> He had found some hope, a glimmer of light, But it didn't last long, fate turned it to night. Trouble came knocking, but this time was different, He had friends by his side, a powerful contingent.

>

> He discovered a power, but what could it be? Would he use it to reach his quest, to set himself free? In this ancient society, with mysteries untold, Only time will reveal the future that will unfold.

>

> So buckle up and hold on tight, The journey ahead will be a magnificent sight.

ALL THE POETRY AT THE START OF EACH CHAPTER LINKS WITH THE BOOK EITHER NOW OR IN THE FUTURE

A Close Brush with Death

ONE WEEK LATER

As Jack stood at the entrance of the shop, he could feel the scorching heat of the afternoon sun beating down on his skin. The sound of commotion outside grew louder, and he turned to see a group of rough-looking men approaching, their faces obscured by dirty headwraps.

The old man's expression turned grim as he whispered to Jack, "Bandits. They're here to collect the illegal tax."

Jack could hear the bandits' heavy footsteps approaching as they barged into the shop, demanding their illegal tax. The musty scent of sweat and dirt clung to their bodies, making Jack feel queasy. The old man's face turned pale as the bandits got closer, his hands shaking with fear.

The old man tried to reason with them, but they were unyielding in their demands. Jack could hear the bandits' gruff voices, their words laced with threats and anger.

"Give me the money you old geezer, or I will break everything in this shop," one of the bandits growled, his eyes filled with malice.

"I'm sorry, please, you're asking for too much. I'll go bankrupt," the old man pleaded, his voice trembling with fear.

"Move!" The bandit pushed the old man to the side, causing him to stumble and nearly fall to the ground.

Jack's heart raced as he watched the scene unfold before him. He could feel the adrenaline pumping through his veins as he tried to think of a way to help. Suddenly, Ayman stepped forward, his eyes blazing with fury.

"What do you want from us?" Ayman asked, his voice firm and commanding.

"We want our money, and we want it now," another bandit snarled, his face twisted with anger.

Ayman took a deep breath and tried to negotiate with them, for a moment, it seemed like his words were having an effect. The bandits looked uncertain, glancing at each other with indecision.

But suddenly, one of the bandits lunged forward and grabbed Ayman by the arm. Jack's instincts kicked in, and he rushed forward to try and free his friend from the bandit's grasp. The bandit held on tight, and Jack could see the fear in Ayman's eyes as he struggled to break free.

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"Let him go, you son of a bitch!" Jack shouted, his voice filled with anger.

The bandit sneered at him and tightened his grip, causing Ayman to wince in pain. Jack could feel his heart pounding in his chest as he tried to think of a way to save his friend Ayman.

Jack charged towards the group of bandits, his heart pounding with adrenaline. He swiftly freed Ayman from the grasp of the thugs, but as he turned to make his escape, one of the bandits lunged at him, grabbing hold of his foot.

Jack struggled to break free, but the bandit's grip was too strong. He could feel the breath of the bandit on his face as he snarled, "You think you can just waltz in here and take what you want? Think again, boy."

Jack gritted his teeth, his mind racing with thoughts of how to escape. But it was too late.

The air crackled with tension as the bandits relentlessly attacked jack. Their savage determination was palpable, and I could see the glint of malice in their eyes. Every bone in his body ached from the blows, and I struggled to keep my footing as the fight intensified.

The sweltering heat of the day bore down upon me, making it difficult to breathe. i could feel the sweat soaking through my clothes, and my vision began to blur from the exhaustion. The bandits showed no mercy, their weapons raining down upon me with alarming force.

"Please! Stop! We'll give you whatever you want!" Ayman shouted, desperation lacing his voice.

But the bandits seemed to take pleasure in their violence, ignoring Ayman's plea and continuing to focus their assault on Jack. He stumbled backward, his legs shaky and unsteady.

I their weapons raised for the final blow. Panic set in as he realized that I was hopelessly outmatched.

In that moment, I felt a surge of fear and desperation. Death loomed over me, a hot breath on my skin. I knew I had to do something, anything, to turn the tide of the battle. Just when all hope seemed lost, something strange happened.

An immense power surged from deep within Jack's body, like a bolt of lightning coursing through his veins. The energy flowed through him like a raging river, and he felt it surge outward in a brilliant burst of light.

The bandits near him were cut in half by the force of the explosion, their bodies torn apart in a gruesome display of gore. Blood and entrails sprayed everywhere, staining the dusty ground with shades of red. Jack stood there, trembling and breathless, staring in shock at what had just happened.

Ayman and the old man looked on in shock and horror at the gruesome scene before them. The old man's eyes widened in disbelief, and he stumbled backward, his hand covering his mouth. Ayman's expression was one of mixed emotions - awe and fear mixed with disbelief and confusion.

They had never seen anything like this before, and it was clear that they were both struggling to process what had just happened. The old man's hands trembled as he tried to steady himself, while Ayman stood frozen in place, his eyes fixed on the carnage before him.

Finally, after what seemed like an eternity, Ayman found his voice. "Please, Jack! What...what was that? What just happened?" he asked, his voice trembling with fear and uncertainty.

"I don't know," Jack replied, still trying to catch his breath. "I...I felt this energy inside me, and it just erupted. I didn't know what was happening."

The old man stepped forward, his eyes still wide with shock. "What have you done," he said, his voice low and serious.

For a few moments, there was silence as they all stood there, staring at the mutilated bodies of the bandits. The smell of blood and death hung heavy in the air, and I could see the shock and horror etched on both of their faces.

jack felt a surge of power course through him, awakening a force that he had never known existed before. As he stood amidst the carnage of the defeated bandits, he couldn't help but grapple with the reality of what he had just done - taken human lives with his own hands. The remaining bandits stared at him in shock and dismay, their faces twisted with fear and disbelief as they stumbled backwards, tripping over each other in their haste to retreat.

As they fled, one of them turned back and shouted a warning, "You will pay for this! You have killed a member of the Anubis! We will find you and make you pay!"

Jack stood there, panting and covered in blood, staring after them in disbelief. The Anubis? He had never heard of them before, but their threat hung over him like a dark cloud, a portent of danger to come.

Ayman and the old man rushed over to Jack, their faces a mixture of awe and fear. "What...what was that?" Ayman stammered, pointing at the corpses of the bandits.

"I don't know," Jack replied, his mind still reeling from the intensity of the experience. "It was like...like something inside me just...exploded."

The old man's face was grave as he spoke, "my friend. You have made a dangerous enemy today. we must escape before its too late."

Jack nodded solemnly, his heart heavy with the weight of the old man's words. He knew that he would have to be on guard from now on, for the threat of the Anubis loomed over him like a shadow, ready to strike at any moment. The stench of blood and death permeated the air, and Jack couldn't help but wonder what other horrors awaited him in this new world of power and darkness.