Lost In Time, Trapped in the Sand

Jade's body felt heavy, her skin burning under the intensity of the sun. The heat pressed down on her like a weight, and as she slowly opened her eyes, she was momentarily blinded by the bright sky above. Confusion settled in as she squinted against the glare.

Why can I see the sun so high in the sky? It wasn't this high before I went inside the pyramids.

Her thoughts scrambled as she tried to remember what had happened. She and Angela had been exploring the King's Chamber, surrounded by the whispers of ancient history. She remembered the guide's voice droning in the background, Angela's giddy excitement… and then the amulet. It had gleamed at her, impossibly pristine against the ancient stone. She had reached for it, her fingers barely grazing its surface before—

A sharp gasp escaped her lips. She shot up, sand clinging to her dress as she looked around in a panic. Her heart pounded against her ribs as her eyes darted across the landscape.

She was still near the pyramids.

Relief washed over her, but only for a moment. Something was wrong. Very wrong.

"Angela?" she called out, her voice hoarse and unsteady.

Silence.

A chill ran down her spine despite the oppressive heat. There were no tourists, no chatter, no distant footsteps crunching against the sand. Nothing.

"Hello?!" she yelled again, her voice echoing eerily in the empty space.

The only response was the whispering wind curling around the massive structures, sending dust swirling in the air.

Jade's fingers trembled as she reached for her phone, quickly unlocking it. She immediately scrolled to her contacts and pressed Angela's name. The call failed instantly. Her stomach twisted as she tried again. Nothing.

Her fingers moved faster, dialing 112 out of instinct, but the call wouldn't even connect. With rising desperation, she looked up the emergency number for Egypt and dialed it.

No Service. Her stomach dropped when she saw the screen, confirming her worst fear.

"What the hell…?" Her breaths grew shallow as the panic clawed its way into her chest. "Was there some kind of terrorist attack? An evacuation? Why am I the only one left?"

A surge of terror gripped her. What if something had happened to me, and I just don't remember? Her hands flew to her arms, her stomach, her legs—frantically patting herself down, searching for any signs of injury.

Her fingers trembled as she pulled at her dress, checking for bloodstains or rips, but there was nothing. No pain, no cuts, no bruises. She was physically unharmed, she let out a shaky sigh of relief.

But as her eyes drifted toward the pyramids once more, the truth clawed at her like a beast ready to devour its prey.

They look… new.

Jade staggered back, shaking her head in disbelief. The weathered, timeworn stones she had seen earlier were now pristine. The engravings, which had been dulled by thousands of years of erosion, looked freshly carved. The cracks, the dust, the signs of decay— gone.

"No. No, no, no. This isn't real," she whispered, sinking to her knees. "This can't be real."

Cold terror gripped her, an icy sensation creeping through her veins despite the relentless heat. How? How was this happening? She was supposed to be in the twenty-first century. She was supposed to be studying medicine in London, preparing for her future.

And yet… fate had ripped her away once again.

After what felt like an eternity of sitting in shock, Jade forced herself to take a deep breath. She had no idea how or why she was here, but one thing was certain—panicking wouldn't solve anything.

"I need to figure this out," she muttered, steadying her trembling hands.

Her mind raced as she replayed the last thing she could remember. The amulet.

That had to be the key. If touching it had brought her here, maybe it could send her back.

Determined, she turned toward the entrance of the pyramid. But her hope was crushed in an instant. A massive stone slab sealed the entrance, blocking any possible way inside.

"No, no, no!" She slammed her fists against the stone, but it didn't budge. Her breathing turned erratic, her frustration boiling over.

She stepped back, pacing frantically, biting her nails as she muttered to herself. "What do I do? What do I do?!"

Jade knew she needed help—someone with power, someone who could get her inside the pyramid or, better yet, someone who could help her get back to her own time.

Her heart pounded as the realization hit her.

But the problem? She had no idea where the Pharaoh's palace was—or even which Pharaoh was ruling. She didn't even know what time period she had fallen into. How far back had she gone?

Jade swallowed hard. She had no other choice.

Rummaging through her purse, she found a full water bottle and two granola bars—her only provisions. She would have to ration them carefully and pray she could find shelter and food along the way.

The sun was still high, meaning she had several hours before nightfall. She needed to start her journey now. The desert was a dangerous place, especially after dark.

She adjusted her sunhat, tightening it around her head to protect herself from the relentless heat. Then, turning away from the pyramids, she took a deep breath and steeled herself for the impossible journey ahead.

With one final glance over her shoulder, she whispered, "I'll be back."

And with that, she took her first steps toward her fate.

Jade's journey through the desert had stretched on for hours, the sun now dipping lower on the horizon as nightfall crept closer, her body growing weaker with every step. At some point, she had lost track of her sandals, her bare feet now caked in dust and raw from the scorching sand.

The sun had mercilessly beaten down on her, leaving her skin sunburned and her face flushed.

The heat was relentless, her energy quickly draining despite the sips of water she allowed herself. Her lips cracked, her vision blurred, and her limbs ached with exhaustion.

She needed an oasis.

But more than that, she needed shelter. Night would bring dangers—venomous snakes, scorpions, and the most terrifying threat of all: bandits. If she was found, she knew exactly what kind of fate awaited her. Sold into slavery, or worse…

No. I won't let that happen.

With renewed determination, she forced her feet forward. Then, in the distance, something caught her eye—a flickering light against the darkness. Smoke curled into the sky. A bonfire.

Her heart pounded. It could be villagers. Soldiers. Or it could be something far worse. Either way, she had no choice. She needed to see for herself.

As she crept closer, she could make out multiple tents surrounding the fire, their fabric rippling slightly in the desert breeze. Shadows flickered along the canvas, cast by figures moving within.

Moving carefully, Jade approached the source of the fire, carefully avoiding the figures that now became clearer—men dressed like soldiers, though their attire resembled the ancient clothing she had seen in the museum—linen kilts, wide belts, and leather-strapped sandals, some with bronze armor plates and their weapons gleaming under the firelight.

As she neared one of the tents, a conversation caught her attention, hushed but intense. She strained to listen, catching snippets of words about patrols, orders, and something—or someone—they were looking for. But before she could make sense of it—

"Who's out there?!" a man shouted.

Jade's breath hitched. She quickly slipped into one of the nearby tents, pressing herself against the fabric, her pulse hammering in her ears.

Another voice joined the first. "Hassan, what is it?"

"I heard something, General!" Hassan answered, his voice alert and wary.

Jade's stomach dropped. General? That meant soldiers. But whose?

"Go check it out! It could be a wild animal… or a spy!"

Jade barely had time to react before the sound of approaching footsteps sent a jolt of terror through her veins.

I need to hide—now.