Chapter 1- 2017 A.D

"AYA! Follow me, quick!"

Binilisan niya ang paghakbang habang hindi magkamayaw sa paglingon at pagtingin tingin sa paligid niya. She is entranced by what surrounded her. Naririnig niya ang malakas na tibok ng puso niya. This is her life. History, artifacts, fossil fuels and everything that spells Archeology.

And now she is in what seems like a ziggurat ruins. They are still looking for evidences and proofs kung ano nga ang lugar na iyon. It looks like a ziggurat but it could be also a ruined pyramid. Kakaiba kasi ang desenyo nito. It could even be a temple or it could also be palace. Ayon sa carbon dating, maaring nagexist ito centuries before common era.

They are currently in a middle of an excavation site in  Sahara desert led by her old uncle, Sir George Moneth. They came from a very wealthy family of archaeologists, historians and philanthropies. Her uncle George is a very well-known archaeologist and her lifetime idol. Madami ng discovery ang nasa pangalan nito and she was sure, another discovery that would contribute to history and would shock the world is about to be unveil. Nararamdaman niya iyon. Truly, a blood of Moneth is running in her veins

She works for the old man as his apprentice and assistant. May mga tao sa paligid ang iba ay maingat na naghuhukay, may mga naguusap, nagrerecord, at kahit mga private guards ay romoronda sa paligid ng covered excavation site. It should be kept private for now dahil baka dumugin sila kaagad ng media at iba pang archeologies o minsan ay maging mga gold hunters. This discovery is very important to Uncle George. He said this will be one of the mysteries to be unfold.

"Come, come darling! I know you will love this." Iginaya siya nito sa mga kahong salamin. Sa loob niyon ay mga artifacts, century old jewels and other things that is precious and should be kept safe. She even saw a golden scarab with wings na kung iisipin ay sa mga Egyptians dapat. Pero nakakapagtatakang may mga bagay din na parang sa Asian temples lang makikita. There is even a round rock with metal na parang mayan calendar.

"This is so confusing Uncle. This seems to be a collection of artifacts from different places." Aya said ng huminto siya sa likod ng uncle niya.

Kausap nito sa wikang Arabic ang Egyptian archeologist na katulong nito sa pananaliksik at siya ring ipinadalang representative ng kung sino mang nagsponsor ng excavation project na ito. Whoever that is- gusto nilang magpasalamat ng buong puso dito.

"That's what makes this project even more fascinating sweetie. We need to find out more about this. Do these belong to a mere collector from the past or this place has been a cultural melting pot once upon a time?" Sagot nito sa kanya. "Anyways, here. I want to show you this."

Hinawakan siya nito sa braso at maingat na ipinasok sa isang tent na nasa loob padin ng excavation site. Dinaanan lang pala nila ang mga artifacts kanina. Mas nacurious tuloy siya dahil sa excitement na ipinapakita nito. He was like a father to her, palibhasa ay walang asawa at anak ito at sa kanilang magkakapatid at mga pamangkin siya ang laging nakasunod dito at fan na fan nito. Kaya itinuring na siya nitong anak.

Inside the heavily guarded tent, were black elongated table and sets of artifacts – mostly jewels- which is inside of another glass boxes. These artifacts must be confidential and of more importance. In the middle is what seems to be a small sarcophagus. Maingat na nakaangat ang animo sementong kahon na iyon and inside it is a very antique wooden chest with golden linings and carvings.

May mga nakadrawing na hieroglyphics sa gilid ng maliit na sarcophagus at ganoon din sa kahon ng matibay na kahoy na siyang nakakamangha kung ikukumpara sa edad nito. Marahil ay naingatan ito ng maigi sa loob ng matigas na bato.

"Sweet- " Naputol ang sasabihin ni Uncle George sa akin nang tumunog ang phone nito. Kumunot ang nuo nito ng makita kung sino ang tumatawag at binalingan siya. "Estheia Moneth, stay here and wait for us. I just have to take this call."

Tumango ako na animo mabait na tupa with matching 'Hmm-hmm' sound pa.Mataman siya nitong tinigtigan ng mata sa mata animo inaarok kung gagawa siya ng kalokohan.

"I am telling you, Aya. Don't touch anything. Look around but wait for us before you open the glasses. Especially that one in the center, understood?"

"Yes, uncle." She replied.

Nagmamadali itong umalis kasama ang dalawa pang archaeogist maliban sa kausap nito kanina. Nang makalabas ang mga ito ng tent ay naglakad lakad siya sa loob habang matamang tinitignan ang mga nasa gilid na pahabang salamin.

Pinipilit niya ang sariling huwag tumingin sa gitna. Mahina siya sa tukso lalo na kung isang bagay na kinababaliwan niya. Napapikit siya. Dapat talaga hindi na siya pinagbawalan ng uncle niya. Lalo tuloy siyang naeexcite na pakialaman iyon.

Yung mga nakasulat kanina? Pwede naman sigurong basahin diba? No touching just reading. Ipinilig niya ang ulo. No! Baka kung san pa mapunta ang kamay niya. Iborn pa naman ang pagiging chismosa at pakialamera niya.

Tinitigan niya ang mga kaharap na mga barya. So, may monetary system na rin pala sila noon? Malalaki ang tipak ng pilak at ginto na iyon. May tatak ang mga ito na parang dalawang agila. Marahil ay simbolo ng hari o pharaoh iyon. Maaring patunay na isang palasyo nga ang site na kinaroroonan nila.

Napadako muli ang tingin niya sa baul. Iyon kaya? Anong laman?

'Oh dear, my neck hurts.'

Damn it! Magkakastiff neck pa ata siya dahil sa kahong iyon. In the end ay lumapit siya rito. Di niya rin naman maenjoy ang ibang artifacts dahil tumatakbo ang isip niya dito.

Wala naman sigurong masama kung babasahin niya lang diba?

She could read, write and understand hieroglyphics. She's also fluent with five other languages dahil sa nature ng napili niyang career like old Latin na nagamit niya sa pagaaral ng archeological ruins sa Greece.

Tinignan niya kung saan nakaharap ang ulo ng tao. Reading Hieroglyphics is very tricky. Kailangan mong tignan kung left to or right to left ang basa. Sometime it's even top to button. Kailangan mo ring itranslate iyon ng maiigi. It could mean literally or figuratively.

' whoever opened this with heart heavier than of feathers will be eaten by flesh eating insects but may the eyes of gods be upon the one whose heart is chosen.'

Napakunot noo ako dahil sa unang talata. Obviously a curse to people who will try to open it or a threat for robbers. Biglang tumibok ang puso niya ng malakas. No. She shouldn't feel scared. Natural na sa mga nahuhukay nila o nakabaong kayamanan, gamit o kahit labi ng tao na mayroong mga spells o babala sa mga makikialam nito. But they've been doing this for almost all their life. Wala naman nangyayaring masama sa kanila ng uncle niya.

'but may the eyes of gods be upon with one whose heart is chosen.' So it means the chest is specifically meant for someone. It is meant to be opened or discovered by that 'chosen one'.

Hindi ko sinasadyang madampian ng kamay ang baul na may latay ng ginto. I just meant to touch it's delicate designs when the linings started moving like they are loosening their grip to each other. Napasinghap ako ako at namangha.

'This is incredible!' Paano nagkaroon ng ganto kagaling na lock ang mga sinaunang tao? This is gonna be a big discovery. The way the chest- which looks like a very hi-tech vault- unlock itself is jaw dropping. It moves on its own. Unlocking different golden locks as if it is a Transformer.

'Magiging robot ba ito?!'

The box then slowly opens up its lid. And me, totally have forgotten about Uncle George and his warning, reach out a hand to touch a what seems to be golden bracelet with a diamond scarab with lapis lazuli wings.

Hindi niya pa ito nahahawakan ng bigla itong maglaho sa loob ng baul kasabay niyon ay ang pagsigid ng kirot sa kanang kamay niya.

To her shock and pain, there in her right arm attached is the mysterious bracelet. Nakita niya ang unti unting pagpatak ng masaganang dugo mula sa pulso niyang tila kagat-kagat nito. Damn! She really felt like she was bitten by some wild animals!

"Aah!" She cried because of an excruciating pain as the bracelet tighten its hold. Bumaon na nang tuluyan ang mga ngipin nito sa laman at ugat niya. She felt as if it is sucking her blood and in return sending some poisons in her veins.

Her head becomes dizzy and cold. Her surrounding started dancing and swirling.

"Ayamuneth" Someone whispered before she passed out and darkness welcomed her.

*****

Hi! This is my first time writing something like this. Please bear with me. 

Thank you! Sorry din sa mga mali. Thank you ulit!

-iwonit