help herself, Penny burst into laughter as Indy rubbed his eye.
"Hey, I got it didn't I?" He said, ignoring his wounded pride. He picked up the fallen Ankh to admire its beauty. Indy had no idea it was this old, he was guessing dates and names in his head as he examined the piece, looking for clues of its history. Luckily it wasn't damaged. It would make a fine addition to the museum.
Penny hastily took the Ankh from him, and held it close, her eyes lighting up in admiration of its magnificence and power.
"Indy, it's amazing." She said, holding the treasure high in the torchlight.
"Yeah" Indy said, flexing his jaw painfully. "Let's get out of here. We'll check it out once we get back to Banaz." He thought of Pica again.
Penny nodded, not taking her eyes off the Ankh.
Ignoring her, Indy began to wind his whip again, and stepped onto the golden staircase again. He groaned as he felt himself pushing on a pressure pad and felt himself sinking. He had enough for one day. The pad ended it's drop with a familiar 'click'. Indy guessed that any intruders were supposed to stand on it as they entered the small chamber, not exiting it.
He wasn't surprised when he heard the rush of sand flood in from the ceiling. Quickly, he spun and grabbed Penny by the wrist and ran up the stairs as fast as he could.
"Indy!" Penny yelled as she half ran/dragged up the stairs and back in the corridor, still gripping on to the golden Ankh. She placed the idol in Indy's satchel once she caught up. "Come on!" he yelled after she had closed the bag.
Racing through the corridor and feeling the level of sand creep upwards, Indy soon found himself slowing as he sank into the high rising flood.
"Come on!" He repeated to Penny, now running on her own. She dropped her torch into the sand, and the duo were being guided now only by Indy's light. He felt himself starting to wade in the thick sand as they approached the crossroad, he darted back to the entrance as quick as he could, hoping that Penny wasn't far behind.
The sand poured through the opened holes in the ceiling, Indy could estimate their time was running out. The sand was completely covering the whole temple and if they didn't get out quickly they would soon be joining Pica in his grave. He prayed that the stairs to the trapdoor wasn't yet completely covered. The level rose to his knees.
Indy wrenched his body to make sure Penny was still behind him as he pushed through the door leading to the already sand filled corridor.
Remembering the early trap, he waited until he and Penny were in the corridor before shutting the door behind them.
As fast as he could, he waded to the other end, with the flood of sand flowing on him and slowing him down. He began the intricate movements required to open the door. He heard Penny spluttering behind him, the sand obviously getting to her.
As soon as the door was open he lifted Penny and hauled her through the door, the two sifted through the sand as they made their escape on the last stretch. It had now crept above their thighs.
Indy moved Penny in front of him and waded behind her, remembering the left-over treasure and cursing Egyptian traps
They approached the already filled stairs and began their slow ascent single file, the unstoppable flow of sand still assaulting them. They found themselves up to their waist, with the weight of the sand slowing them down considerably.
Indy could see the trapdoor leading back out to the desert, he pushed Penny forward, who was slowing more and more. The sand was steadily reaching the level of her chest. She reached forward and lifted herself through the open doorway.
Indiana silently thanked Pica for leaving the door open, he doubted he would have been able to open it backwards toward the flow of sand.
Slowly the two exited the trapdoor, leaving behind the temple, now filled completely with sand, even spilling out of the door. Indy noticed that the dune nearby had completely gone, no doubt now occupying the underground. He stopped to take a breather.
"Are you okay?" Indy asked Penny, touching her shoulder in concern.
She nodded and rubbed her hair from the sand. Strands of hair had fallen from her ponytail so she took the band holding it out with a single move and shook her head, freeing the dark hair and letting it flow onto her shoulders.
"I'm okay. I'm just glad we're out." She replied and chuckled. "I can't believe we did it, Indy."
Indy took off his fedora and turned it upside down, emptying it from the excess sand. Stunned by the amount of the stuff flowing out, he ran a hand through his hair and replaced his hat. He remembered the Ankh and took it from his bag and was pleased that it was still undamaged. He noticed the sun was starting to get low, causing a reddish orange sky.
"Yeah, we did it. Thanks for your help, sweetheart. This'll make a great addition to the museum." He said, straightening up with a grin and making eye contact with Penny.
Penny raised an eyebrow and put her hands on her hips "Your museum?" She asked firmly.
"Sure. The college paid me to get the artifact, sweetheart." He said "and here I am."
A half-smile appeared on Penny's exotic face, making Indy grin, enjoying the sight. "Indy, the credit should go to me too. I helped you know. What about MY museum?"
"Hey, if you want it, It's yours" He said and grabbed her by the waist, pulling her close to him not breaking eye contact "What do you think?" He continued. "It can be all yours."
He held up the Ankh, enjoying seeing her eyes widen as she took in the view. "Fortune?" he asked, smiling.
Indy dropped the Ankh to his side and held her face close to his. "Or glory?" he asked and he pulled her close to him, kissing her hard and passionately. Her eyes closed in pleasure and he sneakily checked her eyes were closed mid-kiss.
Indiana Jones silently pocketed the Ankh.
The End.