"Mr Nigel..." Someone called among the crowd, the headlight strapped to his hat, flashed into the dark cave. "Are you sure it's safe for us to go in there?"
"Don't tell me any of you are scared of a little cave?" Mr Nigel turned to look behind him at his subordinates.
They all looked confused, but no one dared to speak up, they were all promised if they could bring the artifact reported to be in the cave, they would all be rewarded handsomely.
Now they cursed their bad luck for being so stupid not to ask the right questions when they had the opportunity to do so.
The trickling water that made a pit patter sound as it dropped to the floor at the entrance of the cave, gave the cave an eerily vibe. The entrance was covered in mold, and the surrounding was bushy.
A sign outside which read, "KEEP OUT!" Written boldly in what looked like claw carvings.
"Sho... shouldn't we heed to the warning on the sign?" Someone spoke among the crowd.
They all looked at their leader, hoping for some sort of explanation, this kind of trip wasn't what they had expected, they had thought it to be a mere hiking with a bit of digging, not necessarily the cave per say.
One of them, being courageous enough to speak, raised his hand.
Mr Nigel nodded in acknowledgement.
"Sir, we were told to bring an artifact back, but if I'm not mistaken, none of us knows what that artifact could be, would you please enlighten us on what we are to encounter?" He spoke up for the others, they all nodded in agreement.
Pinching the bridge of his nose, he shook his head. If the company was going to send a bunch of brainstormers with a lot of questions, he would have gone for those in a lower department, at least they would know how to take direction well without question.
But due to the urgency of the situation, he needed the best archeologist he could find, and now he started to doubt if the recommendations were true.
"Aren't you a smart ass?" He sneered at the male who had dared question him.
"When all twenty of you signed the contract, I suppose your lips weren't sealed to ask questions then." He glared at all of them. He owed them no explanation whatsoever.
"I didn't recruit you all from your different companies or countries for an unknown cause. It was said you all were the best in your respective companies, I don't recall hiring chickens, this job is not an easy one and I don't expect you to feel this way."
They all stared at him, he was right about one thing, their job was a risky one, but they had chosen this field nonetheless and they couldn't back down now.
"If anyone wishes to go back, please signify." He said in a loud voice, the echo from the cave, gave a different feel to it, as some shuddered.
They began to murmur among themselves, contemplating if they should take this as a second chance to leave or stay and get their pay.
This was the first time they had gone for an excavation without knowing the whole detail about what they were to find.
"But if you do, the money promised to you has to be returned to nullify the contract!" He read out the clause from his memory.
Those who had wanted to raise their hands in opposition began to have a rethink about their decision, no one could afford to pay back that sum of money with their current month's income, they haven't even been paid the money yet to begin with, when they had signed the contract, they hadn't bothered to look closely at what it had entailed but the money was very enticing.
"I see everyone has finally made their decision." Nigel nodded in satisfaction.
Turning around towards the cave, he let out a sigh of relief, "What are we all waiting for? Put on your headlights, we are bound to make history today! Take this as a whole new beginning for each and every one of you." He pointed forward, shoving his hand into the pocket of his khaki. Marching ahead of them, whistling as he casually made his way in.
"A new beginning? What's he talking about?"
"This is nothing but an ancient cave."
"Is he talking about the reward we would get after we get the artifact?"
At first they a hesitated as they murmured amongst themselves.
Reluctantly, they all followed, the sun was already setting, in a matter of minutes they were bound to be left out in the dark to fend for themselves against the predators of the night, it was probably best to follow their leader.
"To a new beginning!" They muttered to themselves until they believed it.