Demon Legacy: The Curse of the Amulet

The Expedition Part I

8th November 2002, Therlkeld Village, The Sally Inn

Jack Emerson POV

The Sally Inn, built in the 17th century, the year of 1664, is a customary but pervious coaching inn, located near the peaceful lake district of Therlkeld village. With spectacular scenic view of the blencathra mountain along the Helvellyn range, this is a wonderful place to spend time with family and friends. Surrounded in the north lake 4 mile away from the bustling market town of Keswick, this Inn is the perfect place for exploring the area of lake district national park, but this is not the reason my team and I are here. We did not come for vacation but expectation regarding a certain rumor that have been occurring on Blencathra mountain. the rumors state that several people went missing while on a hike to the mountain and those who did came back went crazy, are admitted in the hospital. However, that was not what made me interested in the rumors, what made me curious was the last victim of the incident had witness.

Currently we are waiting for this person, Andres Harper, university student at Royal College of Arts who came along with his friends for the holiday. His friends love to hike, mostly come these part as one of them have family relative working here in the Inn and happily give them a discount whenever they visit. This was Andres first time coming with his friends and it seem it would be his last as he saw something that might be the reason behind the disappearance of many people. As we wait for our guest of honor to arrive, we decided to have lunch in the inn garden while enjoying the weather and the wonderful view.

"Jack, did Harry mention when is coming with the boy to meet with us?" Cecilia asked me while drinking her coffee. Cecilia is our data analysis researcher for this exception. She quite well known in her field at such young age. A youthful woman in her twenties with bright doe green eyes along with long golden-brown hair. Along trimmed yet neat eyebrows she has a cute button nose with round face and pink lipstick. She was wearing a warm red jacket over her cream shirt with blue jeans and scarf around her neck along with dark brown boots.

I’m not sure, Harry said he will come around two clocks with the boy, but he must be having a hard time convincing the boy to meet us.” I said shrugging his shoulder and return eating my sandwiches. After few minutes, the garden door opened and speak of the devil came Harry with our witness Andres.

Harry is a 35-year French researcher who lived most his life in Toulouse however he came to study archaeology in UCL in London England. He is tall person around 6 foot, with a built feature as he was captain in his football team in high school. His face is v shaped with French moustache along with blue eyes, combed back golden hair, a sharp nose, and pink lips. He is wearing a long brown coat with gloves with and hat over his head along black pants and boots.

The Kid standing next to him merely look around in his twenties maybe we could say earlier at best, however instead enjoying his life I only saw in fear and anxiety in his brown sad eyes. Andres dressing look quick and simple like he wanted to be done as swift as possible, wearing a simple green olive shirt with a brown jacket over it, black jeans, dark green boot, and glove. He was shaking like leaf and if not the support of Harry the kid might have not showed up.

“Sorry for the delay everyone but it took longer than expected to convince the boy to give his statement.” Harry said taking of his hat.

“It’s alright Harry” turning toward Andres, Cecilia gives him a warm smile “Hello Andres, thanking for coming and accepting to take time in telling what happened to you on those mountains.”

Andres blushed at Cecilia soothing words “It is no problem as no one will believe anyway.” Andres said sadly.

“Andres, there are many things that can’t be explained, I know this must be hard after what you face but we are rational people and maybe there could be something that can prove your incident scientifically, you just tell everything that happened, don’t miss one single detail.” I said confidently.

“Believe what you want Sir Jackson, but I will never forget that event that the live of my friend along with the fact that I can assure what I saw wasn’t something normal, it was rather supernatural.” Andres said angrily.

“Okay let calm down, have some coffee and then we can record the event that happened to you alright” Cecilia said intertwining in our conversation.

I agreed with Cecilia, annoyed but let it go since we need to figure out what is happening along with the legend of a so call artifact that supposedly let the user see the future, I am curious to find out the truth. After we order food for Andres and Harry, we continue our lunch until 3:00pm where Harry, Cecilia Andres went back to our room to setup our recording equipment there and get the information we need. By the time we were done it was 4:00pm,      the sun has already set inviting the darkness of the night, the light from the lamppost luminate the road while some coming from near by store. The room where I stay currently was well lit with the heater warming the room. Harry sat at the dressing table with the recording machine while Cecilia and I sat on the bed with our headphone besides us, opposite to us sat on a chair.

“Alright Andres, we are ready now, with a clear mind, you need to tell everything that happened to you and your friend while you up on the mountain, don’t miss one single detail okay?” I said firmly. Andres nodded in agreement.

“Good, Harry starts the recording.” I spoke while wearing my headphone and taking my tape recorder. Harry started the recorder while Cecilia wore her headphone and started to take note.

“The Jack Emerson, head of the research department of lost artifacts, I’m here with Andres harper, 20-year-old university who recently was admitted in the hospital after encounter something in the mountain.” I said calmly, switching my speaker to Andres “Andres please enlighten us what happened to you on those mountains.” I asked.

Calming himself he spoke “It began with me and some of my friend coming to Therlkeld Village for vacation. This was my first time with them, and we were quite excited for the week. We made plans to visit these sites, we went hiking, swimming camping, it was going to so well.” Andres stops speaking, his eyes that once shone with happiness turn into hollow fill with sadness. “But everything changes when we went up to the Blencathra mountain. It was our last day and we wanted to do something challenging, so we decided to hike Blencathra, whoever reach it first on the summit would be given one-month free lunch so of course we all accepted the race. Of course, since I was the best, I reached there first, so I won the race after that we decided to settle near the summit for the night. There was a nearby forest, so we set up our camp in the clear area. It was during the night that I woke up by the sound of woman crying. I found it strange and wake up my friend to see if can hear the same as I but he just ignored my supposition and went back to sleep. After laying waiting to hear the same sound, I went back to sleep, thinking it was my imagination.”

“So, did you hear this crying again?’ I asked curiously.

“Indeed, I heard it again and so the other. We heard it around the time were leaving for the village, one of friend went to forest, he came back out of breath saying that he saw a woman crying near a cave which we found weird that there was someone else besides us however struck was odd that how come we did not see her before, there laid snow everywhere but only our foot very visible and not the woman. Still, we decide to investigate this matter, so we follow our friend into the forest and soon we arrive the cave that our friend mention, it was cover in old vine that was death due to cold weather, we notice that there some boulder laying near the entrance, making us believe someone on purpose seal the cave but due to some event the seal was broken over time. We got more curious especially since the woman was no where to be found so went decide to go in the cave and find her. As we enter, we walk with our flashlight and saw something glowing at the end of the cave so with caution we move forward and saw red amulet glowing.”

“Wait a minute you saw the amulet!” I asked surprised.

“Jackson please, we can ask him later, let him finish.” Cecelia said annoyed.

“Cecelia if the boy saw the amulet it could lead to another lost civilization of England that people have forgotten about or was left out in history. This could a scientist discovery we have been waiting for and I’m not going to let it to waste.” I said proudly.

“Seriously, you should be focus on the boy condition, he just went to tarmac experience and lost his friends, can you keep your emotion in check until he is done” Cecelia said upset.

Before I could reply Harry intervene “Kid are you alright?”  Harry asked concerned. Cecilia and I turned toward him, seeing Andres closed hand shaking, his eyes fill with mixed emotion but that we were feeling was angry and fear.

“You people want to search for that cursed amulet to be it but because that bane item, I lost my friends!! How could you people be so incentive, I didn’t come here to give my story but also a warning to forget this damn thing before something worse happened to you.” He said loudly, crying in his hand.

“Kid you need a get a grip, we understand that you are trying to help us but what we chose to do will be at our own risk.” Harry said calmly.

The kid was having a break down, Cecilia quickly went to his side to comfort him. “We understand that you have good intention but if we can find stop these disappearances and the reason behind it, there will no more victim or causality just like you and your friends.” Cecelia said gently.

After several minute he finally calms down. “I’m sorry this was the part I can’t still believe but remembering how my friend were killed make realize that everything happened and what I saw was really.” He said sadly.

“It’s alright Andres we understand and if you need a minute to gather your thought, you can.” Cecelia said calmy while rubbing his back.

“No, I’m fine now, I want to finish what I have started.” He said quietly.

After his break down Harry and I stop ore recording but now that Andres has calm down and comfortable, we started the recording but there was something that bothering me. I must listen to the boy tale to make a clear decision. With everything calm down and everyone returning to their place Andres continue for where left “As I was saying we saw the amulet for a far but what we didn’t realize that we are falling into a trap. Once we got closer, we realize it have become unusual dark, it was as if dark mist was surrounding us trying to separate us. Soon it became so dark I could not see my friends, I call out to them, but I could not hear for anyone, this make me uneasy and then the nightmare began. I was calling out to them when I stumbled into something, I pointed my light at it and saw one of my friends laying on the ground on his stomach, I knelt to check if he was alright, but I found no pulse, he was gone. I started to panic and soon I heard my friend yelling for help, but I could not see anything, not to able comprehend what was going and who was killing my friend. Then I heard it, that demonic voice “I can sense you near, your friends are with me now and soon you will join them within me” The voice spoke ominously. I turned around and froze, there in the mist of darkness, I saw a shadow of something not human, its whole body made of mist but what most horrifying were that thing evil red eyes staring back at me.” He stops to collect his thought while me and the other look at him in disbelief, what he was telling us sound something that happen in fairytale but I am man of science, I don’t believe in monster, ghost or demons, everything has a scientific logical explanation behind it, what I have gather the monster that he encounters could be statue design frighten any intruder and his friend unfortunately came into contact with fatal death trap that cause them their life.

“Andres what happened to you after you encounter this monster, how did you escape from the cave?” Harry asked intriguingly. I came out of my thoughts as Andres return to his tale.

“I froze in fear, I couldn’t move an inch, but I know this even if I want to run away, I couldn’t as feel that thing have paralysis my movement. Soon I felt I was being left in air, the demon closing in toward me, it slowly whisper to me that I’m next and soon I felt that my energy was being drain from. I thought I was going down then suddenly I fell on the ground, coughing, trying to get my breathing back to normal. I look back at it and saw that it was struggling to get free by some sort of white mist then I heard a kind but anxious woman voice “Run, you need to leave, save yourself” without hesitating I ran away as far as I can. It was somewhere during going down the mountain I came across another group who took care of me and admitted me to the hospital. The rest you already know they thought that due to death of my friend, I am in denial and what I saw was one way for not accepting their death. So, if you are satisfied with everything you heard, I want to return to home and continue my life.” Andres said.

“I believe we have everything but one thing I want to know that early you said you heard a woman crying in the night, could tell it was the same woman that spoke to you to get away.” I asked interested.  He looks back at us before speaking “I don’t know whether to call her my savior or my enemy, but one thing is sure that if you hear her voice or any sound from her, she is trying to warn you to leave that place alone.” With that Cecilia took him to call for cab and sent him home.

It was now 6:30pm in the night, light snow has started to fall leaving half the road cover with blanket of snow however due wind blowing the whole area is now cover in snow. Harry made sure the heater was working while I order dinner in my room for all of us. Cecilia just came back with cup of water for all of us. We are now sitting facing each other, it was Cecelia who initiated the conversation.

“After hearing what the boy have told do you think is still a good idea to continue this investigation?” she asked thoughtfully.

“Honestly, we should continue, it was of our friend last wish that finish what he had started.” Harry said firmly.

“But you heard what Andres told there is something ominous thing living in the area. We don’t have the correct equipment to face whatever is guarding that place” Cecelia said worried.

“Cecelia please, what Andres and his friend came in contact were some booby trap that cause their death and regarding Andres seeing mist could be simple illusion cause by something in the cave. We are rational people, there must be solution to every problem so in order to discovery the truth that have been going on the mountain we must go to investigate.” I said firmly.

Cecelia sigh knowing that she cannot convince us, so she agreed to go “Alright but let gather note from Isaac and compare to what Andres have told us.” She said steadily.

We started to pile up every file that we had of Isaac that he researches on the Blencathra mountain. Isaac was our senior researcher who stumbled upon a tale regarding a lost, forgotten king while he was visiting his friend at Therlkeld Village. He was catching up with in local bar when he came across an unusual person sitting at corner of the bar. He asked his friend who this person and told he is regular here but always come alone talking to himself, anyone approach him trying get him talk but only say one thing “Do you want to hear a story?”. After listening to his friend tried his luck and approach the man. When the man saw Isaac sitting on the opposite chair, he asked him the same question and in reply Isaac said, “Tell me a story.” The man smile telling Isaac the story of the forgotten king. According to the story this King Alexander had a special amulet that allow him to gaze into the future, letting the outcome of battle thus allowing to prepare his army in that formation. This led the king to win many battles and bring peace to his kingdom, over time many kings follow his footstep until his great grandson Edmund IV misuse the power causing his empire to fall. It was later the Edmund IV advisor secretly store away the amulet so that no one came across this curse amulet and according to the man that kingdom was location here, but no one know exactly where it is. Isaac intrigued asked him whether is true or not, the man smiling said to him “would you believe if I told you that family have been the gatekeeper to that artifact?” Shocked Isaac asked him to tell the location, but the man requested to him find something for him “Everything come with a price my friend, even knowledge.” He slid him a old yellow paper, Isaac examine the paper, it was a drawing of a dagger. The dagger looks like any ordinary English dagger but there was something uniqueness about the halt, it had skull with crown shape at the end of the halt while the color of blade was made by special red metal.

“You want me to find this dagger and then you tell me the location of the castle.” Isaac asked calmly.

“If you can bring me this then the location will be yours.” The man said smugly.

After that Isaac return to London and inform us about his discovery, we spend almost five year looking for the dagger, we almost lost hope until we found in beneath the Mediterranean Sea, it was difficult to retrieve but sone how we manage. It was one of greatest moment for us not only we discover one lost artifact but soon we would discover a lost civilization of England. Isaac returns to village to give the man his treasure, but the man never showed up in the bar, he asked everyone around about the fellow that visit the bar, but he disappeared from the village without a trace however the bartender give Isaac a envelope from him, in the envelope contain a letter and a map, confuse Isaac read the letter.

“Greeting dear adventurer

 I knew you will find this dagger eventually but duty call, so I leave you my gift and the map that will lead you the lost kingdom. Hope what you are looking for will be worth but be warn once you and your colleague go on this expedition, your life will change forever. Anyway, good luck my adventurer.

Yours’s truly

The smiling man

Isaac was perplexed with the man letter and his warning but assume that every great treasure has been store safe with multiple traps so that no one can reach them. He returned to us with everything he learned yet we will take the risk to find this lost kingdom and this curse amulet. However, the most unfortunate thing happened, Isaac got sick with cancer, even with all the medical help he never recovered and past two year later, we have halted our research until it was approved again. During that time, I was appointed as the head researcher of the group and we continue this investigation while search for other lost artifact it was the near the end of year of 2001, we got the approval but then came the disappearance of people from that village. Our senior wanted us to wait until the matter was resolve however, I was able to convince them thus my team went ahead while we wait for the worker and other member of our team to come. So here we now stand looking into the file that Isaac research on and base on it we learn that the cave that Andres and friend is a seal gate that will allow us to find the castle where the amulet is kept locked away from intruders.

I find it hard to believe that such huge castle would be hidden away from inside a mountain but then again id there are castle made on mountain or even crave in then a castle inside would not be surprising. It is one way to keep the people save and ambush enemies and thank Andres and Isaac we are one step closer in find the greatest discovery of a lifetime.

“I think we know what we have to do so we wait for the rest of team to join us” Harry stated.

“You are right Harry, Jackson when will the rest of our team will arrive?” Cecilia inquired.

“Tomorrow afternoon, they will come at the located site area where the Andres and his friend camp, one of the helicopters will come to pick us up so that reach there directly without any problem.” I said confidently.

“Alright then we should have our dinner and get some rest, tomorrow will be a big day.” Harry said.

“Yeah, we should.” I said but looking at Cecelia, I could see she still not ready to do this. I knelt next to her “Look Cecelia, I know you are trouble by these disappearances along with the fact that after Andres story, you have become more relented to go but thing about Isaac, he spends last year of his life searching for this location, should we grant him his last wish to discover the truth behind the kingdom and the reason behind these sudden desertions.” Jackson said quietly.

“It is not that Jackson; I know that we should finish what Isaac started but I got bad feeling about this whole situation. I know what I heard from Andres could not be true but as a person who understand human physiology, what Andres saw was not his imagination nor in denial. I just don’t want anyone else get hurt especially all of us.” Cecelia confesses sadly.

“Then do not, if anything happens anyone of us, I will take full responsibility for anyone injure and hope not death. Trust me, I will keep everyone safe I promise.” I said assuredly.

“Don’t make promise that you can’t keep.” Cecelia said sadly but she accepted to continue the investigation, yet her last sentence kept me awake in the night. I could not put my finger on it, one side want to finish the whole thing and be done with while the other side want to head the warning, wanting to run away from all of this, in the end it was the logical side that was triumph and with that I slept quietly late in the night.

9th November 2001, The summit of Blencathra mountain

We arrive to the campsite of the summit of the mountain, we set our equipment and prepare ourselves to the enter the cave. Along with Cecelia, Harry, and myself, two more colleague join us from London, one was Blair Grayson, another brilliant scientist from Scotland but his field focus on the environment along with the studies of map and fossil known as cartographer and paleontology. He might be in his 30’s but looking nothing like it, with his reddish-brown hair, bright blue eyes, sharp nose but with v shape face, pinkish lip and high cheek bones. He was currently wearing a red scarf around his neck, brown leather jacket, blue pants with high boot and dark glove. Next is our medical expect, Philp Jones, German doctor specialize in emergency cases, consider what we are about to face, we need his help. Similar to my age, he stands tall around 6 foot with tanned skin, hazel eyes, dark brown hair, roman nose, triangle face with small pink lips, he is wearing green coat with brown pant, snow boots mustard scarf around his neck and gloves. Now with everyone here we decided to heat out to our destination and find our treasure and lost kingdom.

We came across the forest were at the end should be the gave that Andres had describe us. Due to the cold climate the tree was lifeless, not a single leave hanging, while the snow crunch under our boot, we passed the small lake that is frozen, it was the place that Andres friend saw a woman crying but we see nothing as if now. However, there was something off about this place and it was not me that was sensing it.

“This is quite strange” Blair said out loud.

“What do you me by that Blair?” Harry asked confused.

“Well, it was normal that creature living on the mountain would be in hibernation or some see at least some sort of footprint on the snow. I find it quite odd to believe that all that all the animals are sleeping.” Blair points it out.

“It not only that, but it is also too quiet, the only sound that I’m hearing is us and nothing else. It feels too unnatural.” Philip added to the point.

“It appears that I’m not the only one feeling this way, we are near the place where the woman supposes to be crying but I do not see her nor her footprint so I wonder could the woman be just an illusion?” I said out loud.

“No, Andres told us that the woman was some sort of savior as se not only warn them but tried to save them, whether see was real or not, we know that one is trying to harm us and the other is trying warn anyone who trespass this cave.” Cecelia said definite.

“Well, whatever the case, we should press on, eventually we will find the answer we are looking for.” Harry said.

As we continue journey, I turned my sight toward the lake, shock to see the woman looking at me. Suddenly a strong wind blew, blinding for a moment, when I was able see again the woman was not there anymore, I concluded that it was my imagination however I felt as if someone was watching me.