Smiling Skulls

The Tomb, or whatever James was in, was completely silent but in James's head, a storm had broken loose. Like a little child that had been robbed of his favorite toys, he just sat there, curled up at the feet of the giant statues. Was what he had seen true? No! It couldn't be. He had seen many different skeletons in his career, but all of them had one thing in common. They were dead. He on the other hand wasn't, after all, he still had a Heartbeat.

Listening closely to the regular thumps coming from his chest to calm himself he noticed something. He had never actually felt warm since he climbed out of that sarcophagus and to his shock neither could he recall feeling cold. For grave chambers that were sometimes dozens or even nearly a hundred meters underground that was completely unheard of. After all, desserts usually turned icy cold during the night, sucking all warmth out of the ground that it had absorbed during the day.

He felt a shiver running down his spine. This time however it did not stem from excitement or shock. Instead it originated from a sudden sensation of coldness. Feeling cold just when he thought he didn't. That didn't feel right, to say the least. As did this sudden cold sensation. It was more akin to the cold feeling of abstract horror that you get when you notice that someone that has been following you down a pretty empty street for a while is catching up to you. A cold shower rather than actual cool air. It felt somewhat artificial.

When he thought about it the same was true for his Heartbeat. It seemed way too flat and calm for a man who had just discovered that his hands, which had been perfectly healthy mere hours ago, were replaced with that of a skeleton, not to mention the other shitton of confusing and disturbing discoveries he made before that. Slowly intrusive thoughts began creeping their way into James's mind. What if his hand weren't the only thing that changed? Well, there was only one way to find out.

Collecting all his hope and courage James slowly stood up and began making his way back to where he examined his hands before. But with every step he took towards that door, more and more doubt started surfacing in his mind.

Did he have to know? Maybe he should try something else first. Why not go back to that chamber, lay down in the sarcophagus, and wait until all of this is over? With all this might he pushed these thoughts away. They wouldn't be of any help. If he wanted to escape he first had to assess his current situation.

Shortly after he arrived at the place where he inspected his hand once again. Now deeming himself mentally prepared, he was all but for what he was about to discover.

He repeated the process he went through some minutes ago, only that everything was performed much slower this time. After bringing his hands in between him and the door he shivered, as a mixture of emotions welled up within him. Fear of the unknown, anxiety about what was to come, and also ... excitement?

Where did that come from? Startled he stopped in his tracks, and shortly began smiling, even going so far as to let out a small, self-deprecating chuckle. "Of course!" He reminded himself, "After all, this is just how scientists are, excited in the face of a discovery, no matter how terrifying it may be."

Shifting his focus back to the task a hand he couldn't help but notice that the light outside had become considerably brighter indicating that the sun outside had risen further above the horizon and might reach its highest point very soon. Well, that would only serve to make his task easier.

Finally, his eye returned to his hands, as he lifted them into the light. Although he didn't stumble back or scream like he did last time he couldn't help but feel quite startled by the sight of his boney fingers.

After he caught himself he began bringing more of his arms into view. They weren't any better than his hands though, as he could look straight through the two bones that formed his lower arms. The same was true for his upper arms. Just bones without any skin.

Moving his chest into the light he looked at his ribcage, and straight through it. He was prepared for many things. An organ sack, maybe some sort of magical power source, but not that. There was just nothing there as if he was the most ordinary human skeleton. Well, except for the fact, that he was still alive.

He stood in the light for a long time inspecting his new body, getting used to how it felt to move, running up and down swinging his arms, and bending his back. Although it hadn't felt strange to move previously the discovery of his new "condition" had made him cautious, as if he feared that his unprotected and obviously, quite old bones would snap in half at the lightest pressure.

Looking at the skeleton moving awkwardly within the cone of light his lips parted into something that could barely be considered a smile, revealing isles of rotten teeth inside of an equally rotten mouth. "The one" had finally awakened from his slumber and he was going to guide him with all his wisdom, to once again bring glory to his fallen homeland.