Here we are again. I do not own any of the mummy characters. I am working on Chapter 3 right now. Please review!
Chapter 2:
I squinted. Everything was dark around me. I could feel the cool ground beneath my hands.
Sand shifted around my fingers as I tried to push myself up. I groaned. My head spun a bit. I coughed breathing in dust as I did so, the air was musty and dry. I reached down only to realize the pants had no pockets. Typical. I sat up enough to dig into my bag. My hand frantically groping at items. Hoping to stumble upon my phone or my lighter.
My hands fell onto the latter.
I flicked the lighter and the flame sprang to life. I held it in front of my face, trying to make out any details. The walls were smooth tan stone. I stood up, shaking the sand from my pants and feet. I was glad I wore sandals for once.
I held the lighter overhead and looked above me. I couldn't see any light from the hole I fell through. I wasn't sure how far the drop had been, but judging on the ache in my body and head. At least 10 or 12 feet. I flicked the lighter off momentarily.
"Way to go Anya...getting yourself stuck in a fucking tomb" I grumbled to myself. I felt around my bag once more, my hand finally closing around my phone.
I pulled it out. The screen was cracked from the fall but the phone still sprang to life when I turned it on.
"And, no service..go figure" I mumbled. My phone battery was at 80 percent. I used the flashlight on my phone...illuminating the walls further. There had to be a way out of this place.
I saw a tunnel past a short stone pillar. I walked down it, hoping to not run into any bugs or scorpions.
I kept walking, it felt like ages. The clock on my phone said 9pm. I had been passed out quite a while. I briefly wondered if anyone noticed I was missing from the group. Like Mandia, the nice tour guide.
Leave it to me to get stuck somewhere. Sometimes, I was sure trouble found me. I was careful for the most part. Though it was stupid of me to crawl through some unknown hole in a pyramid.
"Dumbass" I muttered to myself.
I hit an impasse in my exploration. Two tunnels. One that branched off left and the other right.
I took the right, hoping for the best. After 10 minutes or so what I stumbled upon shocked me.
A wooden door.
Not a shabby wooden door or one that was built out of sticks.
An honest to god, rich mahogany, wooden door with a brass door handle, well worn with age.
I felt a little uneasy going up to it. It suddenly cracked open.
"And this is where the white girl gets murdered in the movie by the zombies…" I sighed to myself.
I opened the door further but it was pitch black even with my phone light. I ventured in anyway.
The space suddenly felt smaller and I heard the door slam behind me.
"Fuck" I said.
The space felt too small and I was starting to hyperventilate some, where the hell was I?
Suddenly, a bright light flooded the space and I was standing in a janitor's closet. Mop buckets, brooms...a closet.
"Are you lost?" A voice said, I squinted ahead. Standing in the doorway that was now clearer, was a short woman. Brown curls piled on top of her head. Glasses perched on her nose. She was wearing a blouse and a khaki skirt. She looked like a librarian.
"Uhm…."
"Come on out. You must have taken a wrong turn. I know I get lost here sometimes too" The woman gestured. I stepped out of the closet and we were standing in a library. Bookcases floor to ceiling and museum artifacts littering tables and shelves.
"Were you taking a tour? I didn't realize Dr. Bey had scheduled any today" She said, now taking in my appearance.
"I am not sure exactly where I am" I said finding my voice. I was just in the middle of a pyramid in Giza and now I was in a library.
"You are in The Egyptian Museum of Cairo" She said, now looking at me very carefully.
"Are you feeling alright?" She added.
Now that she mentioned it. I felt light headed
"I think I need to sit" I said, glancing over to a chair pushed into a table. I pulled it out and flung myself and my bag down.
"I can get you some tea if you like" She said
"That's ok. Maybe getting back to my hotel would be best" I said, standing again. Bad choice, my vision wobbled all over the place. I felt her small hand on my shoulder, beckoning me to sit again.
"Let me get you a glass of water at least" She said rushing off. I heard her heels clack on the floor. I put my head in my hands. Was there some unknown tunnel from the pyramids to the museum? That just didn't make any sense. I wondered how hard I hit my head. Maybe I don't remember leaving and I somehow wound up back at the museum, in a closet. That had to be it.
The lady came back in with a glass of water.
"Thank you" I said, taking it from her and chugging the water down.
"You said hotel..are you nearby?"
"Yeah just up the road actually" I said, standing a second time. I didn't wobble, which I took as a sign that I would be ok.
"Thank you for the water.." I said
"Evelyn Carnahan, Head librarian" She offered my her hand, I shook it lightly. She returned my smile.
"Anyana Irwin. Anya for short" I said.
"You can call me Evie. Lovely to meet you. Good luck getting back to your hotel. I must get back to work unfortunately" Evie said. I nodded.
"Of course" I smiled and made my way out to the front entrance.
What I saw was an even bigger shock than the wooden door.
The cairo I knew...was replaced with dirt roads. Horses and a few vintage fords.
"What in the hell…?" I said out loud, causing a few odd stares from people, who looked like they were dressed right out of a great gatsby novel.
I closed my eyes and rubbed them.
The pain of hitting my head earlier coming back. I had to be still passed out.
I jammed a finger into my arm, causing significant pain. I looked down and saw the mark from my fingernail.
"Nope, not a dream" I said. I hurried back inside the museum and back to the library.
Evie was pulling books out of a box.
"Hey, sorry to bother you again" I cleared my throat to get her attention.
She looked up, startled a bit.
"Hello again" She said, straightening up.
"Do you have today's paper by chance?" I asked
"Of course! Give me a second" she ran off and returned with a newspaper. She went back to putting books on a table and muttering to herself.
I scanned the front page. My eyes unblinking.
March 20th, 1926.
"Damn.."
"Something the matter?" Evie asked,looking up
"I'm afraid that I may have a bit of a problem"
How did I even begin to explain what happened without sounding like a nut job?
I fucking time traveled. The door pulled a fucking narnia on me
I began to piece together some half assed story.
"I was robbed" I said, wincing. Hoping it didn't sound stupid.
"Robbed?!" Evie said, surprised. She came over to my side at once.
"Someone took all of my things out of my room. The hotel says they don't know anything. I have just my bag here and what's in my wallet" I sighed. It would have to do. I mentally shrugged.
"I'm sorry! Oh goodness, you can stay around here if you like until you find other arrangements! If nothing comes up. I have a spare room you are welcome to" Evie smiled
"That is very generous of you" I nodded.
I sat at a table again in the library and listened to her talk. My mind spinning over what had happened. Trying to think of what to do next.
When Evie was out of the room, I ran over to the janitor's closet and pushed on walls.
"Don't you dare leave me in 1926 you assholes…" I threatened, pointing at the wall
The wall did nothing in return, so I kicked it.
Knowing enough of history, I knew I was stuck in a pretty shitty time.
I had to figure out a way back home.
I heard Evie's heels on the floor. I darted back out of the closet.
I began busying myself with looking at the books on the shelves.
"It's almost time to head out. I take it your search was fruitless?" She asked
"Yeah unfortunately"
I had no one. I did try to send a text to a friend but all I got was an error.
I had shut the phone off and stored it at the bottom of my bag, hoping to save the battery.
"I traveled here alone" I said
"Alone, really? You are very brave" She laughed
I fought the urge to roll my eyes at the archaic statement.
"Well my offer still stands. My brother usually sleeps in the spare room, but he off hunting some useless treasure again" She sighed, sounding annoyed.
"It's yours for as long as you like" She smiled.
I smiled. Genuinely happy that I had bumped into her.