The story is a little shifted compared to the movie, but it roughly goes along the same storyline :) Reviews and follows/favorites would be very amazing. Please with a cherry on top?

Thank you for reading!

II

Bitter Reunion

Cordelia stood outside the flat, 1436 Remalio, kneading her knuckles into her sweaty palm and running her tongue over her lips, tasting the dull tang of her lipstick. She fidgeted unnecessarily with the buttons on the front of her dress, then realized there was no further point in delaying her visit. She breathed heavily out of her nose and raised her hand and knocked three times upon the heavily polished, green, wooden door.

She could sense movement from within and felt her tongue dry within her mouth. A few moments later, the door opened, revealing a young woman with an astute posture, dark hair pulled back, and kind face. She didn't look much older than Cordelia. Her eyes were a brownish hazel which crinkled upward slightly as she smiled at the sight of Cordelia standing on the doorstep.

Cordelia opened her mouth to speak, but found her voice stuck in the back of her throat. She cleared her throat and tried again.

"Evelyn Carnahan?"

The woman smiled, nodding her head.

"And you must be Cordelia," she said, her smile suffering slightly. "Please, come in." She backed up slightly so she could allow Cordelia entry, and she obliged, taking tender steps as she walked inside the widely spaced apartment.

"Thank you for coming so soon," Evelyn said, shutting the door behind her. "Would you like anything? Coffee? Tea?"

"Do you have anything stronger?" Cordelia inquired.

Evelyn looked slightly surprised, but it was replaced with friendliness again almost at once.

"I believe my brother has a bottle of whiskey stored somewhere. Is that sufficient?"

"Please."

Evelyn nodded her head to the living area.

"Take a seat," she offered.

"Thank you."

Cordelia made her way into the next room and seated herself on the squashy sofa, looking around her. It was a modest and humble home, not large and expensive, but homey and comfortable. Cordelia's eyes grazed over the walls where many pictures were put up, most of them of Evelyn, of what Cordelia guessed to be her brother, and an older man and woman who could be none other than Evelyn's parents.

Cordelia glanced down, pressing her knees together and trying to steady her breath. Evelyn returned shortly with a tray that held a teapot and a bottle of a whiskey along with two cups. Evelyn filled the first cup with the liquor and handed it to Cordelia, who drank the entire thing down in one gulp. Evelyn eyed her steadily as she poured herself a cup of steaming tea and sat opposite Cordelia.

"Now," said Cordelia, feeling the whiskey pleasantly burn her insides. "Can you please tell me what is going on?"

Evelyn took a modest sip of her tea, bringing the tray and saucer close to her lips. She glanced outside of the window out at the busy street before meeting Cordelia's brown gaze.

"Of course," she sat, setting aside her tea on the coffee table. "But please understand the only reason I'm going to show you what I have is because you are Rick's fiancée and I believe he can help my brother and me."

Cordelia's eyebrows narrowed slightly, confused at this comment. Yet she said nothing, but nodded her head once.

"First, are you familiar with the lost city, Hamunaptra?"

Cordelia was completely taken aback, but replied at once. "The city of the dead."

Evelyn's eyebrows rose in slight surprise, and Cordelia wasn't sure whether or not she should be offended that Evelyn wasn't expecting her to know the answer.

"I came from England to study ancient Egypt," explained Cordelia.

"Really?" said Evelyn, her surprisal merging into approval. "Can you speak the old language?"

"Roughly," Cordelia said. "I'm terrible with learning foreign languages to being with, but Egypt has always intrigued me. But please, tell me what Rick has to do with any of this?"

Evelyn breathed in a deep breath.

"I believe that Rick knows the way to Hamunaptra, which is located deep within the Egyptian deserts. Hamunaptra is also known to be the location where the Book of the Dead." Evelyn spoke fast, as if the words had been forced out of her.

It was Cordelia's turn to raise her eyebrows.

"Book of the Dead?" she repeated.

"Buried by Imhotep's sarcophagus," nodded Evy.

Cordelia was practically rendered speechless.

"What does this have to do with me?" Cordelia questioned, recovering herself.

"Nothing," Evelyn replied shortly. "I am merely informing you of my reasons to get Rick out of prison. What you do afterward is completely up to you."

Cordelia bit her lower lip, knowing the red lipstick was smudging over her front teeth.

"You want Rick to take you there?"

Evelyn nodded, her excitement ill disguised at this point. The corners of her mouth were stretching into a large smile, and her eyes were lit with a brightness that caused heavy curiosity within Cordelia. She had never met a woman like this one, and she still wasn't sure what to think of her.

But before she could say anything, the front door opened. In came a man with a pointed face and a patch of dark hair stop his head. The corners of his forehead were slight int heir lacking of hair, indicating he was a heavy drinker.

"Evy!" he called out. "I want to head back to the casino sometime later tonight. I'm pretty sure that big bloke, Fiddles or something, bugged me out of my winnings last night."

He walked into the living room, a slightly expectant look on his face until his eyes landed on Cordelia. He directed raised eyebrows towards Evelyn.

"Who's this?" the man inquired.

"Oh, Jonathan," said Evy, getting to her feet and walking up to the man. "This is Cordelia Lockhart. The one I told you about. Cordelia, this is my brother, Jonathan."

Cordelia managed a small smile.

"Hello," she said.

Jonathan gave Evy another look before bending down to take Cordelia's hand in his and kissing the top of it.

"Pleased to meet you, ma'am," said Jonathan, his blue eyes twinkling as they met Cordelia's.

"Cordelia is an engaged woman, Jonathan," said Evelyn, with a trace of humor in her voice. "To none other than that fellow you 'borrowed' that little star trinket from."

Jonathan's hand loosened at once over Cordelia's and stood up straight, awkwardly straightening his jacket and letting out a low breath.

"Right," he said casually, nodding his head to his sister. "Didn't you make an appointment to see that bloke today?"

Evelyn's eyes met Cordelia's as she suddenly looked at her.

"I did. And I'm glad you can be here for this. Are you ready to see your fiancée, Cordelia?"

.

Cordelia had only been in a prison once before in her life, and it had been a horrible happening. She really had no wish to relive the experience, yet the thought of Rick being alive kept her will strong. It was an extremely hot day, the Egyptian sun shining mercilessly down upon Evy, Jonathan, and Cordelia's necks. She was grateful she brought a sun hat that offered most protection for her fair skin, but dreaded the heavy dress she wore.

Feeling cold sweat dripping down the back of her neck, the three moved past the prison gates and were led by a warden by the name of Gad Hassan. Cordelia didn't like this man that much. He spoke in crude humor of all the begging prisoners whose arms were stretched desperately behind their bars and reaching out for Cordelia and the others.

According to Hassan, every captive in his prison, whether proven guilty or not, deserved to be behind bars because not a single person lived without guilt. Cordelia imagined he was the type of person to waver a good meal in front of his prisoners only to eat it in front of them.

"Now, Mr. O'Connell," Hassan said as they walked further, his comment mostly directed towards Cordelia. "Was turned in here a few weeks back under charges of getting into a bar fight, but later it was found that he abandoned his post in battle. I don't know much about where he was before that, but I just know I spent a good few weeks in trial fighting for his death."

Cordelia attempted to swallow, but her mouth was too dry. She knew she was close; the fast pounding of her heart against her chest indicated as much. Her footsteps became leisure and she turned to Evy for mental support, who merely gave her a weak smile and nodded her head forward, indicating that they should keep walking.

Cordelia took a deep breath and pressed forward, following behind the stout and porky figure of Gad Hassan. He held up his hand, telling them to stop in front of a cramped, empty cell. Cordelia almost ran into the little man, her hand actually placed over her heart, which was threatening to jump out of her throat.

"Apparently, you make very good time," mused Hassan.

Two guardsman and a man appeared in the doorway of the cell, the two men beating down the third who was already crouched over in handcuffs. His matted, dirty brown hair in such tangles that it was impossible to tell its true length. His body was clothed in such filthy rags that they could have been any color.

At first, Cordelia was confused. She had no indication of who this man was. She was about to turn to Hassan to inform of this, but the man in the cell raised his head and met Cordelia's eyes. If it hadn't been for the familiar blue-green gaze that he held, Cordelia might go on with her assumption that she didn't know him.

His face was so rugged and unshaved that it hid most of his facial features that Cordelia had grown accustomed to. Yet at the sight of his eyes, her heart leaped.

"Rick?" she hardly dared to speak above a whisper as she knelt down and took the cell bars in her hands, her eyes studying the robust man before her. His eyebrows shot upward in both supreme surprise and confusion.

"Cordie?" he said, his voice light.

"Dear God," she breathed, her voice ragged and her head reeling. The sun above was not helping. She clung to the bars for support and leaned forward.

Despite the situation, Rick let out a hollow laugh.

"I'll be damned," he said, a humorless smile curling along his mouth. "I can certainly say I'm glad to see you, though you were the last person I assumed to see today."

"I thought you were dead!"

His expression turned stony.

"No. Not that I'm not surprised to be alive. What are you doing here?" he added.

She stared at him.

"You're joking," she said. "I get word that you're alive and you're wondering why I'm here? I came straight away."

His eyes met hers.

"Not to be the pessimistic one here, but you're timing isn't too great, princess."

Amidst everything, Cordelia felt a rush of agitation pointed towards Rick's painfully familiar lack of ability to take things seriously.

"This is how you talk after three years of not seeing each other?" she snorted, yet she couldn't say she was completely surprised. She couldn't recall one moment in their time together that Rick had ever replied to her in a tone that wasn't heavily coated in sly sarcasm. It was infuriating, but Cordelia set aside her frustrated feelings.

His eyes shifted behind Cordelia's shoulder.

"Who are they?" he said, one eyebrow arched.

Jonathan was determinately looking down at his shoes as though they suddenly fascinated him while Evelyn watched Rick with a mingle of uncertainty and curiosity.

Rick frowned at Jonathan.

"Hey, I know you from somewhere," he said, pointing a finger at him. Jonathan looked hastily up, suddenly shaking his head.

"No, no. I've just got—one of those faces, y'know—" but Jonathan wasn't able to finish his sentence as suddenly Rick's face dawned with realization and his fist bolted through the bars and hit Jonathan square in the jaw. Rick's fury was soon dampened, however, as suddenly one of the guards hit him painfully in the ribs with his stick.

Completely ignoring her brother's body now lying on the dusty ground, Evelyn pressed forward to introduce herself.

"Mr. O'Connell, my name is Evelyn Carnahan," said Evy, her voice strained with suppressed excitement. Rick fixed his gaze back onto Cordelia with a 'what the hell' look.

"Did you bring a fan club or something?" he uttered.

Cordelia wasn't sure how to reply, but Rick's attention went back to Evy.

"I am under the understanding that you know the way to Hamunaptra," Evy continued, her voice lowered into hushed tones. Rick raised his eyebrows, distancing himself slightly from the two women that leaned close to the bars.

"Hamunaptra?" he repeated. Evelyn nodded. Rick glanced at Cordelia, who merely shrugged.

"I came for you," she said. "I didn't know much about the voyage to the city of the dead."

Rick didn't respond, but focused his gaze on the pair of them.

"You really think that bringing my fiancée on your little adventurous was the smartest thing to do?" he asked of Evy, uttering the word 'fiancée' like a swear word. "Cordie wouldn't last two days out in that desert."

Cordelia seized him with a prominent glare.

"How have you not changed?" she said, her raised brows daring him to contradict her.

Rick merely smiled.

"Mr. O'Connell, I really had no intention of bringing Cordelia along on this trip, unless she wishes to," she added, taking a glance to Cordelia. "I merely informed her that you were alive."

Rick studied the pair of them with a wry smile.

"Yeah, I know the way to Hamunaptra," he said in a very nonchalant tone.

Both Cordelia and Evelyn's eyes widened in surprise.

"But—how—really?" Evy stammered.

"I know because I was there," he replied, seeming to take some amusement from the situation now. He looked at Cordelia. "That's where I was stationed."

Cordelia stared at Rick who stared back.

"You want to help your friends get to Hamunaptra?" he inquired of her, his tone jokingly light. Cordelia glanced at Evy who looked importantly back, as if Cordelia's next answer put Evy's life at stake. She turned back to Rick.

"Yes," she said at last. "And I want to come."

Rick gave her a slightly taunting smile.

"Come here," he said, motioning her to him with his finger. She frowned, but obliged. When her face was almost touching the bars of the cell, Rick grabbed her from under her chin and drew her face right up to his, planting a fierce and quick kiss upon her lips.

"Then get me the hell out of here!" he hissed.

Paralyzed by the surprise of the kiss, Cordelia didn't even move when Rick was taken roughly by his collar and forced back through the door and out of the cell.

"What, where are they taking him?" Cordelia demanded of the warden, getting to her feet.

"To be hanged," said Hassan, in an almost smug voice. "Apparently, he make very good time."

.

It was sick of how many people had gathered around the wooden platform where a noose was hanging from. It was sick how many cheers were reverberating off the stone walls, of how it indicated each and every man's lust for the sight of Rick's death.

Cordelia sat between Hassan and Evy, perched on the highest seat that overlooked the sight of Rick being herded up the wooden steps and towards his death. Rick's eyes found Cordelia sitting up there and looked up with disdain.

He didn't love her; he never did. He only ever toyed with the idea of ever marrying her, and truth be told no matter how much it hurt Cordelia's pride, she couldn't help but assume Rick was partly relieved he had been away for three years so he would not have to marry her.

But that did not make Cordelia a heartless bitch.

"Hassan, I will give you fifty pounds to save this man's life," Cordelia said firmly, not taking her eyes off Rick, who was now having the noose tightened around his neck.

"Offer higher, or he swings," said Hassan dismissively.

"He is my fiancée!" Cordelia said, still not looking away from Rick. Evy was beginning to take interest in the conversation. Her complexion was pale and her fingers were twitching slightly.

"Why should I care? That tells me nothing apart from that you have poor taste in men."

"One hundred pounds!"

Hassan raised his hand to the man in control of the trap door beneath Rick's feet, indicating him to stop. Cordelia's heart gave a temporary leap of relief.

"And what else?" said Hassan. "I am a very lonely man . . ."

Cordelia gave him an expression of disgust, and Hassan shrugged and urged the man in Arabic to continue the process.

Cordelia wracked her brains, thinking of any possible way to save Rick's life. She let out a short cry as suddenly the trapdoor under Rick's feet was released and his body released, the noose tighteneing painfully around his neck.

She shot up to her feet, her mouth open in a strangled scream that refused to leave her mouth.

"Aha!" laughed Hassan. "His neck did not break! Now we must watch him struggle."

"This man knows the way to Hamunaptra!" Evy gasped, who seemed just as eager to save rick as Cordelia was.

Hassan shot her a quick look.

"You lie," he uttered.

She gave him an offended look.

"I would never—"

"We will give you twenty percent of our findings if you release him," Cordelia said quickly, her eyes watching how blue Rick's face was getting under the Egyptian sun. Hassan considered.

"Fifty," he said.

"Thirty," intervened Evy.

"Twenty-five!" Hassan said, not seeming to realize what he just said.

"Ah! Deal!" said Cordelia triumphantly.

Hassan's face dawned with comprehension. He let out a wounded groan and shouted again to the man in Arabic. The rope was cut. Rick fell to the ground, gasping for breath and coughing.

Cordelia moved to the edge of the platform, staring down at Rick with a smirk, who stared back up with bloodshot eyes.

Funnily enough, the only thing Cordelia could think of now was the sight of her mother's expression if she ever saw Rick O'Connell in the state he was in now, and know that she was the one to set Cordelia up with this man. High from relief, the thought brought high trails of amusement to Cordelia.

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