Chapter 1: Descent into the Void
The relentless sun finally began to dip below the horizon, painting the desert sky in hues of fiery orange and bruised purple. With the official briefing concluded, and the weight of Egypt's expectation pressing down on them, Thor Sten and his team approached the unassuming pyramid of Amenti. The air, heavy with the promise of forgotten secrets, crackled with anticipation and a subtle undercurrent of dread.
"Alright," Thor announced, his voice calm but focused. "Let's document everything. Photos, video, any anomalies we find. We're walking into a black hole, so every piece of evidence counts."
Izelle, never one to miss an opportunity for a jab, quipped, "Don't worry, I've charged my camera. Hopefully, it's not haunted."
The first few steps inside were anticlimactic. The entrance, now opened, led to a narrow, dusty passage. Sonic, his tech gear humming, was already scanning for unusual energy signatures. Murg and Don, weapons at the ready, took point. Thor, ever the strategist, brought up the rear.
As they moved forward, their flashlights pierced the oppressive darkness, illuminating walls adorned with faint hieroglyphs, barely visible beneath a thick layer of dust and debris. The air grew cooler, the scent of dry earth and something else… something metallic… filling their lungs.
After a few minutes of traversing the initial passage, they reached a small antechamber. Thor, ever the meticulous documentarian, called for a halt. "Let's get a thorough record of this space. Photos, measurements, potential clues. Don't touch anything you don't have to."
They followed his instructions meticulously. Izelle snapped shots of the antechamber's layout, while Sonic carefully documented the architecture and any potential structural weaknesses. Murg scanned the walls, his eyes picking up subtle details that might escape the others. Even Don, despite his initial reluctance, was careful to avoid disturbing the dust.
As they moved further into the pyramid, however, Murg paused, his brow furrowed. "Thor, this doesn't make sense."
Thor stopped, turning to face him. "What's wrong?"
"The dimensions," Murg replied, gesturing to the surrounding walls. "This place is… bigger than it should be. We saw the exterior. It's a small pyramid. This… this feels like it's extending infinitely. It doesn't add up."
Sonic ran a quick scan, his face growing pale. "He's right. My sensors are picking up… spatial distortions. The interior space is significantly larger than the exterior dimensions would suggest. This is… impossible."
The unsettling realization hung in the air. The pyramid wasn't just an ancient structure; it was a place that defied the laws of reality.
Deeper inside, they encountered a burial chamber. In the center of the room, a sarcophagus rested, its lid sealed with intricate carvings. A layer of dust coated the stone, undisturbed for millennia.
"Another potential clue," Thor said, his voice carefully neutral. "Let's document it. But no unnecessary risks. Let's keep moving. We don't know what's inside."
Izelle began taking pictures, her camera flash momentarily illuminating the chamber. Murg, his eyes still alert, kept a watchful gaze. But Don, drawn to the mystery and perhaps the thrill of the unknown, was already moving towards the sarcophagus.
"Hey, Don, what are you doing?" Thor asked, sensing the danger.
Ignoring Thor's warning, Don, with a grunt of effort, heaved the lid open. A cloud of dust billowed out, momentarily obscuring the chamber. As it cleared, they saw the mummy within – a desiccated figure, swathed in linen bandages, adorned with a golden mask and a chest piece.
Izelle, ignoring the warning, rushed in to take a photo. "Interesting."
"Don, close it!" Thor commanded, his voice sharper now. "We don't know what we're dealing with. This is a tomb, not a museum!"
Too late. As soon as the flash of Izelle's camera pierced the darkness, the room seemed to shift. The air thickened, and a low, guttural groan echoed from within the chamber. The mummy, its eyes now visible through the slits in the mask, seemed to… stir.