Reno stared at his father with an expression of newfound understanding, though beneath it, hidden from the others in the conversation, lay a trace of shock. The entire operation was driven by his father's mere suspicion and hope of uncovering the origins of an ancient family artifact. It seemed uncharacteristic for his father to act in this way, especially given the lack of concrete evidence suggesting there would have been anything to be found here. There was a chance, of course, but from his perspective it had been a slim one, almost inconsequential.

His father was a man governed by cold calculation, someone who rarely took risks. As a seasoned businessman, he meticulously planned everything, never venturing into unknown territory without thorough reconnaissance. The risk of losing something or inadvertently stirring up unforeseen consequences guided all his business decisions and many other aspects of his life. This cautious approach had not only preserved the Schneeberg family’s wealth but had also increased it over the decades. When he did take risks, they were always calculated, never reckless or driven by sudden impulses.

Yet Reno had heard his father’s words clearly—words that suggested an obsession with this strange piece of parchment. Perhaps this was one of those rare, irrational desires Reno had never seen in his father before. His father even mentioned that this piece of history held great significance to their ancestors, almost like a relic. Another possibility was that his father had accumulated so much wealth that a small sponsorship felt inconsequential—but no, Reno knew him too well. Wastefulness was out of character. This excavation must have held deep personal importance for his father, something rooted in family heritage.

But why was his father so obsessed? Reno couldn’t know for sure. After all, reading another’s thoughts was impossible.

Reno refocused his attention on the others in the tent. The heat inside was stifling, causing sweat to bead on his forehead, but it was nothing compared to the rising discomfort in his chest. Then, a stray thought struck him. Could this have something to do with his persistent sense of foreboding? Was there a logical reason for the dark feelings that had haunted him since he first laid eyes on the ruins of the ancient city? His father’s explanation hadn’t calmed his thoughts; if anything, it only deepened his unease.

His father had always been a man of logic and reason, a pillar of stability in Reno's life. Yet here he was, driven by an obsession with a relic from their family's past. It was unsettling to see this deviation from his father's usual demeanor, to witness the man who had always been so grounded in reality now chasing shadows and whispers of the past. Of course he didn't forget about the family's history with archeology and ancient artifact gathering but this still felt weird. Reno couldn't shake the feeling that something was terribly wrong with this situation, that they were all being led into something far beyond their control.

Reno shook his head slightly, questioning his own thoughts. Was something wrong with his brain? Perhaps he needed to see a therapist more than he had initially thought - the near panic attacke came to mind as well - maybe he would even need to get a brain scan, just to be safe. Despite his doubts, he suddenly felt compelled to voice his concerns.

“Uh, Father, what you just told us is really fascinating—”

Before he could continue though, Dieb interrupted him, his excitement palpable. “Fascinating! It is indeed fascinating Reno! You have found the perfect word to describe to it. That’s a truly intriguing story, Mr. Schneeberg! I had no idea your motivations ran that deep!”

Reno’s lips twitched slightly as he glanced at Dr. Dieb’s eager expression. The man was practically glowing with enthusiasm, his eyes shining with a curiosity that Reno found unnerving. There was something about Dieb’s unbridled excitement that made Reno uneasy as well, as if the man was more interested in the mystery than the potential dangers it held. Refusing to be interrupted again, Reno spoke once more, his voice firmer.

“Indeed, very fascinating … but I have a bad feeling about this. I don’t know how to explain it, but something feels wrong. The ruins are unsettling, almost repelling. It’s like an instinct.”

The room fell silent as everyone turned to look at him, their eyes questioning. Reno felt their gazes like a physical weight, pressing down on him, making him uncomfortable, but he stood his ground. He had to. The unease gnawing at him was too intense to ignore.

“I know it sounds irrational and random, but this feeling has haunted me since the day I arrived. Maybe … it would be better not to dig any further. Best if you abandoned ... the excavation works for the time.”

The silence lingered, heavy and oppressive, until, to Reno’s surprise, his brother James spoke instead of their father. “Are you serious, Reno? Or are you joking?”

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Reno met his brother’s gaze with a strange expression, a mixture of frustration and confusion. “I’m absolutely serious. I’ve never been one to joke much, and this isn’t one of those rare instances. I can’t explain it, but I’m being earnest.”

James’s expression turned to one of concern, his brow furrowing as he studied Reno’s face. “Reno, maybe the heat has gotten to you. I know you’ve always been a bit paranoid, and that’s often a good trait, but…”

He glanced at their father before continuing. “This seems a bit too paranoid, even for you. I can tell you’re serious, but what exactly is wrong with the ruins? They look like any other to me. And basing a decision on a bad feeling or premonition? Are you really serious?”

Reno hesitated, unsure of how to respond. He knew how foolish it sounded and was equally baffled by his own irrational fear. Perhaps it was really just a mental condition that had developed during his travels, even though he couldn’t understand how it had come about.

He had only been in the desert for a week and a half—hardly enough time for something like this to manifest. Reno was as confused by his own mind as they were by his statement. He had been this whole time already actually.

After a moment of hesitation, he reluctantly shook his head in defeat.

“Ugh, don’t listen to me. Maybe you’re right. The climate has probably affected my mind, causing some kind of anxiety disorder. Or maybe I had one before, and it’s just intensifying now.”

James’s worry only deepened, and even their father’s usually stoic facade showed signs of concern. Dr. Dieb, however, remained unfazed, his bright demeanor unshaken like always - except for that one time when he was lifted out of the dome of course …

Reno rubbed his temples, pushing aside the unsettling memory. He had probably imagined that as well as the dark expression of the experts back in the tent when they had looked at the pictures.

“I’ll leave if it doesn’t get any better and find a specialist. Don’t worry.”

Though he tried to rationalize his state of mind, Reno couldn’t shake the feeling that something was deeply wrong. The fear gnawed at him, refusing to dissipate.

After revealing his troubling mental state, the four of them discussed the next steps. To Reno’s dismay, they planned to find an entrance to the cave beneath the city as soon as possible despite his warning. The excitement others felt was lost on him; all he wanted was to leave. Confessing his fears hadn’t provided the relief he’d hoped for.

As they left the tent, Reno made his way back through the sand to his quarters outside the valley. The farther he got from the site, the better he felt even though the unsettling feelings never left him. It was a bizarre sensation though, as if the distance from the ruins lessened the weight pressing on his chest. The oppressive heat of the desert, which had seemed unbearable moments ago, now felt like a small price to pay for the relief that came with each step away from the ancient city.

When he reached his tent, he sighed and unzipped the entrance. He decided to check his vitals, just to ensure his physical health was intact. From a metallic suitcase, he retrieved several medical instruments he always carried with him when traveling to remote locations or on vacation.

The tests didn’t take long. His temperature was normal, his heart rate and blood pressure were steady, and even his blood levels were within the healthy range. Physically, he seemed perfectly fine. But his mental state was a different matter—hard to diagnose, even more so to self-diagnose.

He stared at the medical instruments spread out before him, feeling a sense of unease despite the reassuring results. Everything pointed to him being in perfect health, yet the gnawing fear persisted, as if some dark force was clawing at the edges of his consciousness.

Should he leave now and drive back to the nearest town? But that would take too long…

No, it wouldn’t. There was a helicopter he could use. His father wouldn’t mind. Despite his often distant demeanor toward him, he cared for Reno, at least a little, having raised him alongside James. Their father wasn’t heartless.

Yes, Reno would ask him tomorrow. For now, he wanted to sleep though. He felt utterly exhausted, and the pilots, having only just arrived, would likely want to rest before making the return flight as well.

Reno looked around his tent, studying its interior. Soon, he would leave it behind after only three days.

He couldn’t wait to depart. Nothing was holding him here. James’s decision to bring him had proven to be a mistake. Still, a part of him felt guilty for leaving them behind. But why should he? This was only his undiagnosed mental illness talking… right?

“Damn it, how did I become this insane in such a short time?”

With a few quick strides, Reno threw himself onto his bed, surrendering to sleep, eager to escape the irrational darkness in his mind.

But as he lay there, trying to let sleep take him, the unease lingered. His mind, despite his exhaustion, wouldn’t shut off. Thoughts of the ruins, of the strange pull they seemed to have on his father, kept swirling in his head. What if there was something more to it? What if his instincts, irrational as they seemed, were warning him of a real danger?

He turned onto his side, trying to push the thoughts away, but they kept coming. The ruins, the ancient city, the cave, his father's obsession—what if it was all connected in some way he couldn't yet comprehend?

Reno closed his eyes tightly, willing himself to sleep, but it was no use. The questions, the doubts, refused to let him rest.

He sat up in bed, the darkness of the tent closing in around him. Maybe he wasn’t as crazy as he thought. Maybe, just maybe, his instincts were trying to tell him something. Something important.

Reno sighed, running a hand through his hair. He needed answers, but he wasn’t going to find them here, lying in his tent, drowning in his thoughts.

Tomorrow. Tomorrow he would speak to his father again, try to get to the bottom of this. And if his instincts still screamed at him to leave, he would do just that.

But for now, all he could do was try to rest. He lay back down, pulling the thin sheet over himself, and closed his eyes once more, hoping that sleep would finally come.

It finally did after an unknown period of time.