LOVE BEYOND TIME

CHAPTER 3

EMILY FOSTER

As I observe the bone through the lens of the microscope, a sense of shock begins to overwhelm me more and more.

This skull, although it appears human, has characteristics that don't fully align with human anatomy.

There's something different, something strange and inexplicable.

I decide to record my observations on a voice recorder, giving voice to my thoughts as I continue my work.

“The skull found appears to be that of a man. However, there are non-human traits present in the bones. An anomaly that defies any logical explanation.”, I begin to record all my observations and details.

After recording my initial observations, I start writing down the details in my notebook, documenting each discovery with scientific precision.

It's important to document every aspect of this enigmatic skull so that I can better understand its origin and significance.

With a pair of gloves carefully put on, I begin more detailed analysis procedures.

Examining the teeth, I immediately notice that they are different from typical human teeth.

My God.

It seems that this bone is increasingly leaving me more confused and intrigued at the same time.

They are not particularly sharp, but their shape and size are unusual.

They are long, almost like fangs, and there are no signs of fillings or any kind of current dental procedure like today.

Many questions are on my mind at this moment, and I furrow my brow, realizing that I am entering new territory.

“There is no longer any presence of skin or human tissue, and this means that the death occurred a long time ago, but I still can't say when exactly.", I continue recording every important observation.

With the skull carefully positioned on my work table, I begin procedures to collect a DNA sample.

With the DNA sample collected, I place everything in a secure transport container and send it to the analysis lab, where it will be processed, and the results will be generated.

While waiting for the DNA test results, I decided to occupy my mind with research on the computer.

I type keywords related to unusual and strange skulls, analyzing images and existing studies in the hope of finding some similarity with the specimen I have with me.

However, none of the results match the mysterious skull on my table.

Frustrated, I return my attention to the DNA results as soon as they arrive.

I analyze every detail, searching for some personal identification in the available database systems.

But once again, I find only a dead end.

There are no matching records for the skull's DNA in any accessible database.

With a sigh of frustration, I compare the skull's genetic profile with the available identification data.

Again, there are no matches.

I grow increasingly frustrated because I still can't find any important answers about whose bone and mysterious necklace this was.

Determined to find some clue, I turn my attention back to the skull in front of me.

I carefully analyze the bones, calculating the approximate age of the person. I feel my shoulders tired because I spent the whole night in the hospital and didn't sleep, but this skull is attracting all my attention at this moment.

I sigh, blinking my eyes, before picking up my pen and writing another one of my observations in my notebook.

The skull seems to be that of a man in his mid-30s.

“Still no answers about you, mister mysterious skull...”, I murmur, sighing.

I close my eyes, feeling the pain returning to my leg, and I open my bag to take more medication when my eyes fix on the blue necklace inside my bag.

“You are a complete mystery to me, but I won't give up easily.”

With the bright blue necklace carefully positioned under the microscope, I begin my analysis, hoping to uncover more clues about the origin of the glowing stone.

As I carefully analyze it, I notice something I hadn't seen before on the necklace—there is some type of language engraved on the stone, a phrase that I can't understand.

Strange.

I decide to record the symbols and type them into the computer, hoping to find some clue about their origin.

The symbols don't match any known language, and I start to worry that I won't be able to go very far in this mysterious research.

I am a very experienced person in my work, but I have never seen anything like this. It seems ancient as if it had been in that forest waiting for me for a long time.

I'm almost ready to give up when I realize that the symbols engraved on the stone are not just random or decorative; they are part of an ancient language, perhaps a type of native language forgotten centuries ago.

I blink, shocked, and my eyes widen as I feel completely surprised by this idea.

I'm confused that something so old has been preserved in this necklace, lost in time until it was discovered by chance by me.

“I feel like I'm close...”, I whisper to myself, before focusing my attention on the computer in front of me.

I'm sure the internet can help me solve this problem.

Finally, after hours of extensive research, I've been rewarded with an ancient translation of the symbols engraved on the stone.

It was incredibly difficult to find anything about this strange language, but I finally did.

I look at the computer screen before writing down the meaning of the words in my notebook.

“We are born of the moon and die under the moon.”, I whisper the words with my brow furrowed.

My God, but what exactly does this mean?

Could it be an artifact from an ancient civilization that had a deep understanding of the cycles of life and death?

I look back at the skull before my eyes widen when I make a connection between the necklace and the mortal remains.

“This isn't possible...”, I shake my head, feeling my heart pound as I realize that this skull might be from many centuries ago.

I blink, feeling my headache more, and when I look up, I nearly scream in fright when I see a man standing before me on the other side of the table.

“Help me...”, he whispers, reaching out his hand toward me, and I notice the necklace around his neck.

“How can I help you?”, I whisper, trying to stay calm as I realize I'm talking to some kind of ghost or spirit.

“Help me...”, he says louder, calling out to me, and I feel tears in my eyes as I look at his body.

He's not wearing normal clothes; his upper body is exposed, with many symbols on his skin, and only the hide of some animal covers the other half of his body.

His golden eyes remain fixed on my face, and I realize that he is the same man I saw on the road.

“I don't understand, how can I help you?”

“Help me, please...”

I look at the necklace on the table and raise my hand before touching the stone, which seems to glow brighter at this moment.

A shiver runs down my body when I touch the bright blue stone.

The stone, previously luminous, now radiates an even more intense light, flooding the room completely with light.

I close my eyes, putting my hands in front of my face, and seconds later, everything goes dark for me, as if I'm falling into a deep, unknown hole.

When I finally regain consciousness, it's as if I'm waking up from a deep and very frightening sleep.

A groan escapes my lips as I slowly turn my head, trying to understand my situation.

I sigh, placing my hand on my head and feeling the pain, torturing me once again. I groan again, struggling to open my eyes.

I still don't know what happened to me, but I lost consciousness.

When I finally manage to open my eyes, the first thing I see in front of me is a dark sky full of stars.

Oh, no.

Oh, no.

What happened to me?

I blink my eyes again, trying to figure out if I'm having some kind of dream, but the stars and the moon shining in the sky seem very real to me.

It is then that I realize that I'm no longer in the safety of my workspace; I'm somewhere completely different.

I'm trembling, and I can feel my heart pounding inside my chest as I sit up and turn my head to look around.

I'm in a dense forest with many tall trees with dry branches in front of me. I've never been to this place before.

How did I get here? What happened to me after I passed out in the lab?

I take a deep breath before standing up, feeling the pain in my leg, but I blink my eyes, trying to maintain my balance as I feel weak and dizzy.

I'm completely confused in the dark forest.

Looking at the ground, I find the same necklace that was with me in the lab.

“What happened to me?”, I ask myself quietly before putting the necklace around my neck.

I need to find a way back to the lab, but I don't know where I am at this moment.

I start walking through the forest, trying to find some identification—some sound of cars or a neighborhood—but there's nothing except the cold wind and the night.

I'm scared and desperate, trying to find some way back to my workplace.

I realize I'm walking in circles, unable to find an exit from this forest that seems to be getting darker.

I raise my hands, touching the trees around me so as not to fall in the dark because I can't see anything now.

My eyes fix on a point in the dark forest when I hear the sound of something moving in the dark, and I stop walking.

I can't see what it is.

“Maybe it's just a rabbit, be brave, Emily...”, I whisper to myself.

But the sound continues, and my heart beats faster when I see a shadow moving.

It's not an animal; it looks like a person watching me.

“Hello? Is someone there? I'm lost and need help getting back to my house, please.”

There's been no response.

I keep looking at the shadow, and my eyes widen as I start to back away when I see two red eyes watching me.

I feel my skin crawl, and I realize that person is not here to help me.

I'm trembling with fear because I've never seen anything like this.

The eyes are red and fixed on me.

I look back, hearing the shadow moving, and I shake my head when I hear more footsteps coming toward me.

“No!”, I scream, starting to run in the dark and cold, trying to ignore the intense pain in my leg.

Tears stream down my face as I realize the shadow is chasing me.

“Help me, please!”, I scream, unable to see where I'm running.

I turn my head, feeling more fear as I realize the shadow is almost upon me.

I run faster, but I scream when I feel a hand grabbing my arm.

Seconds later, I scream, falling to the ground and hitting my head against a rock.

I groan in pain before turning my body, and seeing the creature above me.

“No, please!”, I scream when I realize the shadow is a person with terrifying red eyes.

The necklace around my neck begins to glow in the dark, and at that moment, I can see the face of a person.

It’s a man with sharp teeth, looking at me with a cruel smile.

“Someone help me!”, I cry as the man grabs my arms tightly while I continue to struggle on the ground.

I cry in fear as the man opens his mouth, displaying his teeth, ready to attack me.

“Let me go!”

“No one is coming to help you, human.”, the man says, leaning closer to my face.

My hand finds a rock, and I don’t hesitate to hit him hard on the head.

The man groans, and I quickly sit up, realizing that the blow didn’t completely affect him the way it would a normal person.