Shadows of the Akkadian Sphinx

spoke of it. There was something unspoken between us now-something fragile, like an ancient artifact uncovered after centuries of burial. But there was no time to dwell on it. T

of our lights. The walls were covered in intricate carvings, some so old they were barely discernible. Large stone pillars supported a ceiling so high it was lost in shadow. And at the center of it all stood a single altar. David moved beside me, his flashlight steady as he swept it over the structure. "It's Akkadian," he murmured. I stepped forward, my fingers grazing the edge of the altar's surface. It was smooth, polished, despite the centuries that had passed. It was the bodies. Dozens of skeletal remains lay scattered across the floor, their bones brittle with age. Some were curled in agony; others had weapons still clutched in their hands. The remnants of a battle fought long ago. Tariq crouched near one of the skeletons, his fingers brushing over a rusted dagger. "These men were warriors." David's gaze swept over the remains, his jaw tightening. "And whatever they were fighting..." He turned toward the far end of the chamber. "It's still here." My stomach knotted as I followed his gaze. There, set into the stone wall, was a door unlike any we had seen before. It wasn't carved-it was forged. Massive metal slabs, ancient but still intact, sealed the way forward. Symbols of protection had been etched into its surface, their meaning clear even without translation. This wasn't a door meant to be opened. It was meant to keep something in. A chill ran down my spine. "Are we sure we want to do this?" David exhaled, stepping closer. "We came this far. We have to know the truth." Youssef hesitated. "And if the truth is something we weren't meant to find?" I met David's eyes, the weight of our choices settling between us. There was no going back now. "Then," I said softly, "we make sure history doesn't repeat itself." David nodded. Then, together, we reached for the door. And as our hands pressed against the cold metal, the chamber trembled. And then I saw it. A single, golden pendant, lying in the center. It was shaped like an eye-an ancient Akkadian symbol of protection and power. Youssef inhaled sharply. (عين نيجرال)"The Eye of Nergal." Tariq frowned. "What does it do?" I swallowed hard. "Legend says it was crafted to guard the secrets of the Akkadian Sphinx. But if it's here, that means..." David met my gaze, his jaw tightening. "We're closer than we thought." My heart pounded. We had found something buried by time itself-something never meant to be uncovered. And I had a feeling we weren't the only ones who wanted it. The golden pendant seemed to hum beneath my fingertips, a faint warmth pulsing from its ancient surface. The Eye of Nergal. A relic lost to time-until now. David stood close behind me, his breath steady but sharp with anticipation. "We need to be careful," he murmured. "Careful?" Tariq scoffed. "We just barely escaped whatever the hell that was back there, and now we're standing in a tomb with a cursed artifact. I say we leave it." Youssef hesitated. "But if this pendant truly protects the secrets of the Akkadian Sphinx, then maybe it holds the key to finding it." I traced the symbol on the pendant's surface, my mind racing. "If the legends are true, this isn't just a relic. It's a key." David's eyes flickered toward mine. "Then we should take it." Before I could second-guess myself, I lifted the pendant. A sudden gust of wind blasted through the chamber, though there were no openings-no possible source for such force. The torches along the walls flickered violently, casting distorted shadows that stretched and curled unnaturally. And t