Chapter 1: Arrival and Awe
Tara stumbled, her foot catching on an uneven stone. She steadied herself against the cool marble of the towering temple, its surface unnervingly smooth under her trembling fingers. A shiver raced through her hand, as if the temple itself recognized how out of place she was. Her heart pounded in her chest—whether from awe or fear, she couldn't tell.
This can't be real.
The spires of the temple stretched skyward, impossibly tall and imposing. Its carvings, intricate and impossibly detailed, seemed alive, as though they held the stories of a forgotten era. But they might as well have been in a language she couldn't read.
Her fingers grazed the stone again, instinctively seeking something familiar in this alien world. The marble was cold, unnervingly timeless, like it had witnessed millennia pass. Yet, she felt like an intruder.
Her hand snapped back. I don't belong here.
The sharp scent of incense cut through her thoughts, mingling with the weight of the thick, humid air. Every sense was heightened, and her pulse thrummed in her ears. The fragmented notes her uncle had left flickered in her mind, offering no clarity, only questions.
She drew back into the shadows as voices drifted toward her. The villagers.
Tara pressed herself against the temple's cold stone, her breath shallow and deliberate. Hidden from their gaze, she watched them pass. Their garments, vibrant and flowing, seemed to glow in the fading light.
They belong here. I don't.
Their movements were so effortless, so fluid, that they felt like part of the air itself. Tara's gaze lingered on a woman cloaked in a shimmering sari, her steps graceful as sunlight danced across the fabric. It was mesmerizing, otherworldly.
And yet, Tara couldn't risk being seen. She slipped deeper into the temple's shadows, her heart heavy with uncertainty. I need answers, not risks.
The air inside the temple seemed to thicken as she moved further in. The flickering torchlight cast shifting shadows, and the intricate carvings on the walls seemed alive, as if whispering secrets just out of her reach.
A faint metallic sound broke the silence—soft, almost imperceptible.
Tara froze. Every muscle in her body tensed as her eyes darted across the dimly lit chamber. The sound shouldn't have been there. No one else was supposed to be here.
Her breath slowed. I'm imagining it. It's just my nerves.
But the oppressive silence lingered, thick and suffocating. She moved cautiously, her fingers brushing against the carvings for stability. The walls were ancient, but the figures etched into them felt alive, as though their stories were waiting to be told.
Then, she saw it—a small metal statue, half-buried in dust and shadow. It didn't belong here. It looked out of place, almost deliberate, as though someone—or something—had left it there.
Her fingers hovered over it, trembling. Don't touch it.
But she couldn't stop herself. The cold metal sent a jolt through her skin as she lifted it slightly.
Clink.
The statue tipped over, crashing against the stone floor with a deafening clang that echoed through the chamber.
Tara's blood ran cold. She froze, her breath caught in her throat. No. No, no, no.
The silence that followed was unbearable. Every second stretched into eternity. She strained her ears, waiting for the sound of footsteps, voices—anything to confirm her worst fears.
Nothing came.
She exhaled shakily, her body trembling. It's fine. No one heard. No one saw. Just leave.
Her footsteps were quick but deliberate as she moved toward the entrance. Every sound she made felt too loud, her every move a risk. But she was so close. Almost there. Almost safe.
Then, that feeling returned.
The sensation of being watched prickled at her skin. She glanced over her shoulder, scanning the shadows. Nothing. But the air felt heavier, colder, and her instincts screamed at her to run.
She hesitated, her thoughts a whirlwind. I know this feeling. I've felt it before.
The temple seemed to hold its breath, its silence pressing down on her. Tara ducked further into the shadows, her pulse pounding as her thoughts spiraled. What's happening to me? Why does this feel like a trap?
The oppressive quiet followed her as she slipped deeper into the temple, her footsteps swallowed by the stone. The carvings on the walls seemed to shift with the flickering torchlight, their movements just at the edge of perception.
Something was waiting for her.
And she wasn't sure if she was ready to find out what it was.