The Artifact Quest

“Lawrence, are you sure about this? ” Mateo’s voice cut through the early dawn hush as we huddled in the reverse room of the safe house. I could slightly see his anxious eyes in the half-light, but his tone carried the weight of solicitude. I had formerly made up my mind; our fight against the dark forces had reached a tilting point, and hopeless times called for hopeless measures.

“ Absolutely, ” I replied forcefully, though my heart pounded like a war barrel. ...