Chapter 11

Ahkmenrah's trepidation about the new janitor never abated, but he could find no reason for it. Unconsciously, he began following him around secretly- apparently not very well, for once in a while Harris would look up from his sweeping and wave at him, as if letting him know he was aware he was following him. After the tenth time this happened, Ahkmenrah decided espionage wasn't his forte. Surely I can find more productive ways to spend my evening than shadowing the new janitor! Besides, he'd uncovered nothing suspicious, so there was nothing to warn Larry about. Surely even McKenzie wouldn't have found his hunch noteworthy! He only had this feeling to go on, not quite dread, more like sticky, icky wariness. Without evidence, it wasn't enough. Not even for himself.

Looking up to admire Larry swoop his son up into a swinging hug, Ahkmenrah decided to give up his detective work once and for all. Larry's judgement should suffice for him. Catching Larry's smile helped cement his new resolve. No more worrying about the new employee without proper cause.

"Sooo, anything going in your life?" McKenzie asked. By now, she was beginning to question how helpful their agreement of being friends was proving. Initially, she'd hoped that befriending an ancient, nightly resuscitated ruler would have its perks, or at least would be enjoyable. Apparently being a pharaoh's confident involved long hours of playing Battleship. True, initially she'd enjoyed these nightly competitions, but recently awkward attempts at conversation disrupted that entertainment. Not only was she growing tired of Battleship, she felt like she was neglecting her duties; judging from the private concerns Teddy had addressed to her, the nightmares still troubled the pharaoh. Then again, if Ahkmenrah continued keeping his secrets, there wasn't much she could do for him.

"No."

More staring down at the grids, to the point of the red and white pegs blending into solid pink ones. McKenzie looked up at him, a bit surprised by what she saw. Was this really the pharaoh of legend? The one who'd the old guards had feared? Watching him stick his tongue out from between his teeth in concentration, she couldn't quite reconcile the two mental images. Regardless, it was time to be useful. "I hear the night terrors persist."

The question drove out his next move completely from his mind. "Who told you?"

"Theodore Roosevelt. He's worried about you, you know. They all are."

Ahkmenrah bit his lip, unsure what else he could contribute to this discussion. Here he'd hoped he was doing such a great job of pretending!

"Look, I... I may not be very experienced with this, but even I understand it's not a brilliant idea to keep such things bottled up within yourself. Believe me, I've tried!" When he looked up at her quizzically, she reluctantly elaborated. "My... My mum and I don't always get along. I don't even believe she thinks it's her fault, or comprehends what she's done wrong- indeed, sometimes I don't know how she's irritated me. But irritate me she does. For years, I shut up and went along with whatever she said, but eventually it grew to be too much. Perhaps that's why I came here..."

"What did you do?"

McKenzie barely resisted laughing, for her response was going to be slightly ironic. It didn't exactly promote coming out to anyone- her solution was a solitary one. "Honestly, what I've been doing since I moved here: writing. I keep a journal. I know it's totally unprofessional, but after a while when our therapy sessions seemed at their worst, I wrote in a diary. They began as clinical notes, but when I reread a few there was little clinical about them." She sheepishly looked down at her stockings, wondering what the heck had gotten into her; if he told Larry...

"I keep a journal as well. Though I have been negligent in doing so lately."

"Really? Why do you think that is?"

The pharaoh shrugged. "Little time, I suppose."

But you're not working for the Night Program right now. "May I read it?"

"No!" When her face fell, he sighed. "Forgive me, I simply recorded some of my most private thoughts within that book; if someone were to read it, it would..."

"Feel as if they were trespassing on you soul," she finished quietly. Again, how could she have been so foolish? If someone had asked her the same question, she'd have been less civil.

"Yes. Besides, I doubt you would find much of interest within it."

"What do you write about?"

"What does anyone write about? Daily activities, thoughts, momentous occasions..."

"Are you honest?"

"What?" Ahkmenrah was unused to being caught off guard twice in a single evening. What could she mean 'was he honest'? He'd never been sly or misleading in his dealings with others, never. "If you suspect dishonesty on my part-"

"No no no no! I didn't mean with me, I meant with yourself. In your journal." When he continued to stare at her in confusion, she continued. "Are you describing you emotions as fully as you can, your memories accurately? Stuff like that."

"Of course!" Truthfully, before this session he'd never truly thought about how he wrote, nor what he described.

"Everything?"

"Well, there may be an event or two I have not gotten around to recording, but otherwise, yes."

"You don't avoid unpleasantness?"

Another shift of his shoulders. "Well, I truthfully prefer not to write about unpleasant matters too much, but occasionally it is unavoidable."

Aha, avoidance. "Denial is always the first sign of a problem," she muttered.

"What?"

"Nothing! We'll get to all that later. For now, I want you to record your dreams."

This solution was so remarkably not outrageous, Ahkmenrah did a double take. "Pardon?"

"Night terrors, visions, whatever you call them. Write them down in your diary the instant you wake up."

It was so simple, he was disappointed with himself that he hadn't thought of it sooner. "And?"

"Aaannnd what?"

"That is it? No meditating, deep breathing, or dangling by my earlobes from the ceiling?"

With anyone else, McKenzie would've known they were joking, but with Ahkmenrah it could be difficult to tell. "No, none of that, at least not for a while. Just writing. You can manage that, I presume?"

"Yes."

"Excellent! There is a catch, however... Nothing to worry about! After a week, I would greatly appreciate it if you allowed me to go over your recordings." She plowed on, muffling his protests. "I promise I will only read about the nightmares, none of the earlier entries. Believe me, I understand the importance of privacy! However, this may be the best way for you to 'open up' to me. Just write for yourself, no one else." Sighing at his obvious hesitation, she compromised slightly. "If it makes you feel better, look at this last part as optional- if a week has passed and you aren't comfortable enough with me to share your dream journal, I'll understand. To be honest, though, I really believe this might be a good first step towards uncovering their trigger."

Ahkmenrah twiddled a peg between his fingertips. "And my revealing my dream journal entries to you would be optional? You will not force me to reveal them?"

"Not if you're not ready."

A heartbeat later, the pharaoh finally nodded. "I will do as you ask."

McKenzie all but jumped to her feet. "Wonderful! All right, then. Excellent conversation, but I'm afraid I've gotta get going soon. Larry promised me a ride home, and it's nearly sunrise."

"Oh." Belatedly, he remembered to wish her good night after she walked out the door. McKenzie, on the other hand, didn't miss his contemplative expression. It was a sight surprisingly pleasant for her to observe. It meant she'd given him something worthy to think about, which didn't happen often enough. Yet. She was still grasping at straws, but now she had a plan. Admittedly, that bit about it being optional was a minor use of reverse psychology, which she prayed would work. Simultaneously, even as she'd uttered it, she'd wanted to smack herself- what if he refused to share? It was a risk she'd have to take. The payoff would be worth it if he did allow her to go over them with him; they might find a clue to what was troubling him. If worst came to worst, and they were actually prophetic, they might decipher whatever danger was heading their way.

Only time and effort would tell.

I am SO SORRY this chapter is late! I'm getting re-acclimated to college life again. :(

Anyway, I hope you all enjoy! Thank you all for your reviews, o ye faithful followers! For those of you who haven't reviewed... For shame, for shame. Kidding! But seriously, I appreciate the comments; they're quiet, friendly reminders that my story is being read.