Shadows of the Akkadian Sphinx

rushed past us, carrying whispers-faint, unintelligible murmurs that sent a shiver down my spine. David exchanged a wary glance with me before stepping forward, his torchlight barely penetrat

." I swallowed hard. "I see it." The being lifted an arm, and the temperature in the room dropped instantly. The humming grew louder, vibrating through my bones. Then, in a voice that echoed from every corner of the chamber, it spoke: "You should not have come." A sudden gust of wind extinguished our torches, plunging us into absolute darkness. And then, all around us, the whispers became screams. The darkness was suffocating. The whispers had risen into a deafening chorus of voices, swirling around us like a phantom storm. My heart pounded, and for a moment, I wasn't sure if I was still standing on solid ground or drifting into some abyss beyond time. The whispers had risen into a deafening chorus of voices, swirling around us like a phantom storm. My heart pounded, and for a moment, I wasn't sure if I was still standing on solid ground or drifting into some abyss beyond time. Then-warm fingers closed around mine. David. His grip was firm, steady. A tether to reality. "Nadia," his voice came, low but insistent. "Don't move." I squeezed his hand. "I'm not planning on it." The voices swelled again, but something shifted. The warmth of his touch, the certainty in his presence, cut through the terror. As if sensing this, the shadows hesitated. And then-just as suddenly as they had risen-the whispers ceased. A faint glow flickered to life from the golden idol. Torchlight. Tariq had managed to relight a torch, its warm flicker pushing back the unnatural blackness. The chamber was empty again, as though nothing had ever been there. But I knew better. "We need to get out of here," Youssef muttered, his face pale. "Now." David exhaled and turned to me. "Are you alright?" I nodded, but I didn't let go of his hand. Not yet. That night, we camped beneath the open desert sky, away from the ruins. The night was calm, a stark contrast to what we had just witnessed. But something about the warmth of the sand, the gentle hum of the wind.