STB WEEK 56: NUMBER 10

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People swarmed the lost city of Oro. Sander actively leading the operation of excavating the ruins discovered a few days ago. Oro, a historical city rumored to be blessed in mineral resources, gold being the most prominent. It was supposed to be a myth, but now it wasn’t. Sander’s energy is contagious and Ryan, fresh out of college with a mind more curious than a cat, trailed after him sucking on his fifth cup of coffee. The excitement was palpable. Afterall, this was Sander’s big break after almost a decade as an Archeologist.

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Ryan, eager and excited, follows around as the team uncovers evidences of the lost city; spears and spoons made of gold, slippers woven from wool, and things you just wouldn’t see in the modern world. He isn’t idle but sets to make his own discovery. He uncovers a weight scale and a few more spear tips. Then he moves further away, buried in the excitement of his job. With concentrated steps, he digs into a clearing. The swell of the spot looked unusual and drew him in. After a few minutes, a red crystal winked back at him. Adrenaline coursed through his veins and he very well knew it wasn’t from having too much coffee that morning.

The dirt gives way to his intrusion and Ryan finds the crystal is actually a lever. He pulls without hesitation and a groan rumbled from the ground. Taking a step back, he watched the sand bare to reveal a hatch. Ryan cautiously examined his finding and starts a little when the hatch begins to lift slowly. Ryan peeps into the open space and sees nothing but darkness.

“Guys!” He yells, waving to get attention. Sanders who was concentrated on getting information heads for the waving boy. His excitement spikes when he sees the open hatch and signals for the team. They all take a flight of stairs down, using rechargeable lanterns.

“Oh my God!” Sander says in wonder.

“Whoa!” Ryan seconds

Unlike the discovery above, this place is encased in the art of modern decorations. Furnished floors, debilitated walls and drawers that told the stories of civilization; marble counter tops and couches. A reading table and notebooks different from the papyrus they discovered at the top. Mugs and foam cups.

The place lights up as conversations fill the room, cameras go off rapidly, calls are sent out and received. Plastic bags are filled with collectibles for proper investigations and questions thrown here and there. In the midst of all this, no one seems to notice the statue-like tomb stone right at the center of the room. All except Ryan who walks briskly to take a closer look. Ancient paddings and handwritings greet him but what snatches his attention is the presence of hinges.

Hinges…

Ryan walks around the tomb and sure enough, he finds a latch. Ryan unlocks it and slowly but steadily lifts the cover off the tomb. The air from the tomb is stale. Deteriorated woolen materials lay dormant on rotten bones. Just then, Ryan sees a black book tucked under what used to be the arm of the bones. He picks it up. The top of the tomb remains open as he flips through to the first page and realizes that it is a diary. His blood heats up and his head spins. In one swift move he tucks the book in his leather jacket just as Sander comes up behind him,

“Now, that is a sight.”

Ryan jumps making Sander laugh as he begins to examine the tomb. Ryan pulls away just as a woman walks in and says,

“Anyone have any idea why this place reminds me so much of New York despite being ancient?” A few chuckles ring out but Ryan just curiously walks into the kitchen where an espresso machine is being dismantled.

"Still looks in good shape." One of the workers says.

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News outlets arrive on the scene and Sander is interviewed and asked various questions. Ryan stands beside him with little to no attention on the journalists or his proud boss. His thoughts entirely focused on the book tucked away.

Ryan doesn’t even wait to get to his bedroom in his small apartment before he digs into the treasure hidden in his jacket. The first page tells that the book is a diary. The second page is a list of names numbered 1 to 9 with dates attached. Ryan watches in awe and fascination as the number 10 appears with no name. His heart rate speeds up as he comes to realize that this was no ordinary notebook.

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He flips the page and is assaulted by a bright light, he drops the book but as his eyes shut, images take a hold of his mind. Pain floods through his head as memories barraged him. Each of the nine names became a face and the story of their power unveiled. They were all warriors with the power to travel through space and time. They were gate keepers and they provided Oro the technology it needed to defend themselves against their enemies. Ryan eyes flip open but then he sees himself, as a child, a short summary of his whole life flashes before his eyes until it gets to the moment, he took the diary out of the tomb. The diary flips and the number 10 appears. Beside it the name RYAN GOSLING, 1999.

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