Disclaimer: I do not own anything but my ideas. The Mummy is property of Universal pictures and Stephen Sommers. No copyright infringement intended.

=== Hamunaptra / In the underground of the ancient temple ===

The time had passed. I could not even imagine how many years, centuries, and millennia. I was trapped in darkness, chained and tortured without any hope of escaping by my own means. My body was dead, while my soul was kept alive in eternal agony, to witness the pain and decay of my limbs and flesh. The last moments of my bygone, real life had been burned into my memory forever. How I was tightly wrapped in the mummifying bandages, unable to move, to scream, or to see anymore. Only hear I still could. I heard the voices of my tormentors, of my enemies; I heard a little mocking laughter; I heard the dull sound of bare feet on the floor and the chatter of hundreds of black royal scarabs.
Scarabs! My eternal cursed companions, eating me as I ate them, feeding from pain and generating pain. I remembered the moment when they were poured out over me and the bite of the first ones lacerated the bandages. The fear, the pain, the panic! I wanted nothing more than scream, scream at least and die. Then the lid of the sarcophagus was closed. I was alone with my little eight legged torturers, suffocating - but I was not dying.
My skin, my flesh, was ripped apart and torn - but I was not dying.
The time passed - but I was not dying.

Sometimes, more and more often - though I had lost all sense of real time - I did not know anymore if my chained mind was only on the brink of insanity or already far beyond it. I could reach out with my mental powers; however, it was a grace similar to the one given a prisoner, whom is told he may run into the desert. No, in fact these powers were rather a burden than a relief, because nothing was outside, nothing but the demons ready to torture me, too, if I stretched too far. I was condemned forever, cursed forever. The Medjai would watch forever and guard me. Sometimes I cried to the Gods - at least, I tried to do so, but I could not mouth anything anymore, and my soul was bound too deeply in the demon's realm to reach the purity of the Gods. I knew, I had done wrong - but had I been the only one? Cursed shall be all the laws putting one man into a god-like position, to use and to possess everything, to destroy and vilify everyone!
The memory of my beloved Ancksunamun was the only thing perhaps, which kept me from simply burning away in anger, hate and despair. Even if I did not know, if this was good, because the agony went on, and it would, until I would forget her. But this was the only thing, I could never do.
Ancksunamun, my love, my life.
Perhaps, one day, the Gods would show mercy on us…
And I did not gave up hope, someone would come to free me...

Confined to my darkness, I did not realize how Hamunaptra was destroyed according to the wishes of the new king of Egypt. I did not know about the armies of strangers sweeping over Egypt, the new costumes and beliefs that replaced one another. I did not see my world falling apart and crumble into dust. Only once in all those centuries I sensed human beings near my prison. I was anxious and excited. Would they come to release me? Did they even know about me? They were close, that close! I even heard their voices; speaking in a strange language, I did not understand. I felt something hammer against the lid of the sarcophagus, but it did not open. And then… I was alone again. I waited, but the voices did not return.

Until this day!
The language was unfamiliar the same; it were two male and one female voices. And more, in some distance. They were working… searching…digging. Suddenly the world was filled with all sorts of noise and agitation. Again, something punched against my sarcophagus, but then, I heard yet another sound: a faint metallic cracking. I recognized it immediately. The key!
THE KEY!!! If I had been able to, I would have burst with excitement.
Then the lid opened again. I could neither move nor see, my body was still dead. But my soul rejoiced! I sensed the people staring at me; I felt the repulsion and… pity. Yes, the woman's voice was full of pity, even if I did not understand the words. What would they do now? But just open my prison was not of much help. Only the Book of the Dead could bring the life-force of my damned soul fully back into my body - or that, what remained of it.
But these voices too, faded. And I was alone in my darkness yet again.
My mind was wrapped in despair, so thick that I was sure that the demons might have her feast on my soul this time.

…."Amun Ra … em…kheper … Ra…"
The sound of the voice! The incantation! Someone read the spells from the Book of the Dead, finally! Now my soul trembled with joy, danced like a tiny papyrus flower taken away by the wind. Someone had come to free me! I would -
No… NO! Don't stop! Why do you stop reading?! I strengthened to listen, harder and harder, but there was no sound anymore, no voice! It had simply stopped!
Killed? Killed by the Medjai perhaps? I was sure my guardians were still around. I could move now, step out of my already open prison. But this was nearly all - I was not able to see or speak.
Please read further! Read the rest of the incantation, which allows me to regenerate! Gods of Egypt!!! I waited and listened, desperate. Nothing came. But another sensation took hold on my now. Something compelling, irresistible, dark and hungry, I could not fight.
What have they done to me?! What is happening?! Stupid questions… Of course, I knew what had been done to me on Ramses' order! The Hom-Dai, the most severe curse for the most severe crimes in my time, to punish sacrilege and murder! I was not Imhotep, High Priest of Osiris anymore, I was the Bringer of Death, an undead creature from the demon's realm, their tool to bring all sorts of evil in the world, once released. And released I was! Did you want that, Ramses, to revenge the killing of your father Seti? Anyway… you have created, what I am now. And I will take revenge on your descendants… and the descendants of the Medjai…
Hearing something, I stopped walking. I sensed someone coming… A being that could provide what I needed. The thought alone made me sick, but there was nothing, I could do. I was driven by other forces, much stronger than the rest of my feeble, mutilated human will. IT had me in its claws and pushed me forward, and a moment later, it was ME, who had the screaming man in his claws.

The man whimpered and tried to get back on his feet. I looked at his miserable figure. I looked - with his eyes. I was horrified, and yet the strange, dark hunger in me still was there, not appeased at all. I don't want to kill; I have to stop! I have to--- My gaze had wandered away from the man I just mutilated and rested on me. What had I become….? To know it scientifically and then to see it with own eyes, was quite a different thing… Yes, 'Bringer of Death' was a fitting name…
There was another sound behind me, someone breathed, obviously frightened. I turned around slowly and felt a little dizzy. Then I saw her, standing in the twilight, pressed against the wall. Her eyes were wide open in shock, as I walked in her direction. Immediately, I felt an overwhelming familiarity towards her. It was radiating from her…. I could sense her soul, her spirit…. Ancksunamun? Is this possible? Have the Gods send you back to free me? The woman stared at me. I could discern, she had not the features of my beloved. But … What did I sense, then? I was confused.

"Please….help me…" she whispered, desperately trying to move further away, nonetheless, the way was blocked.
I could not understand her words, but the sound of her voice and her face made her plea clear enough. I recognized her as the one who had read from the Book of the Dead and thus awoke me. Now - she was in danger and needed help. I wanted to reassure her, that she had nothing to fear; I would protect and defend her. Stretching my arm I concentrated on speaking to her - it was difficult after so much time. It was as if I had forgotten how to mouth anything… and as I finally could, the sound of my own voice made me wince.
"Come with me, my princess!"
"Help… me…" was everything she said, and she did not look at ME, but into the direction of the man on the ground.
Now, remembering my own appearance, I realized the truth. She did not ask me FOR help! She had begged for help AGAINST me! Before I could react, a man stormed on the scene, clothed the same strange way as the one on the ground. He groaned, screamed, and then spit fire with a stick in his hands. My mind could feel the pain as the exploding fire went through me, even if there was nothing left to hurt or kill. I lost ground and fell. For an instant, my soul departed again from the remains of my body.

I was alone again. A situation I preferred, I had to admit, after the latest events… And other realisations had settled in my mind: I could sense living beings, even hear their thoughts, and influence them (still I did not know to which extent, however, it was possible); and: the creature I had become could not be killed with the weapons of the mortals, as sophisticated as they might be by now.
Now…
How much time had passed, since Ramses condemned me? More, I was afraid, than I could understand. I had walked through this ancient temple and found everything covered with dust and debris, colours lost, inscriptions hammered out, ceilings crumbled. Finally, I arrived in the chamber of sacrifices, where I had tried to resurrect Ancksunamun so long ago. The table was still intact, and with it, my memories how the Medjai dragged me away from here. I felt the same desperate rage as then. No, not the same…. It was … more powerful, and consuming, merciless like the hunger for flesh.
REVENGE … No, this was not important. The people who did this to me were long dead! I had to find Ancksunamuns remains! If I had such powers, I mused, I should be able to fulfil my promise to my beloved! I should be able to bring her back to life, restore her fully, despite all the time… Her mummy had to be here at Hamunaptra, and I began to search immediately.

It took not much time to find her burial place; at least a decent inscription had been given to her! Now I stood in front of her opened sarcophagus und gazed down on her… on what was left of her… and I wished I had not acquired eyes to see the destruction of time. Her once so lovely face was grey, shrivelled and dried out, it felt like old papyrus. She was dead, already for so much time, and her soul --- The thought of the woman I had seen shortly ago in the crypt, bothered me again. Who was she? There was something I missed…. Something important. And the feeling grew stronger, that it was the intention of my curse to miss this important knowledge. I tried to force my mind, but could not. I reached a dark spot and could not go further. I was embarrassed and angered. Why did I think about this strange woman, while my Ancksunamun was here, waiting for me, waiting that I did what I promised her?!
I got up again and looked for the canopic jars and the Book of the Dead. Was it still down here or brought away by these people?
In any case, I did not find it, or the canopic jars. Only one, which was shattered, in a broken chest. Grave robbers! These strange people, who awoke me, were nothing but grave robbers, sacrilegical thieves without any reverence for the Gods! What an abomination!
I realized what I was thinking and, if I had had lips, I would have smiled. I was the walking sacrilege! And right now, I pondered about doing even more sacrileges!

I heard unsteady steps and moved in the direction. Had the robbers left someone behind? Someone who could ease my hunger? My instincts let me find the right direction, and I was on the tracks of the other man very soon, like a predator. Nothing else had any room in me now. I needed to regenerate; I needed to fulfil my promise! Yes, it was one of these people, clad in weird clothing. He was afraid. A whimpering, pitiful coward….
But brave enough to rob the dead from their belongings?! I had no mercy.
The frail little man murmured in several languages, some spells, I thought, judging after his behaviour. Well, this would not save him! He was pressed against the rock now, and trembled. The amulets in his hand made clinkering sounds. I reached out to grab him and release him from his misery, as something caught my attention.
His last words!
His language!
I had UNDERSTOOD him, indeed!
Seeing that I made no further move towards him, the man regained some confidence and spluttered more words. This was Hebrew! Yes, he spoke Hebrew, even if it was an awfully distorted one! I would not kill him. He could be of far more use to me…

=== Cairo / Some days later ===

I walked among the living again! What a sensation! Nevertheless, it was not pleasant. For once, because this city was an ugly, dirty, noisy agglomeration of people, houses and strange new things called 'au-to-mo-bile'. They had four wheels and obviously were some sort of carriage, but they did not need horses to pull or slaves to carry. A weird kind of magic, I supposed; similar to the one who lit the streets at night with something brighter than fire, but not as hot. My little companion (his name was Beni, I learnt) had tried to explain how it works. Although I was curious about it - and many other things I saw - I had no time for this! Important issues had to be solved. I needed my body back, first!
As I had discovered, I was not able to stand sunlight or touch by 'normal' people in my present state. The parts of me which were exposed to these, decayed further within an instant. It was a blessing; I thought wryly, that at least I did not smell like a corpse!
The obliging Beni had procured me a long robe enveloping my body, and an old silver mask (probably stolen; I was sure he kept the gold I gave him for himself instead of spending it on my behalf, but this should not be of my concern now).

At daylight, I was hiding in an abandoned building. After sunset, I wandered around, watching and waiting for the grave robbers to appear. My companion had affirmed they would come; they just did not have the 'comfort' travelling with a sand storm and therefore it would take time. I hoped it would not take much longer! I could not endure this situation much longer, especially after I discovered I could not use anyone to regenerate. I tried it out the first night after my arrival with an unfortunate beggar…I simply was not able to restrain myself… It had been disgusting… moreover: useless. My curse was woven in a specific way - I knew that now! I had to take out the ones who had violated the resting place at Hamunaptra, the ones who had stolen Ancksunamuns canopic jars!

Gods of Egypt, when did they arrive???
I got more and more impatient. My insane, dark hunger grew, and I had nothing to divert me. I could not read the strange new scripture, could not speak and not come close to anyone. Plagues followed me, wherever I went. Would it stop, if I had regenerated, I wondered. In endless hours, I thought of my beloved. How it would be to hold her in my arms again? O, how much I longed to hold her again!
This day, my companion searched me out on late afternoon. The sun was still high and it was hot outside my little hiding place. But I knew the cause of Beni's early visit, even before he had spoken a word. The grave robbers were here, finally! So we went to the hotel, where he said they stayed…

This time, it had been successful. The man was dead; all his life force, flesh and liquids integrated in me. A sickening experience! My new forming body could not revolt, but my mind very well. I felt almost as tortured by regaining my features, as by losing them… Every part of me was aching as if it had to be torn singularly out of the jaws of hundreds of scarabs! I threw my robe away and I was crying, perhaps more than the poor man I had just killed. And what if this won't work? If I had to stay in a permanent state of agonizing pain?
To make my torment complete, footsteps echoed from outside the room. A moment later, the door was pushed open and I found me face to face with the man, who had tried to destroy me at Hamunaptra with his fire-spitting stick. And… this woman, who had rescued me from the undead! I stared at her. I sensed her soul and her life-spirit. Ancksunamun? The feeling was so overwhelming… Had the soul of my beloved reincarnated in another body in this time? Obviously, this woman did not share my feelings or my conviction. She receded, horror in her face. At the moment, there was no time to think about. The man fired at me - of course without effect. I had to take him out of my way. This woman had freed me; at least she deserved my thanks! I walked towards her, trying not to look threatening - absolutely in vain!

If she HAD Ancksunamun's soul, why did she not recognize me?! I must have been mistaken, though. I MUST! Then another sound filled the air. The meow of a cat! The little fur ball jumped down next to me, and I made a new discovery: Until I was fully regenerated, I was not able to look at the representations of one of the Gods! I dissolved into dust and fled through the window.
….

I had performed it again, the procedure of killing one for getting in possession of his life force. I had been lucky, got him without further waiting shortly after I had escaped from the hotel. He had been on the way to his 'au-to-mo-bile' and clutched the Book of the Dead and one of the canopic jars. I took him down instantly. This time, it was not so much pain, because I was angry about the events in the hotel room. And enraged about the sacrilege of grave robbing and the disrespect this man showed. A part of me actually began to enjoy taking revenge… enjoyed the powers of the curse…
I realized it with horror. I had killed Pharaoh Seti - it was true. However, this happened in a moment of utter despair and danger. I wanted to save my beloved's life, and our child! I was no murderer; I was not even a soldier!
What happens to me? What will become of me?
It was nearly dark now. I walked along the Nile, my precious treasures (two of the jars and the book) with me. I was on the way to my hiding place, but I wanted to savour this evening and the river just a while longer, remembering my childhood days… Then, at one quiet spot under a bridge, I halted, dared to look down at my reflection in the water. I was beginning to look like me again… On the outside, at least…