Nala sat behind the polished oak reception desk, her chin nestled in her palm, her elbow precariously balanced on the edge. Her other hand lazily twirled a pen, the motion repetitive, almost hypnotic. The museum was alive with its usual rhythm—visitors streamed in through the grand double doors, their voices merging into a soft hum punctuated by footsteps echoing on the marble floors. Some were tourists with maps clutched in hand, pointing at exhibits as they whispered excitedly. Others were locals, meandering with an air of leisure, their gazes briefly lingering on the artifacts before drifting away.
And then there was Nala, feeling like an outsider to all the liveliness around her.
"Today is my 20th birthday," she mumbled under her breath, her lips barely moving. The words tasted bitter as they hung in the air, unheard by anyone else. "And I'm not even feeling the birthday spirit."
She exhaled loudly, the sigh long and theatrical, though it brought her no comfort. Birthdays were supposed to be magical, weren't they? A day where you felt celebrated, like the universe was conspiring to make everything perfect for you. But instead, she was stuck here, working her mundane shift at the museum. No balloons. No cake. Not even a lousy cupcake. Just her and the faintly annoying buzz of fluorescent lights overhead.
Her gaze drifted to the museum's wide glass doors, where streams of sunlight filtered through. She watched as a young couple walked in, their hands entwined, laughing about something she couldn't hear. The sight only made her feel worse.
Shouldn't I be out celebrating? Doing something fun? she thought, biting her lip. But no, here she was, sitting at her post, a silent observer to the world moving on without her.
Her spiral of self-pity was abruptly shattered by a familiar, boisterous voice that practically shook the room.
"HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!"
Nala jolted upright, nearly knocking over her coffee cup in the process. Standing just a few feet away was Sophie, her best friend, practically bouncing with excitement. She looked like a firecracker ready to explode, her grin wide and unabashed.
"Sophie!" Nala hissed, her cheeks flushing as heads turned in their direction. Visitors paused mid-step, eyebrows arching as they glanced toward the source of the commotion.
But Sophie was blissfully unbothered. In fact, she leaned into the attention, waving at the onlookers as if she were on a stage.
And then, without warning, Sophie began to sing.
"Happy birthday to youuuu…" she warbled, drawing out each note in a voice so horrendously off-key that even a tone-deaf person would cringe.
Nala's eyes widened in horror, her hands shooting up to cover her burning face. "Oh my God, Sophie, stop!" she whispered harshly, but it was no use.
Sophie only sang louder, her voice reaching a pitch that could shatter glass. "HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOUUUUU…"
The laughter came unbidden, bubbling up in Nala's chest despite her embarrassment. By the time Sophie reached the grand finale, Nala was doubled over, her shoulders shaking as tears of mirth blurred her vision.
"Thank you, you absolute lunatic," Nala managed to choke out between gasps of laughter.
"You're welcome, baby boo!" Sophie said with a wink, clearly proud of her performance. She rummaged through her bag and pulled out a small, neatly wrapped box, holding it out with a flourish.
"What's this?" Nala asked, her curiosity piqued as she took the gift.
"Just open it," Sophie said, grinning from ear to ear.
Nala carefully peeled back the wrapping, revealing a delicate bracelet nestled inside. It was a simple silver chain adorned with tiny charms—stars, a crescent moon, and a small heart. Her heart swelled at the thoughtful gesture.
"Aww, Sophie, you didn't have to," Nala said, slipping the bracelet onto her wrist. She turned it this way and that, watching how it gleamed in the light.
"Of course I did! You're my bestie!" Sophie said, throwing an arm around Nala's shoulders in a quick, affectionate hug. "But… that's not all the surprise."
Nala raised an eyebrow. "What do you mean?"
Sophie's grin turned sly, the kind of grin that usually preceded one of her infamous harebrained schemes. From her pocket, she produced a small, ornate key and held it up like a trophy.
Nala blinked, confusion washing over her. "Uh… what's that for?"
Sophie leaned in, her voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper. "You remember the room they told us not to go in?"
A jolt of unease shot through Nala. Her stomach twisted as she nodded slowly. "Uh-huh."
"Well… this is the key to that room. I didn't steal it, I just… borrowed it," Sophie said, puffing out her chest like a knight returning from a victorious battle.
Nala's jaw dropped. "SOPHIE!" she hissed, her voice barely above a whisper as she darted a glance around to make sure no one was eavesdropping. "How did you even—why would you—how?!"
Sophie shrugged, her expression unapologetic. "It wasn't that hard. I saw where they kept it, waited for the right moment, and—ta-da!"
Nala stared at the key as if it were a live grenade. "Do you have any idea how much trouble we'd get into if we got caught? They warned us about that room for a reason, Sophie!"
"Oh, come on," Sophie said, rolling her eyes. "I thought you loved adventure. Or have you gotten boring on me?"
Nala bristled at the jab. "I'm not boring!" she protested, though the conviction in her voice wavered.
"Then prove it," Sophie said, holding the key out like an invitation. "Come on, Nala. Don't you want to know what they're hiding in there? What if it's something incredible? A secret artifact? Hidden treasure?"
Nala hesitated, her thoughts racing. Her logical side screamed at her to refuse, to stay put and avoid trouble. But another part of her—the part that craved excitement, that had once dreamed of being an explorer uncovering lost secrets—felt a flicker of temptation.
Her gaze flicked between Sophie's eager expression and the key glinting in her hand. "I don't know, Sophie…"
"Come on, Nala," Sophie urged, grabbing her hand. "It's your birthday! Don't you want to do something unforgettable?"
Nala bit her lip, the weight of the decision pressing down on her. Her job was on the line, her reputation. But Sophie's words echoed in her mind: Don't you want to do something unforgettable?
Against her better judgment, she felt her feet moving, her body reluctantly following Sophie as they headed toward the forbidden door.
Their footsteps echoed faintly as Nala and Sophie walked down the museum's deserted hallway, the silence pressing in on them like an invisible weight. Nala's heart thudded against her ribcage, each beat louder than the last, as her eyes darted nervously toward every shadow and corner.
"Sophie, I really don't think—" she began, her voice hushed but trembling with urgency.
"Shhh," Sophie interrupted, turning back briefly to flash a mischievous grin. "Relax, Nala. No one's going to catch us."
But even as Sophie spoke, her hand reached out to push open the massive, ornately carved door at the end of the hall. The wood creaked loudly as it swung inward, the sound reverberating like a warning bell.
As the door fully opened, a strange sensation swept over Nala, making her freeze in place. The air shifted—cooler, heavier, and tinged with something inexplicably ancient. It clung to her skin like an invisible mist, sending an involuntary shiver down her spine.
"Did you feel that?" Nala whispered, her voice barely audible, as if speaking any louder would awaken something lurking in the shadows.
Sophie looked back at her, confusion etched on her face. "Feel what?"
"That… that change in the air," Nala said, hugging herself as if to ward off the chill.
Sophie shrugged, clearly unfazed. "You're imagining things. Come on, birthday girl, don't chicken out now."
Nala hesitated for a moment longer, then shook her head. "Never mind," she muttered, taking a tentative step into the room.
As soon as she entered, her breath hitched in her throat. The space was vast, far larger than she had imagined, and bathed in a dim golden light that seemed to emanate from nowhere and everywhere at once. The walls were lined with shelves and glass cases, each filled with treasures that glimmered faintly in the low light.
"Wow…" Nala murmured, her voice filled with awe.
She moved deeper into the room, her eyes darting from one artifact to the next. There were intricately carved statues, delicate vases adorned with hieroglyphics, and jewelry encrusted with gemstones that caught the faint light like tiny, colorful stars. The air smelled faintly of old parchment and something earthy, like ancient stone.
"It's like stepping into another world," Nala thought, her fingers itching to touch the treasures but stopping just short of doing so.
"Pretty amazing, huh?" Sophie said, her voice casual as she sauntered over to a nearby display case.
Nala nodded, unable to tear her eyes away from a particularly stunning artifact—a golden mask that shimmered with an otherworldly glow. But her gaze was soon drawn to something even more striking.
On a pedestal near the center of the room stood a statue unlike anything she'd ever seen. It depicted a creature with the body of a lion, the head of an eagle, and massive wings that stretched outward as if ready to take flight. The craftsmanship was exquisite, every detail so precise that it almost looked alive.
"What is that?" Nala asked, her voice hushed with a mixture of curiosity and reverence.
"That," Sophie said, strolling up beside her, "is a griffin. Half lion, half eagle. Pretty cool, right?"
Nala nodded slowly, her eyes lingering on the statue. But as impressive as it was, her attention was soon drawn to something else—a massive figure on the far side of the room.