The sarcophagus lid slides fully into place with a deafening thud, shaking dust from the ceiling and rattling the walls. The green glow from Pharaoh Khufu's crook fades, leaving only the faint blue pulse across the carvings. For a moment, the chamber seems… still. The mummies and statues remain frozen, lifeless once again, as though the pyramid itself has exhaled.
Marcus wipes sweat from his brow. "It's… done. The guardians… they've stopped."
Maya lets out a shaky laugh. "We… we actually did it. They're… they're gone… or asleep, at least."
Noah steps forward, cautiously placing a hand on the sarcophagus. "I can't believe it… we were just about to touch them, and…" His voice trails off as he looks around at the frozen figures, realizing how close they had come.
But the relief is short-lived. Lena freezes, eyes widening. "The walls… look!"
Everyone turns. The massive stone walls of the chamber, once static and silent, have begun to shift inward. Tiny cracks race along the surface, dust falling in clouds, and the ground trembles beneath their feet. The pulse of the pyramid changes, a deep, vibrating hum that resonates like a heartbeat gone mad.
"...I don't wanna say the 's' word, just imagine me saying..." Marcus's eyes widen. "We… we triggered something! The pyramid—it's collapsing!"
"No time to think!" Maya yells, grabbing Marcus's arm. "We need to move—now!"
The group bolts, dodging falling dust and loose stones. Tiles they had previously tested now feel unstable, some cracking underfoot. The chamber narrows in places, forcing them to squeeze between sliding walls.
Ethan shouts, "Over here! This path—follow me!" He leaps onto a slightly raised section of floor, signaling the others to follow carefully.
Noah skids slightly, nearly falling as a tile shifts beneath him. Lena grabs his arm, pulling him up just before a jagged stone strikes the floor where he had stood.
Maya pants, clutching her notebook, weaving between statues that seem unnervingly close now. Every shadow seems larger, every crevice a potential trap as the walls continue to compress.
Marcus looks back at the sarcophagus. Its lid is closed, the crook's pulse faint but steady. He realizes then—without fully knowing why—that sealing it has neutralized the guardians. The mummies remain frozen, the statues still as stone, giving them the only chance to escape.
They sprint through the corridor, dodging sliding stone, dust clouds, and collapsing sections of ceiling. The air is thick, suffocating with grit and heat from friction as the pyramid seems to fight them at every turn.
A massive stone block falls mere inches from Noah as he vaults over it, landing hard but uninjured. Ethan grabs his arm, pulling him forward. "Move! Keep going!"
The walls behind them close faster, narrowing the space. Marcus leads the way, the faint pulse of the key guiding his steps, each heartbeat matching the pounding tremor of stone around them.
Finally, after what feels like an eternity, they reach the exit corridor, the glow of daylight faint but growing ahead. Dust swirls around them as the final stretch narrows to just barely wide enough for all five to run side by side.
With one last coordinated push, they burst into the sunlight outside the pyramid, gasping for air, clothes dust-streaked and bodies trembling. Behind them, the entrance seals silently, the pyramid returning to an eerie calm, lifeless as if nothing had stirred inside.
They collapse to the sand, hearts hammering, breathing heavy. Marcus exhales shakily. "We… we made it. All of us… alive."
Maya leans back on her elbows, staring at the sky. "That… that was too close. I can't believe how close we came."
Noah laughs shakily. "And the mummies didn't even chase us. We got lucky—or… smart."
Lena wipes dust from her face, shaking her head. "I think I'll need weeks to stop imagining spikes under my feet."
Ethan, still catching his breath, glances back at the pyramid. "It's over… for now. But the tomb… it's ancient. Whatever's inside… it will remain dangerous for anyone else who dares to enter."
Marcus smiles faintly, gripping the key in his pocket. "We survived. And somehow… we did it together. That's what matters."
The five of them sit in silence for a moment, staring at the great pyramid, hearts slowly calming. The tomb behind them is silent, sleeping once more, but the memory of every near-miss, every heartbeat, every narrow escape will stay with them forever. The desert wind whips across the sand, carrying dust into their hair and eyes. The five of them sit sprawled near the base of the Great Pyramid, chests heaving, knees scratched, and clothes streaked with sweat and dirt. The tomb behind them is silent, immobile, and unyielding—its secrets locked away once more.
Marcus loosens the strap of his backpack and pulls out the notebook he's been carrying. "We made it… and no one was hurt. That alone feels impossible."
Noah leans back, shielding his eyes from the glare of the sun. "I swear, every step inside that pyramid, I thought we'd be eaten, crushed, or… turned into statues ourselves."
Maya hugs her knees, still wide-eyed. "The sarcophagus… it wasn't alive, but the guardians… the mummies… the statues… it was terrifying. I can't believe closing the lid… actually stopped them."
Lena wipes dust from her face. "Yeah… we didn't even know that's what would happen. We just… did it because of the glowing crook. A chance. And it worked."
Ethan, still holding the small loose stone he picked up from inside, shakes his head in disbelief. "That was precise luck. Or… maybe fate. The pyramid tested us, and somehow, we passed."
Marcus taps the crook lightly. It pulses faintly, as if acknowledging their presence, but nothing stirs within the tomb. "Whatever it was, it's done. The pharaoh remains in rest, and the guardians are… asleep again. That's all that matters. For now."
Noah stands and stretches, glancing at the horizon. "I don't know about you guys, but I'm never stepping foot in another pyramid without ropes, harnesses, and… maybe a parachute."
Maya laughs quietly, a shaky sound. "We should be celebrating, but I think our adrenaline is too high. I don't think my heart will stop racing for a week."
Lena smirks faintly. "Adrenaline or not, we survived. And look at us… we actually worked together. Carefully, step by step… we trusted each other."
Ethan looks at his friends, nodding. "We've learned something here. Not just about the pyramid, the traps, or the mummies… but about ourselves. About planning, about observing… about keeping calm when everything wants to kill you."
Marcus gazes at the sarcophagus, then back at the group. "The tomb remains dangerous, yes. But we faced it and lived. That's a story few will ever believe. Our project… it's more than just history now. It's experience. Knowledge. Proof that some mysteries are meant to be approached carefully… and survived."
Noah grins faintly, shaking sand from his hair. "And we didn't lose anyone. That's always a win."
Maya tilts her head, notebook open, scribbling notes quickly. "We can't write down everything. No one would believe it. But the sketches, the carvings, the crook… those are real. They prove what we saw."
Lena adjusts her backpack. "And if anyone else ever tries… the pyramid will remain just as deadly. But for us… today… we survived the heart of it."
They sit in silence for a few minutes, letting the sunlight and warm desert air soothe their rattled nerves. Behind them, the pyramid stands silent, massive and immovable, guarding its secrets once again.
Marcus finally stands, stretching his arms. "Alright, team. We survived. We learned. We documented. And we… walked out alive. Let's get back, get cleaned up, and maybe… just maybe… get some proper food that isn't granola bars and dust."
The group laughs quietly, exhausted but relieved, each step away from the pyramid lighter than the last. Behind them, the tomb waits—silent, patient, and eternal—its heart undisturbed, its guardians dormant once more. The adventure is finally over...
~~
Days resume themselves as normal, with Maya writing a new book about their adventures, Sarcophagus, which then becomes a bestselling book. Marcus, who then starts writing a book together with Maya, with all unidentified pictures of scriptures, carvings, inscriptions and sarcophagus. They managed to take a quick picture of Pharaoh Khufu's sarcophagus. Later, then invited to be a docent for primarily Ancient Egyptian, Pharaoh Khufu's expedition, especially during special occasions and events. Providing a new source of unidentified information but with valid evidence for their existence.
Noah and Lena later then become archaeologists together, discovering more ancient historical places and relics, sometimes inviting Marcus with special permits.
Ethan joins the NASA agency that suits his interest and skill best after his interview.
All five of them pursue their new path, but all still return to find each other in the same café during special occasions, where their friendship lasts never ending.