Chapter 7: The Unknown

In an undisclosed location, shrouded in the impenetrable depths of a jungle, a man found himself in a dire predicament. His wrists were tightly bound with coarse rope cuffs, and he was unceremoniously thrown onto the stone brick flooring by two colossal, almost giant-like men. The towering peaks of a mountain surrounded them, their heights seemed to pierce the very sky. In the vicinity, an ancient, temple-like structure loomed, its walls adorned with murals that depicted enigmatic creatures and men seemingly made of fire. Positioned in front of the man was a massive door-like structure, sealed with no apparent means of entry.

One of the hulking giants, driven by a mysterious figure concealed in the shadow of the towering mountain, swept aside overgrown vines, revealing a stone tablet divided into nine intricate sections adorned with exquisite engravings.

"OPEN IT NOW!" the concealed figure demanded, their voice dripping with menace.

"Please, I can't!" the man pleaded, his eyes filled with desperation.

"Open the dmn thing, or I'll bash this gun... RIGHT THROUGH YOUR DMN HEAD!" the hidden figure bellowed, brandishing a blunt, menacing-looking weapon.

Eventually, the emaciated and exhausted man succumbed to the pressure and followed their orders. He shuffled toward the stone tablet, carefully pressing the nine sections in a specific sequence. As he did so, his parched lips began to move.

"Uuuh sha la, rokarzek e lafe dirab la lei lei, wickas vboome htem shi sha rokarzek," the man chanted repeatedly, his voice barely more than a whisper.

The antique door began to creak open, revealing a dim and eerie passage. Suddenly, a deafening rumble echoed from the depths of the foreboding pathway.

"WHAT DID YOU DO?" the figure hidden in the shadows screamed.

Without warning, an immense, inky-black fog erupted from within the ancient sanctuary, billowing forth and soaring into the sky with astonishing speed, surpassing the mountain's towering heights. It expanded and spread, shrouding the sky in an impenetrable shroud.

Meanwhile, at Valen Petrol Station, Runo was in the midst of his usual nine-to-five shift. Arturo paid him another visit, just as he had been doing for the past few months, delivering notes to help Runo stay on top of his studies. In gratitude, Runo had a snack ready for Arturo.

Suddenly, a piercing, ringing noise pierced through the air, as if both of them were suddenly plagued by tinnitus. The sharp noise subsided after a few agonizing moments.

"Did you hear that?" Arturo asked, his brows knitted in confusion.

"Yeah, it hurt a bit," Runo confirmed.

Out of nowhere, the sky darkened as if someone had taken a brush and painted it black. The atmosphere became as pitch-black as midnight, yet no streetlights flickered to life. It was one o'clock in the afternoon, so why had it suddenly turned into night? The two young men exchanged puzzled glances.

"This is really weird!" Arturo exclaimed.

A profound sense of urgency washed over Runo, an inexplicable need to check on his mother as though she were in imminent danger.

"Yeah, I'm going home to see my mom. I suggest you do the same; this is getting extremely eerie," Runo advised.

"I was just thinking the same," Arturo concurred. Without further ado, they bolted in opposite directions toward their homes, their minds awash with bewilderment over this sudden, supernatural occurrence.