Chapter 1: The Whispering Wind
A soft whisper in the wind called my name, leading me to a place where time bent and twisted.
I stood still, my heart pounding as the warm breeze stirred the air around me, carrying with it an ancient voice that didn’t belong in the chaos of Cairo’s busy streets. It sounded like it came from far away, as if the very sand was alive, urging me to follow. The city noise faded, replaced by a distant hum, something older, something I couldn’t understand but couldn’t ignore.
For as long as I could remember, I had been running—from mistakes, from memories, from myself. Life had its way of boxing you in with regrets, and I had enough to fill a tomb. But this? This was something different. The weight of my past lifted just slightly, replaced by curiosity, and maybe a bit of hope.
I found myself drawn to an old temple I had passed a hundred times but never entered. It was tucked away from the bustling markets, its weathered walls barely noticeable beneath the modern layers of the city. Tonight, though, it called to me. My feet moved on their own as if that whisper wasn’t just in my mind but in my bones, pulling me forward.
The entrance loomed before me, dark and foreboding, but I stepped inside without hesitation.
The temple was empty, its stone pillars reaching up into the shadows, barely lit by the faint moonlight trickling in through the cracks in the roof. I could feel the ancientness of the place, the weight of centuries pressing down on me as if the stones themselves remembered the past.
I moved further in, my footsteps echoing, until I reached the heart of the temple. There, in the middle of the dusty chamber, was something glowing—a soft, ethereal light that seemed to pulse with life.
The artifact was small, just a simple amulet resting on a pedestal. It was beautiful in a way that felt otherworldly, with intricate carvings that spiraled around a gemstone at its center. My breath caught as I approached it. I had never believed in magic, but this… this felt alive.
Before I knew what I was doing, my hand reached out to touch it.
The moment my fingers brushed against the cool surface of the stone, everything around me shifted. A flash of light blinded me, and the ground seemed to fall away beneath my feet. I felt like I was tumbling through a vast, empty space, suspended between time and reality. My heart raced, and I tried to scream, but no sound came out. The world twisted around me, and for a moment, I thought this might be the end.
When the world snapped back into place, I found myself lying on the ground, the taste of dust in my mouth and the scent of something unfamiliar in the air. I sat up, dazed, my head spinning. The temple was gone. Cairo was gone.
The sky above was deep blue, and the sun hung low on the horizon, casting long shadows over the sand dunes that stretched out as far as I could see. The city skyline was replaced by towering stone structures—monuments that looked freshly built, not crumbling with age.
My breath hitched. I was no longer in modern-day Cairo. I had no idea where—or when—I was.
I staggered to my feet, my legs unsteady beneath me, and started walking toward what looked like a settlement in the distance. The heat was overwhelming, and I could feel the sun beating down on my back, but I had to keep moving. Whatever had just happened, I needed answers.
As I neared the settlement, the sound of voices reached me, and I realized this was no ordinary village. These people were dressed in flowing white robes, their skin tanned by the sun, their hair bound in intricate braids. A marketplace sprawled out before me, filled with the scent of spices, the sound of haggling, and the hum of life. But something felt different—off, almost like a dream.
“Who are you?” a deep voice called from behind me. I turned and froze.
Standing before me was a man unlike anyone I’d ever seen. His face was strong and angular, with piercing eyes the color of the Nile. His skin gleamed under the sun, and he carried himself with the grace of someone who knew his place in the world. He was tall, his presence commanding, and dressed in the garb of a royal guard.
For a moment, I couldn’t speak. I couldn’t breathe.
“I… I’m lost,” I finally managed, my voice barely a whisper.
He studied me with an intensity that made my heart skip a beat. There was something about him —something familiar and yet entirely foreign. He stepped closer, his gaze never leaving mine. “You’re not from here, are you?”
I shook my head, unsure of what to say.
His eyes softened, just a little. “Come with me.”
I followed him through the streets, feeling the weight of curious stares from the people around us. My mind raced, trying to piece together how I had ended up in what appeared to be ancient Egypt, but nothing made sense. The man led me to a quieter part of the city, away from the marketplace and the crowds, until we reached a small garden enclosed by stone walls.
The air here was cooler, shaded by palm trees and surrounded by the sound of water trickling from a nearby fountain. It felt peaceful, a sanctuary in the midst of the chaos.
“My name is Seti,” he said, turning to face me. His voice was softer now, more personal. “And yours?”
“Amara,” I replied, still trying to calm the pounding in my chest.
Seti studied me for a moment longer before nodding. “Amara… A name fit for royalty.”
I blushed at his words, though I didn’t understand why. There was something in his eyes that made me feel seen, in a way I hadn’t felt in a long time.
“Where are you really from, Amara?” he asked, his voice barely above a whisper. The way he said my name sent a shiver down my spine.
I hesitated. “I… I don’t know how to explain it. I don’t know how I got here.”
Seti nodded, his gaze steady. “It doesn’t matter. You’re here now. That’s all that counts.”
There was a quiet understanding between us, something unspoken yet palpable in the air. I couldn’t tear my eyes away from him. The way he looked at me—like he was seeing through me —made my heart ache with something I didn’t fully understand.
For a moment, the rest of the world faded away. It was just us, standing in the stillness of the garden, the weight of time pressing down on us but also holding us together. Seti reached out, gently brushing a strand of hair away from my face. His touch was soft, almost hesitant, as though he was afraid I might disappear.
“You don’t have to be afraid,” he whispered, his voice low and filled with something I couldn’t quite place.
I wasn’t sure if I believed him, but for that moment, I wanted to. I wanted to believe that I was safe, that everything would be okay.
But as his hand lingered on my cheek, a shadow moved in the distance, and a chill ran down my spine.