The Secret of the Black Library: The Cat Who Opened the Portal

In one of the old alleys of Cairo, there was a narrow street known only to a few people. On its side stood a small, unnoticed library called "The Black Library." It had no obvious door, just an old wooden archway with a faded, barely legible sign above it.

On a dark winter night, Sami, a student at the Faculty of Arts, was walking home from his lecture. His gaze suddenly stumbled upon the library, as if an invisible force had drawn him toward it. He pushed open the wooden door, which creaked as if it were groaning in pain. Sami entered and saw high shelves stretching up to the ceiling, dust filling the space. There was no light except for a single candle in the corner, and next to it sat a black cat, staring at him with shining green eyes.

He approached it fearfully, but the cat didn't run away. On the contrary, it raised its head and said in a calm voice, "You're late, Sami... The book is waiting for you."

His blood froze. He took a step back, staring at her in disbelief, but he felt inside that what was happening was real. The cat pointed with its tail to a particular shelf, where a huge book covered in dust lay. He reached out with a trembling hand and pulled the book out with difficulty. As he opened its pages, a bright light emanated, filling the entire space.

Sami felt the earth spin beneath him, and then he found himself standing in the middle of a massive pharaonic temple. The columns were towering, and the murals were filled with inscriptions depicting battles, gods, and secrets. But the temple wasn't deserted… Before it stood an old man wearing a white robe, his cane engraved with strange symbols.

The man said in a booming voice, "Welcome, Sami… I am the priest Adoris, guardian of the pyramid of Khufu. Your presence here is no coincidence. The Black Library has chosen you to bear witness to a great secret."

Sami didn't understand anything, but before he could ask, another burly man, dressed in simple pharaonic garb, appeared and said, "I am the priest Imhotep, guardian of the Karnak Temple. We are the four Guardians of the Secrets."

As Sami looked around in astonishment, a dignified woman with a stern face appeared and said, "I am the priestess Khamahu, guardian of the Dendera Temple, and you are now part of an ancient covenant unknown to humans."

Suddenly, he heard the meow of a black cat. He looked behind him and found that it had followed him into this world, but this time it wasn't just a cat. It gradually transformed into a mythical creature with the body of a cat and the head of a beautiful woman, and said in a melodious voice, "I am Bastet, the Protector. I have come to test your courage."

Sami trembled as she heard her words, and she continued, "The books you see are not just papers... they are gateways to other worlds. Each of these Guardians protects a pharaonic secret hidden from the world for thousands of years. Today, you are part of the story."

The walls began to shake, and a strange, storm-like sound rose. Uncle Farag shouted, "The curse of the kings is awakening! We must close the gate before evil escapes."

Sami ran with the three guards and the cat until they reached an inner chamber filled with stone coffins. One of them was open, and thick black smoke was rising from within. Sami approached fearfully, but the cat nudged him forward and said, "Only you can. Read the spell from the book!"

Sami opened the book, and the words glowed in his hands. He stammered as he read the cryptic sentences, but gradually, the smoke began to fade. Mystery reoccurred in the tomb, and the coffins slowly closed.

Everyone breathed a sigh of relief. Uncle Hamdi approached and placed his hand on Sami's shoulder, saying, "You have proven yourself worthy of the secret. But remember, the world will never know anything about what you saw tonight. The Black Library will bring you back, but it will always wait for you."

Suddenly, light flooded the room, and Sami felt a renewed sense of dizziness. He opened his eyes to find himself standing inside the library once again, the book closed on the table in front of him, and the black cat staring at him as if nothing had happened.

The cat smiled and said calmly, "The night is over... but your journey hasn't begun yet."