The Welsh border is foreboding and breathtaking, filled with rolling green hills and ancient ruins. The ideal spot for Jed and Olivia Peale to live their dream life. Jed was at the top of his career working as a psychiatric nurse practitioner, just landing a job at the top hospital in Cardiff. Olivia has a Ph.D. in medieval history and escaping here is the perfect sabbatical for her to research the reign of Mary I.

Tooling across the English countryside in their rented Ford, Jed downshifted as he made his way up and down the roadway.

Glancing over at Olivia, Jeds brow furrowed. “I still can't get used to driving on this side. It still feels illegal. Like we’ll get pulled over by the cops.”

“They call them coppers or bobbies here, I think. Olivia grunted as she swept her auburn hair off of her face, pushing her glasses up to keep it in place.

“Hey, everything ok.”

“Yes, it's nothing. Just our little gymnast kicking my bladder. “ patting her large belly.

Jed reached over and placed his hand over hers.

“Oh yeah. He's gonna be a stud muffin, just like his dad.”

Olivia smirked. Jed was a very handsome man and turned many heads when they met in college. She was captivated by his smile, which always lit up a room. He told her she was like a beautiful red-haired beacon in an ocean of sameness and her turquoise eyes melted him.

“How much further? I can't remember since it's been a while and I need to pee.”

“Well, we just crossed into Wales so maybe twenty minutes or so.”

The deeper they drove into the Welsh countryside, the more remote it became, until there it was. The Tudor-style manor home was set back from the road, a piece of living history just waiting to be explored.

“Thank God, because my bladder is about to burst,” Olivia shouted as they rolled up the narrow path to face a sixteenth-century home built during the reign of Queen Mary 1.

Olivia could barely contain herself as she ran up to the door covered with the creation story from Genesis, and pushed it open to head for the toilet.

“Do you remember where it is? Glad the housekeeper left the lights on.”

“Found it.” Jed laughed at the sound of the steady stream of urine.

“Hey Jed, come back here.”

Panicked, Jed practically sprinted to the back of the house, through the stone kitchen, where Olivia was standing and pointing to a small square door embedded next to the ovens.

“I don't remember this. We need to open it.” Olivia started to bend down, but her late pregnancy made it impossible. Standing up, hands on her back to regain her balance.

“Can you do it please?”

Squatting down, Jed pulled on the handle, straining back muscles visible through his shirt. Wiggling it back and forth to get some leverage, it popped open with a loud crack.

“I can't see anything, can I borrow your phone?”

Sitting down, legs splayed out, Olivia scooted close to Jed and handed him the phone. They both poked their heads into the musty space, dimly lit by a cellphone. As Jed shone the phone throughout the tiny opening, the light uncovered something completely unexpected.

A small gold crown, a book of prayers. And a withered skeletal hand.

Easing out of the hole, Olivia and Jed turned to each other and smiled.