Towards the hidden entrance to the catacombs. By Carlos del Puente

 Towards the hidden entrance to the catacombs. In the heart of a bustling city, unbeknownst to its inhabitants, a quiet park nestled between the steel giants of architecture. It was here, under the guise of a serene afternoon, that a peculiar scent lingered, hinting at something ancient and buried beneath the concrete sprawl. The air had the aroma of blooming flowers and a hint of something musky, almost metallic. A young archaeologist named Alex stumbled upon the park while searching for a brief respite from the city's relentless pace. His eyes fell upon a peculiar stone structure, an unassuming statue of a creature that looked like a cross between a lion and a human, its expression fierce yet thoughtful. The statue's pedestal was worn and covered in moss, which was unusual in such a well-maintained urban space. Intrigued, Alex approached, feeling the cool stone beneath his fingertips. As he examined the statue, Alex noticed a peculiar detail: a small, almost imperceptible groove on the lion-man's hand. His curiosity piqued, he gently inserted his finger into the groove. With a soft click, a hidden compartment opened, revealing a tarnished key. His heart racing, he realized this was no mere decoration—it was an invitation to a world hidden from the prying eyes of the modern world. The key was surprisingly heavy, weighing down his pocket as he cautiously explored the surrounding area for any indication of where it might lead. His gaze fell upon a clump of overgrown bushes, which, upon closer inspection, concealed a hidden entrance. The arched doorway was made of ancient bricks, the mortar crumbling with time but still holding strong. The air grew colder as he approached, the scent of earth and dust mingling with the metallic tang of antiquity. Alex paused, his hand hovering over the key, feeling the weight of the unknown pressing down on him. With a deep breath, he slid the key into the rusted lock, turning it with a grating sound that echoed through the park. The door creaked open, revealing a staircase that spiraled down into the darkness. He fumbled for his flashlight, the beam cutting through the gloom to reveal a series of arches leading into the bowels of the earth. Each step downward was a silent promise of discovery, the dust of centuries rising to greet him like a veil drawn back from a long-forgotten secret. The catacombs beneath the city were vast and eerie, a labyrinth of corridors that stretched into the abyss. The air grew thick with the scent of mold and the distant whispers of the earth itself. His footsteps echoed off the damp walls, the sound bouncing back to him like a ghostly chorus. Alex's heart pounded in his chest, a mix of excitement and fear, as he descended further into the shadowy depths. The beam of his flashlight danced across the walls, illuminating frescoes that depicted scenes of a civilization lost to time, their faces frozen in moments of triumph and despair. The walls grew more ornate as he progressed, the air grew colder, and the scent grew stronger—now unmistakably metallic. It was a smell he'd encountered before in his archaeological digs, one that spoke of ancient artifacts and forgotten treasures. His pulse quickened as the path grew steeper, leading him to a chamber where the walls were adorned with intricate carvings of lions intertwined with human figures. The floor was a mosaic of shattered tiles, the remnants of a once-beautiful artwork now scattered like a jigsaw puzzle thrown into chaos. In the center of the room stood a pedestal, and upon it, a gleaming artifact pulsed with an eerie light. It was a dagger, its hilt encrusted with precious gems, its blade etched with ancient runes that seemed to dance in the flickering beam of the flashlight. Alex felt an inexplicable pull towards it, as if the very essence of the city's history was calling out to him. He reached out, his hand trembling slightly, and took the dagger. The moment his skin touched the metal, the catacombs around him shuddered, and the air grew thick with a sudden, electric charge. He had found the heart of the secret, but little did he know that he had also set into motion events that would forever alter the fate of the city above.

By Carlos del Puente