It had been weeks since HQ sent him out on this solo recon mission.Middle of nowhere. Mountains, dust, and ruins.And now, this.
An old Greek temple, half buried under the earth, stood like a stubborn memory refusing to fade.
"He got the action, he got the motion...""Oh yeah, the boy can play..."
Darius bobbed his head to the beat, the lyrics spilling from his lips as he marched up the hill, boots crunching over gravel.
"Dededeh-deh-deh, do the walk of life...""Doo the walk of life..."
The sun beat down, his vest heavy with gear, rifle slung across his back, night vision goggles on his forehead. He looked like a soldier. Felt like a tourist.
He smiled as he approached the temple entrance, still mouthing the chorus.
"Here comes Johnny singing oldies, goldies...""Be-Bop-A-Lula, baby what I say..."
The stone steps creaked under his weight. Moss clung to the edges.He reached the threshold of the inner chamber.
Darius sighed.
"Alright, fun's over."
He took out his earbuds and tucked them into his chest pocket.Silence flooded in like a tide.
Inside, only darkness. Ancient stone. Cold air.
His smile faded.He adjusted the goggles and stepped inside, slow and quiet.
"Okay HQ, let's see what you dragged me into this time…"
In front of him stood a massive stone door. He didn't know how much it weighed, but just pulling an old lever slightly was enough to open it.
Taking careful steps, Darius entered the ancient temple. The passage was wide enough for two people to walk side by side. It was dark, but his night vision goggles made it easy to move through without trouble.
They sent me here for what? A fucking old Greek temple? Do I look like an archaeologist?He muttered to himself while walking, until he reached a wide hall. Statues of the old gods lined the sides—Ares, Athena, Artemis, Apollo. He remembered them from college mythology books.
Credit where it's due—the sculptor was a master. These were the most lifelike statues he had ever seen.
He guessed this place was some kind of church.
At the end of the hall, there was a black door. If you didn't look carefully, you might miss it. But orders were orders, and the faster he finished, the faster he could go home.
As he pushed it open, his heart tensed. A cold air rushed against his face from inside.
Hah, another statue. Great.I already took photos of the others—let's get this over with.
Darius walked around the last god. This one was different: black stone instead of white, a hood covering its face, a flame in its right hand, and the left arm extended in a welcoming gesture.
He stepped in front of it to get a close-up.
Okay... switching mode and… say cheese.
As the flash went off, the entire room lit up—and the statue's eyes opened, glowing blue.
Darius was no longer there.
.....
Hhhrrgh… fuck, that hurts.Darius opened his eyes slowly, every nerve in his body screaming. He tried to move, but the pain was intense.
What the hell just happened?I was taking the photo… then the eyes… blue… and then—
His thoughts raced, trying to make sense of it.
Okay, stay calm. Report first. Radio.He reached for the pouch on his left hip—but it wasn't there.
Neither were his pants.
He looked down. Shorts. Sandals. Thin arms.
No… not just his arms.
His whole body.
A child's body.
What the actual fuck is going on here?