Chapter 2

1915

(Layla is 17, Ardeth is 21, Evy is 19)

"Have no worry, Mr. Bey . We will take good care of your daughter." Mr. Carnaghan assured the man as he dusted off one of the clay warriors starting by the doorway.

Terrence had to visit the Medjai and he knew that he had to go alone. He trusted the Carnaghans and knew that they would keep her safe while he was away.

" Now Remember, Layla. You are to run the museum while i'm gone. Come dusk you go straight to Dr. Carnaghans. Respect their house as you respect ours."

"Of course, Papa. Have a safe trip." She smiled and kissed her father on the cheek and moved into another area of the museum.

"It will only be a week." Terrence informed Mrs. Carnaghan but she brushed his comment away.

"She will be fine. She is a young woman after all." She added, raising her eye.

" As I am well aware." Terrence warned, with a hint of not talking about any further.

"Safe travels, Terrence." Mr. Carnaghan said and waved the man farewell.

Layla watched as her father left in his horse and carriage. She realized that her father wasn't going to be around for over a week. She was free to do whatever she pleased.

Although she was sad to see her papa gone, it was a big relief to finally be treated like an adult.

Once he got to Port Gaiza, he checked his bags, making sure everything he needed would be taken with him. It was the yearly meeting with the chief about updates on Layla, but this trip was to be longer due to hearing word of more soldiers planning attack from Libya to find the hidden treasure. He agreed to stay and observe to help as long as he could.

The barge swayed down the river, deeper into Egypt out of site past port Gaiza.

On the outskirts of the dock, a young man in black cloth moved out from a hiding place.

Young Ardeth had heard about Terrence Bey arriving for several days and his thoughts went immediately to Layla. Who would protect her if someone knew of her fathers absence. Someone had to watch and protect her.

The museum was quiet. With dusk coming soon, he knew the museum had closed for the day. He sat on one of the statues across from the building to see when the young woman would come out.

It wasn't until the sun had set, but with the light still bright that he noticed her. Her hair was wrapped in a small bun to the side, and small hair fluttered across her cheek. She closed both doors and placed a closed sign on the door handle then rushed across the way.

He watched her run and couldn't help but laugh. What made her in such a rush? He watched as her strides became smaller and them s on the tumble to the floor. Her page and papers shattered.

"Oh no…" She moaned and knelt down to collect her belongings, but immediately stopped once she felt her chest tighten.

He wanted to rush for her, to help her. But his fear of being recognized caused his feet to pause and watch. She had ripped her skirt at the knee, from what he could hell was a small flesh break due to the small spots of blood and dirt collected. She wheezed and stopped to control her breathing taking in deep, controlled breaths and just sat on the dirt, holding her chest.

One breath in…hold…let out slowly. again. one breath in…hold…let out slowly. Stay calm and repeat again.

This was her most common breathing exercise and most effective. She just wished there were more ways to fix it. Sure, Father found some special herbs to grind and smoke with a pipe, but it was just too hard not to inhale it. The breathing exercises were always her best option since she had practiced them since she could remember. The only time she had a bad attach was when she was about fourteen, where she and her father got caught in a sandstorm. Layla and her father ran into the museum just before the storm got bad, but the running caused her airways to constrict and even the exercises weren't enough. She had collapsed, gasping for air. Luckily, a nurse who ran for the museum thanks to the storm was present and informed Terrence to bring her hot coffee. She had helped Layla sit up, which helped bring in more air, then told her to drink the dark and bitter fluid. Almost immediately, her chest and throat opened and air rushed back into her lungs. The nurse called the condition Asthma, and that the best treatment was to not be stressed…well, she didn't know her father.

Ardeth watched her continue to breathe but couldn't wait any longer. He marched over to her and helped collect things she haven't gotten yet from the ground "Miss… are you alright?"

She kept her eyes closed and continue to breathe. The sound of the breaths weren't as bad.

Layla opened her eyes and nervously realized she was alone with a man in the middle of the street. She quickly gathered the rest of her belongings and nodded,

"Yes, Thank you for your help… good day sir…" She asked taking the papers from Ardeths hand without looking at his face, but rushing to get away.

"Wait." Ardeth urged, almost grasping her hand, but didn't want to frighten her.

She knew she had to leave. She was not allowed to talk to anyone other then the Carnaghans. Not after what happened last time she left the museum unattended.

After that afternoon with the men who almost took her nine years ago, she agreed to listen to her father about not attending school, and he agreed that they would do more activities outside the museum. Thats when they met the Carnaghans, during an expedite through Egypt. She also remembered to never be alone, thats how she was almost taken by men who wanted to engage her into slavery. At least thats what her father told her.

She made it to Evy house just before dark. Mrs. Carnaghan looked through the hallway and gasped at the girl in front of her. "Layla, are you alright?"

" I'm sorry i'm so late. I was late cleaning up and fell rushing back. I almost had a breathing attack, thats why i'm late…." She explained, but Mrs. Carnaghan shushed her and pulled her into the kitchen.

"Go rest, i'll bring you some coffee and something to eat. you must be hungry."

Layla thought of Mrs. Carnaghan as a mother. She was always willing to listen, and be a support when Terrence was being difficult.

Evy ran out from her room and brought her a book.

"Look, there is a story in here about the city of the dead. Hamunaptra. Do you believe it exists?" Eva asked, sitting next to her and skimming through the pages.

"I don't know. Papa hasn't mentioned anything about this place. I guess the only way to know is to know it exist is to keep looking up it's history or find a travel guide who may have been there."

Eva slumped in her chair. "Well, according to this book, no one has ever returned alive."

"Then I guess that means no one should not try to find it." Mrs. Carnaghan smirked as she handed Layla a plate of food.

"But it's history!" Eva whined and marched back to her bedroom.

"She act just as you did at her age." Mr. Carnaghan said, coming out of his office and kissed his wife's cheek.

"Not as much as you darling." Mrs. Carnaghan added and continued to clean the kitchen.

Mr. Carnaghan was making himself a cup of coffee as well and took a seat next to Layla. He scattered photographs of old sand scripts and markings.

"What is all of this?" Layla asked, looking at the pictures of a stone wall full of ancient Egyptian symbols and Hieroglyphics.

"We found these a few weeks ago on our last destination. Something about a being called 'the chosen one'. Apparently, it is a person who is to defeat a dark creature and protect the human race."

"How?"

"Excuse me?" Mr. Carnaghan asked, looking at Layla curiously.

"How does this chosen one defeat the creature?" Layla asked as the story brought interest to her.

"Oh, I haven't figured that out yet. Still a few more books to help identify these hieroglyphics. They are older then the Pharaohs themselves, so whoever the chosen one was is long gone by now."

She felt like she should know more about this. Something in her gut was saying to keep researching.

"Would you mind if…perhaps I could help? I mean…i'm going to be working all week in the museum and can look in papas office."

Mr. Carnaghan looked pleased but shook his head no.. "Thats alright, Layla. I usually enjoy doing research privately. But if I feel like I need a hand, I would love your company."

She smiled and nodded as he continued to drink his coffee and overlook his papers.

Throughout the week, Layla worked at the museum and Ardeth protected the areas she was at. He didn't need to be there, but wanted to be there. He had wanted friendship with Layla, but her father wouldn't allow it. Last time he tried to help, he almost killed her. He was only a child when that situation happened, and he was stronger and wiser since then.

On the last night before his departure, Ardeth watched the house as hours passed by. He ate and observed the family one by one retreat to their rooms. Every so often, he easily walk to the window to look inside the rooms. The older couple and their children were sound asleep, but Layla tossed and turned on a cot next to the window. She appeared uneasy and Her long brown hair flared over the pillows and her eyes were relaxed with sleep.

He stood so close to her that he could have touched her face. She was simply stunning, and he felt that was ever since he saw her as a child. He worshiped her, not only because she was chosen, but because he felt like he knew her. That they were connected somehow.

The house was dark when he entered inside, but left the sleeping family at rest and kept the lights off. He wondered to the kitchen where he noticed the photographs of the Sacred Stone. It had our knowledge of the chosen one. He had to take them, or this man could find out about his people. About the Creature. About their Savior.

Quickly and quietly, he collected the photos and papers with the translated documents.

The sound of footprints brought his attention up and across the table.

The woman whom he was just watching sleep was across from him. The Chosen Girl.

Layla was frightened by the man that stood before her. All she wanted was a glass of water, and she found herself before a hooded man for whom all she saw were his eyes.

She took in a deep breath and turned about to yell for her friends, but the intruder had rushed to her and clasped his hand to her mouth. Her screams muffled.

" Be quiet, I won't hurt you." Ardeth promised the woman in his arms.

But Layla was not stupid. She scratched at the mans hands till he bled, but he did not grimace. She knew she could not defeat him and as much as she tried, quiet tears still fell from her eyes and she silenced her screams.

" If I remove my hand, will you promise not to scream?" Ardeth offered, and she nodded against his hand. " An act of Trust. I will let you go, but you must not scream nor turn around until you hear nothing." he warned.

Slowly he released each finger from off her mouth, testing her trust, and when she continued to breath he released her.

As Ardeth collected the mans photos he heard her whispering plea. " I beg you, do not hurt this family. Take me instead."

He sighed and told her. " It was not my intention to hurt them, nor take you. I just can not allow this evidence outside my tribe."

Layla trembled, realizing what he was and scuffed. "You are a Medjai. My father informed me of your kind. Told me to never trust them."

Ardeth was taken back. He would have never thought Terrence would turn our chosen savior against us. Then thinking back a few years ago, Several Medjai had turned against their own and knew the wear about of the chosen one. The Medjai leadership sentenced their death.

Then he thought about the time he saved her. He sat on the window sill, ready to run but had to leave her with one last clue.

" But you have trusted a Medjai. I was only a child last you saw me."

"Ardeth?" She gasped and turned around, but the man was no where to be found, however, She noticed the pile of photos on the table. He had left them for her to decide what to do with them.

An Act of Trust.

Ardeth waited till morning to secure the house. From the windows he could hear the frustration of the man looking for his photos.

Walking past the bedroom windows, the room she rested was empty, except for a package written on the front " Ardeth" which had all the documents found on the explorers dig.

He kissed his hand, sent a silent prayer to Allah for protection of his Savior, and walked back to Port Gaiza.

From the bedroom, Layla watched from the window the man in black from last night walk away from the house. Her Savior.

Hi Everyone! Thank you all so much for Following/Favoriting this story. You guys are so supportive and awesome! The next chapter is where Im going to start incorporating the actual movie into the story. Remember, in my story I'll be submitting chapter by chapter, so the more likes and reviews I get the faster chapters will be updated! Thanks for Reading and till next time- Lisa :-)