We Were Gods: Oleander: Book One

XO I've Been Here Before XO

My feet carried my body absentmindedly; everything within me ghosting a history it once knew. My heart, body and soul knew the way though I recognized nothing. I could feel my heart thunder against my chest as I tightly gritted my teeth. I allowed a forlorn finger to trace dust and golden specks from the wall. My legs threated to run and my body screamed to let go but something within me drew back and reminded me to be cautious. I heard in class once that great tombs of the kings were always booby-trapped and this one very well might have been as well. The lights seemed to take longer to flicker on and soon I found myself roaming in the dark with a trail of lights attempting to catch up with me. Everything in me stopped when my fingers scrapped against metal. I drew in a breath while I inspected the wall as the lights finally turned on above me; finding the hardened brick-like sand mixture had now been replaced with what I could have only guessed was actual gold. My mouth went dry and the ancient part within me demanded that I remove my shoes. The ground was surprisingly warm beneath my feet. I started walking once more, my body on autopilot. I was lead to a rather large door that held intricate carvings. My fingers and knees trembled as I pushed the large door open. It creaked and groaned from years of being forgotten though it was nearly weightless against my hand.

My entire body was bathed in gold and I had to shield my eyes to allow myself to adjust to it all. I carefully walked into the room once prepared and gasped. Inside the vast room was gold, jewelry, jewels, pots, statues, toys, and many other things. It was almost too much to take in. In the dead center of the room was a very large sarcophagus with colorful figures on the sides and front of it and jewels embedded on it. It was enough to take anyone's breath away. It was much larger than me, probably even larger than two of me. There was a face on the very top that I recognized almost instantly. The long ears and drawn out snout registered deep within my very being. On shaking knees I walked over to it, fingers tracing along the dark muzzle and resting against the black nose. Anubis, the jackal-headed God. This must be his final resting place. A small part of me wants to peek inside the casket but the ancient part of me knew better.

A pang within the chambers of my heart tugs and draws me further into the room to a small dusty door. The door is made of strong metal with very little designs in it. The markings appeared to be words from a forgotten language mixed with what could only be described as symbols. Electricity sparked as a warning throughout my body the moment my fingertips brushed against the dusty door. My teeth chattered when I managed to pry it open, eyes widening as I realized the back of the door was covered in deep gouges that only large claws from a very powerful creature could have scratched deep within the metal.

You're going to regret it.

I coughed when ancient dusty air touched my face; the lights from the previous room instantly being devoured by the darkness enveloping the room. Reaching out a trembling hand I felt my way along the tight hallway until it lead me to a narrow room. My heart continued to thunder in my ears. My eyes refused to adjust to the pitch-black. I removed the phone from my pocket and turned on the flashlight, the beam of light was nearly overtaken by the thick dark. The weak rays caught something in the corner and I nearly dropped my phone as a scream was swallowed by the atmosphere the moment it attempted to leave my lips. I withdrew from the corner until my back was pressed tightly against the wall, my legs finally buckling from beneath me. My entire body withdrew into itself as I began to sob.

I'm chocking... I'm chocking...