Gemotions

John ran a hand through his hair, leaving it standing on end. He'd purchased the book, "The History of Lost Civilizations," for a bargain. The pages were yellowed, the cover cracked. He'd flipped through it idly, seeking a passage about Atlantis. Then, a stiff rectangle had fallen out.

He squinted at it. A photograph. A grainy, black and white image of a woman standing in front of a crumbling building. She held a small, silver locket. He didn’t recognize the building. The woman's face was partially obscured by shadow.

He held the photo closer, the edges of the paper starting to curl. He had no idea who she was. He turned it over, searching for a caption or inscription. Nothing. Just blankness. A prickling sensation ran up his spine. What was the connection to the book? Had the woman been involved in some forgotten archaeological dig?