It had never really been the ministry’s place to store ancient artifacts— at least ones that weren’t made there. Most physical artifacts were under the care of Primo, but he was busy, and Secondo wasn’t willing to give up his Friday night. Unfortunately, he couldn’t really dump stuff on Copia anymore, seeing as he was performing as Cardinal now, not just sitting in an office. Why did he have to watch over a box anyway? Nobody told him what was in the damn thing that was so important.

He scoffed as he sat down in the chair of the storage room. The thing was old and dusty. He should’ve worn his cheap pants.

The first few hours ticked by frustratingly slowly. Most of his books, he wasn’t willing to bring down into the dungeon of mildew, and his cellphone was only entertaining for a little while. With a sigh, he placed it down on the old table beside him.

He stared down at the box he was watching over, placing his chin on the butt of his hand. “Fancy seeing you here,” he muttered, raising a brow as he flicked the side. It was heavy. It was just a box. Surely nothing bad would happen if he took just a quick peek. It seemed sturdy enough.

So, he stood up, stepping closer to the rectangular box and slowly sliding the heavy lid from the base. The sight he received was disturbing, but nothing he hadn’t seen in museums before. A mummy. Why they needed one was beyond him. He reached down, tracing gloved fingers over the body’s hollow, long-dead cheek.

His head tilted curiously. The thing’s eyes opened, and it was mad.

It didn’t need to stand to scare him off. Terzo had practically already flung himself across the room by the time it sat up. “Stay away,” he demanded, having cornered himself on the far side of the room, located conveniently far from the door. He considered screaming, but he didn’t want to piss the thing— er, mummy(?) off any further.