CHAPTER 6 – The Curse Beneath the Sand
The moment the final tranquilizer dart struck the Guardian...
Everything changed.
The glowing symbols carved into the cave walls burst into brilliant blue light.
Ancient writing appeared across every stone surface.
The ground trembled harder than ever before.
A deep voice echoed through the chamber.
Not from the Guardian.
Not from the walls.
From everywhere.
"The oath has been broken."
Every flashlight flickered.
Every radio died.
Every GPS screen turned black.
One soldier dropped his rifle.
"My compass..."
"It's spinning."
Another screamed from the back of the cave.
"The entrance!"
Everyone turned.
The tunnel they had entered through...
...was gone.
Solid stone now blocked the only exit.
Panic exploded through the group.
"We're trapped!"
Hayes fired another dart at the Guardian in frustration.
The second the dart hit...
A blinding wave of golden light erupted from the serpent's body.
Every mercenary was thrown backward as if struck by an invisible explosion.
Emily shielded her face.
When she looked up...
She could hardly believe what she was seeing.
The ancient chamber had disappeared.
They were no longer underground.
Instead, they stood beneath an enormous night sky filled with unfamiliar stars.
Ancient towers surrounded them.
Thousands of glowing snakes silently watched from rooftops and stone walls.
It looked like an entire forgotten civilization.
No ruins.
No decay.
As if time itself had reversed.
Colonel Hayes stared in disbelief.
"This... isn't possible."
The Guardian's voice entered Emily's mind once more.
"Welcome to Aserath."
"The city hidden between time."
Emily's heart raced.
"Aserath?"
The Guardian continued.
"For thousands of years, only one human in each generation has been permitted to enter this place."
Emily swallowed nervously.
"Why me?"
The Guardian's answer sent chills through her entire body.
"Because long before you were born..."
"...your family made the first promise to protect us."
Before Emily could ask another question—
A child suddenly appeared behind one of the glowing pillars.
He couldn't have been older than ten.
His clothes looked ancient.
His silver eyes were identical to the Guardian's.
He smiled at Emily.
Then quietly said...
"I've been waiting for you for three thousand years."
Emily's blood turned to ice.
May you like
How could a little boy...
...have waited three thousand years?
