The Doorway
Against Daniel’s wishes, they returned to the site with Hassan and Dr. Kareem.
The afternoon sun was beginning to fall.
The old stone doorway was almost completely hidden by sand.
Emily stood several feet away.
She felt something strange.
Not fear.
Recognition.
“I’ve seen this.”
Dr. Kareem looked at her.
“In your dream?”
She nodded.
They began carefully clearing the sand around the doorway.
After nearly an hour, they discovered a narrow opening.
Inside was darkness.
Ryan turned on his flashlight.
The beam disappeared into a small corridor.
Daniel shook his head.
“We’re not going inside.”
Dr. Kareem agreed.
“Not tonight.”
Then Emily noticed something on the ground.
A tiny stone carving.
She picked it up.
It was shaped like a scorpion.
The moment her fingers touched it, she became dizzy.
The desert disappeared.
For a few seconds, she saw the stone chamber from her dream.
She saw the coffin.
And she heard the same whisper.
“Return what was taken.”
Emily dropped the object.
She collapsed into her father’s arms.
When she opened her eyes, everyone was staring at her.
“What happened?” Daniel asked.
Emily looked toward the doorway.
“Someone took something from inside.”
Dr. Kareem’s face turned pale.
“Who?”
Emily shook her head.
“I don’t know.”
Then she whispered:
“But they’re coming back.”
