Ch.7: Dark Passage

"Well" said Sly, looking around at new room Slytukamen managed to get for him " it's not home, but I guess it will have to do."

The room was white and vast, decorated in colorful cloths and potted ferns giving it a regal, ancient appeal. The bed lie in center of the room, made of straw. Not the most comfortable thing in the world to sleep on, but in ancient Egypt, do as the Egyptians do.

A knock soon came to the door attracting Sly's attention, and the thief turned around to answer it. When he opened the door, Sly was stunned to see Talan standing there with his cane. Before he could even speak, the owl spoke.

"Kasim asked me to return this," said Talan, presenting the cane.

"Thanks," said Sly, and grabbed onto the shaft.

As soon as the hand clasped on, a feeling like a thunder-shock passed through Talan's nerves, and visions began to pour into his head. What he saw was exactly what Kasim had warned he would see; metal feathers, being betrayed, Sly and his kin responsible for all the torture that was soon to come. Ten seconds passed before Talan ripped himself away from the cane. Sly looked at the old, gasping brown owl in confusion.

"Are you okay?" asked Sly.

"I'm fine" lied Talan, backing away " Sorry to disturb you,"

And with that said, he walked out of sight.

"Kasim!" shouted Talan a few minutes later, walking in on the mystic turtle's lab unannounced " You were right about this imposter! I saw it all! He and his kind must be stopped."

"Well then" said Kasim, turning around with a grin " should we prepare?"


Meanwhile, safe in the comforts of his own royal chambers, Slytukamen had settled down to rest and soon became lost in the wisps of his dreams. A marvelous flower garden appeared, surrounding a shining pond. The structures around were magnificently carved in the stone likeness of every Egyptian god.

"Ah" thought Slytukamen to himself " this place must truly be paradise."

The sun set down in the sky, casting an orange glow across the land. The statues radiated in the glow, looking both mystical and alive. There was never more a stunning sight. And then, one of the stone statues, the statue of hawk-faced god Amun Ra, eyes lit up and the mouth opened to speak.

"Beware, a dark future comes to hunt you and your kin.

The heavens will send help, but you shall not win.

Balance must exist, so keep a good watch on your heirs.

The keys for life are now theirs."

With that said, all the beauty of scenery suddenly changed. The sun was gone, and the night turned things ugly. All of the wonderful stone statues crushed and dissolved into dust, whipping around a now frightened Slytukamen like an angry wind.

Thunder cracked, and an evil laugh was heard, and soon Slytukamen found himself jolting back awake to reality on his bed. Cold sweat streaked down the golden-grey raccoon's fur.

"What was all that about?" thought Slytukamen II in his head " That was some dream!"

Or was it? That wind at the end had felt so real! He often heard of his father having dreams like this when he took the throne too. Sometimes, they even came true.

"Will it be the same for me" thought Slytukamen worriedly " or shall it stay a nightmare?"