Beneath the Sun, Behind the Veil

"Jade! What's going on?!" Angela asked as she tried to keep up with Jade, her voice a mix of worry and frustration.

"Why did you just leave like that? Those guys are assholes! They should've been much more empathetic about our situation—instead, they treated us like criminals!" Angela continued, her words tumbling out in a rush as she struggled to match Jade's fast pace along the crowded Cairo sidewalk.

Jade didn't respond. She just kept walking, her eyes unfocused, the world around her a blur of noise and motion. Her legs moved automatically, her feet hitting the pavement with a rhythmic thud, but her mind was somewhere far away, tangled in ancient echoes and the cold grip of dread.

Angela finally had enough. She stopped abruptly and yanked her hand free from Jade's grasp. The sudden movement jolted Jade to a halt, forcing her to turn back and meet Angela's worried gaze. Her blue eyes were glassy, rimmed with unshed tears.

"Jade? Oh god. I'm so s-sorry—"

"Don't you dare apologize to me," Jade snapped, her voice sharp and raw, a mix of fear and desperation.

Angela's shoulders drooped, and she took a step back, her expression crumbling into confusion. "Then what's going on? Why did you run out like that?"

Jade's lips trembled. She opened her mouth, then closed it again, swallowing down the storm brewing inside her. "There are things... things I can't explain. I feel like I'm drowning in my own mind. Everything's too much—too loud, too real."

Her voice broke, the weight of her emotions pressing down on her chest. "I'm sorry about earlier. I just... I can't talk about it right now."

Angela's expression softened. She reached out, taking Jade's trembling hand in her own. Her touch was gentle, a lifeline in the chaos. "I understand. You don't have to say anything if you're not ready. I'm just glad you're okay."

A sob tore from Jade's throat, and she collapsed into Angela's embrace, her body shaking with the force of her emotions. Angela held her tightly, her own eyes misting with tears as she stroked Jade's back.

"Let's go exploring?" Angela asked after a while, her tone light and hopeful.

Jade sniffed, wiping her face with the back of her hand. "Yeah."

"Yay! To the pyramids we go!" Angela shouted, throwing her hands into the air with a grin. The sheer normalcy of the moment broke through Jade's despair, and she managed a weak smile.

As they sat in the back of a taxi heading toward the pyramids, Angela busied herself with her camera, snapping pictures of the passing cityscape. The bustling streets of Cairo blurred past them, a whirlwind of color and movement.

Jade, meanwhile, was glued to her phone. Her fingers moved methodically as she searched for any information about the amulet—the one only she could see. Her brows knit together as she read through articles on ancient Egyptian myths and legends.

She found references to amulets and talismans, charms crafted by priests to ward off evil and protect the royal family. One particular passage sent a chill down her spine: The Death Mask of Pharaohs was often enchanted to guide the soul in the afterlife, providing both protection and a link to the living world.

Jade's mind raced back to the golden mask displayed beside Rameses II's mummy. The mask had been breathtaking—crafted with gemstones and solid gold, molded to the Pharaoh's face to preserve his image for eternity.

The mask was molded by the cadaver? Jade shuddered. That's... unsettling.

But what really unsettled her was how the mask, the amulet, and the dreams all seemed to intertwine. She wasn't sure how yet, but the threads were there, tangled and waiting to be unraveled.

———

When they finally arrived at the Giza Plateau, Jade's worries were momentarily eclipsed by awe. The vast expanse of the western desert stretched before them, an ocean of sand that seemed to go on forever. The pyramids rose from the earth, ancient and immovable, their silhouettes cutting sharp lines against the clear blue sky.

The tour guide, a wiry man with sun-leathered skin, stood at the front of the group. His voice crackled over a handheld speaker, his English broken but filled with enthusiasm.

"Alright, everyone! What you've all been waiting for is finally here!" He gestured grandly toward the camels waiting in the distance, their bodies swaying lazily as they chewed on bits of dry grass.

"Please wait for your turn patiently while we help saddle everyone up! Remember, we are about to venture into the middle of nowhere. The nearest hospital is at least ten miles from here, so listen carefully and take us seriously."

His voice dropped, the cheerful lilt replaced by a tone that sent a shiver through Jade's bones. "But also... don't forget to enjoy the ride. This is an expedition that only happens once in your lifetime. Make it worth it."

Jade's knees buckled, and she stumbled, her vision swimming. She clutched at Angela's arm, her breath coming in shallow gasps. Her pulse thundered in her ears, drowning out the rest of the guide's speech.

It felt like he was talking to me. Only me.

She forced a weak smile as Angela shot her a concerned look. "You okay?"

Jade nodded, but the lie sat heavy in her chest. "Yeah. Just a little tired."

As they moved forward with the group, waiting for their turn to ride the camels, Jade pulled her sunglasses down over her eyes. She pretended to take photos, using the camera as a shield to hide the fear etched into her features.

Her hands felt clammy, and every nerve in her body screamed at her to run. To leave this place before it was too late. But where could she go? How could she escape from something that seemed to be woven into the very fabric of her reality?

She snapped a few selfies with Angela, plastering on a smile. If something did happen, at least there would be proof of where she was last seen. The thought was morbid, but it grounded her in the moment—gave her a sliver of control over the unraveling world around her.

Just get through today, she told herself. Go back to the dorm. Pretend none of this ever happened.

But deep down, she knew it was a lie. Egypt had awakened something inside her, something ancient and insistent. She wasn't sure if it was a calling or a warning.

Either way, there was no going back now.