Jennifer shrugged, her eyes watery. “I just need to live, Bud. I’ve seen what’s after death in this tomb, and in so many others. I can’t let myself ever become something like that.” She leveled her gun at Bud’s head, spitting her cigarette out as she gave him a look of sadness and determination. “I’m truly sorry, love, but if I want to live I need this. You understand I hope. Just know that I love you.” “You utter, heartless bitc-” Bud growled before the blast from the pistol blew off the upper portion of his skull, sending him reeling back to land in a puddle of his own fluids, partially atop the remains of the mummy. “It’s funny,” Jennifer said, twin tracts of tears running down her mocha colored cheeks. “I thought this was going to be the toughest part.” She felt the sphere hum in her hand, the small golden square spinning slowly as it unlocked itself. Holstering her pistol, Jennifer took a deep breath and opened up the top of the sphere, staring into the inky void within for a moment before screaming in agony herself. Slowly coming to, Jennifer looked around the tomb in wonder as she sat up from the ground where she’d fallen. “I must’ve blacked out…” She muttered, staring at the once again sealed orb. “What did it teach me?” Standing up, Jennifer expected to hear her back pop as it usually did, and her chest to ache as always. Neither happened. Taking a deep breath, she laughed as her lungs expanded within her chest without pain, without effort. Crowing in exuberance, she danced around until she saw her arms. Her normally mocha colored arms, flawless chocolate skin leading to her gloves, were now ashen colored, with dark veins running under her skin. Taking a closer look, she realized her skin was drawn tight over her like she’d lost weight in all the wrong places. Her clothes were even looser! Pulling a small hand mirror
10 Timeless Tales 2