Secure Deposit

"Out of all the thirty-two spots to be at, why are we here at this one?"

"Who's the hydrologist again?"

"Arrrgh... you are. Still, why it'd have to be so damn close to the swamp?"

"Cause the people that originally built it here knew what they were doing."

"What do you mean by that?"

"Ya' see this?" He gestured to a chipped stone cross dangling from about his neck.

"Yeah, but we're not in the right position where that thing was originally found. How come we're not near where they found the coconut fiber, or by some of the older tunnels?"

"Cause they went too far forward. Sometimes to progress you have to retrace your steps."

Manson rubbed his eyelids as he furrowed his brow, "What'ever in the fuck do you mean by that?"

"Just watch."

As Henry lead Manson to an engraving on a wall at a cave excavation site, Henry pulled out a replica cross from his pocket, sliding it across the wall. After having it catch, he twisted it into position, and pushed vehemently to break up the years of limestone deposit as the device set in place. Upon hearing a clicking sound, the ground beneath them began to shake and even the earth felt hollow.

"Now what?"

"Now we head to the shaft pits."

"What just happened?"

"What just happened was us draining the tunnel with the land's natural aquifer. I read in a book that they had several secret rooms, but they remained suspended in the mud. So, they invented this drainage system."

"Really? The knight's templar built all this?"

"Being the world's first bank free from both the English and Spanish empire has its perks."

After having traversed towards the money pits, they placed their hooks and ropes into the soft ground, and began rappelling. 200ft later, their feet landed on firm limestone.

"Goodness, there's a hatch here an everything."

"On the count of three. Ready? 1, 2, 3."

Having lifted the ceiling door, they hopped into a musky tunnel.

"No mold."

"Can't have any when you're submerged."

Looking at a rectangular outcropping, Manson waved, "Look at that." He touched its surface. "Eyeuch! What's this?"

Henry grabbed his hand. "It's wax. They probably covered this box with it to prevent any silver in there from corroding."

THUNK!

A roar of water rushed in, pushing them out with all the air. Nearly being trapped by the ceiling, the liquid forced them out, but it was faster than them.

Feeling himself sinking due to the muck and sand having a lower density around him, Manson chose not to struggle, and remained in a dead-man-float position, knowing that squirming would only hurt his chances.

When he surfaced, he tugged his rope, pulling himself over towards the grass. Looking back at the rising filth he yelled, "COME ON BUDDY! CLIMB! CLIMB OUT'TA THERE! DON'T SWIM!" Yet, he knew it was futile and that Henry couldn't hear him. Rushing over towards his cohort's rope, he started pulling trying to excavate his colleague.

SNAP!

He fell backwards.

"Dammit..." Manson covered his mouth. "So much for being a hydrologist."

***

Author's Note:

Whilst discussing cryptozoology with Donna Fox we had the idea to provide a list of challenging ideas for one another. Sad to say, "Sorry Donna, this one's around 518 words. I'll do my best to make another around 400 words." I'm not very good with writing stories about places as I am about creatures, though a creature does need to have a habitat of sorts. Besides that, one of the main reasons why I chose 'Oak Island' for my challenge was that I've been loosely following along with the TV series that my Dad's obsessed with. So, that was my small point of reference to go based off of. Well, that and Wikipedia (my professors would kill me if I did that years ago). Either way, please check out Donna Fox's profile along with her cryptid inspired scary story.

As always.

Thank You