Heat clung to your skin as you pushed deeper into the huge ancient Mayan ruin. The artifact you were after was said to restore lost memories, not fragments, not impressions, but everything. And you needed it before he got to it.

The ruin didn’t welcome you. The first trap came without warning, pressure plates disguised as uneven stone. You caught it just in time, adjusting your step as a misstep would have unleashed a storm of needle-thin darts from the walls. Further in, a corridor came alive with rotating blades, slicing in patterns meant to throw you off. You slipped through with tight precision, feeling steel whisper past your sleeve. Then a sudden drop, an obsidian-lined pit with a narrow moving beam crossing it. You timed it and crossed, refusing to slow.

Because he wouldn’t.

By the time you reached the inner chamber, your pulse had steadied. The pedestal stood under fractured light.

Empty.

Before you could react, the ground beneath you shifted. Stone plates snapped around your legs and waist, dragging you down as dense, sand-like material poured over you, hardening as it climbed. You struggled, but it only tightened.

A laugh echoed.

You didn’t need to turn to know.

When he stepped into view, the artifact rested in his hand.

“…You’re as slow as always dimwit”

Your jaw tightened as you realized he had beaten you again, and worse, that he had likely triggered the trap himself.

The chamber trembled violently. Cracks spread along the walls.

You let out a strained breath, forcing a smirk as you told him it was a decoy. You explained, quickly but clearly, that the real artifact was still hidden somewhere in the room, and that only you knew where. You added that without it, neither of you would be getting out alive.

He barely reacted.

“Right. And I’m supposed to believe that just like the other times i almost got killed?”

A massive chunk of stone crashed nearby.

Silence followed.

Then he moved.

With clear reluctance, he pulled you free just before the trap sealed. You directed him to a carved section of the wall, pointing out a subtle marking. A mechanism clicked, revealing the real artifact wrapped in aged cloth.

You both ran, the chamber collapsed behind you as you burst onto a massive stone bridge. Then, a sharp click.

You froze and turned to look at his stupid face.

“…Tell me you didn’t just trigger something.”

“I didn’t touch anything.” He whispered with annoyance.

The walls split open, two massive saber-toothed beasts lunged out, low growls shaking the air.

You ran.

Halfway across, an idea sparked. You stumbled deliberately, grabbing his arm and yanking him slightly off balance while throwing a flare behind him. The sudden light drew the beasts’ attention.

“Buy me time!”

“You’re absurd—!” He shouted as he tried to ward off the massive beasts.

At the far end, a towering statue stood with open hands. You placed the artifact into its grip.

A click.

Then the ground shifted again, releasing a swarm of venomous scorpions from hidden compartments.

You stepped back, turning—

And froze.

He stood at the center of the bridge, surrounded, yet calm, grinning widely.

The real artifact in his hand. Your expression darkened as you once again got tricked by him, realizing that he switched the stones while you both ran.

He lifted the artifact slightly, almost mocking.

“Had to even things out you know.” He shouted afar, barely mananging to dodge the beasts lunges.