August 31st, 2024

  Julia sat by the window, the early morning light filtering through the sheer curtains, casting soft, muted patterns on the floor. The sky outside was still a pale gray, tinged with the faintest hints of pink and orange as the sun began its slow ascent. The garden, which she had come to appreciate in her brief stay, was a patchwork of dew-covered grass, scattered wildflowers, and the occasional tall tree, their leaves whispering softly in the cool morning breeze.

  She held a steaming cup of coffee in her hands, the warmth seeping through the ceramic and into her chilled fingers. Her eyes, however, were distant, staring out beyond the garden, beyond the neatly trimmed hedges and into the horizon, lost in thought. This house, an old, beautiful relic tucked away in a remote town near Mohenjo Daro, had seemed like a perfect choice when she first arrived for her archaeological dig.

  The government had insisted on providing her with security, two guards who patrolled the perimeter of the property day and night. At first, the precaution had seemed unnecessary, even excessive, in this sleepy, small town where the number of people could be counted on both hands. But after last night, she wasn’t so sure.

  She glanced over at the couch in the main hall, where Sam was sprawled, his breathing deep and even. He had finally succumbed to exhaustion just an hour ago. Unlike her, he’d managed to snatch a few precious moments of sleep. Julia envied him for that. She wished she could have shut her eyes and drifted off, even if just for a little while. Instead, her mind had been racing, replaying the events of the night over and over again.

  The party, the conversation with Thomas Curl and not to mention, a shadowy figure on a motorbike, tailing them through the dark road. She has been thinking of what transpired. She couldn’t shake the feeling that they were being hunted, stalked.

  Maybe it was just someone trying to rob them, they had reasoned during their long, sleepless conversation that stretched into the early hours of the morning. Or maybe it was something more sinister. Maybe it had to do with what they had unearthed at the dig site, an artifact that may hold the secrets that perhaps should have stayed buried.

  She sighed deeply, the sound barely more than a whisper in the quiet room. The smell of coffee was comforting, familiar, but it did little to calm her nerves. The silence was heavy, pressing down on her like a weight. She wanted to believe that it had all been a coincidence, a random occurrence in a country that was often unpredictable. But she couldn’t shake the feeling of dread that had settled in her stomach, gnawing at her insides.

  A movement caught her attention, and she turned to see Sam stirring on the couch. He blinked groggily, rubbing a hand over his face before his eyes settled on her. “You didn’t sleep at all, did you?” he asked, his voice rough with sleep.

  Julia shook her head, her fingers tightening around the mug. “There’s coffee in the kitchen if you want some,” she replied, avoiding his question. She didn’t need to answer; her tired eyes spoke for themselves.

  Sam pushed himself up from the couch, stretching out his stiff limbs with a groan. He shuffled into the kitchen, returning moments later with a cup of coffee of his own. He glanced at the clock on the wall and then at his wristwatch. “It’s 6 a.m.,” he said, his voice low. “Still too early?”

  Julia shrugged; her eyes fixed on a distant point outside the window. “I’m not even sure if we should call,” she admitted, her voice barely more than a whisper. She was torn between logic and fear, between the need to act and the fear of overreacting. “Maybe we’re overreacting. It could have been a complete coincidence… a robber maybe?”

  Sam was silent for a moment, considering her words. Then he spoke, his tone thoughtful but firm. “And if it’s not a coincidence? Would the risk be worth it?” He paused, then added, almost as if to himself, “I have a family, Julia. I don’t want to gamble my life for this. Not when we don’t even know what we’re up against. This place… it’s not safe. Not with the kind of security we have.”

  Julia turned to look at him, his face drawn with worry, his eyes shadowed with concern. She understood his fear; she felt it too. “I want to keep going,” she confessed, her voice soft, almost pleading. “I need to know if there’s anything else out there, I want to know what we’ve found. But… I’m scared too. I don’t know what to do.”

  This story originates from a different website. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

  Sam nodded slowly, taking a sip of his coffee. “We’d be foolish not to take Curl up on his offer,” he said, his voice steady. “He clearly knows something we don’t.”

  Julia took a deep breath, her decision finally solidifying in her mind. She set her coffee cup down on the windowsill and reached for her cell phone. “You’re right,” she said. “Let’s not waste any more time over-thinking this. We’ll call him and try not to give away too much. Just like we decided.”

  She swiped the screen, navigating to her contacts, and tapped on Curl’ name. Her finger hovered over the video call button for a moment, a last flicker of doubt crossing her mind. But then she pressed it, the phone ringing in her hand as she held her breath.

  The call rang once… twice… Julia's thumb hovered over the green button on her phone screen as she waited for the call to connect. Each ring felt like a small eternity, stretching the seconds into long, unbearable moments. She glanced at Sam, who was perched on the edge of the couch beside her, his expression tight with anxiety.

  The video call finally connected, and Mr. Curl’ face filled the screen. He looked like he had just woken up, his eyes blinking against the light. He appeared to be propped up against a pile of pillows, the soft gray fabric of his sheets visible behind him.

  “Julia,” he greeted, his voice thick with sleep. “What’s going on? Is everything alright?”

  “Mr. Curl, I’m so sorry for calling this early,” Julia began, her voice carrying a mix of apology and urgency. “I didn’t mean to wake you up. We can call back later if-”

  He waved a hand dismissively, sitting up straighter. “No, no, it’s fine. Go ahead. What’s happened?”

  Julia took a deep breath, trying to gather her thoughts, to find the right words that wouldn't reveal too much but would still convey the seriousness of their situation. “After what you mentioned at the party, about there being people opposed to our dig…” she started slowly, her voice steady but cautious, “we noticed something strange last night. On our way back, we realized we were being followed. A lone biker. At first, we thought it might just be a coincidence, but when we stopped at a fuel station, we were sure. The rider was after us.”

  Curl’ expression changed immediately. The sleepiness vanished from his eyes, replaced by a sharp, alert look. He sat up fully in bed, his brows furrowing in concern. “You’re sure about this?” he asked, his tone now serious. “Did he threaten you? Did he try to approach you directly?”

  Julia shook her head. “We kept our car at distance, but it was clear he was following us. And when we stopped, he approached us. But we got out of there fast." Julia’s voice started breaking, "I… we don’t understand why,” she said.

  Curl’ face flushed as he processed her words. He glanced away from the camera for a moment, clearly troubled. “Are you and Sam alright?” he asked quickly, his voice filled with concern.

  Sam, who had been listening closely, leaned into the frame. “We’re okay,” he said, though his voice was strained. “But we don’t feel safe. Not after that.”

  Curl nodded, his jaw tightening. “I need you both to be completely honest with me,” he said, his tone now firm. “Have you found anything at the site, anything that might be…unusual or unexplainable?”

  Julia felt her breath catch in her throat. She hesitated, the words catching in her mouth. She wasn’t sure how much she should say. The crystal… It was unlike anything they had ever seen, but could they trust Curl with that information? She glanced at Sam, who immediately took the lead.

  “We haven’t found anything like that,” Sam said quickly, his voice steady. “If we do find anything, we’ll let you know immediately. But as of now, there’s nothing unusual.”

  Curl seemed to relax slightly, a bit of tension easing from his shoulders. He nodded, though his expression remained serious. “Alright. I believe you,” he said. “But if you’re being followed, you’re not safe where you are now.”

  Julia’s stomach twisted at his words. She had known this deep down, but hearing it said so plainly made it all the more real. “We’re in a small town, not far from the site,” she told him. “Just two guards. That’s all we have.”

  “That’s not enough,” Curl said decisively. “I’m sending my security team lead to you. He’ll help you relocate to one of my properties in a more secure location. It’s closer to the dig site but with better protection. My team will escort you to work and anywhere else you need to go until your work is done and you’re safely back in your country.”

  Julia exchanged a glance with Sam, who looked as relieved as she felt. “Thank you, Mr. Curl,” she said, her voice filled with genuine gratitude. “We appreciate it. Truly.”

  Sam nodded in agreement. “Yes, thank you. This means a lot.”

  Curl gave them a small, reassuring smile. “Just stay safe. And keep me updated on anything that happens. We’ll get through this.” He paused, his gaze softening. “Take care of yourselves.”

  With that, the call ended, the screen going dark. Julia let out a breath she didn’t realize she had been holding. She turned to Sam, who had fallen back against the couch, his eyes closed in relief.

  “Looks like we’re moving,” he said with a small, weary smile. “Maybe we’ll finally get some proper sleep now.”

  Julia managed a weak smile in return. “Maybe,” she replied.

  ***