The harsh rays of sunlight hit my face like a slap, forcing my eyes open. The brightness stung, and for a few seconds, I couldn’t tell if I was dreaming or awake. My head throbbed painfully, and the air around me smelled of dust and dry heat.

As my eyes adjusted, what I saw nearly made my heart stop.

All around me was an open desert, endless sand stretching toward a trembling horizon. The air shimmered with heat, and not far from me stood something that looked like a modern hut, but it was ...