Days earlier, something unusual had already begun to unfold.
Frank, Amaya, and William had just arrived in Syria. As they moved through the area, all three quickly noticed that the atmosphere felt strange. The local population seemed uneasy, almost tense, as if something had disturbed the normal rhythm of the country.
Without wasting time, they took a taxi that headed directly toward the ruins of Palmyra.
During the ride, Frank kept looking through the window. Something about the place felt different from the last time he had been there. When they finally arrived near the ancient ruins, the feeling only grew stronger.
There were very few people walking around.
Hardly any children played in the streets, and the usual activity that once filled the area was almost nonexistent. Frank remembered clearly that a year earlier the place had been full of life.
He leaned slightly forward and spoke to the taxi driver in English.
"Why are there so few people around Palmyra?"
