#4

You walks down the cave's passage, and You suddenly finds that perhaps this cave wasn't so simple as was previously suggested. The passage actually branches in two different directions. One looks more leads-to-the-surface-y, the other, not so much. You has to choose wisely.

You decides that the less surface-y path is okay to follow, but only if You does so briefly. You knows that Susie is in trouble, and haste must be made.

You walks into the less reasonable looking passage, and finds that You is in luck. It's not a passage at all—it's just a room. However, the flashlight beam quickly illuminates the walls, revealing that they carry a strange secret: all of the walls are adorned with mysterious runes. You tries to memorize all of the runes, but they are many, and so such a task You quickly deems to be impossible. You wishes You had a camera, but such things are hard to come by for a field worker. Susie's dad—her stepdad, really—is much better off, working for the government, but he's very stingy—she asked him for a camera once, and he said no. He often puts most of his paycheck back into the government, which has become a legal procedure for government workers in recent times. You remembers that most physicians, actually, choose to work for no pay at all, though they probably get a small stipend of sorts...

You blinks and reels back, and then fall against the wall. Your head spins, and You feels Yourself falling into another blackout. That was too many memories at once...

You manages to remain conscious. That concussion must have been pretty bad. Speaking of doctors, You should really see one when You gets out of this cave. If Susie is alright, that is.

In the center of the room is a raised disc, resembling a miniature plateau. Except it's not a disc; rather, it's some sort of hexagonal platform. Sitting on it is a small stand, and on that, an eight-sided stone construct of some kind. It's small enough to fit in Your hand, and it too seems to be adorned with runes.

You's taken aback. Could this thing be some sort of religious artifact? You never really went to school that often—what culture it belongs to, You doesn't have any idea. You never got any official schooling on the subject of tomb-plundering, either, so You has no qualms taking it. Which You does.

Slipping it into Your pocket, You begins to go back to the other passage. You is pleased to find that this is a real passage, but there is something even more pleasing to it. The passage leads out into the bright daylight.