Never before had I seen a place like it.Before me the ruins stretched, half-buried in vines and moss, now worn by time, the sure structures of yesterday. Tall stone pillars stood on either side of an ancient courtyard where the wind whispered through the broken arches; above was a deep blue, unbroken, up to an endless sky, untouched by any sign of civilization. And it was like I had passed through some forgotten gateway into the lost world—that world forgotten even by time.
It had all begun as a perfectly ordinary hike. I had always loved going on exploratory adventures, and when I stumbled upon an old, unmarked path away from the main trail, my curiosity got the best of me. The farther I went into the woods, the quieter everything became: no birds sang, no leaves rustled; only an uncomfortable stillness that made me get goosebumps. And then, just when I thought I’d turn back, I saw it: ruins of an ancient city, tucked away behind a veil of trees.
My heart thudded as I took a step forward. Who had built this place? How long had it lain abandoned? I stepped inside, my footsteps echoing from the stone. In the center of the courtyard was a great fountain, dry and crumbling now; the detailed carvings that must have once adorned it were barely visible beneath the layers of moss. All along the surrounding buildings, odd symbols covered the walls—meanings lost to time.
I ventured further, pushing aside thick vines as I peered into what appeared to be an old temple. It was cool and dark inside, the air heavy with the scent of damp stone. Thin rays of light, in faint streaks, filtered through the cracks in the ceiling, illuminating a large mural along the back wall. It depicted a city much like this one, but alive: its streets filled with people, its buildings tall and proud. In the center of the mural was a figure, arms outstretched, surrounded by a halo of light.
The ground beneath my feet gave way, and I took a step forward. Dust fell from the ceiling; a low rumbling noise filled the air. My breath caught, had I triggered something? Panic surged through me, but before I could move, the floor gave way, and a set of stairs spiraled down into darkness.
I hesitated. Every instinct told me to turn back, but something about this place called to me. I took a deep breath, pulled out my flashlight, and started down the steps. With every step, the air grew colder, and the walls seemed to close in on me. At the bottom of the steps, I found myself in a vast underground chamber. Row upon row of stone statues stood along the walls, their faces worn smooth by time. In the middle of the room, on a pedestal, there was only one thing: a gold amulet, its surface covered in those same strange markings I had already seen.
I reached out, my fingers hovering just above it. Was this the treasure of some lost civilization? Or was it something more? The moment my skin came into contact with the amulet, the chamber shook. A gale of wind passed me by, whispers in some language I couldn’t understand carried on it. The statues seemed to move, their empty sockets watching me.
Excitement and fear wrestled within. I clutched the amulet and turned to run. The trembling of the ground increased in intensity, as if the very city itself was stirring. I could scarce make it out of the place as I bounded up the stairs before the entrance collapsed behind, sealing whatever it held within.
I stumbled back out into the sunlight, gasping for breath. Once again, the ruins were silent, as if nothing had happened. But looking down at the amulet in my hand, there was one thing I now knew for sure: this place wasn’t forgotten. And now, neither was I.