《Emperor of Time》 Nightmares Tik¡­tok¡­tik¡­tok¡­ The clock¡¯s ticks echoed through the darkness. It was a darkness with an endless void¡ªno edges, no corners, no escape. Ryan stiffenedwith fear. He knew from experience that any movement during the clock''s ominous chime would mean doomfor him. His limbs would dissolve, beginning with his fingers, then his hands, and eventually his entire self. Ryan froze and felt his breath catch in his throat. The clock''s beat accelerated, heightening his fear. Sweat trickled down his spine as he tried to listen. Each tickseemed like a death knell. ''Shit! Not this dream again,'' he cursed inwardly. The same nightmare had haunted him since childhood. He couldn''t recall the first time it happened, but always the same scenes. Each time he would wake up exhausted and shaken. Tik¡­tok¡­tik¡­tok¡­ His tension raised when he heard the clock¡¯s sound gradually fade. ''Here we go,'' he murmured to himself, ready for what would happen next. Then came the footsteps¡ªtap¡­tap¡­tap¡­tap¡­ They echoed through the darkness and became louder as if someone was nearby. Ryan focused on the sounds. His heart pounded. Sweat continued to stream down his spine. Suddenly, the footsteps quickened like someone was doing a frantic sprint toward him. The clock''s ticking still echoed, and Ryan did not dare to move. ''Damn it! Hurry up!'' he panicked. The footsteps were closing in but he could not see anyone nearby. Strangely, he could see his own body, but nothing else. It was so dark. Tap¡­tap¡­tap¡­tap¡­ Finally,he could not hear the clock sound anymore, only the footsteps remained. Ryan bolted, running as fast as he could. He didn''t care about direction¡ªhe just needed to escape. But the footsteps were matching his speed. ''Arrghh¡­.damn it! Why can''t I just wake up?'' he cursed with haggard breath.If you encounter this narrative on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it. Ryan sprinted like a wild person driven by his survival instinct. But the footsteps stayed beside him. ''Damn it! Damn it!'' he gasped. His lungs burned. He kept running into the endless darkness without knowing how long he had been running. Then, he heard a thunderous growl in front of him. Massive fangs erupted from the shadows with glistening sharp tips. They were enormous¡ªlonger than his arm and thicker than his thighs. Its color was soft-white and glowed, contrasted sharply with the surrounding darkness. It was the open maw of a gigantic beast.The growl deepened. Ryan gazed at the gleaming teeth with terror while kept running. He screamed through the top of his lungs and changed his running direction. But it was too late. The beast¡¯s fangs snapped shut around him. The hot and decaying scent enveloped him, making him could not breathe. He squeezed his eyes shut and wished the nightmare to end badly. *** Ryan jolted awake and gasped for breath. His heart raced wildly. With desperation, he buried his face in his palms and whispered, "Why won''t these nightmares leave me?" He rubbed his temples. Gradually he heard the soothing sound of waves crashing against the ship. It calmed him and reminded him that he was on the ship sailing to Egypt. He peeked out his cabin window. It was 5 a.m. in Egypt and the sky was still dark He rose and poured a glass of water from the desk pitcher. He drained it empty and peeled off his damp shirt. He stood by his desk and glanced at the surroundings. His cabin had a single bed, a desk, and a compact cabinet. Papers were stacked neatly at his desk¡ªall were documents and journals for his next excavation. He lingered for a moment and closed his eyes. Those nightmares haunted him since his childhood when his parents passed away, and he was eight at that time. Two or three times a week, he would have the dream, and it was always the same. The darkness, the ticking clock sound, the footsteps, the jaw¡ªall the same. And every time he woke up, he would feel so tired, and exhausted. The dreams were so vivid, that their unnerving realism lingered long after he awakened. He didn¡¯t bother to put on himself a new shirt. "It does feel very hot," he murmured. ¡°It wasn¡¯t this hot last time I came here.¡± Shrugging off the thoughts, he sat at his chair and began to peruse the documents, drowning himself in his work. He could not sleep anymore, trying to erase the nagging feelings from his nightmares. At 23, Ryan had rugged features shaped by years of digging through ancient sites. His face was angular, and he was a handsome young man with blue eyes and dark hair. His father was an archaeologist and obsessed with finding great artifacts. Ryan remembered when he was following his father to some excavation sites, or sitting in dusty libraries. His father would speak about the mysteries of some artifacts, the ancient civilizations as if those people in his stories were alive and breathing. Those stories ignited Ryan¡¯s fascination with archaeology. The more he studied, the more he felt his connection to ancient civilizations. However, after his parents died when he was eight and he started to have nightmares, he felt a deeper connection to those ancient civilizations. Whether it was from Egypt, Greek, Norse, Chinese, Hindu, even to Aztec, he felt all of the people in the past had something in common. He just didn¡¯t know what it was. Why did these dreams haunt him? Did something in the past curse him? Was it some kind of ancient spell? Maybe, just maybe, archaeology would put the nightmares to rest and he would finally be free from it. He grabbed his jacket and stepped outside his cabin. The cool breeze enveloped him, contrasting with the heat of his cabin. He stood by the ship''s deck railing and leaned on it. Watching the waves stretch far to the horizon. Seagulls echoed in the distance. He exhaled deeply. Everything should have an answer, and you just need to look in the right direction. He believed he would find out why he had those same nightmares over and over for years. The Valley of The Kings (1) Alexandria Port, Egypt A sturdy, medium-sized ship sat anchored in Alexandria Port. The ship was called Tutela, which meant ¡°protection¡± or ¡°guardianship.¡± As its name suggested, the ship was doing a good job of protecting the excavation team and their equipment at sea. Ryan stood on the dock with his belongings beside his feet. He surveyed the scene around him. The harbor was bustling with the activity of workers hurriedly unloading and loading cargo onto and off the docked ships. Their shouts and laughter were loud, mixed with the occasional sound of seagulls. Ryan turned to find Dr. Hassan, the leader of the expedition that Ryan joined this time, greeting him with a big smile. The doctor''s bald head glistened in the morning sunlight. His neatly trimmed beard and brown eyes looked warm. He was wearing a dark gray suit that didn''t really suit the current hot weather. ¡°Good morning, Doctor,¡± Ryan replied with a respectful smile. He took Dr. Hassan¡¯s hand and shook it. Dr. Hasan¡¯s eyes lit up as he surveyed the bustling harbor around them. He spotted some of his expedition staff and waved to them. Then he asked Ryan with a mischievous smile on his face, ¡°Ready for The Valley of The Kings?¡± ¡°Of course,¡± Ryan said enthusiastically. ¡°The equipment is being unloaded from the ship. We¡¯ll be ready to go in an hour.¡± Dr. Hasan¡¯s face lit up at Ryan¡¯s words. ¡°That¡¯s great! Let¡¯s recharge with some local cuisine,¡± he said with a mischievous smile still on his face. Ryan chuckled. He knew that Dr. Hassan had a hearty appetite, in contrast to his small and slender frame. ¡°Of course. We can ask Beatrice to bring us our original travel documents and excavation permits while we eat,¡± Ryan added. Dr. Hassan nodded enthusiastically. ¡°That¡¯s great! I can¡¯t wait to eat the local food. It¡¯s been a long time since I¡¯ve had shawarma,¡± he said, rubbing his hands together in front of his chest. ¡°Let¡¯s make a plan¡­¡± Ryan shouted in the middle of the crowd. ¡°Okay, okay! But first, have breakfast. Then we will conquer The Valley.¡± Dr. Hassan interrupted with a laugh. *** They then walked along the chaotic docks of Alexandria Port. Porters and merchants rushed to them, shouting offers of luggage or offering their wares. The two politely declined, and nimbly navigated the crowded, labyrinthine alleys. They had already decided where they would have breakfast and had a clear idea of ??where they should go. They finally arrived at a small, relaxed cafe with few people eating. The sound of light jazz music filled the cafe, and a delicious aroma wafted from the kitchen.This content has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere. They ordered shawarma (a delicious lamb sandwich), and umm ali (a sweet pastry). And they also ordered ahwa (a strong Egyptian coffee). Beatrice is the logistics coordinator for Dr. Hassan¡¯s archaeological team. She handles transportation, equipment, permits, and clearances. In addition to being fluent in Arabic and English, she is also able to navigate the complexities of Egyptian bureaucracy with ease. Her efficiency and friendly nature make her a key player in the success of Dr. Hassan¡¯s archaeological team. She arrived shortly after. Wearing a white floral dress and her blond hair pulled back in a ponytail, she greeted Dr. Hassan and Ryan with a big smile. ¡°Good morning, everyone. How are you all?¡± Dr. Hassan motioned for Beatrice to sit down in one of the empty chairs at their table. ¡°Please sit down. We¡¯re discussing logistics today.¡± Beatrice sat down and took a sip of her ahwa coffee. ¡°Can we finish the paperwork handover now?¡± she asked. Ryan nodded and said, ¡°Equipment check, transportation¡ª¡± ¡°And confirming KV5 security clearance,¡± Dr. Hassan added solemnly. Beatrice nodded as she took notes. ¡°The equipment has been packed and is available at the villa. All transportation arrangements have been made. Security clearance has also been granted. Anything else?¡± Dr. Hassan smiled in satisfaction and leaned back in his chair, he said. ¡°That¡¯s it. Thank you, Beatrice.¡± Beatrice, still smiling, stood up. ¡°Everything is ready. We will meet at the location in a few days. May you have a safe journey today!¡± Ryan and Dr. Hassan smiled. ¡°See you later.¡± Then Beatrice left the two of them to finish their breakfast. People had started to arrive at the cafe for breakfast. The cafe was starting to get crowded. Dr. Hassan and Ryan exchanged glances after Beatrice left. They both knew and realized that without Beatrice, the entire team would be in disarray. Her efficiency was crucial for their excavation to run smoothly. ¡°Let¡¯s go over the details one more time,¡± Dr. Hassan said. He took out a notebook filled with sketches and notes. ¡°We can¡¯t afford to make any mistakes.¡± Ryan nodded in admiration of Dr. Hassan¡¯s dedication. ¡°Do you think we¡¯re really ready?¡± Ryan asked in a low voice. Dr. Hassan considered what to say. ¡°Hmmm, the equipment is complete, all the team members are present, and the documents are complete. But¡­¡± He hesitated. ¡°We have to be prepared for anything. This is Egypt. Things can change in an instant.¡± Ryan thought back to his last expedition with Dr. Hassan. They had faced unexpected challenges, from equipment failures to unexpected weather changes. It was a reminder that no plan is perfect. ¡°Let¡¯s keep adapting,¡± Ryan advised. ¡°If we need to change course, let¡¯s do it quickly.¡± Dr. Hassan nodded, appreciating Ryan¡¯s perspective. They had built a strong bond over the years. Each expedition had deepened their trust in each other. As they finished their coffee, the bustle of the cafe faded into the background. *** An hour and a half later they set off in a convoy of five vans and two double-cab trucks. The journey would take eight to ten hours south, 674 kilometers from the Port of Alexandria. They cruised along the Desert Road, an alternative route from Alexandria Port to The Valley of The Kings. Golden sunlight shone on the dunes stretching along the way, creating shadows under the slightly cloudy sky. Ryan gazed at the scenery along the road with nostalgia. He had traveled this route three years ago as a volunteer member of the archive team, studying ancient tombs in The Valley of The Kings. He remembered documenting the hieroglyphs in the magnificent tomb of Tutankhamun. And the thrill when his team managed to uncover a secret chamber in the burial site of Pharaoh Horemheb. He began to feel sleepy after two hours of the journey and fell asleep. The Valley of The Kings (2) Night had begun to fall when they arrived at the private villas at Luxor city, that were specifically rented for the team''s accommodation. This location was chosen because it was not too far from KV5, which the team would be excavating. Vehicles rotated between the rented villas, dropping off the team members and their equipment. Ryan entered his room. The room was not large, with a single bed, a set of tables and chairs, and a wardrobe. There was also a private bathroom inside. He then unpacked his belongings which were not that many, mostly research papers, especially hieroglyph translations because Ryan was now working as a translator. Not long after, his belongings were neatly arranged. He opened the layout of KV5 on his bed and memorized every detail, then sat down beside the bed. Looking out his bedroom window, he saw dark clouds gathering around KV5. The presence of these clouds was unusual for winter and made him worried. Winter in Egypt is around 10¡ãC to 20¡ãC. But now the air felt very humid, contrary to the weather forecast. Ryan then ignored his worries and walked out of the room to the dining room. The room was already filled with team members and the delicious aroma of Merir''s cooking wafted throughout the room. He greeted his colleagues and shook hands. ¡°Hey, Ryan! Are you feeling refreshed now?¡± Dr. Hassan said, taking a leisurely sip of his mint tea. ¡°Haha, yeah, it¡¯s the party that¡¯s refreshing me.¡± Ryan grinned as he scooped a mouthful of koshari into his mouth. Dr. Rose Kogel, an ever-energetic ancient mythology expert, leaned toward Ryan. ¡°Ryan, have you looked at the layout of KV5 again? Anything new?¡± she asked. Ryan chuckled as he wiped some ketchup off his chin. ¡°Yeah, I¡¯m a little obsessed with the layout. There are a lot of chambers that haven¡¯t been discovered much considering the number of children of Ramses II. Plus, the sun disk symbolism is everywhere, it¡¯s very confusing.¡± Dr. Matt Jenkins chimed in with youthful enthusiasm. ¡°Maybe it was intentional. The sons of Ramses II could have used it as a distraction.¡± ¡°Or they just liked to mess with us,¡± Ryan joked, raising an eyebrow. ¡°Maybe they got bored and thought, ¡®Let the archaeologists get confused!¡¯ ¡°Imagine them sitting in heaven laughing at us,¡± Dr. Hassan chuckled. ¡°And they said, ¡®Look at them scratching their heads!¡¯¡± ¡°Exactly!¡± Ryan laughed. ¡°Now I can picture it. ¡®Hey, let¡¯s put a big sun in the wrong place!¡¯¡± Dr. Rose shook his head. ¡°But seriously, a misdirection could explain a lot. Maybe they were hiding something important.¡± ¡°Or maybe they just didn¡¯t care,¡± Dr. Matt said, shrugging. ¡°I mean, how many tombs have been robbed by now?¡± ¡°Yeah, let¡¯s just throw in some random symbols and see who bites,¡± Ryan added with a grin. "It''s like sticking a ''kick me'' sign on your back." Dr. Hassan took another sip of his tea, a teasing smile on his face. "So what''s your theory, Ryan? Are they hiding treasure or are they just bad at layout?" "Could be both!" Ryan replied with a mischievous twinkle in his eye. "A treasure hunt with a little confusion. Perfect!" "You''re turning this into a reality show. ''Archaeologists Gone Wild!''" Dr. Rose said, rolling her eyes. Dr. Matt laughed and clapped his hands. "I''ll watch it! Imagine the ratings!" "I''m not sure I want to watch it. What''s next? ''Ancient Myths: The Game Show''?" Dr. Hassan leaned back in his chair with his arms crossed and laughed.This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there. "Really? Contestants guess symbolism while avoiding traps!" Ryan exclaimed with a grin. "Oh, you''re going to win," Rose said, feigning seriousness. "Your specialty? Overthinking every clue." "Hey, here''s a prize!" Ryan joked, holding up his fork like a trophy. "I''ll take my prize now, please!" "Just make sure it''s not a trip to KV5," Dr. Matt joked. "We don''t want to find you lost in the maze again." "Lost? Me?" Ryan feigned surprise. "Never!" "Yes, that''s right," Dr. Rose said, shaking her head. "Just remember to ask for directions next time." "Directions? Who needs directions when you have a solar disk to guide you?" Ryan replied with a laugh. Dr. Hassan raised his cup. "To misdirection and koshari! May our minds always be as full as our plates!" "Cheers to that!" everyone cheered, clinking their glasses in agreement. *** Meanwhile, on the other side of the room, Ahmed, their driver, leaned back in his seat with a grin. ¡°You won¡¯t believe it. I¡¯ve driven in sandstorms. Visibility was zero. I could barely see my hand in front of my face!¡± Amr laughed. ¡°Seriously? How did you even keep going?¡± ¡°Just trust your instincts! I knew the road was there somewhere. It¡¯s like trying to find your way in a dark room. You just¡­ feel your way around.¡± Ahmed demonstrated the groping motions excitedly. Fatma interrupted. ¡°But what if you hit something? Like a camel or¡ª¡± Ahmed waved a hand dismissively. ¡°Oh, come on! Camels know better than to cross the road in a sandstorm! They¡¯re smart like that.¡± "Smart camels. Now that''s a visual." Amr snorted. Ahmed chuckled. ¡°I swear they¡¯re having secret meetings. ¡®Alright, boys, the storm is coming. Stay where you are!¡¯¡± ¡°So what did you do? Just sit there and wait?¡± Fadil asked with a grin. Ahmed pretended to be serious and replied. ¡°No, no! That would be boring! I played music really loud. You know, playing songs loud while the world turns into a giant sand blender.¡± Fatma laughed. ¡°And you danced in your seat?¡± ¡°Exactly!¡± Ahmed nodded. ¡°Just imagine: me, in the middle of a storm, playing music¡ª¡± ¡°Wait,¡± Amr interrupted. ¡°Are you stuck?¡± Ahmed paused for dramatic effect. ¡°Ah, okay¡­ I probably took the wrong path. Just a little detour.¡± Fadil leaned in curiously. ¡°How long do you mean by ¡®little¡¯?¡± Ahmed grinned. ¡°Let¡¯s just say I had a lot of time to think about life. And my playlist.¡± ¡°What were you thinking about?¡± Fatma raised an eyebrow and asked. Ahmed grinned as he said. ¡°Especially how I should have packed snacks. You don¡¯t realize how much you miss sandwiches until you¡¯re caught in a sandstorm!¡± Amr chuckled. ¡°So, no heroic tales of survival? Just hunger?¡± Ahmed laughed. ¡°Hey, survival involves snacks!¡± Fadil pretended to be serious. ¡°So, what¡¯s the moral of the story? Always pack snacks?¡± ¡°Exactly! Next time, I¡¯ll pack some food.¡± Ahmed replied with a wink. Fatma leaned back in their chairs. ¡°You know, I think I¡¯d rather hear about your next adventure.¡± ¡°Oh, I have plenty!¡± Ahmed smiled. ¡°Like the time I got lost in the mountains¡ª¡± ¡°Lost? You again?¡± Amr interrupted. Ahmed raised an eyebrow. ¡°That¡¯s part of the adventure! Besides, I found a great little cafe there. And the best tea I¡¯ve ever had.¡± ¡°So, getting lost equals treasure. Got it.¡± Fadil laughed. ¡°Exactly!¡± Ahmed nodded. ¡°Life is a series of detours. And sometimes, you find the best places off the beaten path." "And snacks!" Fatma added with a grin. Ahmed pointed at Fatma and laughed. "Don''t forget snacks!" *** When dinner was over, the team members began to disperse. Ryan felt satisfied. He returned to his room, where he carefully sorted his notes and diagrams before checking messages from his hangout buddies. Once everything was done, he immersed himself in "Ancient Egyptian History." As the clock struck 11 p.m., Ryan marked his page and closed the book. He turned off the lights, letting the soft moonlight illuminate the room. With a contented sigh, Ryan fell asleep peacefully. KV5 The next day Ryan and his team were ready to set off for the KV5 excavation site. KV5 is a tomb believed to belong to the sons of Ramses II, also known as Ramses the Great, who ruled from 1279 to 1213 BCE. Before setting off, Dr. Hassan gave a breakfast briefing. He spoke about the vast corridors and unexplored chambers of KV5. "Today''s focus is clear," he said in a serious tone. "Safety is our priority. Follow protocol and remember the excavation strategy." "KV5 can tell us a lot," he continued, his eyes sparkling. "But we must always tread carefully. Every stone we move, every piece of dirt we dig, could change the balance of what we know about this era of Ramses II." With the briefing complete, they set off, their faces beaming with excitement and anticipation. Who knows what they might find? They soon reached a campsite close to KV5. The team quickly set up camp and unloaded their equipment. But then, a frustrated scream broke the silence. "Arrrgh! My shovel is broken! Does anyone have a spare?" Dr. Matt shouted. Ryan quickly helped, starting to search through his toolbox. "I have a multi-tool. Will that work?" ... "This might work¡­" Dr. Matt said as he focused on trying out the tool Ryan had given him. Ryan carefully arranged all the documents and images of the site neatly, along with the artifacts found that day. One of the team members who specializes in artifact archaeology, Dr. Maria approached him holding a small, smooth ceramic shard. "I found another valuable item," she said with a happy smile. She handed the shard to Ryan with great care. "Let''s document this. Note the dimensions, the material, and the date," she instructed. Ryan''s eyes widened as he accepted the fragile shard. "What kind of ceramic is this, Dr. Maria?" "This appears to be New Kingdom pottery," she replied. "Notice the red and black patterns, the intricate hieroglyphics, and the stylized motifs. This piece likely dates from the 16th to 11th centuries BCE, during the golden age of ancient Egypt under pharaohs such as Hatshepsut and Ramses II." Ryan examined the shard carefully. The texture of the felt is smooth, yet fragile. The colors are striking, almost vivid. ¡°What¡¯s the catalog number?¡± he asked, jotting down notes. ¡°KV5-0123,¡± Dr. Maria replied, flipping through her notes. ¡°And be sure to photograph it from multiple angles. We need clear images for our database.¡± Ryan nodded, and carefully positioned the ceramic fragment on the photography stand. ¡°What angles would you like, Dr. Maria?¡±If you come across this story on Amazon, it''s taken without permission from the author. Report it. ¡°Standard views: top, bottom, left, right, and 45-degree angles,¡± he instructed. ¡°And don¡¯t forget the scale reference. That¡¯s key for context.¡± At that moment, Dr. Hassan walked by. He joined the ceramic fragment with a twinkle in his eye. ¡°It looks like part of a ceremonial vessel. What a find!¡± Ryan felt proud. He knew that every find tells a story, and this ceramic fragment could reveal a lot about the rituals of the time. ¡°What does that mean for our understanding of their culture?¡± he asked. Dr. Maria considered this. "Ceremonial tools were often used in important rituals. They may have been used to hold offerings or were part of funeral practices. Every detail can provide insight into their beliefs and daily lives." Ryan nodded in agreement. During dinner, the entire team gathered in the dining room. They looked tired but excited about the results of their excavation that day. Dr. Hassan helped the kitchen staff pour tea for the entire team and Dr. Maria distributed plates of fragrant koshari. The team members laughed and cheered happily. Holding his teacup and leaning back, Dr. Matt spoke to the core team members. ¡°Today¡¯s progress is incredible. We managed to open almost twenty meters of corridors from the tomb. At this rate, I¡¯m sure we can open tours for tourists next week.¡± Ryan chuckled at Dr. Matt¡¯s rambling. He replied while spooning rice onto his plate. ¡°And Dr. Maria¡¯s ceramic discovery might rewrite the history books.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s not forget about the possible ceremonial vessels that Dr. Hassan identified. I mean, we¡¯re talking about a discovery that could make headlines.¡± Dr. Rose joined in while glancing at Dr. Hassan. Every archaeologist dreams of having their discovery recorded in history. ¡°We¡¯re going to uncover what¡¯s hidden inside KV5, bit by bit. But at this rate, maybe one day we will find Ramses¡¯ missing sock,¡± Dr. Hassan chuckled. The whole team laughed. The atmosphere was warm and joyful. *** After Ryan finished eating, he did not go back to his room immediately. He went out into the backyard and stared at the cloudy Egyptian sky. ¡®Is there really going to be a storm?¡¯ he thought. He walked slowly along the Mediterranean Cypress trees that lined the path leading to the front yard of the villa. His mind began to wander to the strange symbols he had found somewhere on the walls of the tomb corridor. He opened his notebook and observed the sketches of the symbols. He could not interpret the symbols yet and wondered why. Unable to contain his bubbling curiosity, he returned to the dining room and asked Dr. Maria who was still joking with the others. "Dr. Maria, what do you think about those symbols? Hieroglyphics? Or a child''s scribbles?" Dr. Maria studied the sketch while tilting her head to one side. "Maybe hieroglyphics. Or an unknown writing. We need further analysis. But if it''s just a child''s scribbles, I might need to rethink my career." Dr. Matt who was observing the two, crossed his arms on his chest while frowning. "We have to speed up our work. We don''t know if the burial team in other places has found anything. This is like a running race but I don''t even have my running shoes." "Ahem, guys." Dr. Hassan suddenly cleared his throat. "The weather forecast says that a storm is expected tomorrow. We have to secure the site. I''d rather not have to chase after artifacts or documents that are flying in the storm." All the team members nodded wryly at the news. They had expected that on the second day, they would find something very valuable. Then one by one the team members left the dining room. Ryan was still sitting quietly in his chair and lost in thought. What secret symbol was that like hieroglyphics but why when translated the result was confusing? Giving up, he then returned to his room and rested. Meanwhile, the thick clouds in the sky began to shine because of the lightning that flashed in the clouds. The Accident In the dim morning light, the KV5 excavation team had gathered at the excavation site. The dark clouds rolling over the site gave the team members a sense of insecurity. But they tried to stay calm and work as usual. Dr. Hassan stood on the nearest dune from the excavation tent and looked at all his team members. He then shouted. "Remember, safety comes first! Storms can be deadly. Stay alert!" Ryan nodded at Dr. Hassan¡¯s advice and then shouldered his backpack. Dr. Maria distributed radios and headsets to the entire team. ¡°Stay connected, team. We¡¯ll be monitoring the weather closely.¡± Dr. Hassan continued. Dr. Matt looked up at the sky and narrowed his eyes. ¡°Those clouds look bad. Should we postpone our excavation today?¡± he asked Dr. Hassan. Dr. Hassan hesitated but then said. ¡°We¡¯ll proceed with caution. But be prepared to evacuate at the appropriate time.¡± Ryan adjusted his safety helmet and prepared for the uncertainty ahead. ¡°Let¡¯s move quickly, team. We don¡¯t have much time,¡± Dr. Hassan said again. As they entered the tomb, a strong gust of wind swept through the excavation site, causing the wooden scaffolding to creak with an eerie sound. Then it happened, a deafening crack echoed so loudly inside the tomb, making everyone¡¯s hearts stop. The wooden beams supporting the tomb¡¯s walls broke and the scaffolding collapsed. And Dr. Rose who was close to the scaffolding screamed loudly. She lost her balance and then fell into the excavation hole and landed on her back, right on top of the debris of the collapsed scaffolding. Ryan felt his heart drop. But he quickly ran to Dr. Rose and climbed into the hole, fear gripping him. ¡°Call for medical help!¡± Dr. Hassan shouted as he rushed into the hole. ¡°Someone get a first aid kit!¡± Dr. Maria ran out of the tomb and tried to contact the medical team through the communication station in the excavation tent. ¡°We need an ambulance, now!¡± The rest of the team froze but then moved quickly. Some climbed into the hole with him, others grabbed emergency medical supplies. Ryan approached Dr. Rose carefully. ¡°Stay still, Doctor. You¡¯re going to be fine,¡± he whispered, keeping his voice steady. Dr. Rose groaned in pain. ¡°My back¡­ I can¡¯t feel my legs.¡± Panic gripped Ryan. Dr. Hassan, who was crouching down next to Ryan, spoke. ¡°We need to stabilize his spine,¡± he whispered. ¡°Gently immobilize his neck and body.¡± Ryan nodded and took the first aid kit from another team member who had just arrived. He carefully placed a collar around Dr. Rose¡¯s neck. Then Dr. Maria returned and spoke from above the dugout. ¡°The ambulance is on its way. But they¡¯re going to be a little slow getting here. The storm is getting stronger.¡± Ryan held Dr. Rose¡¯s hand and tried to calm her down. ¡°Help is coming, Doctor. Hang in there.¡± Dr. Rose¡¯s eyes slowly closed, her face very pale. Moments later, Dr. Hassan, who had been listening to the reports from the other team members, shouted. ¡°We have to evacuate¡ªnow! The storm is getting worse!¡± The entire team moved quickly. Ryan, Dr. Matt, and Brandon carefully lifted Dr. Rose onto a stretcher. ¡°Keep her spine straight!¡± Dr. Hassan warned. They then fought against the strong gusts of wind after exiting the tomb. Ryan positioned himself on top of Dr. Rose, trying to shield her from the rain that hurt when it hit her skin. The raindrops splashed Ryan¡¯s face and blurred his vision. ¡°Just hold on, Doctor!¡± he urged, a little desperately.Unauthorized use of content: if you find this story on Amazon, report the violation. Fortunately, the ambulance arrived shortly after. Its lights shone into the darkened yard due to the storm. Dr. Hassan opened the back door roughly. ¡°Slow down, now!¡± he ordered. The team member guiding the stretcher then moved the stretcher into the ambulance. The nurse who was waiting inside gave Dr. Rose oxygen. Dr. Maria jumped up and sat next to Dr. Rose. Dr. Hassan told the nurse in the ambulance. ¡°Notify the hospital! Spinal cord injury, possible paralysis! We will follow to the hospital immediately.¡± The nurse nodded and Dr. Hassan closed the back door of the ambulance. *** Almost all of the KV5 team were at the hospital and crowded the waiting room, their expressions all worried. They paced back and forth, exchanging glances without anyone speaking out loud. Ryan¡¯s mind replayed the chaos of the accident without him wanting to. The neurosurgeon at the hospital, Dr. Shina, came out of the emergency room. Her face was grim. ¡°Dr. Rose has a severe spinal injury: C5-C6 fracture and potential spinal cord damage. Surgery is required immediately,¡± she explained. The team¡¯s guilty silence. They exchanged another worried glance. Ryan looked down, guilt overwhelming him. ¡°This could have been prevented,¡± he whispered to Dr. Maria who was standing next to him. She then put her hand on Ryan¡¯s shoulder. ¡°Accidents can happen at any time, Ryan.¡± Dr. Hassan¡¯s expression darkened. ¡°First, we made sure Dr. Rodriguez received the best care possible. Then, we reassessed our safety protocols. This incident exposed vulnerabilities that we could not ignore.¡± Dr. Maria nodded. ¡°We need to review and refine our procedures.¡± Dr. Matt placed a hand on Ryan¡¯s back. ¡°We¡¯re in this together. We¡¯ll support Dr. Rose together.¡± The team nodded, but uncertainty still lingered. As Dr. Rose went into surgery, the team waited. *** Dr. Shina emerged from the operating room. ¡°The surgery was a success. The damage to Dr. Rose¡¯s spinal cord was minimal.¡± A deep sigh filled the room, but the tension was still palpable. ¡°She will require extensive rehabilitation, but we are optimistic about her full recovery. We will keep her together carefully over the next 24-48 hours.¡± Dr. Shina continued. Ryan¡¯s eyes filled with relief as he hugged Dr. ¡°Thank goodness!¡± Dr. Hassan remained somber. ¡°We send our thanks to Dr. Shina and the faculty.¡± Dr. Shina led them to the ICU. Dr. Rose lay motionless and unconscious, surrounded by beeping monitors. ¡°You¡¯re going to be okay, Doctor.¡± Ryan gently squeezed her hand. ¡°It could have been worse.¡± Dr. Maria whispered. ¡°We need to reconsider our safety protocols.¡± Dr. Matt nodded without saying anything. Dr. Shina assured them, ¡°Dr. Rose will receive the best care possible. You all better focus on supporting each other during this challenging time.¡± *** Dr. Shina emerged from the operating room. ¡°The surgery was a success. The damage to Dr. Rose¡¯s spinal cord was minimal.¡± A deep sigh filled the room, but the tension was still palpable. ¡°She will require extensive rehabilitation, but we are optimistic about her full recovery. We will keep her together carefully over the next 24-48 hours.¡± Dr. Shina continued. Ryan¡¯s eyes filled with relief as he hugged Dr. ¡°Thank goodness!¡± Dr. Hassan remained somber. ¡°We send our thanks to Dr. Shina and the faculty.¡± Dr. Shina led them to the ICU. Dr. Rose lay motionless and unconscious, surrounded by beeping monitors. ¡°You¡¯re going to be okay, Doctor.¡± Ryan gently squeezed her hand. ¡°It could have been worse.¡± Dr. Maria whispered. ¡°We need to reconsider our safety protocols.¡± Dr. Matt nodded without saying anything. ¡°Dr. Rose will receive the best care possible. You all better focus on supporting each other during this challenging time.¡± Dr. Shina assured them then she left to attend to another patient. The KV5 team members walked tiredly from the villa parking lot to their villa in Luxor. Ryan collapsed on the living room couch, his mind replaying the events of the accident this morning. Dr. Rose¡¯s terrified screams echoed in his ears. The crack of the scaffolding breaking, and his own fear when trying to save her. He rubbed his tired eyes, despair creeping up on him. Dr. Maria sat there with a worried expression. ¡°Ryan, are you okay?¡± Ryan held him and said softly. ¡°I keep thinking about what happened¡­ and I keep wondering if I could stop.¡± Dr. Maria was quiet. Then she said. ¡°Let¡¯s get some rest. Tomorrow we will all gather and review our safety protocols.¡± Ryan nodded and went to his room. Tomorrow must bring change. Superstition That night, after dinner, Ryan stepped into the villa yard. His mind was still in disarray because of the accident that morning. He still felt guilty for not being able to prevent the accident from happening. When he arrived at the sideyard, he accidentally heard whispers from the team members. They were gathered at the side of the villa, unaware that Ryan was watching them. A local member hired by the team, Amr, leaned over to the other members and said in a voice that was almost a whisper. ¡°I¡¯m sure Dr. Rose¡¯s accident was no ordinary accident. Strange things have been happening in KV5 for a long time.¡± Fatma, the cook, nodded with a gloomy expression. ¡°You know, my cousin used to work with the first team that opened the tomb. He swore that he saw ghosts near the entrance of the tomb.¡± The other members were silent for a moment. Not long after, Khalid, another local team member added, ¡°That¡¯s right. I¡¯ve heard many strange things happen to the first team. The equipment went missing. Security also heard strange noises at night. Many say the spirit of Pharaoh Ramesses II guards the graves of his children.¡± The other colleagues were silent for a moment. Another local team member Khalid added shortly after, ¡°That¡¯s right. I¡¯ve heard many strange things happen to the first team. The equipment went missing. Security also heard strange noises at night. Many say the spirit of Pharaoh Ramses II guards the tombs of his children.¡± Ryan was stunned. Although he didn¡¯t believe in supernatural things, what the team members said made him doubt his common sense. Fatma¡¯s eyes narrowed and then she crossed her arms. ¡°Isn¡¯t that true? My cousin wouldn¡¯t lie. He was scared when he came home from the tomb.¡± Curious, Ryan approached the gossiping team members. ¡°Is that true?¡± he asked. They were surprised to see Ryan, and then Amr whispered to Ryan. ¡°KV5 is haunted, Mr. Ryan. We¡¯re sure. We¡¯re risking our lives by excavating KV5 again.¡± He looked around nervously as if an invisible shadow had heard him. The atmosphere felt tense among the team members. Fatma, with a frightened expression, said in a low voice, "There is an ancient curse. Disturbing the pharaoh''s son''s rest anger the gods." Ryan''s rational mind tried to fight the team members'' waves of superstitious whispers. He smiled, trying to reassure them, "Thank you for sharing your concerns. We will be more careful." He turned away from the team members who were still whispering anxiously. Ryan felt something was wrong and a little anxious, but he couldn''t explain what it was. *** The villa in Luxor before bedtime, was quiet unlike the usual cheerful, and sometimes the sound of the team members'' laughter could be heard. Soft music drifted out of Dr. Hassan''s bedroom window. On the terrace, Dr. Matt and Ahmed were chatting softly. Ryan then sat in the front yard, hands clasped in his lap, staring blankly ahead. The accident was always looming in his mind. Someone approached Ryan and gently touched Ryan''s shoulder. Ryan looked up and found Dr. Maria smiling softly. "What''s wrong?" she asked. Ryan wrestled with his thoughts, then opened his mouth hesitantly. "Do you believe that KV5 is cursed?" Dr. Maria''s eyebrows furrowed and then she sat down next to Ryan. She answered in a low, almost inaudible voice. "I do feel something there. Something disturbing." Ryan sighed, then stood up and stretched his arms above his head. He tried to ignore the superstitions he had heard. "Let''s go in and sleep, Dr. Maria. We have to wake up early tomorrow." Dr. Maria looked at Ryan with a sympathetic look and also got up from her seat. They went into their respective rooms.If you encounter this story on Amazon, note that it''s taken without permission from the author. Report it. *** The next morning, Ryan stepped into the first room in KV5, namely Chamber A. The room felt calm and peaceful, lit by the light from the lamps that were installed by the other team members. Ryan walked along the walls of the tomb while observing each hieroglyphic symbol carved on the tomb wall. His mind was still haunted by the incident and also the conversation of the team members yesterday. Slowly his mind began to clear and he was able to focus on the hieroglyphic symbols. He took a deep breath. The scent of sandalwood and myrrh was felt, slightly refreshing his mind. Several symbols caught his attention. A house symbol ¨D with an enlarged "A" , followed by a stylized heart , then a crescent moon shape . Next, a simplified walking figure , a seated man with arms around his knees , and a hand holding a staff . Ending with a scribe''s palette and phonetic symbols: a mouth , reed leaf , crescent moon , head , foot , loaf , basket , and vertical strokes . Deftly, he drew the symbols while muttering. ¡°The heart of the Pharaoh beats inside¡­¡± He sat on a mound of earth near the wall and began to work on deciphering the meaning of the symbols. Time passed and no one was in Chamber A, except Ryan who was focused on translating. Unbeknownst to Ryan, the eyes of the statues of Anubis and Ibis that stood on each side of the end of the corridor, lit up with a blue color. Suddenly the tranquility was shattered by the sound of footsteps entering the corridor area. And the eyes of the statues of the gods that had previously shone, returned to their original form of stone carvings. Dr. Maria and Dr. Hassan approached Ryan who was still ignoring his surroundings. ¡°Ryan, any progress? How far have you gone in translating these hieroglyphs?¡± Dr. Hassan¡¯s voice echoed in the room. Ryan looked up and happily showed his notebook to Dr. Hassan and Dr. Maria. ¡°I have made significant progress, Doctor. The hieroglyphs reveal an interesting connection to the reign of Ramses II.¡± He pointed to the symbols depicted on the tomb wall. Dr. Maria¡¯s eyes widened. ¡°That¡¯s fantastic! Let¡¯s take a look.¡± She moved closer, examining the hieroglyphs with interest. The room, once silent, was now abuzz with their discussion. They gathered around the table, exchanging thoughts and ideas. Dr. Hassan rubbed his hands together. ¡°This could be a breakthrough! Ryan, your ability to decipher words is incredible.¡± ¡°This could change our understanding of Ramses II¡¯s reign.¡± Dr. Maria agreed. Ryan chuckled. Despite the shadow of yesterday¡¯s incident, the three found light in their shared passion. Their voices filled the room with excitement. *** The team ventured deeper into the chambers of KV5. Ryan¡¯s accomplishments had re-energized the team. Dr. Maria moved carefully along the walls, tracing her fingers over the ancient carvings. She stopped, her eyes widening. ¡°Look at these symbols! I¡¯m sure they¡¯ll complete Ryan¡¯s findings!¡± Dr. Hassan also focused on the ceiling of the tomb, his brow furrowed in concentration. "These inscriptions tell of Ramses II''s military campaign... The Battle of Kadesh!" Ryan just laughed at his co-workers'' enthusiasm. *** After lunch, Ryan explored deeper into the tomb. It was a large tomb, with over 120 chambers, many more yet to be discovered. Ramses II had over 100 sons, estimated to be around 150-200. He had 4-6 sons by Nefertari, 2-4 sons by Isetnofret, 2 sons by Bintanath, and of the over 200 wives and concubines, it is estimated that he had 100+ additional sons. ''It''s like a children''s farm...'' Ryan thought. Ryan stepped into Chamber KV5-14, believed to be the antechamber to the sanctuary of Pharaoh Ramses II, his footsteps echoing. The air felt heavy and thick. More intricate hieroglyphs adorned the walls. He approached the symbols, feeling a wave of awe. Gently, he brushed the thick layer of dust off the wall. ¡°Incredible!¡± he whispered. But then a wave of confusion washed over him. The unfamiliar symbols baffled him. ¡°This dialect is unlike anything I¡¯ve ever seen,¡± he muttered. He tried to decipher the symbols, but he couldn¡¯t. Just then, Dr. Maria burst into the room. ¡°Ryan, we¡¯ve found a transcription of the Hymn to Ra! Can you take a look at it first, to see what it means?¡± She handed him a weathered parchment. The words on it were: ¡°Ra, King of the Gods, Lord of Eternity, Whose heart beats within the sun¡¯s disk, Give wisdom to your servant Ramses.¡± Ryan¡¯s mind raced. He also tried to connect the transcription to the hieroglyphs on the wall that he had not yet been able to translate. And then he exclaimed. ¡°This could be the key!¡±