Introduction

Strolling through the rural streets of Mexico, my friends and I found ourselves ascending a hill that resembled a pyramid, apparently it appeared out of thin air a few months ago and is now a big tourist attraction. Among us, there was Joel—or so I thought—the name slipping from my memory like an elusive wisp of smoke. As a heated debate unfolded among them, I yearned for distance and surged forward with a wooden staff clutched firmly in my grasp.

At the summit of this peculiar "pyramid," I passed a diminutive hut-like dwelling. Fatigue overcame me, prompting me to rest upon a black stone. To my astonishment, the stone stirred beneath me, setting my heart racing. My gaze darted sideways, locking onto a forbidding black void, a menacing abyss. Startled by this sudden revelation, I leaped to safety, my curiosity undiminished.

Peering into the inky darkness, I sensed an uninvited presence. The hairs on the nape of my neck stood on end, and my senses stirred to life, alerting me to the existence of an unknown companion. Casting a glance toward the hut, I discerned the hushed voices of two men engaged in conversation by its entrance. Dispelling my unease, I redirected my attention to the mysterious opening.

Now, it bore an uncanny resemblance to the interior of a volcano. The walls were adorned with rocks coated in an enigmatic substance, which gleamed as they captured the faint rays of light. Could they truly be... diamonds?

Once more, an eerie sensation washed over me, and I detected another watcher. Glancing back at the spot where I had sat moments ago, I spotted a masked figure stealthily approaching. His face hidden behind a mask as black as midnight, he moved with deliberate intent. I returned my gaze to the abyss and noticed a sliding cover, obscured by rocks yet eerily levitating. Confusion gnawed at me, and an unknown warning impelled me to flee.

I bolted down the mountainside, zigzagging past rocks and trees. In the distance, the ominous padding of footsteps pursued me—the masked man. An otherworldly detachment gripped me as I realized he brandished a firearm and began to unleash a torrent of bullets. Was I his intended target? I dared not dwell on it, nor did I care to find out. Panic rippled through the crowd as others heard the gunshots and joined the frantic escape.

Then, as suddenly as the dream had begun, I awoke. My heart pounded, sweat drenched my skin, and I blinked away the disorienting haze. I found myself face to face with a metallic wall, a stark contrast to my familiar motel room. A voice called out, "Myra?" I turned towards it and saw the puzzled expressions on the faces of Joel, Camila, and Ronnie. Before any of us could speak, a metal door slid open, revealing a mysterious silhouette...