"Stabbing Westward - Haunting me"

Egypt - 1926

"Wait for it."

The group of twenty or so odd people all gathered around the steep slope of sand that lead into the vast uncharted desert. Some were on horses, others on camels. Evelyn feeling sore and exhausted, rubbed the sides of her smooth legs and swatted a fly that buzzed close to her face. This journey was taking forever…she never thought they would make it. Looking over at O'Connell, she saw his gaze was serious long with the thin weasely man who sat on a horse beside him. Staring at them she felt confused, why had they all stopped.

"For what?"

Evelyn finally asked, her voice partly nervous.

"We're about to be shown the way."

Just then dawn touched the sky making a beautiful golden reflection across the sparking crystal sand. Within seconds the blur of heat settled and slowly the ruins appeared in the distance. It seemed as though it had been hidden all this time. Evelyn gasped at the beautify as the image focused out.

"Hamunaptra…"

Evelyn softly said to herself.

"Here we go again."

O'Connell said. Then before Evelyn could even think, everyone charged in the mad dash to reach the ruins first. Horses and camels screamed and everyone began yelling and racing down the steep sand. So much noise built the excitement in Evelyn as she began making her camel go faster by the call her father had taught her as a little girl. Holding on tight, she pulled back and felt the camel galloping at full speed. Excited she rode faster, a huge grin spread across her face as she held onto the saddle. Thinking to herself, she hoped her parents were watching her from heaven. She had finally found her adventure. Gaining speed, she rode beside O'Connell who gave her a very amused look. Feeling slightly silly, she blushed at him before the camel went even faster. In the distance she heard her brother laughing and calling her name.

She was in the lead.

The only woman here, and beating all the stupid men who made the five hundred dollar bet. Trying to hold on tighter, the camel began jumping as it ran.

"Oh!"

Evelyn cried out, she was up ahead…everyone in the distance. The sand felt so uneven underneath the camel and the closer she got, the more rocks she saw. Trying her hardest to slow down, she felt as though she had no control. Panic began to build in her as she tried pulling back.

It was no use.

The camel started to tilt from her unbalanced weight and she knew within seconds it would buckle from underneath her and have her fall right over and be trampled. Terrified, she clutched onto it as it began to sway. Shutting her eyes, she bit down on her lip praying she wouldn't hurt herself.

The camel was about to crash down the path that lead into the ruins when…

She heard a horse beside her, then a hand gripping her hand.

"Here!"

Evelyn opened her eyes and saw the young Hungarian man reaching for her. Too scared to grab onto him, she held onto the camel for dear life.

"JUMP!"

The man screamed before pulling with all his strength, within the blink of an eye Evelyn was pulled perfectly onto his horse as his camel buckled down. Evelyn watched it stop so sudden that it nearly fell over. Shocked, she gripped onto the man who saved her and looked over at her shoulder at O'Connell and the other following behind. Shouts and wild excitement building as they rode in. Her camel was quickly running behind them, now balanced and running smoothly. The horse felt completely different, it had been years since she rode one. Wrapping her arms tight around the man's waist, she buried his face in the back of his shirt.

Moments later they stopped.

She heard the Americans begin to laugh and yell. Everyone circled around the opening of the fallen ruins and looked amazed. Evelyn finally opened her eyes and looked. Just then one of the Americans rode over, a smirk on his face before playfully slapping O'Connell on the shoulder.

"Looks like we won the bet!"

"I wouldn't say so…both parties of our team arrived here first."

"Bull!" "It was our horse, we won fair and square!"

Another one of the Americans yelled laughing. Rolling his eyes, O'Connell mumbled something about talking about it later. Right away everyone began getting off their horses and setting up. Evelyn looked around, she couldn't believe it…she was finally here.

"Are you okay?"

Evelyn then saw her arms were still tightly around the man who had saved her. Embarrassed she loosened her grip before sitting back. The man moved lightly and looked over his shoulder.

He had the most beautiful blue eyes she had ever seen.

"Thank you…so much…"

Evelyn stumbled over her words before the man grinned.

"Always a pleasure to help a beautiful woman like yourself."

Evelyn blushed before the man held out his thin tanned hand.

"Beni Gabor, guide for the Americans."

"Evelyn Carnahan…person who was on the right side of the river."

Beni laughed.

"You saw that?"

Evelyn nodded, for some strange reason her stomach had butterflies and her palms were sweating. He wasn't an attractive man, but he had saved her. Both smiled at each other before O'Connell came over, his eyes serious.

"You okay?"

He offered his hand for Evelyn to get down. Right away she snapped out of it.

"Ummm, yes."

"Nice move Beni, good thing you moved quick…would of shoved you off your horse if you hit me again with that thing."

He pointed towards Beni's whip. Beni looked down at him before grinning.

"What can I say O'Connell…I needed those hundred dollars."

O'Connell rolled his eyes before taking Evelyn's hand and helping her off.

"Go to hell Beni."

Both began walking away before Evelyn looked over her shoulder. Beni was watching her, a small smile on his face. Evelyn turned back, wondering why she felt so funny.

"Know him for somewhere?"

"You don't even wanna know."

O'Connell said before taking her to the others.