Austin exhaled sharply, looking shaken. "That was insane."

Austin wiped sweat from his brow. "I hate this place."

Isaiah ran a hand through his damp hair. "The desert is trying to draws us away from what's at hand. We need to move fast."

"Isaiah's right we need to keep moving," I said, glancing toward where the tomb should be. The sooner we get out of here the better.

The sun is relentless, burning my skin, searing my throat. Every breath feels like I'm inhaling fire. My legs are heavy, my feet sinking into the scorching sand with every agonizing step. I don't know how long I've been walking-hours, maybe days. My lips are cracked, my tongue swollen from thirst.

Then, I see it.

At first, I think it's another cruel mirage, just like the ones before. But this time, it doesn't fade. And I want the only one that saw it.

"Water!", Alex yelled.

A cluster of palm trees, their leaves swaying lazily. A pool of water, glistening under the sun like liquid silver. My heart lurches, hope flaring so fiercely it almost hurts.

"Hell yeah!", Austin yelled. We had drunk most of our water and only had a few bottles left.

We all moved forward, Alex even broke into a splurging jog.

Suddenly Austin suddenly cursed.

"What now?" Isaiah asked.

screamed at me to stop,

Austin pointed to the ground. "The sand looks... different."

1 followed his gaze. The texture of the sand ahead was looser, almost like rippling water. My

"Alex, wait-" but before I could warn him, Alex stepped forward.

The moment his foot touched the sand, it collapsed beneath him.

just as he

thrashed. “Get me out of here,It's pulling

forward, gripping his other arm, but the more he struggled,

ordered. "You're

himself to go still, his chest rising and falling in quick, shallow

something to pull him out," Elijah said, scanning

with an idea.

13:28 Mon, Apr 28

Chapter 199

it to Alex. "Hold on

grabbed the staff, and together, we heaved. Inch by inch, we pulled him free,

last pull, Alex tumbled

staring at the sky. "I

7

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finally reached the tomb. It was an ancient structure, partially buried beneath the sand, its entrance framed by massive

second shard was

The air here was different-thick with an unnatural stillness. As we stepped inside, darkness swallowed us, the temperature dropping sharply, the flickering torchlight casting long

moment we crossed the

detached from the walls, taking

They moved like smoke, drifting

Elijah tensed. "Guarding spirits."

"Of course there

The creatures lunged.

to counter them, but

my shadows!"

and sent streams of lunar flames

them, they let out sheiks and dissolved into mist. But

of us fought

it-the shard. It rested on an altar at the

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