Baskadia

Lahore's oppressive summer sun beat down on the corrugated metal roof, turning the attic into a suffocating furnace. Twelve-year-old Zara, bored out of her skull from yet another monotonous day of summer vacation, decides to explore the dusty maze of her grandparents' attic. Cobwebs swirled through the windows in the sunlight, like ghostly streamers, brushing across his face. The air was filled with the scent of forgotten memories, mothballs and something else – a faint, almost metallic tang that made his nose twitch.

Zara didn't feel anything special. His older brother, Omar, was glued to his video games, unfazed by his pleas for adventure. His parents were out for the day, leaving him in the company of dusty trunks and forgotten toys. With a sigh, he kicked the forgotten doll in a corner, a hollow sound echoing in the silence.

As she descended deeper into the attic, her fingers brushed against the smooth, cool surface hidden behind a pile of leather-bound journals. It was a small, round amulet, intricately carved from a cool, golden metal. On its surface, a radiant sun nestles within the mighty wings of a falcon, its golden surface catching the faint glint of light from a stained window. A band of complex symbols, alien and fascinating, snake around the edge. It was unlike anything Zara had ever seen.

The moment Zara grabbed the amulet, a jolt of energy shot through her. It wasn't painful, but there was a strange tingling sensation from his palm, igniting a kaleidoscope of vibrant colors behind his closed eyelids. When he opened his eyes, the writing on the amulet glowed faintly, strange symbols momentarily drawing themselves into a bright blue light on the back of his hand. A shiver danced down her spine, a mixture of excitement and nervousness tickling her skin.

That night sleep came and went. Vivid dreams bombarded Zara, pulling her into a swirling vortex of sights and sounds. He found himself standing in front of a towering pyramid, bathed in the golden light of the setting sun. The sand beneath her bare feet was impossibly smooth and warm, and the wind crackled with an unseen energy. The walls of the imposing pyramids were adorned with hieroglyphic carvings that pulsed with an otherworldly light, their meaning beyond his grasp. A loud voice echoed in his mind, a chosen one, a forgotten legacy of Pharaoh, and a darkness that threatened to consume the world.

Zara got up gasping, sheets tangled around her legs. The dream clung to him like a spider's web, the images vivid and terrifying. The writing on the amulet had slipped from his hand but the memory of the dream was heavy on his chest.

The next morning Zara couldn't shake the feeling that the dream and the amulet were somehow connected. Determined to find some answers, she climbs the stairs to the apartment below, where her grandfather's old friend Hamid lives. Hamid, with a kind face covered with the wisdom of age, sat sipping tea on his decaying balcony overlooking the bustling street. Zara's eyes widened excitedly as she entered, raising her eyebrows in amusement.

"What brings you down here so soon, little one?" Hamid asked, lowering his voice.

Zara hesitated, not sure how to explain the strange events of the previous night. Finally, he blurted out, "I found something…strange…up in the attic."

When Zara took out the amulet, Hamid's eyes widened slightly. He took it from her hands, his touch surprisingly gentle, and examined it closely. A look of recognition crossed his face, followed by a deep frown.

"This child," Hamid said, lowering his voice, "is Ra's amulet, a symbol of immense power."

Zara's heart was pounding in her chest. The amulet was not just a trinket; It was something far more important. He bombarded Hamid with questions - what did the symbols mean? Where did the amulet come from? What does this have to do with his strange dream?

Hamid, however, remained silent. "There are things you still don't understand Zara" he said rolling his eyes. "But I can tell you that this amulet chose you. And the dream you had… it was more than just a dream."

Zara stared at him, a mixture of fear and excitement churning in her gut. The amulet, the dream, Hamid's secret words - all point to a world beyond his imagination.