Finding Out What Was Hidden Underneath the Mountain

A long staircase extended all the way to the depths of the earth. Perhaps since the task of drilling and creating the path was too extensive, the steps were not even. They were riddled with pits, rough, and uneven, where one could easily trip and fall. Lucille caught up behind Joseph, both of them curious to find out what was hidden underneath the mountain and wanting to find the trapped victims as quickly as possible, so they moved at the fastest speed possible. Soon, they had made it to the bottom of the steps. Then Lucille turned off her flashlight. After adjusting to the darkness, Lucille looked around. The underground area where they were standing wasn’t deep, with a depth, she estimated, that was only ten meters or so from ground level. The space was empty and there was a slight breeze. Lucille and Joseph caught each other's glance. Without saying a word, tacit understanding between them guided their silent strides in the same direction. They had taken a few turns, when suddenly,