Tomb of Saint Nikola

  “There it is! The Golden Necklace of Saint Nikolai.” Said Riko as he grabbed the chain from its post. “Oh my it’s beautiful! Look at it Helena. Bask in its gleam.”
	“Sir, it's only a gold necklace.” She said, whilst looking at him bewildered. Like a cat he stared her down, then hissed and brought the necklace close to her face.
	“Look at each ornate detail, each centimeter tells a story unlike any! These jewels are even carved to tell stories; from the birth of Christ to his death. Helena, have you ever seen such beauty?” She rolled her eyes not finding any words to rebuttal with. “Helena, now we must make our grand escape from this drab tomb!”
	
	“And escape outside you shall not!” A thunderous voice echoed through the ancient walls. “Death is your only escape! For the fools who desecrate the tomb of the great Saint Nikolai; only hell remains.” The voice quaked the earth. The floor began to crumble from the post.
	“Run Helena! Run!” The mad man said, already rushing feet ahead. They ran through decrepit hall after decrepit hall, not even stopping to catch a breath. But then as they crossed a treacherously delicate path through a great abyss.
	“Sir, the roof! It's coming down!” Said Helena, who precariously walked behind the Riko.
	“Drop your pack! We must go faster!” Riko unfastened his pack and dropped it down, Helena did the same while still moving. But soon from the darkness, the door out of the quavering room came into view.
	“Just a little more Helena!” He turned around to look at her. The roof was nearly at the top of the door frame. “Just a couple more st—Ahhh!” he screamed.
	“Sir!” He held on to the zigzagging path with the tips of his fingers. “Sir! Hold on, I’ll get you up.”
	“No Helena, there isn’t enough time! The Roof is closing in!” The roof had already passed the door frame. “Take this, hold on to it dearly, become the most famous in the world!” He let go. The gold necklace was the last of him. There was no time to think or to mourn. She dashed to the exit, nearly falling herself; and passed through the door as the ceiling fell to her stature. Thump, the ceiling had closed and there was no going back. She caught her breath. Held on to the wall and started walking again. ‘Poor Sir Riko,’ she thought. The falling floor caught up to her. A desperate lunge to save herself from doom and zoom to her running feet; she ran and ran through more desolate halls until the path split, to the left or to the right, which was the way? ‘Damn it the map was tied to my sack!’ she thought for a moment, but it was not enough time to retrace her steps. She darted left.
	“Helena is your name?” said the thunderous voice. “You are a fool if you thought you could escape with the necklace of Saint Nikola!” it laughed. She made it to the end of the hall, no door no exit. Only a small window. She looked through; the exit. She fell to the floor, exhausted. Her fate was accepted.

	She awoke within the dark abyss. Not a scratch on her body; around her neck was the saint’s necklace. She looked around, nothing. ‘Where am I.’ She looked around again, nothing. ‘Am I dead.’ She looked around again, nothing. ‘Is this my hell? To be alone forever?’ She looked around.
“Hello there!” Without notice, a boy appeared in front of her. She gave a stubby scream. He laughed. “What's your name?” said the boy. He had a sweet berry-like smell, a shaven head, pale white skin, a night gown, pearly teeth, honey eyes, and a soft siren-like voice.
	“Helena.” She said, a graceful feeling overtook her.
	“What a beautiful name.” he said. “And that necklace, look at all the ornate little details; do you see the one in the center?” She raised the middle jewel. It was the crucifixion of Christ, even one as non religious as she knew that one. The boy smiled. “My father told me to be a good man, just like Christ. But he never showed me how. Death knocked on the door and took him away.” said the boy. “But I will try. For my father never cared for lavishes.” He looked her straight in the eyes. With a grand smile he said: “Helena, your shining light will carry on.”
	“What is your name?”
	She appeared outside of the catacombs, alone and with the necklace.