Nothing happened. There was no sign that Kat had an affliction at all. Maybe she was right. Perhaps it was all in her head.
"Should've known."
Kat's voice was quiet, filled with disappointment. The call of the statues had seemed so natural, so strong, that Kat was sure something should've happened. Yet, nothing did. Her darkest fantasies were denied, and Kat was left standing in the empty temple, wondering what she could have possibly been thinking. There were no such things as gods or goddesses and definitely no magic. She knew that, so why did she feel like she'd been denied something precious?
Kat took a deep breath and turned towards the entrance to the temple. She began picking her way through the rubble with a brief look over her shoulder, following the faint breeze that wafted in through the opening. Finally, Kat emerged into the light of day, ignoring her brother and his research.
The sun was high in the blue sky, punctuated by the occasional white cloud drifting lazily above. The cool breeze caused trees on the edge of the clearing to sway in a hypnotic dance, and the sound of birds singing filled the air around her. Kat shivered slightly as she stepped out of the temple, squinting as the sunlight caught her eyes. She put a hand to her brow, trying to shield herself from the glare as she took in the serene clearing.
The faint remains of a cobblestone path led away towards the edge of the clearing, flanked by the waterfall-fed streams that converged just out of view. Kat made her way towards one of the streams, kneeling down as she stared into the clear water. Kat took another deep breath and dipped her hands into the icy liquid before splashing some of it onto her face. It stung as it ran across her cheeks, but Kat enjoyed the refreshing sensation. She closed her eyes and enjoyed the feeling as it slowly crept over her body. The coldness penetrated deeper and deeper, chasing away the warmth and light that lingered within her.
Kat sighed softly, "No point worrying about it now."
Kat quickly forgot her experience in the temple as she assembled her and Nathan's tents before heading into the forest to look for firewood. Something about this place seemed different from any other location they had come across. Not necessarily more beautiful, though there were indeed aspects to the forest that were enchanting. It was more a feeling than anything else. Calm, peaceful, untouched. Despite the remains of buildings peeking out of the ground occasionally, or the large temple looming in the clearing, something about this place seemed undisturbed by man. As if there was a permanence to the forest. Untameable by humans who had only been allowed to rest here, not turn it into a good home.
Once Kat had a fire burning, she sat down on a large stone to eat lunch. She felt absolutely famished. Far hungrier than Kat had thought she should be. And no matter how much Kat ate, her hunger persisted as she ravenously devoured the snacks stashed in her pack. Kat couldn't understand what had gotten into her, and it was frustrating.
She found herself continuing to munch on her rations as she pulled out her tablet and started watching one of the classes recorded by her teacher back at school. It was definitely challenging to keep up in class when you missed at least one day almost every other week, but Kat was willing to put in the effort so Nathan wouldn't force her to stay home and study. It actually worked out reasonably well. Nathan would spend days documenting his findings while Kat worked on whatever school work she'd brought on the expedition. In addition, most of the areas had at least decent mobile reception, and she could watch her classes on her phone. It had taken quite a bit of convincing by Nathan to get her teachers to agree to record their courses for her to watch while she was away, but in the end, it was hard for them to deny the fact that Kat was a model student interested in learning about the world.
Kat worked on her homework, munching away on the snacks as the sun slowly moved across the sky. Soon, the shadows began to lengthen, and the air grew colder. The sky was painted in brilliant purples and pinks when Nathan finally emerged from the temple, and the songs of birds had given way to the rhythmic chirping of nocturnal insects. Nathan plopped down on one of the stones that flanked the fire, holding his hands out for warmth.
"Sorry, it took so long. This place is a lot more buried than I thought." His voice was low, a bit raspy. "It'll take a lot of time to explore. I got the basic layout, but I'll have to make another trip to work out some of the surroundings."
Kat closed the lecture she'd been watching and tucked the tablet back into her pack, "That's fine. I've just been working on school."
Nathan gave her a sad smile, "Mom and Dad would be proud. I hope you know that."
Kat smiled, though she had to struggle not to let a tear roll down her cheek, "Yeah, well, I'm not the one who got perfect grades and is a prodigy in several subjects."
Nathan sighed, "Yeah, but I also had them help me. You've had to do everything by yourself these last couple of years. I... thanks." He paused before adding, "You're the best sister anyone could ask for. I wish we were closer."
Kat was silent, pulling her knees against her chest. A few tears streaked down her cheek as she watched the fire crackling away, its warmth staving off the chill of the night. The moon was just cresting over the temple, full and bright as it cast a blue glow over the world.
After a minute, Nathan continued, "I know it would be easier for you to stay home and study. To have a normal life with your friends, but... I guess I just appreciate you taking the time to come with me. I know it's not easy, and it's not that exciting. It's just..." His voice faded, and he took a deep breath. "It's nice to not be alone here."
Kat sniffed softly, fighting back the emotions threatening to break through her resolve, "Yeah, I just... I miss them so much. I know they're gone, but... it hurts. It would be more challenging if I didn't come on these expeditions with you. The house always feels so empty when you're not around, and... you always bring me to such exciting places. It's easy to focus on the fantastic sights and discoveries. I guess what I'm trying to say is that it's a welcome distraction."
Nathan nodded in agreement, though his jaw was set like he was trying not to break down in front of Kat, "Well, I've got to say finding something as unique as this was pretty surprising. I didn't expect to see the temple still intact. Especially with the condition the rest of the city is in. Of course, everything else has been buried by time, but the temple still seems to be in good condition besides some superficial damage. If my calculations are correct, there should be some lower chambers, though I haven't been able to find the entrance yet. I'm confident, though, that they should still be accessible."
Kat chuckled as Nathan continued to ramble on about his findings, the conversation about their parents quickly forgotten in his excitement.
However, after the sun had fully set and the sky was filled with stars, Kat finally decided to call it a night. The fire had become little more than embers, and the breeze had grown cold enough that Kat wished she was wearing more than a tank top and shorts. Kat excused herself and slipped into her tent, stripping her shirt and exposing her bare torso. Her breasts were small enough that she'd never had to wear a bra, so she didn't bother.
Kat shivered as she slipped into her sleeping bag and turned off the lantern hanging from a strap. Kat could hear Nathan zipping up his own tent, and within a few minutes, his snoring broke through the peace of the night. Kat chuckled to herself as sleep overtook her.
Kat opened her eyes with a start as bright light nearly blinded her. She raised her hand and shielded her eyes from the sun shining overhead. The air smelled like rain, but none fell. There was no sign of Nathan anywhere, nor her tent. As Kat looked around, she had no idea where she was. Gone was the forest surrounding their campsite, replaced with a sprawling metropolis of stone. Her bare feet felt warm on the cobblestone that stretched in either direction, flanked by buildings whose architecture seemed foreign and familiar. A large stream flowed down a channel set in the middle of the street, babbling calmingly in either direction. The road seemed to lead towards a large wall that loomed above the buildings in one direction, and Kat could vaguely make out an open gate far in the distance. The other direction led towards a structure that was well known to Kat. The temple from the clearing stood pristine and untouched. A true testament to engineering. It seemed so imposing as it towered above the city's other buildings. However, despite the beauty of the town, there was something extremely offputting.
"Come, my friend. I have blessed you with my gift, and now I wish to speak with thee."
Kat turned, searching for the source of the voice. It seemed to come from everywhere and nowhere. It was like a wind chime in a calm breeze and a roaring tornado. Beautiful and terrifying. Welcoming and forbidding. The voice of a... Goddess.
"Come, lest you invoke my wrath. I will not be waiting while there is a feast to consume."
Kat stood, petrified. Was this place real, or just a dream? What would happen if she followed the voice's commands? Her heart was pounding in her chest, and her breathing was shallow. Kat knew the voice had come from the temple, yet her feet longed to flee out of the city. To return home. Her head spun, and Kat turned in circles as she tried to decide whether to obey the voice or run.
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