Chapter 3 A hole too deep

The sun rose over Jackson's Diggy Doggy Park, but this morning felt different. The usual cheerful chirping of birds seemed quieter as if the town itself was holding its breath.

Jackson was up early, as usual, filling the water bowls and checking the digging zones. Pickles was already nose-deep in one of the sandpits, wagging his tail and flinging dirt behind him.

"Easy, Max," Jackson said, chuckling. "You're gonna dig to China at this rate."

As he walked toward the snack stand to restock the dog biscuits, something made him stop. A faint noise-like a deep, low rumble-came from the far side of the yard. Jackson frowned and tilted his head, listening.

"What was that?" he muttered.

Max paused mid-dig, his ears perking up. He barked once, sharply, then returned to his hole, as if nothing had happened.

Shrugging it off, Jackson continued his morning routine. By the time the first visitors arrived, the park was buzzing with its usual energy. Dogs barked, tails wagged, and owners chatted while their pets dug happily in the pits.

Everything seemed normal until lunchtime.

It started with Duke, a massive Great Dane who loved to dig big, deep holes. His owner, Mrs. Harper, sipped her iced tea as Duke furiously worked at the edge of one pit. But after a few minutes, Mrs. Harper frowned.

"Jackson," she called, waving him over. "Something's not right."

Jackson jogged over, wiping his hands on his jeans. "What's wrong?"

"Duke usually digs for fun," Mrs. Harper said, pointing. "But look at him. He's acting... different."

Jackson looked at Duke. The big dog wasn't just digging-he was tearing at the ground like he was trying to uncover something. His growls were low and steady, his tail stiff and unmoving.

"That's weird," Jackson said, kneeling next to Duke's hole. "What's he so worked up about?"

Just as Jackson reached out to move some dirt, Duke let out a sharp bark and stepped back, his ears flat against his head. Jackson froze his hand inches from the ground.

"Easy, boy," Jackson said softly. "It's just dirt."

But as he scooped away a handful of soil, he realized it wasn't just dirt. His fingers hit something solid-a flat, smooth surface.

"What is that?" Mrs. Harper asked, her voice tinged with unease.

Jackson cleared more dirt, revealing a metal plate buried in the ground. It was rusted and dented, with strange symbols etched into its surface.

"Did you know this was here?" Mrs. Harper asked.

Jackson shook his head. "No idea. I mean, this whole yard was just grass before I set up the park."

By now, other dog owners had noticed the commotion and gathered around. The dogs, too, seemed uneasy. A few barked at the uncovered metal plate, while others sniffed it cautiously.

"Should we call someone?" Mr. Jenkins suggested, scratching his head. "This looks... old."

Jackson hesitated. On one hand, he was curious. What could it be? On the other, he felt a strange knot in his stomach, like something about the plate wasn't quite right.

"Let's dig it up a little more," Jackson said, grabbing a small shovel. "Maybe it's just an old storm shelter or something."

The crowd watched as Jackson carefully dug around the edges of the plate. It was larger than he expected-about the size of a small door-and the symbols carved into it were unlike anything he'd ever seen.

"What language is that?" someone asked.

"No clue," Jackson said, brushing away more dirt.

Suddenly, there was that rumbling sound again-the same low, deep noise Jackson had heard that morning. This time, it was louder, vibrating through the ground beneath their feet.

"What's going on?" Mrs. Harper said, pulling Duke closer.

Before Jackson could answer, the plate shifted. It wasn't much-just a slight tilt-but enough to send a wave of unease through the group.

"Did it just... move?" Mr. Jenkins asked, stepping back.

Jackson swallowed hard. "I think so."

Max barked furiously, circling the hole and growling at the metal plate.

"Maybe we should stop," Mrs. Harper said nervously. "What if it's dangerous?"

Jackson hesitated, torn between curiosity and caution. But before he could decide, the plate moved again-this time with a loud, metallic groan.

The ground beneath their feet trembled, and a crack formed along the edge of the plate. Jackson stumbled backward, his heart racing.

"Everyone, step back!" he shouted.

The rumbling grew louder, and suddenly, the plate sank into the ground, disappearing with a deep, echoing thud. Dust and dirt flew into the air, and for a moment, everything was still.

"What just happened?" someone whispered.

Jackson cautiously approached the hole, which was now much larger. He peered inside, his heart pounding.

What he saw made his breath catch. Beneath the hole was a dark, yawning void-a tunnel leading into the earth. Faintly, from deep within, there was a flickering light.

"Is that... a cave?" Mrs. Harper asked, her voice trembling.

Jackson nodded slowly. "I think so."

The crowd murmured nervously, their excitement from earlier replaced by unease.

"Jackson," Mr. Jenkins said, "maybe you should call the town council or something. This could be serious."

But Jackson couldn't tear his eyes away from the tunnel. Something about it called to him, a mix of fear and curiosity swirling in his chest.

"What if there's something down there?" he said quietly.

"Like what?" Mrs. Harper asked.

Jackson didn't know. Treasure? Artifacts? Something amazing waiting to be discovered?

"I'm going to take a closer look," he said, standing.

"Are you crazy?" Mr. Jenkins said. "You don't know what's down there! It could be dangerous!"

"I'll be careful," Jackson said, grabbing a flashlight from the snack stand.

Max barked, wagging his tail furiously.

"You're not coming with me, buddy," Jackson said, kneeling to pet him. "Stay here and keep an eye on things."

As Jackson approached the edge of the hole, the crowd held their breath. He switched on the flashlight and pointed it into the tunnel. The flickering light he'd seen earlier wasn't fire or electricity-it was something glowing faintly on the walls, like veins of shining crystal.

"What is that?" someone whispered.

Jackson didn't answer. His heart was racing, but he couldn't turn back now. Slowly, he lowered himself into the tunnel, his feet finding purchase on a rocky slope.

The air was cool and damp, and the glow from the walls cast eerie shadows. Jackson's flashlight beam danced ahead of him, revealing more of the tunnel as he descended.

"Be careful, Jackson!" Mrs. Harper called from above.

"I will," he shouted back.

The tunnel curved slightly, and as Jackson turned the corner, he froze.

Ahead of him, the walls widened into a cavern. At the center of the cavern stood a strange, towering structure-like an obelisk made of the same glowing crystal as the walls. It pulsed faintly, casting a soft, otherworldly light.

Jackson's mouth went dry. What was this?

He took a cautious step forward, his flashlight flickering as if the energy in the room interfered with it. The air felt heavier, and Jackson's heart pounded in his chest.

Just as he reached the base of the obelisk, a low hum filled the air. It wasn't loud, but it vibrated through Jackson's body, making his hair stand on end.

Suddenly, the light from the obelisk brightened, casting the cavern in a blinding glow. Jackson shielded his eyes, his mind racing.

And then, the hum stopped.

The light dimmed, leaving the cavern bathed in a soft glow once again. Jackson lowered his arm and stared at the obelisk.

It was quiet now, but Jackson had the unsettling feeling that whatever he'd just found wasn't meant to be disturbed.

For the first time, he wondered if he'd dug up more than he could handle.