EgyptianAngel: I know it's confusing but I'm trying to write the doppelganger stories a little differently. In most stories the doppelganger versions only exist or are never mentioned. Also the doppelgangers don't know they are doubles. In this case I've decided that they should know just to do it a little differently.

Universe: Doppelgänger universe

Return to the Town of the Temporarily Dead

Ever since Jed had been dead for a night he had ranted of the dream he had of the museum folk. He claimed that were other versions of them in the American Museum of Natural History. That was why they couldn't approach the night guard he claimed was called 'Larry' and the museum.

Attila it was hard to say because he spoke very little English and none of them understood more than a few words. But he seemed to be saying the same thing. At least they thought he had said 'Larry' in his thick accented English.

Ahk had decided that he would go back, to confirm his friends claims and to break the strange curse. He had convinced Teddy and Sacagawea to come as well a few days after they had left the cursed town. They agreed, not that they were thrilled that Ahk was going to expose himself to the curse even if it was the only way to know the truth.

That was how they came to be parked a mile away from the town waiting.

"Ahk my boy… Are you sure that you wish to do this? If your plan goes wrong we may lose you." Teddy sat with them at a rest stop; he was beside Sacagawea stroking her hand comfortingly. She may put up a strong front but she was still disturbed about their friends "deaths" a few days earlier.

"Yes, Teddy. If we are to understand the compulsion that draws us together then someone must make a leap of faith. To understand why we exist this way and why we are not whole as a group."

Sac sighed, "We do not wish to lose you. Ahk, I feel as though you are my spirit brother and fear for you doing this."

Ahk was always touched by the couples' feelings for him. "If what we saw holds true than I shall be fine. Just remember to come and place me in the car before you go to investigate the area."

The couple kept up their pleas even when they were on the road and just outside the town. When the sun was about to set Ahk left the car to the sound of their trying to change his mind. He marched on foot through the forest behind the hotel they had found Jed and Attila. When he reach the hotel he sat down and waited for the curse to come for him.

)*()*( NATM)*()*(

Sacagawea and Teddy quietly drove up and recovered Ahk. Placing him in the back seat they drove back to the outer limits of the little town and parked the car in a deep dark part of the forest. Teddy and Sac checked Ahk over solemnly, hoping he was right. Making sure he was comfortable, even if he unable to appreciate the gesture as he was currently.

"Since we cannot talk to the towns' folk I suggest we walk around the parameter of the town looking for anything that looks suspicious." Sacagawea stated her plan of action after they locked the car.

"My dear, I believe that may be the best plan we have for now until know more."

So they did walked together carefully searching and avoiding the town and the locals as they searched. In three hours they had walked around the town twice and saw nothing to suggest where the origin of the curse had come from or if it was even nearby.

Teddy had turned to his girlfriend to discuss venturing closer to the town when he stepped on a piece of forest debris with an audible crunch. He might had thought nothing of it except for the feeling like something cold and vile was trying to crawl up his leg. Teddy jumped back staring down at the broken piece of bark.

"Teddy, what is wrong?"

"I think I found it."

Carefully using a stick to turn over the one foot by two foot piece of broken bark, as he did it completely broke in half. On the other side Egyptian hieroglyphics glowed an unhealthy shade of blackish-pink. The symbols sparked wildly, flickering as it struggled to maintain the curse.

They both stepped back alarmed the moment they saw the strange dark energies. For a moment they were alarmed, then Sacagawea bent down, picked up and a good sized rock. She stepped forward and calmly dropped it on the cursed bark. The remaining bark shattered and the dark energies having no hold any more dissipated.

Teddy finally recovered as he admired Sacs' bravery in the face of the unknown. "Well done. If that was all to the curse then our friend should have awoken in the car when the curse was broken."

"Let's return then."

They did and as they thought Ahk was alive and awake. When they approached the car he ran to greet them. "You have broken the curse!"

Sac and Teddy hugged Ahk, "Yes, and did you see what Jed saw?"

"Yes, he was right. I think know enough to understand what it going on. I shall explain to you and others when we see them again tomorrow back in New York. Let us return to the city."

So they did return that night. But not before they shoved a note through a mail slot telling the towns' folk that the curse was over and where to find the cursed bark.

At last curse was over.

)*()*( NATM )*()*(

"The experiment was so promising. But, ah, the tablet probably would have been too powerful to let the curse work if I had used it on their little museum."

Kahmunrah was disappointed that such a brilliant idea failed in the experimental run. He had hoped that if the curse held to try it on those who defeated him at the Smithsonian. He had no idea who broke the curse but he was sure it was just an accident. Whoever it was probably wouldn't have known to look for the curse there or that it was a curse.

Oh, well. There were other ideas, other plans to try out from the underworld. Soon, soon he would destroy them all.

The End

Mystery Voice: It's obvious it had to be him.

Magna: I'm sure there are other villains out there who would do that. Feel free to comment. All flames will be used to roast Kahmunrah.