Echoes of a lost Love

Jade and Angela emerged from the dim passageway with the rest of the tour group, the harsh Egyptian sun greeting them once again. After the unsettling experience with the mysterious guide, Jade's nerves were still raw, but Angela's infectious excitement helped bring a sense of normalcy back to the day.

"We made it out! And look! Camels!" Angela squealed, dashing over to a small group of camels waiting in the sandy clearing. Their wide, gentle eyes and swaying movements were a calming sight.

Jade forced a smile, doing her best to shake off the lingering dread. "Yeah. Let's take a break."

The tour guide, now a different man with a legitimate ID badge and a warm smile, approached them. "Would you ladies like to explore more of the pyramids? We're offering a chance to see both the Queen's and King's Chambers."

Angela's eyes lit up. "Yes! Jade, we have to!"

Jade hesitated, a prickle of anxiety along her spine. But this guide seemed genuine—no scars, no strange voices, just a normal guy leading a tour. "Okay. Let's go."

They joined a new group, following the guide through the designated tourist path into The Great Pyramid of Giza. This time, everything felt structured and safe. The main entrance was wide and well-lit, with signs and ropes guiding the flow of visitors.

"The Queen's Chamber is down this passage," the guide explained. "It is made from beautiful limestone, and although it appears simple, many believe it was intended for a different purpose originally."

Jade allowed herself to breathe, focusing on the facts and Angela's joy. The Queen's Chamber was exactly as described—stone walls, high ceilings, an air of mystery without the danger. They snapped pictures, posed for selfies, and even shared a laugh when Angela tried to mimic a hieroglyphic pose.

"Next, we'll go up to the King's Chamber," the guide announced, and the group moved in an orderly line.

The King's Chamber had a different aura. Its stone coffin, empty and lidless, sat like a dark centerpiece. Jade felt the air shift around her, a sense of something waiting beneath the surface. She stayed close to Angela, who was still too busy flirting with the guide to notice anything unusual.

And then, just as before, Jade saw it—the glimmer of something golden, hidden in the shadows of the far wall. Her body moved without thought, her feet carrying her closer.

Her fingers reached out, brushing against the cold stone. The amulet appeared, not faded or ancient, but vibrant and new. It pulsed with an internal light, its ruby eye almost winking at her.

"Miss! Stay back!" The guide's voice echoed, and the room seemed to contract around her. She heard Angela scream her name, her voice distant and muffled as if through water.

Her hand touched the amulet.

A flash of light, a thunderous crack, and everything went dark.

1325 BC

The air was thick with the scent of incense and the low hum of chanting priests. Pharaoh Rameses II sat upon his golden throne, his fingers drumming rhythmically against the armrests. His amber eyes, sharp and calculating, gazed beyond the stone walls of his palace, as if he could see through time itself.

"My King," General Horus bowed low, his bronze and leather armor adorned with intricate patterns of falcons and lotus flowers. He wore a shendyt, a kilt-like garment, and a blue and gold nemes headdress that marked his status as a high-ranking officer. "There are reports from Aswan. Our scouts have seen movement along the river."

Rameses did not respond immediately. He inhaled deeply, the cool breeze carrying whispers of change. "Send our fastest men. Keep them hidden. I want answers, not corpses."

"Yes, My King." Horus hesitated. "There is also news from the temples. The priests say... the air carries a new spirit. A presence they cannot name."

Rameses stood abruptly, his attire a testament to his status as Pharaoh. He wore a regal shendyt adorned with gold embroidery, a broad beaded collar in shades of turquoise and lapis lazuli, and golden arm cuffs etched with hieroglyphics. His nemes headdress, striped in blue and gold, framed his striking amber eyes, and the uraeus serpent at its center seemed to come alive in the sunlight. "Prepare my chariot."

"My King?"

The Pharaoh's lips curled into a smirk. "If it is her, I must greet her properly."

General Horus bowed once more, his expression a mix of confusion and reverence. As he left, Rameses turned to the open windows, his golden eyes reflecting the blazing sun.

"My love... Have you finally come back to me?"

And somewhere, across centuries and lifetimes, a ripple spread through time, drawing the threads of fate tighter around them both.