The Return of Nefertiri

DISCLAIMER: Sadly, I don't own the characters or story of The Mummy or The Mummy Returns. Only the story is mine.

Summary: What if Evie's Resurrection at Ahm Shere didn't go quite as planned…

THEMUMMYTHEMUMMYTHEMUMMY

London, England-

RICK'S POV:

I have never been so happy to be home. But after the week I'd just had, anyone would feel that way. In the span of only seven days, my home had been broken into, my wife was kidnapped and nearly killed, Imhotep was resurrected…AGAIN, then my son was kidnapped, Evie died and was subsequently resurrected, I fought and defeated the Scorpion King and Imhotep simultaneously, and was almost sucked down some vortex with the rest of Ahm Shere before Izzy finally came to the rescue. And to think I once believed that my life would calm down once I had a family…

The worst part of the past week, without a doubt, was when Anck-Su-Namun stabbed Evie. For once, I didn't know what to do. I felt completely helpless as I sat there and watched her fade away. All I could feel, aside from overwhelming grief, was hate.

I despised Imhotep at that moment more than ever before. The death of my wife was the last straw. I swore that before the day was over, I would take Imhotep down once and for all. Never before had I wanted to cause the death of another, but I felt I would enjoy killing Imhotep and his bitch of a girlfriend.

I remember my shock when I heard Evie's voice. Now I know that I had been skeptical about Alex learning ancient Egyptian before. I mean, Evie has certainly gotten us into our fair share of predicaments through her understanding of the language. But let me tell you, I am so glad that she had taught him how to read ancient Egyptian now.

As I follow Alex and Evie into our home, I heave a sigh of relief. Yes, home has never looked so good. I drop my bag at the front door while Evie carries her things up to our bedroom with Alex in tow. As I watch them ascend the stairs, I notice a slight change in the way my wife carries herself. Even the look in her eyes has changed a little. I can't put my finger on exactly how she has changed, but I definitely don't like what I see. I'm definitely going to ask her about that when we get some time alone.

However, I doubt that that time will come any time soon. Alex has been clinging to her for dear life ever since we left Ahm Shere. He hardly lets Evie travel five feet away from him lately. Though, I really can't blame him, because I haven't been much better.

Just as I begin to make my way up the staircase toward our bedroom, Evie starts heading down. Again, I'm not sure exactly what it is, but she's just…different. Like part of her isn't even Evie anymore. I know it sounds completely crazy. Hell, I'd put myself in the loony bin right now if I hadn't experienced stranger things in my life. I notice that Alex isn't two steps behind her like I expected him to be. Maybe now's the time to talk to her.

"You okay, Hun?"

"Yes, I'm alright. Why do you ask?"

Her voice seems somewhat, I don't know…distant.

"I dunno. You just seem a little off lately. I'm just a little concerned, that's all."

"Well of course I'm a little off, Rick. You try dying and being brought back to life again. Let's see if you don't seem a little off afterwards."

Yikes…I didn't mean to make her mad. Shit, she's scary when she truly gets mad. Her eyes shoot daggers and her voice turns cold. Trust me; you don't want to get in her way when she's mad.

I think she realized what she just said because her eyes are beginning to soften a little and her shoulders slump in slight defeat.

"I'm sorry, Darling. I don't know what…"

"It's fine, Evie. Like I said, I'm just a little concerned. We've all had a rough week. Hell, it's been damn crappy."

"Watch your language," she admonishes me softly. I can see the small smile on her face as she says this. Now there's a little bit of my Evie coming back.

"Sorry. Come on, Hun, let's just go to bed."

As I say this I kind of smirk and wiggle my eyes suggestively, even though I don't let my tone of voice betray the initiative behind my actions. I can tell that she saw what I did, though, as she sighed in mock exasperation and rolled her eyes.

"Ooh, honestly, Rick,"

"What? I know you've slept about as much as I have lately and we both could use the rest. That's all I was saying," I reply innocently.

"You swear?"

I follow suit.

"Every damn day."

As she speeds ahead of me toward our bedroom shaking her head, I can hear her mumbling something…

"And I wonder where Alex gets it."

THEMUMMYTHEMUMMYTHEMUMMY

4 Hours later-

EVIE'S POV:

What on earth! I thought I would have stopped having these dreams by now, but apparently not. But this one was different from the others. It felt so…real. Even my visions during my waking hours did not feel as realistic as this did. It was as though I really went back in time to when I was Nefertiri. I was able to smell all of the musky scents of Egypt around me. It's never been like that before.

I know there's no way that I'll be able to go back to sleep after that. I try with all my might to ease out of Rick's embrace without waking him. Indeed, though his actions claimed otherwise, he had only intended to get me to go to sleep, just as he had claimed earlier. In fact, he all but knocked me over the back of the head with a book to get me to close my eyes and sleep. A lot of good it did me. I feel like I haven't slept a wink.

Quietly, I creep over the creaking floorboards and head toward my study. Maybe recording these memories and trying to research some of the more specific details will bring some clarity to my over-stimulated mind. I turn the lamp on in my study and head over to my desk to begin my task.

About an hour into my recordings and research, I feel a strange sensation course through my body. I couldn't begin to describe what it felt like. It wasn't a shiver, per say, but I definitely shook on the inside. It was warm and cold at the same time. I shrug it off and am about to go back to what I was doing when a gut-clenching pain overcomes my entire body. There's only one thing I can think to do as I try to stand to my feet and plummet to the floor in the process.

"Rick!"

THEMUMMYTHEMUMMYTHEMUMMY

There it is-Chapter 1. Review!