THE ORB

ning felt different. The usual cheerful chirping of birds

ecking the digging zones. Pickles was already nose-deep in one

chuckling. "You're gonna

hing made him stop. A faint noise-like a deep, low rumble-came from th

that?" h

He barked once, sharply, then returned

st visitors arrived, the park was buzzing with its usual energy. Dogs barked

emed normal u

oles. His owner, Mrs. Harper, sipped her iced tea as Duke furiously wor

, waving him over. "S

iping his hands on his

Harper said, pointing. "But look

tearing at the ground like he was trying to uncover something

kneeling next to Duke's hole.

out a sharp bark and stepped back, his ears flat against

son said softly.

e realized it wasn't just dirt. His fingers

Harper asked, her voi

te buried in the ground. It was rusted and dente

is was here?" Mr

I mean, this whole yard was just

red around. The dogs, too, seemed uneasy. A few barked at th

Jenkins suggested, scratching

ld it be? On the other, he felt a strange knot in his st

said, grabbing a small shovel. "Maybe it'

plate. It was larger than he expected-about the size of a small doo

e is that?" s

on said, brushin

deep noise Jackson had heard that morning. This time, it w

Mrs. Harper said, p

d. It wasn't much-just a slight tilt-but enou

ve?" Mr. Jenkins a

lowed hard.

rcling the hole and grow

rs. Harper said nervously

aution. But before he could decide, the plate m

a crack formed along the edge of the plate.

step back!"

he ground, disappearing with a deep, echoing thud. Dust and d

ppened?" some

hole, which was now much larger. H

a dark, yawning void-a tunnel leading into the earth.

Mrs. Harper asked,

ed slowly. "

ly, their excitement from

you should call the town council o

e tunnel. Something about it called to him, a m

omething down ther

?" Mrs. Ha

e? Artifacts? Something amaz

e a closer look,"

id. "You don't know what's down

n said, grabbing a flashl

agging his ta

Jackson said, kneeling to pet him. "

flashlight and pointed it into the tunnel. The flickering light he'd seen earlier wasn't fir

at?" someon

uldn't turn back now. Slowly, he lowered himself into

cast eerie shadows. Jackson's flashlight beam danced ah

son!" Mrs. Harper

" he sho

tly, and as Jackson tur

tood a strange, towering structure-like an obelisk made of the same glowing

th went dry.

g as if the energy in the room interfered with it. The ai

um filled the air. It wasn't loud, but it vibrated

ened, casting the cavern in a blinding glow

, the hu

hed in a soft glow once again. Jackson l

unsettling feeling that whatever he'd

ondered if he'd dug up m