Guardians of Time (GoT)

Tik…tok…tik…tok…tik…tok…

The clock's reverberating tick-tock echoing off unseen walls. Darkness stretched endlessly, an boundless void. No edges, no corners, no escape.

Ryan stiffened, petrified. Experience taught him that any movement during the clock's ominous chime would condemn him to gradual dissolution. Limbs would fade, fingers disappearing first, then hands, forearms, and finally, his entire being.

Breath caught in his throat, Ryan froze. The clock's rhythmic beat quickened, intensifying his fear. Sweat trickled down his spine as he strained to listen. Each tick resonated like a death knell.

'Shit! This dream again,' he cursed inwardly.

The same nightmares often occurred since he was a little kid. He didn't remember when he got his first nightmare, but it was always the same scenes, over and over, and each time he would experienced the same horrors and fatigue feelings every time he woke up from those nightmares.

Tik…tok…tik…tok…

As the clock's tick-tock gradually faded, Ryan's tension escalated.

'Here we go,' he muttered inwardly, bracing himself for the horrors that would follow.

Tik…tok…tik…tok…

Tap…tap…tap…tap…

Now there was footsteps. The fading clock sounds were in line with the footsteps sounds, echoed through the darkness, growing louder with each passing moment. It was gradually louder as if someone was coming towards him.

Ryan's focus narrowed to the sounds, his heartbeats intensified, as if it wanted to win over the other sounds. Sweat trickled down his spine as he strained to listen.

But Ryan kept focusing.

Suddenly, the footsteps quickened, resembling a frantic sprint. It was like someone was running to him. It was getting closer and closer, but the clock sounds hadn't vanished at all. Ryan's breath caught in his throat.

'Damn it! Hurry up!'

The footsteps got closer, but no one was in view. The darkness was indeed too thick so he couldn't see anything but weirdly he could see his own body.

Tap…tap…tap…tap…

Finally the clock sounds disappeared, and only footsteps could be heard. Ryan moved his body and ran as fast as he could. No matter where the direction he took, he just had to run away from the footsteps.

The footsteps were also getting faster, as if it was now behind him. Suddenly, hot breath grazed his neck, sending shivers down his spine. He felt the warmth of another presence, the scent of damp earth and decay wafting through the air. Ryan took off in a frantic sprint, unsure of his direction, driven solely by the urge to escape. His legs pumped furiously, but the footsteps behind him kept pace.

'Damn it! Damn it!'

Ryan's sprint seemed eternal. The darkness blurred around him. His breath came in ragged gasps, lungs burning. He grew tired. Time lost meaning as he ran blindly.

Suddenly, a thunderous growl shook the air. Massive fangs materialized from the darkness, their gleaming lengths rivaling his arm span and their girth matching his thighs. The razor-sharp tips seemed to hunger for his flesh.

Illuminated by an ethereal, soft-white glow, the fangs shimmered. The gentle radiance contrasted eerily with the darkness, casting an otherworldly aura. Shadows danced around the fangs, amplifying their menacing presence.

Ryan's gaze locked onto the gleaming teeth, transfixed by terror. The growl deepened, vibrations resonating through his entire being. Time suspended, leaving only the looming threat.

It's an open maw of a gigantic beast.

Ryan screamed and tried to stop and changed his direction. But it was too late. The beast's fangs were closing off after Ryan got inside its maw.

The beast's hot breath enveloped him, reeking of decay. He squeezed his eyes shut, willing the nightmare to end.

***

Ryan jolted awake, gasping for breath. Sweat-drenched shirt clung to his torso, heart racing wildly. He buried his face in his palms.

'Why won't these nightmares leave me?'

Years of research, countless documents, and explorations yielded no answers. The random, unsettling dreams haunted him, refusing to relinquish their grip. Their unnerving realism lingered.

As sanity returned, the soothing sound of waves crashing against the ship calmed his frazzled nerves. The darkness outside his cabin window was absolute, punctuated only by the ship's gentle rocking. It was 5 a.m. in Egypt time. 

Ryan rose, pouring a glass of water from the desk pitcher. He drained it, then shed his damp shirt. The cabin's simplicity reflected his focus: single bed, desk and compact cabinet. Papers stacked neatly–documents and journals for his next excavation.

He took off his wet shirt. 

'It does feel very hot.'

Ryan, 23, boasted rugged features honed from years of excavating ancient sites. His angular face, framed by dark hair, was punctuated by piercing blue eyes.

Haunting nightmares had fueled his obsessive quest for answers since little kid. Desperate to end his tormenting dreams, Ryan studied ancient civilizations – from Egypt's pyramids to Mesopotamia's ruins.

His vast expertise spanned ancient cultures: Egyptian mythology, Mesopotamian archaeology, Greek and Roman ruins, and Asian and African civilizations.

Specializing in text analysis, excavation, and historical interpretation, Ryan's knowledge was unparalleled. Colleagues admired his meticulousness and insightful theories. Yet, Ryan couldn't explain the inexplicable pull that drew him deeper into the mysteries of the past had anything to do with his nightmares.

Peering into the darkness outside his ship's window, he wondered:

'Was it hot last time I came here?'

Shrugging, he dismissed the thought.

Without bothering to change into a new shirt, Ryan settled into his chair, pouring over documents. Sleep eluded him, as usual. He immersed himself in work, trying to forget the nightmare lingered feelings.