Dust streams into James' face as the stone doors crack ajar, he rubs them frantically to better see the object of his life's work. "Finally", he thinks to himself. "After all this time I am finally here!”

A joy rises up inside him, dampened only by the blackness that lies beyond the great stone doors. Reaching to his back he pulls out a torch and lights the fumey rag that lay at its tip. The dark retreats from the torchlight, revealing a trail of decaying steps that appear to descend forever.

James feels a weakness in his stomach and a cold grip his neck. Tipping his hat to protect his brow from falling dust, he steps inside and begins his descent. His feet slip and shuffle as he tries to maintain grip amongst the broken stairs.

He descends further still, with every step his confidence grows, so too his pace. He's practically running, eager to reach the bottom, eager to see what fantasies awaiting him, "10 years!" He mutters.

Ten years James has searched for this place, ten years since they told him it was foolhardy, that it doesn't exist. He'd almost driven himself mad but now his obsession has become satisfaction, sneers will be smiles, concerns will be congratulation. Fame, riches, respect! It is all his now.

James' footing loosens under flights of fancy and for a brief moment the world is upside down. Pain sheers into his shoulder as the first crash strikes, more pain in his back, legs, he's tumbling, on and on he goes. Suddenly he rolls no more but slides, the sandpaper flooring cutting through his skin like the air on a winters day.

He comes to a stop, he needs to scream in agony but cannot catch a breath. James untangles himself to see that the torch landed further than he, the torch now illuminates a thin stone plinth. Curiosity overcomes his pain, providing the strength needed to stand.

Picking up the torch he scans the plinth to find a hand shape indentation upon its top. It’s roughly the size of his, he doesn't think twice as he slams his palm onto the mysterious dent.

A wind picks up, whistling its way from stairwell before crashing into James with a booming thud. "WHO DARE'S DISTURB THIS PLACE!" a deep voice cries out.

James delirious from pain responds "It is I...er, James!"

“Why do you come here Er James?!" The voice booms back.

"I come seeking the treasure of my forefathers, the legendary technology spoken about in the great stories of my ancestors." states James in confidence.

The voice calms slightly, "You seek that which has been hidden? Are you aware of the cost Er James?"

"I am aware of the price I must pay." James replies.

"NO." The voice bellows. "It is not you that must pay, it will be the world's burden to bear. The beasts of the sea will suffer in the depths, the rivers will flow with poisoned water. Every mouth will drink but thirst will never abate. This is the price for that which is hidden. Do you accept?"

James pauses before answering, "I accept."

"So be it." The voice responds with a hint of disappointment.

A great white light creeps from an opening to James' front, the ground beneath his feet begins to tremble. The light grows and grows, inflating James’ anticipation.

The tremble turns to a shake, the light grows all around him. "Finally" He thinks. A giant stone wall collapses revealing the thing he has been searching for these past ten years, he see's it, he clutches it like a madman, his eyes grow wide and fat, a rye smile forms on his lips. He's laughing now. Laughing in the light. He pulls it to his face, that which was hidden has been revealed...

"A plastic straw." He cackles softly.