Chris Keegan's hand were tied up as a spot of sun shined in on the cave he was in. He found himself alone, wondering where the woman was that took him on this unexpected journey. He was sweaty, shirtless, and fidgety. A tall person entered the space.
"Where is she?" Chris asked.
A light was angled to see a woman encased in stone. Her face was petrified in terror, her body looked like it struggled. Chris yanked his hands, but the rope that tied them together was chained to the ground. The woman was not Sheena.
"You see, like you, I wanted one last adventure. I came to this very cave twenty years ago, and discovered the secret of the Stone Man. Now, explorers like you seek to find the treasure, discover the curse, but they are stopped each time. Don't worry, the traps outside this cave aren't mine. The steep entrance isn't mine. No, the ancients knew how to protect the Stone Man from the outside. But, inside, they misunderestimated."
The tall person unchained Chris and untied his arms. The tall person saw something in the distance, and responded to himself.
"Let her go, it's clearly me you want." Chris said, massaging his wrist.
"Why would I want you?"
"I don't know. I've survived the ancient endurance tests. I wanted the treasure of the Stone Man. I just want to go home, my wife just told me she may be pregnant. I'll keep your secret."
"Oh Christopher Keegan, you've been in the cave as much as she has. Why should I let you go?"
"I'll keep your secret."
"And?"
"I'll never touch the treasure as long as it is in your possession."
"And?"
"What more is there?"
"You will keep the Stone Man's oath!"
"I will keep the Stone Man's oath."
The tall man touched Chris's shoulders and opened his hood. Chris screamed and punched the tall man in the stomach and ran as far and as fast as he could. He got as far as the end of the room. His legs froze. Chris turned his head. Chris saw green eyes grow wider. Chris yelled in terror as his body turned to stone.
"There is a legend of what is called the Luanda Magere- a stone warrior who protected his nation from the Nandi. To the Kaiy'a, the Luo were friends and allies. The Luo kept the Nandi away from the LaMistas, and Luanda Magere, who was made of stone, but appeared as I do before you now, was protective to all. There is legend that the Nandi sent a beautiful woman to seduce him, which she did and married him. She discovered his weakness, that his shadow was flesh, and tried to kill him, but Luanda Magere defeated her, and retreated to a mountain in the LaMistas. Some say that Luanda Magere hid the treasure of the gods in the mountain he retreated to, and encased its area around it with traps and danger for all those who dare try to cross it. But, many have tried and disappeared. Do you think the legend is real?" Kali said to the village children.
Before Kali could continue, Sheena pulled into the village with the truck she and Chris shared. She came out of it, slamming the door angrily before putting her head in her hands and crying.
"Run along, and remember the lesson," Kali told the village children as she dismissed them to play. She went over to Sheena and hugged her in her shoulder. "What's wrong?"
Sheena, in her tears, "Chris left a note saying that he is going on one last adventure with someone who paid him to find something, and he said he'd be back in three days. He wrote that seven days ago."
"You don't think?" Kali stopped herself from saying anything.
"No, the customer file and information was filled when I went to the safari place. We talked over the phone once she pitched the idea to him. I said it was okay."
"Where were they going?"
"To an far north mountain in the LaMistas, past the border between the Mitubi and LaMistas. She said it was for the Stone Man's treasure."
Kali's eyes widened.
"I told him to be careful because of the legend, but Chris told me she paid him enough to close the business down for good, which is what he's been trying to do for months."
Kali's eyes calmed some, but she proceeded.
"Sheena, is he finally doing it?"
"He has to- it's the only way we can begin to raise funds for our child."
"Child?!"
"I still have to take the test, but I think I might be pregnant. Chris and I have been trying for a while. He was going to close the business anyway since my science lab is bringing in more money."
"Yes, your findings. I'm amazed you can do that and the Darakn'a business."
"It keeps me limber, and Chris has come in handy on that front too."
"Well, you also have Cutter."
"Yes."
"And you know he loves a good treasure hunt."
"And he wants Chris to be safe as well."
"I think you need to turn your pain into action and find Chris with Cutter's help."
"Yes, Cutter is a good helper."
Sheena and Kali walked near the river some until Sheena felt better. The two hugged and Sheena got back into her truck and drove off.
The tall man was tracing the carvings on the cave walls, as he was marching in the stone pits. It was steaming hot, but the air from the jungle cooled it to a nice sizzle. He looked at the terrified encased woman in the stone.
"Cheryl Sanders. She could find anything, except a way out," The tall man pushed a button. "So many explorers over the years and none got what I got."
In the distance, there was a frozen image of a tall Black man encased in light stone. The tall man pressed another button. The tall Black man spoke after getting unfrozen.
"Dr. Jasper, why do you keep me in here? Why do you drain my life force? Why do you kill innocent people who just want my treasure?" It was the Stone Man.
"It's mine. I said two centuries ago that no one would seek my treasure, and I know you wouldn't be trusted."
"But to do what you do, and to abuse my Oath."
Dr. Jasper pressed a button and the Stone Man folded in pain.
"The elixir I invented from those who dare venture into the lair. You still have your traps, Magere, but I have the ingredients for everlasting life."
"But to grind…I never did that to the Nandi."
"I'm done talking with you Magere." Dr. Jasper pushed the button and the Stone Man froze in his clear stone cage.
Matt Cutter hadn't helped Sheena in a while. Sheena and Chris would visit from time to time in the past year. His safari business was booming, and Mendlesohn did more helping out than usual. He was moving away from shady deals, though more than happy to drop everything for a good dollar. Every now and then, Mendlesohn would pry him on things, but overall, he kept things as they were.
He just came back from dropping off tourists after a three-day hike in the North LaMistas. He did what he usually did after depositing the check at the bank. He closed the case drawer, took off his safari hat, poured himself a beer, and spread his feet on his desk and relaxed. He heard a car speed and abruptly stop. Sheena came in and looked over Cutter's legs. Matt put down his beer.
"Sheena, what's wrong?"
"Chris is gone."
"Gone?! Where?"
"He was closing up his safari business and was about to turn over the keys when someone hired him to find an ancient treasure. He left five days ago, and was supposed to come back two days ago. He left a letter," Sheena showed him the letter. "We have to go find him."
Matt read the letter.
"What is the Luanda Magere treasure?"
"The Stone Man's treasure. I told you this years ago. Basically, the ancient Stone Man, Luanda Magere, left his people when his presence became too dangerous and he found refuge in the mountain of the gods with his treasure. People have been looking for it for centuries, but have never returned. The woman who hired Chris went looking for it, so we need to go find them."
"And the treasure?"
"I told you it is too dangerous to find. The Luanda Magere set up traps all around the mountain to protect the treasure. We need to only find Chris and the woman who hired them."
"Okay," Matt went over to give Sheena a hug. "I am sorry you are going through with this."
"Thank you."
"I just got back from a hike, but if you don't mind waiting until tomorrow morning, we can start. Where is this mountain of the gods?"
"Chris left a copy of the map too, it's on the far western corner of the LaMistas."
"Okay," Matt said, "Do you need a place to stay?"
"I'm staying with Kali tonight. Meet me there tomorrow morning."
"I will!" Matt said, smiling assuredly.
As Sheena left, Matt's eyes shined blue. Mendlesohn came in.
"Sheena hasn't visited in a long time, how is she?"
"Not doing too well. Chris is missing, and tomorrow morning, her and I are going out to find him."
"I'll keep things fine here. It's been a while since you two went on an adventure."
"Yes, well, I think with her science lab being successful and not much conflict around here, there hasn't been a reason to."
"She's been tasking Chris to help her when she does."
"True."
"Also, I think she was stunned after your mother visited last year."
"Did she say she was?"
"No, but as that was emotionally jarring for you, I'm sure she just wanted to keep her distance."
"What mother doesn't recognize her own son?" Matt said, with a hint of compensation.
"You should still write to her, or at most her doctor, she may have dementia."
"I tried, but she sent it back. I tried reaching her doctor, and the doctor also sent it back stating that her memory and overall health is fine. How could she not recognize me?"
"Cutter, it's just possible that with Chris missing this might be harder because of the journey of your friendship with him wasn't always smooth."
"We sorted that out years ago."
"Maybe you should pay Kali and Sheena a visit tonight. Sounds to me like you need more details."
Matt gave Mendlesohn a look. Then, Matt finished his beer. Matt took off his safari button down revealing his button up muscle shirt and got into his jeep.
In the cave, Dr. Jasper was inspecting the statue of Chris Keegan. The Stone Man was unfrozen but still trapped, seeing them both through the walls.
"Why do you stare at the statues?"
"To wonder why, and to study who they are."
"I never wanted this. When I trusted you with the power of the Oath crystals, I didn't expect you to turn millions of innocent people into stone."
"Yet, the stone is what is keeping you alive."
"I will be alive long after you, Dr. Jasper. This mountain was a gift to me."
"I want to know what other legends have things I also want. It would be helpful to up what you have already protected the mountain with. Maybe shifting into animals."
"Don't!" The Stone Man shouted. "Don't!"
Dr. Jasper pulled out a green crystal.
"Don't!"
Matt pulled up as the sun was setting to Kali's village. He walked around some and villagers smiled at him as he asked where Kali and Sheena were. Kali and Sheena were by the river.
"Cutter," Kali said, noticing him, "what brings you by after so long?"
"Sheena told me she was staying here for the night, and I wanted more details on the Luanda Magere."
"Cutter forgot what we told him."
"It's been a long while."
"The Luanda Magere was a stone warrior who protected his nation from the Nandi."
"Stone warrior?"
Kali continued.
"He was believed to be made of stone. To the Kaiy'a, the Luo were friends and allies. The Luo kept the Nandi away from the LaMistas, and Luanda Magere, was protective to all. There is legend that the Nandi sent a beautiful woman to seduce him, which she did and married him. She discovered his weakness, that his shadow was flesh, and tried to kill him, but Luanda Magere defeated her, and retreated to a mountain in the LaMistas. Some say that Luanda Magere hid the treasure of the gods in the mountain he retreated to, and encased its area around it with traps and danger for all those who dare try to cross it. But, many have tried and disappeared."
"So, me and Sheena are going to find Chris and the woman who hired him, what does that mean then?"
Sheena said, with shaking voice:
"It means that we are looking for them with the slim chance they didn't disappear."
"So, we are going to be walking to the Magere Mountain, and hopefully not fall prey to the traps. What are the traps?"
"They are unknown Cutter." Kali said.
"I see," Matt said, looking at his waist. "I didn't mean to interrupt what you two were already doing."
"I was preparing to meditate with Sheena. You are more than welcome to join us."
"I think I'll pass. There is something I have to do before tomorrow morning."
Matt said his goodbyes and went into his jeep and went further west. Mendlesohn didn't remember what time he came back, but Matt looked like he got a decent workout in when he did.
The next morning, Matt Cutter got fully dressed with his safari cap, purple button tank top, and blue button-down sleeved shirt and proceeded to Kali's village, where Sheena was waiting outside Kali's hut. Sheena hugged Kali and she got into his truck. The two were silent as Cutter backed away from the village and back on the road.
"I don't think I've ever been to the Magere Mountain range before." Matt said, looking at Sheena.
"It's not known to be a tourist attraction, though many people have gone to them and have never returned."
"Well, that's promising!"
"Cutter, don't be so cynical. I know my husband will survive whatever thing that has happened to him. He's very resilient."
"I know."
"That's not to say you aren't, but you have a business to maintain, and after what happened with your mother, I wanted to give you space."
Cutter was a little hurt by the comment, but turned toward the road.
"I am sorry, I didn't mean to hurt you. I just need Chris to be alive."
"Why?"
"I'll tell you later."
The two drove the rest of the way in concerned silence. They got to the LaMistas/Magere border and pulled into a side to park the truck.
"Sheena, are you sure you don't know of any traps?"
"Cutter, no. I just know there are rumors about this mountain, we just have to find it."
"Okay."
The two got out and Cutter checked his prepared weaponry. He had a knife and a gun.
"Ready?" Sheena said, coming around to his side of the truck.
"Yes."
The two started walking into the jungle. As Sheena and Cutter knew how to recognize mountain ranges from the beginning environment, and Sheena knew where the mythical mountain was, they both felt good about their trek. As they walked deeper into the jungle, however, the trees became more prominent and the hot sun was hidden by thick trees.
"I've never seen these trees before," Matt said, "I wonder what they are."
"There are many things about the Magere region we don't know about from the mountain, but we must still get to the mountain." Sheena said, dismissively.
"I know, it's just getting darker is all."
"Yes, it's been a while since I've been in jungle this thick."
The jungle kept getting darker and the trees and bush more damp. Of the little sun that was peaking through, it still allowed for some visibility.
"I wonder if those traps were just ruses," Matt said confidently. "Outside of a dark jungle, maybe we don't have anything to worry about."
Matt stepped on something that curled under his feet.
"Just a plant." Looking at Sheena' s concerned expression.
The two walked further. The injured plant that Cutter stepped on recovered of sorts, but more vine came out from the ground and started following them.
The two continued walking until they came across a clearing. In front of them was a thorned tree field, and around them was more jungle.
Cutter pulled out a little thing of water in which Sheena and him partook. They got up from the rocks they found and Cutter handed the satchel with water for Sheena to hold onto the rest of the way. Just as Matt was fully up, a strong vine grabbed Matt by the feet. Cutter made a fearful, frustrated noise as he was pulled back into the jungle, his hat dropping off his head.
"Sheena!" Matt yelled.
Sheena wasn't far from him, but as she ran towards the vine the vine pulled Matt faster until Matt was jolted from the muddy ground and saw a giant pod. Sheena came out from the side with her knife and tried cutting the vine that had Cutter's feet tied, but the pod used another vine to throw Sheena aside. Matt was dangling in the air many ways as he saw the vine pull itself further and further into a flowery, thorny mouth. Matt was thrown suddenly against a tree trunk as he saw Sheena stab the pod from behind. The pod let out a fowl yell as it was injured, and Matt fell onto the ground on a little wet dirt. Sheena went around the pod cutting the vines before stabbing it again, this time killing it.
Sheena came over to Cutter.
"Are you okay?" Sheena helped Cutter up.
"Yes, I guess I spoke too soon."
"Oddly, I think we are closer to the Mountain of the Stone Man. We should go in that direction though."
Matt brushed off the dirt from his pants and shirt the best he could before rejoining Sheena. They walked about another hour and a half before coming to a different point, but the same thorn tree field.
"It is a shame I left my machete at Cutter Unlimited."
"I think as long as we are careful, there shouldn't be any concern."
The two treaded cautiously through the thorn tree field. Like the dark jungle before them, the thorn trees got closer and closer to their bodies, poking the fabric but not the skin. The tree field felt big, and took another hour for them to get through, but the more noticeable tears were seen on each of their shirts, with one or two penetrations on their shirts. Matt had two cuts that went through his purple tank, and Sheena had two close to her bra area. They came to another clearing and assessed the damage.
"No bleeding."
"No bleeding."
A roar was heard as they started walking towards the mountain. Sheena pointed out the differences being more defined. Matt was worried about traps.
"Monstrous pods and dangerous thorns. I should have wrote some of this down to bring back."
"Yes, it's nice to have some certainty."
Matt noticed a hidden pain from Sheena's eyes.
"Sheena, what's wrong?"
"I am worried about Chris. He has to come back."
"Why?"
All of a sudden, two large white tigers came out of nowhere and ambushed Cutter and Sheena. The tigers pinned them down from the back and started clawing. Matt was able to turn his body around and try to push back on the tiger as the tiger continued clawing and ripping Matt's button-down shirt. Sheena had a harder time turning over, as the tiger was trying to tear into her clothes too but only got a scratch in. Sheena tried matching eyes with the tiger and shape shift into a tiger for better combat, but she couldn't sense the tiger was real and the tiger wasn't letting her meet eyes. All the while, Matt's arms were becoming more visible and the tiger on him tore his collar open, exposing his purple button tank top. Matt suddenly remembered the strength of his legs and threw the tiger back over him and into the tiger that was attacking Sheena. The tigers then jumped on them both from the front, but Sheena knocked the tigers collectively on the ground with her fists and Cutter grabbed his gun. He took two shots, but the bullets missed the tigers completely and the gun was swatted away as was Sheena's fists. Sheena did meet the eye of the other tiger whom she was now dealing with, and she shape shifted into another white tiger and fought both tigers. The tigers were injured and fled before Sheena turned back into her human form.
Dr. Jasper saw this from his telescope in the mountain. The Stone Man, injured from the green crystal exposure, looked up in concern.
"At last! The Darakn'a, the ancient Kaia power will be mine too! I must get her here sooner."
"The traps…..willl….still….be…." the Stone Man said profoundly weak, seeing the frame of the terrified woman encased in stone dissipate, "there."
Dr. Jasper looked at the Stone Man in anger.
"She's coming for her husband, and falling into my trap. I just have to get that Sherlock Domes out of the way!"
Sheena got up from the ground and looked immediately at Cutter.
"You okay?"
"Yes, but I am never going to get this shirt repaired anytime soon," Matt said, taking off the remanents of his blue buttoned-down shirt that had no sleeves and torn in the back and front to reveal his purple buttoned down tank top. "I always seem to lose a shirt when I am with you. "
"It's been a while. Chris asks me every time he helps me whether he should take his shirt off now or wait until it's absolutely necessary."
"Which is it?"
"Absolutely necessary."
"It's been a while since we've been on an adventure ourselves."
"Yes, anytime Chris can't make something or help me out, I'll still contact you. I just haven't because Chris has taken care of things and you needed time considering your mother."
"She is still alive, but she has stopped writing me."
"I'm sorry."
The two returned to walking where they came across what looked like ancient ruins of a temple. Matt and Sheena stopped to appreciate the artwork, and saw that they were close to a cliff leading to a major river, and the mountain they were looking for was just beyond the base. What either of them couldn't see where hidden tribespeople.
"Cutter, there is something I have to tell you."
"What is it?"
"I believe I'm pregnant."
Cutter looked at her and smiled. Sheena wasn't smiling.
"I am sorry I am not happier about it; Chris took off on his last safari just as I told him. I haven't gotten tested yet, but I feel the baby in my belly."
Matt, not even noticing how sweaty his bare arms were from the heat, smiled again.
"We'll find him," Matt pointed to a rock that was near the cliff near the river, "Look at this, I wonder what it means."
"This particular tribe of the Luo didn't last, but I believe this reads , 'here lies the end of your fate.'"
They turned around and spears came in their direction. Sheena ducked but Matt found himself pinned to the rock. There were spears in all four corners of his purple tank.
A few tribespeople charged at Sheena. Sheena, fought and dodged them as two other tribespeople came to torture and torment Cutter. Sheena was doing her best, and knocking several tribespeople out, but they soon recovered and Sheena fought with them still, knocking them into stones and into the stone Matt was speared into. Matt tugged at the spears as best he could, and kicked the stone trying to get it to move. A tribesperson charged at him with a spiked spear. Before the spear would strike though, Matt quickly slipped out of his shirt and the tribesperson charged into the stone, moving it some more.
Then, Matt came towards the tribespeople in the way of where Sheena was fighting. Matt was thrown down by one, but side dropkicked that one into a rock, knocking him out. Matt jumped on two rocks before ambushing the ones attacking Sheena one by one. Sheena did help some, but Matt, who was pinning one tribesperson on the ground, shouted:
"Start climbing that mountain, I will catch up to you!"
Sheena hesitated and threw a tribesperson into the rock where Matt's shirt was. Matt knocked the tribesperson he pinned down out.
"Now!" Matt said, as a tribesperson flipped him from the back and onto the ground.
Sheena left in the hopes that Matt would be okay. She ran towards the mountain and started climbing it. She saw an intense struggle, and then saw four tribespeople fall with the lose rock down the cliff. She hoped Cutter wasn't among them. Sheena got to the base of the mountain to see a Stone Man carving. She started walking up the mountain, but was constantly checking to see where an entrance was to the mythical cave.
Matt took a breath and recovered. He lost his shirt and was sweating profusely, but the tribespeople trap was achieved from his sense of danger. He shouted for Sheena.
"Up here Cutter!" Sheena said.
Matt got his bearings and started climbing the mountain. Sheena stopped to wait for him. When he met her, he was dirty, sweaty, and shirtless, but she gave him a big hug.
"Thank you."
"You're welcome. Now, what are we looking for now that we are at the mountain?"
"An entrance."
The two both started climbing the mountain by trail. The sun was hot as they were there by the early afternoon. The two kept climbing the mountain, but another hour passed before they could reach a third of the way to the mountain.
"Sheena, are we close yet?" Matt said, sweat glistening in the sun on his bare torso.
"We just need to find the entrance to this cave."
Matt looked around and saw nothing but jungle and rock.
"I just hope there aren't any more things to deal with." Matt said, feeling the brush of sentiment on his back.
Matt's bare torso was still covered in dirt from the altercations with the tribespeople. The climb up the mountain only concentrated the dirt stains on his chest and back.
"Do you need me to go in front of you?"
"I can still protect myself, Cutter. I may be pregnant, but I haven't lost the skill."
Matt looked bemused as the mountain got steeper, the air hotter, and the sun more glaring.
Sheena looked and saw an inscription she loosely recognized from the base. She followed it with her fingers.
"Cutter, I think I found something that might lead us to the entryway!"
Cutter looked around, slightly concerned with the depth and height and closeness of the path. He still had his weaponry on him, but the moisture from his sweat made the pouches sticky some around his belt. Cutter followed Sheena tracing the path until something that looked like a door revealed itself. Sheena rubbed something as if to suspect a lock, and the door opened. Sheena and Cutter looked down to find a minor, but steep jump.
"I'll be fine." Sheena said, before jumping down into the cave.
"Cutter, I'm in!" Sheena shouted from the top.
Cutter grabbed the edges of the door, looked around him, and jumped down. There was still sweat on his torso, and he fell to the cave ground, which had more stone dust, but he was fine.
The two were in the cave of the Stone Man. They followed the path as close as they could without losing sight of each other. The sun glistened in the cave too, though it was mostly damp. They came upon an elevation.
"Chris!" Sheena shouted, "Where are you?"
Matt looked at the stone wall become more and more transparent, and thought he saw a man trapped in the wall for a second. Matt was unsure if he was hallucinating or he really did see someone. The Stone Man saw a glitter of blue in Matt's eyes.
"Sheena, are you okay?" Matt said, looking towards where she was.
"Yes, Cutter, but come here!"
The sunlight shone through holes in the cave top and there was what looked like a temple floor. Cutter and Sheena looked in awe at the beauty of the cave interior. The sun flashed and a statue appeared. It looked like a shadow from what Cutter and Sheena could see. Sheena ran to it with Cutter following.
"Chris?" Sheena said, running to the shadow. The sun shown brightly to reveal Chris was a terrified statue. "CHRIS!"
Cutter backed away to take in this sculpture. His eyes beamed blue but went unnoticed. Sheena came running to Cutter and put her face in his dirty, bare chest to cry.
"The Stone Man curse, it's real. It's real." Sheena sobbed as she put her hand on Matt's left chest.
"Sheena, we got to find the Stone Man and reverse this. This could have been an accident."
"No!" Sheena slapped Cutter in the middle of his chest. "This wasn't an accident."
"No, we have got to see if there is something in these inscriptions to reverse this."
Sheena cried some bit more before hugging a shirtless Cutter and following him down the path to try and read towards a solution. As they reached a fork, Cutter turned around.
"Sheena, you go this way and I'll go this way. I will tell you what I read, but we'll meet at the first cross point, okay?"
"Yes."
The two went their brief separate ways, not far from the statue of Chris Keegan. Cutter read inscriptions, trying to find symbols and images of reversal. He thought he was being followed. He came across an inscription that looked like it involved the Stone Man. He was farther from Sheena at that point. Sheena's inscription reading was a short corner from the statue of Chris. She did find what she was looking for, but was waiting for Cutter. All of a sudden, there was a violent rumble and the cave and the mountain shook. Sheena found her way to an opening as rocks fell around her, and the path she was on was crumbling from under her until she jumped to where Chris was. Cutter from where he was at was running as the pathway was crumbling beneath him, but it was too late.
"Sheena!" Matt yelled as he was falling down with the crumbling rock.
Sheena didn't hear him, but she found herself clinging to Chris's statue, which never wavered around the crumbling.
Matt fell into a tunnel of rock and fell head first into a vat of a concrete looking material. Air bubbles appeared as it seemed Matt was sinking into the stone liquid and finding himself unable to move. His eyes dimmed from terror as he saw a fate. The air bubbles popped.
The Stone Man saw this from the transparent walls around the pool of stone liquid. He saw blue eyes glow. The Stone Man then waved his hand to make the stone liquid not tighten, even though he knew Dr. Jasper needed the image and wasn't going to give it away.
Matt was able to pull himself up and out of the liquid, and he emerged from the stone pool trying to get his arms in the air and grasping onto something. He sunk in and out three times before being able to stay above the liquid. He was entirely covered in this natural concrete. Cutter thought he saw that Man again, and Matt bobbed and swam towards where the Stone Man was. Matt crawled out of the stone liquid and recovered on the stone dusted cave ground.
When Matt was able to clear some of the stone liquid from his eyes, he saw the figure of a man again. He saw ancient tribal makeup on him and saw the man touch a part of a cave wall. A mini waterfall came down. Matt got up, he was still dripping from the stone liquid as his body was filthy from the liquid, dirt, and dust. He went towards the waterfall. The man wasn't there when he got there, so Matt just let himself be cleaned by the waterfall. The stone, dust, and dirt were mostly off his torso, and he was able to wash his shoes and check on his weaponry. Another hole opened and Matt saw direct sunlight. He went there to dry off. Matt saw shiny gems glistening in the dust. As soon as he felt he was mostly fine, he dug them out. They were green bullets. Matt put them in with his gun. He then saw another path of inscriptions and went in the direction.
In the meantime, Sheena was beside herself. She wondered if she could save Chris alone and hope that Cutter survived the crumbling as she didn't hear him when it was happening and when it stopped. She heard footsteps believing it to be Cutter.
"Cutter, is that you?"
"No," a tall man in an early-20th century lab coat came out of the shadows, "I am Dr. Jasper. It seems you have stumbled into my lair."
"Your lair? I thought this was the Stone Man's mountain?"
"It is, but I have lived here a good many years."
"Then, maybe you can help me. My husband has been turned to stone. Can you change him back?"
"I can, but I would need your help."
Dr. Jasper guided Sheena down into the mountain further, and it revealed a complex, early century laboratory.
"You see, I did discover the Stone Man myself several decades ago in this very mountain. My colleagues and I were very taken with the Stone Man's healing magic so we established this laboratory here. We found an amble amount of magic in these purple crystals."
Sheena was cautiously observing Dr. Jasper.
"We also found these green crystals and how they balance the energy of the purple crystals power. So, my colleagues and I brought out our chemicals and combined them with the purple crystals."
"What are the red crystals?" Sheena said, somewhat intrigued.
"They have low energy in this particular cave. Had my colleagues explored the other caves in the region, maybe we'd find a use for this one," Dr. Jasper said, "Sadly, my other colleagues perished after this discovery."
"I'm sorry."
"Now, regarding your husband, my colleagues and I did come up with an antidote, but after many years, I've misplaced it. Perhaps you could help me look?"
Sheena could now see a man in the growing transparent walls. The man looked trapped.
"Dr. Jasper, is there a man in the walls of this cave?"
"No, just inscriptions."
"Well, I see you have crates over here, I'll look."
Sheena went over and met the man in the wall.
"I can try to get you out of here, but first, I need to know what happened to my husband and how can I restore him?"
The Stone Man pointed to a crate. Sheena opened it. It had photos of Dr. Jasper and his colleagues, as well as a headline pointing to their disappearance from 1898. She tried to find photos of his colleagues individually, which she did among other headlines. The Stone Man pointed her to another crate, and this had formulas, notes, and journal entries.
"Found anything yet?" Dr. Jasper said from a distance.
"Still looking!" Sheena shouted.
Cutter, who was on the other side of this layer, heard Sheena in the distance on the other half of the wall, he was close. He tried nudging at the wall, but the stone was too thick. He decided to follow the sound until an opening presented itself.
Sheena understood the formulas and notes and came across a formula for a stone liquid that combined the green crystal power with that of rock, mixed with a chemical that would freeze then disintegrate bodies into rock. She found a journal entry from one of his colleagues, and read:
"Dr. Jasper wants to meet with me in the concrete pit. I am unsure and a little unafraid ever since he met the Stone Man what will happen to me."
The journal didn't continue after that.
There was a note about an antidote right past it, though the note looked damaged and rusted. Sheena had her knife ready in her shoes. She concluded that the man in the wall was the Stone Man, and that Dr. Jasper had trapped him. She feared Cutter was now trapped.
She walked over to Dr. Jasper.
"I found the antidote formula."
"Good. I found you." Dr. Jasper pulled something and chains came up around Sheena, tying her up.
"Why are you doing this?" Sheena nudged at the chains.
"You have something I want."
"I'll give you anything you want as long as you restore my husband!"
"That's not possible. You see that I've lived this long because of the purple crystals. The man you keep seeing in the walls is the Stone Man. I discovered him in 1906 and found a way to harness his power into developing things that would safeguard his identity and keep me to my discoveries. Then, people came here to find me and find the Stone Man's treasure for themselves. I had to stop them."
"The Stone Man is at bay, as long as I have the green crystals that syphon his power. It is a shame the other nations didn't use that themselves, but when you reside in the place where your weakness is, you have more control, so I made this," Dr. Jasper pulled out a cross between a syringe and a gun, "And I am able to pull purple crystal energy that keeps the Stone Man alive for myself."
"You monster!" Sheena said.
"Did you come for your husband, or did you come for my treasure?"
"My husband! What did you do to Cutter?"
A light came up and Sheena saw what looked like a concrete block with a boiling top, the formula! She saw an etching of Cutter terrifyingly struggling etched in the concrete.
"I won't restore your husband until you give me your shape shifting power to turn into animals."
Just then, a large tribal Black man came down and swatted Dr. Jasper away, and used some form of purple crystal wand to free Sheena. The man shrunk to regular size, grabbed Sheena, and went into the walls. Dr. Jasper recovered.
"Luoanda Magere!" Dr Jasper shouted.
Sheena and the Stone Man weren't far. The Stone Man tapped a wall where a screaming noise was heard. Matt heard it and went there as fast as he could.
"Thank you, but now I need to free you and Cutter from this person."
"I can restore your husband, take me to him." The Stone Man said as he ran with Sheena to where Chris was.
The Stone Man wrapped his hand in a purple crystal and tapped Chris's shoulders. Chris quickly turned back into himself, and was screaming in terror.
"AHH!" Chris said. He saw Sheena immediately and hugged her.
"Oh, I am so happy you are here!"
"Yes, but for the sake of our lives, please head out of here! I don't want anything happening to you."
"I don't want anything happening to you!"
"Where's Cutter?" Chris asked.
"Encased in stone. He risked his life to save you, now go!" Sheena said.
"He is not encased in stone here. I did, against my better judgment, save him from Dr. Jasper's stone liquid trap, and he should be coming out shortly. But the person you know as Matt Cutter isn't here."
"What are you talking about?"
"The real Matt Cutter is encased in stone at the temple of the Yeyitzota Kiristali."
Cutter burst through the stone and shot the Stone Man with a green crystal bullet.
"Not me!" The Stone Man yelled.
When the Stone Man fell to the ground , the entire mountain started shaking.
"Cutter, find Dr. Jasper!"
"Okay, I'm sorry." Cutter's blue eyes secretly flared blue.
The Stone Man grabbed a pointy red crystal with his purple crystal hand while Sheena pulled the bullet out from him.
"I'm weakening."
"No, you will go and maintain this mountain."
Dr. Jasper came out from behind them.
"Fool! Now I am the Stone Man!"
Cutter, bare, sweaty, dirty, and dusty took a shot from his gun with the second green crystal bullet and Dr. Jasper fell to the ground, dead. Cutter went over to him as he saw Dr. Jasper age 110 years before disintegrating. The mountain was shaking and the stone liquid burst like a dam off the side of the mountain.
Sheena removed the bullet and put the purple crystalled hand on the Stone Man's heart.
"Heal!"
"Sheena, if my chance I do not heal, and this is the end of my time, please know that I've already sent out for someone to defeat the Yeyitzota Kiristali."
"I cannot leave you."
"I cannot leave this mountain. Go to your husband. Go find the truth about Matt Cutter. Take these with you."
The Stone Man gave Sheena green and purple crystals. Sheena left with Cutter as they fled the mountain before boulders collapsed the other entrance where they didn't enter from.
Chris embraced his wife and Cutter felt better knowing all three were okay. The three went back to Matt's truck and drove home. Sheena wondered if the Stone Man was alive. She looked at Cutter, questionably. Cutter dropped Chris and Sheena off at Kali's village, before he drove back to Cutter Unlimited.
Back on the Luo Magere Mountain, the Stone Man did heal but sent a message of crystals from the mountaintop to a far away cave. The Stone Man cave was restored.
Sheena found out she was pregnant two days after the rescue. By that time, Chris Keegan did close up the safari business. Sheena told Kali what the Stone Man told her. Chris and Sheena drove to Cutter Unlimited to tell Cutter and Mendlesohn the news, and they were ecstatic. Sheena kept what the Stone Man told her in the back of her head.