The journey begins

"What have you done to me Konaq?" Maria asked still feeling a little disoriented.

"I have given you a gift Maria, a gift of sight and knowledge. But it's a gift that comes with a great price." And with that Konaq turned around and disappeared into the shadows.

The darkness seemed to swallow Konaq whole, leaving Maria and John staring at the empty space she had once stood. The air was thick with the scent of incense and something else, something sweet and decaying.

"What just happened?" John whispered, almost trembling.

"I don't know" Maria whispered back, now feeling clearheaded.

As they stood there frozen in uncertainty, the sound of drums began to echo through the room. The beat was slow and hypnotic, drawing Maria and John in it's rhythmic pulse.

Suddenly, the room was plunged into darkness once again, Maria felt a hand grasp her arm, the hand was chilling cold that she almost screamed out in fright.

John also felt the same and he began trembling like a leaf. O lord save me, he cried out inwardly

The drums grew louder, more insistent and the air vibrated with very strong energy. Maria and john felt themselves being drawn towards the source of the energy.

Without a word, they began to move forward, their footsteps echoing through the darkness. The drums grew more intense, until they seems to be pounding in time with Maria's own heart.

And then, suddenly they emerged through a clearing. The moon was full overhead, and it seems to glow a little brighter than usual, casting a silver glow over the landscape. Maria blinked in the bright light, trying to take in the scene before her.

They were standing at the edge of a vast sprawling city. The building were ancient, crumbling, and yet they seems to be pulsing with a strange, otherworldly energy.

John is this place "what is this place?," John breathed.

"I'm also a curious as you are" Maria replied, tugging at her cloth

As they stood there, frozen in awe, a figure emerged from the shadows. It was Konaq, her eyes still had the glint of an otherworldly intensity.

"Welcome, Maria and John" she said. "Welcome to the heart of the amazon.

And with that konaq turned and disappeared into the city, leaving Maria and John to follow her into the unknown.