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<\/figure>\n\n\n\nThe air grew heavier. Every footstep echoed strangely, as if someone else was walking behind them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
They spun around.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
No one.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Only darkness.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
At last, the stairs ended.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
A massive chamber opened before them. Their flashlight beams could not reach the far wall. When the light swept across the nearest pillars, both men stopped breathing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Gold.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Everywhere.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Life-sized statues of people and animals. Masks set with rubies. Chests overflowing with coins. Crowns, chains, jewels, and gemstones.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Everything untouched.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
As if the owners had left only yesterday.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u2014 We\u2019re rich\u2026 the first man whispered.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The second was already opening a chest.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Inside were precious stones of every color, shining like captured stars.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u2014 This can\u2019t be real\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u2014 Take everything you can carry!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
They filled their bags in a frenzy. Coins spilled across the floor. Gold clattered through the chamber.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Then a sound came from the darkness.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
A footstep.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
One single step.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Heavy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The men froze again.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u2014 Was that you?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u2014 I didn\u2019t move\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Another step.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Closer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Their hands trembled as they aimed the flashlights into the shadows.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Nothing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
A third step.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Then a fourth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Slow. Calm. Certain.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
As if something already knew they had nowhere to run.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u2014 Who\u2019s there?! one of them shouted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
No answer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Only another step.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Then suddenly, flames burst to life along the walls.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Hundreds of blue fires ignited in stone bowls, lighting the entire chamber.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
And then they saw it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Between the pillars stood a tall figure wearing a golden mask.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Motionless.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Too motionless to be human.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u2014 Run\u2026 the first man whispered.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The second could not move.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The figure slowly raised its head.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Beneath the mask, two eyes gleamed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Living eyes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
One step.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Then the figure began walking toward them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
That was enough.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Both men ran in terror. Their bags hit the floor, coins scattering everywhere. They raced up the stairs, falling, scraping their hands bloody, gasping for breath.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Behind them came the same footsteps.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Slow.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Never faster.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
As if fear itself was chasing them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
They burst out into the open air and collapsed in the burning sand.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The sun still blazed overhead as though nothing had happened.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u2014 Close it! Now!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Together they shoved the stone slab back into place and covered it with sand using their hands and shovels.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Then they fled.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
That same evening, a violent sandstorm swept across the desert and buried the entire area.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The next day they returned with ropes, tools, maps, and more men.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
But they found nothing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
No hole.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
No slab.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
No footprints.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
As if the desert had erased everything.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
One of the men never spoke of that day again. The other spent years searching for the lost entrance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Before he died, he repeated the same sentence again and again:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u2014 We did not find treasure\u2026 we awakened the guardian.<\/p>\n\n\n\n