The Wraiths Of Alkebulan

CHAPTER 1

  BETWEEN TIME AND SPACE
______________•.•_______________
Year 2024

Alarm clock rings. Oh shit! Noor exclaimed while reaching out for the alarm clock on top of the dressing mirror, next to her bed. She looked at the time. It's 6:30 a.m already! Oh my god! I only have an hour to get ready.
She rushed out of her bed and straight into the bathroom. I feel like shit today, Noor said while turning on her showers. Noor's morning routine was what she lived for. She believed a great day started when you wake up ready to conquer the day.
She jumped out of the shower. Drying herself, she thought about the Alkebulan Heritage Gallery she was going to visit with her boyfriend. I should call Holiday, he needs to pick me up, Noor said while looking for her phone. Phone rings. Her boyfriend, Holiday, was calling. Did he know I was thinking about him? Noor said while receiving the call.
Hey love bug, Noor said with so much excitement. Holiday was the best thing that happened to her.
Hello princess, Holiday replied with the same enthusiasm and even more, just because she was his whole world.
I really love the nicknames we gave each other. So unique and they are perfect for us, Noor talked to her boyfriend while she applied her final touches of makeup.
I know love, you understand my depths. What time should I come pick you? Holiday spoke at the other end of the line.
About an hour and a half, you know your baby takes time trying to figure out what to wear, she was now focused on drawing her eyes with an eyeliner.
No problem. I will be there my queen, he said with his gentle voice that always melted Noor's heart.
Okay, love you...sending kisses over the phone, Noor said smiling sheepishly with herself.
Love all your kisses and more. I will see you in a bit, he said and the line disconnected.
Holiday was the best boyfriend anyone could ask for. He was gentle and kind to her and people around him. Always took her to places that ignited her adventurous spirit. He awas her soulmate. And, she had fallen for him deeply.
They were going to visit Alkebulan Heritage Gallery that had recently opened. Noor being an idea generator, thought it was a good place for her and Holiday to bond over ancient stories.
She was now clad in her vintage-style maxi dress. The color pink brought out her feminine features. The floral prints on the dress made her feel like a princess. She had her kitten heels on and she fell in love with how her outfit looked. Honk! A car honked from outside her window.
Holiday is here! She rushed down to the door. All excited to see the other half of her heart that made it complete.
He was leaning against his 2024 Mercedes-Benz E-class 350. His aura was heightened through his outfit; his silk black shirt that drew the strength of a man and khaki pants to blend his connection to his musculinity.
Such a hottie, she said while running towards him and jumping on him. She covered him with soft kisses on his pink lips.
He opened the front door passenger seat for her. Thankyou my heart, Noor said with her face blushing. The ride to the heritage gallery filled the air with romance. Holiday specifically curated a music playlist to suit Noor's taste.
    No one was getting bored during this ride. The two last songs heard playing; Arctic Monkeys - Why'd You Always Call Me When You're High? & Frank Ocean - Lost.

                 • • •

The Alkebulan Heritage Gallery was the new buzz in town. The building was located in the heart of the city. The sleek, towered building mounted in contrast to the ancient treasures inside.
The governor was cutting a red bow tied at the building entrance, to officially open the gallery. A swarm of paparazzi were flocked like sheeps, trying to take photos of the elite persons that were invited for its launch.
Woooah... I didn't know people would turn up like this, Noor said while Holiday opened the door for her. This is going to be so much fun! She exclaimed.
As they walked in, the architecture was a blend of modern art and ancient Alkebulans motif. Its walls were designed and crafted with fine stone. It was a heritage gallery that displayed art from an ancient nation. Their stories were brought to the modern-day world to be shared.
The tour guide led their group to a room that was filled with its artifacts. Noor scanned the room with her eyes wide open in amusement. The eyes danced from artifact to artifact, each piece holding a rich story of Alkebulan's history.
Amazing! I'm so glad they preserve history, said Noor as she teasingly played with Holiday's hands. Noor is an art history major. She had waited eagerly for this day since the gallery's announcement.
Then she saw it. At the far end of the main hall hung a massive painting. The plaque beside it read: The Grand Palace Of Alkebulan, artist unknown, 3000 BCE. Noor approached the painting, taken aback with its vivid colors and attention to detail.
The frame of the painting was made with mahogany wood. The oil and drawing illustration used to paint gave it an essence of revived art.
The palace depicted was a breathtaking structure of gold. The building was in three blocks. On the side of each block, stood statues of kings on each side. The height of the statues almost reached the top of the building. At the center hang a golden crown, to signify grand ruling over its people.
It was surrounded by lush gardens. The vicinity welcoming you with a magnificent pool at the center. At the side of the pool are golden umbrellas and resting chairs. The palm trees that stretched around the palace only gave it a serene image. The sky painted exuded so much peace through the painting.
Wow...this is so beautiful! Holiday! Noor called out to her boyfriend without taking her eyes off the painting, eager for him to witness its art. She leaned in closer, trying to absorb every brush stroke. No response.
Noor was completely lost through the painting that she failed to notice, there was no one else in the room with her. Noor failing to hear Holiday's response, looked around and noticed she was the only once standing in the room.
Confused and trying to scan for any sign of a living person, the door of the room suddenly closed. Her heart pounding to her chest, she darted across the room trying to open it.
Hello! Is anyone there? Holiday? Is anyone there? You guys left me inside! Noor shouted, pounding on the door as her heart raced against her chest. She scanned through her bag to get out her phone, but she remembered Holiday always carried it for her.
Shit! Noor was now in a panic. My beautiful mind, please give me a solution. Noor's fingers now rested on her forehead, tried to understand the situation. Lost in her thoughts, a faint chant started inside the room. Noor looked around, trying to concentrate on where the sound was coming from. It sounded like drum beats.
Am I already losing my sense, Noor said while she was pacing around the room, trying to locate the sound. Where is that sound coming from? She was now running around the room trying to find it. When she came near the painting she saw earlier, the sounds of the drum only grew louder and louder. She stood before the painting and found herself staring intensely at it.
She raised her hands towards the painting, her fingers slowly tracing over the canvas. The image inside the painting started to move. Oh shit! What the hell! Noor screamed as she jumped back.
She stared at the painting and it was still moving. The palm trees inside the painting were swaying and it felt like she could feel the breeze coming out of the painting. Wait..is this real? Or am I tripping? Noor was now moving closer to the painting.
She wanted to touch the painting and snap herself out of her delusions. Noor again close to the painting, reached her fingers to trace the canvas. Suddenly her sense of sight and the gallery around her begun to blur. She felt herself falling.
Oh no! What is happening to me? Why does my body feel like this? Noor said as she felt herself being forcefully drawn inside the painting. She felt weird in her own body.
A feeling only she could explain. The waves before her eyes were a scene she saw for the first time in her twenty years of life.
Her mind felt like it was experiencing an out of body moment. I feel like I'm going to throw up, she said in heavy breaths. In a flash of bright light, everything around her became pitch black!