The Forgotten City

The dense jungle parted like a curtain, revealing the sprawling ruins of the forgotten city. Towering spires, weathered by time and nature, jutted toward the sky, entangled in vines as thick as a man's arm. The city—ancient, immense, alive—loomed before them, as if it had been waiting all along. The air was thick with anticipation, the weight of secrets clinging to every crumbling stone. It was a place lost to time, yet it pulsed with an energy that none of them could ignore.

Adrian staggered forward, his eyes glazed, sweat dripping from his brow. His breath was labored, each step a monumental effort. He had seen this place before—in dreams, in nightmares. He felt its pull, the city reaching for him, a silent, invisible hand tightening around his throat. Every muscle in his body screamed for rest, but he couldn’t stop. Not now.

“Adrian, you need to rest.” Lena’s voice was steady, though her concern bled through her calm exterior. She placed a hand on his shoulder, but Adrian shrugged i