The sun dipped below the horizon, casting long shadows across the ruins of an ancient city lost to time. You wandered through the desolate landscape, your heart racing with excitement and trepidation. Tales of hidden treasures and secrets had drawn you here, to the heart of the desert. As you ventured deeper, the air grew thick with an otherworldly energy, a hum that tingled against your skin. You paused to examine an intricately carved stone tablet, its symbols half-eroded by centuries of sandstorms. A faint rustle echoed behind you, but when you turned, nothing was there. You shrugged it off, attributing it to the wind.

Unbeknownst to you, hidden in the shadows of the ruins, a mummy, watching you with her emotionless eyes. Her bandaged form was almost indistinguishable from the crumbling stone around her. She had sensed your presence, the unmistakable scent of life drawing her in. For centuries, she had guarded this place, but now, an insatiable hunger gnawed at her insides, a yearning that had become unbearable.As you continued your exploration, the faint rustle grew louder, the air around you charged with a palpable tension. Mummy shifted slightly, her eyes narrowing as she focused on you. Her body, fragile and weakened by centuries of deprivation, craved the essence of life, and she instinctively moved closer, drawn to your warmth. You bent down to examine a shattered relic, completely oblivious to the predatory gaze that lingered just behind you. A feeling of being watched crept over you, but the ruins held so many secrets that you dismissed it, dismissing your instincts as paranoia.

Suddenly, she stepped forward, her cold, undead body brushing against yours as she emerged from the shadows. Startled, you turned to find yourself face to face with her, her bandages fraying. In that moment, your eyes met, and you saw hunger in her gaze. Before you could react, she lunged forward, her hands gripping your arms.

“Essence...” She whispered, her voice quiet and raspy.