After sitting in silence for a while, Jedediah decided to strike up a conversation. "Well, I don't know about y'all, but I'm about ready fer this to be over."
"You were the one who insisted on coming, my friend," Octavius pointed out.
"Well, I didn't know it would be this crazy. I mean, think about it: We been walking round the desert, you an' I got lost and coulda died, then we found the Mirror but Ahk almost died, and now we gotta go wrestle a soul."
"Yeah, it's been a journey," Larry said in an exhausted voice. His flashlight was in one hand and his phone in the other. "But let's hope it's almost over. As long as we just get Zalaam into this Mirror, we can get back home soon. Bet you guess miss the museum, hmm?"
"I'll admit, gettin' a bit homesick," Jed told him. "But, ya know, Gigantor? It ain't the same without ya there."
"Aww, thanks, Jed."
"Are you certain you will not consider coming back to your old post?" Octavius asked.
"No, I'm sorry, guys," he said without hesitation. "I like teaching the kids a lot...assuming my principal doesn't kill me for this unexpected trip. I really miss you guys, though."
"Aww, but you ran it so much better than McPhee does."
"What exactly is your deal with McPhee again?"
"He's so…serious 'bout everything. He don't even play with Rexy! Dino's gonna go stir crazy."
"I know he can be a stickler, believe me," Larry began. "But you have to look at it from his perspective, too. First of all, he's working both shifts. On top of that, it can't be easy to find somebody to take this job. I mean, most people don't expect to have a museum come to life and have to protect a magical, golden Tablet. It's New York, there's some shady people."
The cowboy mumbled in agreement. Still doesn't mean he's gotta be such a grump all the time. Or keep takin' the car. He don't know how to have fun! "Well, we still do miss ya," Jed added.
"I miss you guys, too. Who knows, maybe Doctor McPhee would let me come see you guys once in a while. You know, when I'm not busy grading papers."
Doubt it. That would be fun, and he's against anythin' that involves that.
Nick hit "submit "on the umpteenth application and set the computer aside. He sighed and thought briefly about taking a nap, knowing he would be up tonight helping Dr. McPhee. Before he could make a decision to get off his couch, a familiar buzzing sounded next to him. He scooped up his phone. "Hey, Alexa, what's up?"
"Hey, babe," she said happily. "Whaddaya say you and I catch a movie tonight? They're showing the new Tom Cruise film at seven-fifteen at the theater by you."
"A movie? Uh, tonight's no good."
"Oh?"
"Yeah, sorry, but I told an old friend of my dad's that I'd go help him out with something tonight. It's gonna take a while."
"Wait, I thought you weren't talking to your dad."
"I mean, I'm trying to but he's not answering…anyway, his old boss just wanted a hand tonight. Maybe next week we can go? Hopefully by then I'll have a new job lined up."
"Wait, I'm still confused. What are you helping this guy with? Cause we can go to a later showing if we need to."
"I'm cleaning up the museum my dad used to work at. You know, the Museum of Natural History?"
"... So, we can't go see a movie because this guy needs help dusting off a buncha plastic and stuff?" Her tone had lost its joy.
"Well it's just… I don't know, I've got good memories there and a lot's going on with me and my dad plus this job stuff… Honestly, the movies should be the last thing on my mind right now. I still don't know how I'm gonna pay rent."
"Nick, you're gonna get a new job, I promise. Look, why not call this museum guy back and cancel and we'll go out tonight? It'll help you clear your head."
"I'm sorry, Alexa, but I really don't think I've got the money right now."
"Don't be silly. Here, you don't even have to pick me up. That'll save you gas. Why don't we meet there at-"
"Alexa, I already told you no. I can't go to the movies with you!"
The phone went quiet for a second. Nick couldn't remember the last time he'd raised his voice at his girlfriend. He was fed up with her asking and already had enough on his mind.
"... Fine," she grumbled after a minute. "I'll go by myself." And she hung up without a goodbye. Nick sighed, tossed the phone onto the couch, and walked to his bedroom.
I really just need a quiet night tonight. My head's gonna explode.
"Gigantor, are we there yet?" Jed complained.
"Umm...I think so. My Map just froze, but I think we're going the right way."
"What do you mean it 'froze'?" The Queen asked. "It is much too hot out here for anything to freeze, even at night."
"No, I mean it, it stopped working for a minute. Well, it's still not working."
"Which means we're lost," Kahmunrah called from the front.
"We're not lost. This is the direction it had us going. It's just...not giving us any more directions."
"I hate to admit it," Ahkmenrah said over his shoulder - the one Dexter wasn't on. "But that does make it sound like we are lost."
"We aren't lost!" he defended. "We're just...just…"
"We're here."
Kahmunrah's voice held no venom in it. In fact, it had no tone at all. He was standing on a small dune, his back towards them. Larry quickened his pace and was soon standing next to him. He could see it before he'd even gotten up the dune all the way.
The black, shadow-like sand had spread to the point that it now looked like a small lake. Larry's eyes widened until they were borderline cartoonish. It was not this big on the news. He's coming soon. We gotta do this.
"This stuff's multiplyin' quicker than a buncha bunnies in June, Gigantor," Jed said in awe.
"We should do this quickly," the Queen stated. By this time, the rest of the group was looking at the dark pool.
"Yes, but where do we find his soul? This was just a starting point."
"More wandering around the desert? I'm starting to think your brilliant plant was a bit half-baked, Mr. Daley," Kahmunrah snapped.
"Hey, it has to be right here. This is the only place it's happening. We just have to figure out where his soul is." That's a weird sentence.
"Maybe there is a clue in the sand?" Lancelot asked. "Like that hidden beetle to get into the Temple?"
Larry looked at him with a pleasantly surprised look. "Lance, that's a good idea."
"Really? Why, thank you."
"Are you certain we should touch it?" Kahmunrah pointed out.
"Do you have a better idea?" Larry glared. He got an eye roll in response. "Didn't think so."
"Dexter, I permit you to make a mess of the sand," Ahkmenrah told him. The capuchin chattered in response before he jumped off his shoulder and raced towards the sand. Larry touched the dark sand with the tip of his shoe, experimentally. When he didn't burst into flames or grow a third eye, he walked further, finding a random spot to try. Like a kid in a sandbox, he crouched down and started to move the grains with his bare hands. "It's going to take quite a while to go through all this sand," Octavius pointed out.
"Yeah, and we gotta find somewhere to hide from the sun," Jed added.
"I know, guys, I know. But this is the only chance we've got at finding his soul. If we don't, it's not the sun we'll have to worry about." He dug deeper into the darkness, hoping to find something. Another beetle. A hidden door. A sign that read "Zalaam's soul lies here." Anything.
His head shot up to the sound of Dexter's shriek, only glimpsing the capuchin's tail as it vanished into the sand in a second. "Dexter!" Ahkmenrah shouted, running to the spot the animal had just been.
"What just happened?" Larry practically shouted in a panicked tone, standing back up.
"The sand just swallowed Dexter!" Teddy answered.
"Ahkmen, get away from there!" the Queen ordered. "You don't know what could- aaah!"
"Shepseheret!"
Larry turned around quickly - probably jostling the miniatures - just in time to see Merenkahre disappear into the sand, right after his wife. "No!"
"Everyone off the sand! Quickly!" Teddy shouted.
"We cannot leave them stuck in-" Ahkmenrah didn't get to finish that sentence.
Larry snapped out of his state of confusion and panic and began to run off the black sand. He kept one hand pressed on his breast pocket to make sure neither of the miniatures fell out. Kahmunrah raced past him, but in a blink was pulled under without a word. He couldn't hear Lancelot's armor clanking behind him anymore. He watched in horror as Teddy met the same fate, gripping his hat before sinking down. Larry ran as fast as possible, his lungs burning, but felt the sand suddenly grip his foot and pull. He covered his shirt pocket before feeling the sand yank him down.
Larry felt his lungs screaming, begging for air as he kept his eyes shut, traveling down, down, down underground. The coarse sand rubbed against his skin. Just when he thought his lungs would implode, the sand vanished, and he hit a clay floor on his back with a tremendous sound. A low groan was all he could manage to make. He finally moved his hand from his pocket.
"Ya okay, Gigantor?" Jed asked.
"...Yup," Larry murmured. "Just...bruised my spine." He got up slowly and looked at them. "You guys okay?"
"We are fine thanks to you," Octavius told him.
"I still hate sand."
"Yeah, me too," Larry told the cowboy. He got to his feet and looked around. He'd been able to keep his grip on his flashlight until he'd hit the floor, which he was thankful for because there was no light in the room. The circle of light waved around the room, but there wasn't much to see. All he could find was dry, brick walls. No torches on the walls. No hieroglyphics. Nothing about any Egyptian deities. Just walls.
"What is this?" Octavius asked.
"I think it's like an...unfinished tomb, or something," he told him.
"Fer Zalaam?"
"Yeah, I guess. Maybe he… knew he was dying and wanted to make one. Or some followers of his made it but never completed it?"
"Doesn't look like we're gonna find much here, either way," Jed added. "We gotta find the rest a' the gang and high tail it outta here."
"Yeah," Larry said darkly, "Before that soul finds them."
"Is it down here then?" the Roman general asked.
"That's gotta be why the sand is like this. Sand doesn't just drag people down for nothing. His body's not here, but if his soul possesses someone…" He didn't even want to think about it. Larry's hand went to his backpack and he inspected the Mirror inside. The glass was pristine. Not even a smudge was on it. Glad that fall didn't do anything. Maybe it's indestructible or something? Egyptian magic is really weird. He kept the Mirror in hand, replaced his bag and started walking down one of the halls. "Ahkmenrah? Teddy?"
"Sir Lancelot?"
"Rahmenoodle?"
"Dexter?!"
Ahkmenrah groaned a bit as he got up off the hard, clay floor. What in the name of Khonsu just happened? Where am I? What happened to the others? He barely had a moment to collect himself before something warm and furry jumped onto him, grabbing his shoulders. "Dexter!" The young pharaoh grabbed his capuchin, smiling. "Thank Ra you're alright! Goodness, Kahmunrah was right, we shouldn't have gone near that sand. Are you hurt?" Dexter made a few chattering sounds, and Ahkmenrah assumed that meant he was okay. "Well, whatever just happened, we've got to find everyone else and get out of here...wherever 'here' is."
With Dexter back on his shoulder, he started to cautiously walk down the dark hall. There was no light, but his night vision had started to work. Not that there was much to see, anyhow. I don't like this, he thought. Something is...off here.
"Larry?" He called out in the dark. "Kahmunrah, are you here? Mother, Father? Do you suppose the others got off the sand, or have they gotten stuck down here with us?...Dexter, why do I keep asking you things? You cannot answer."
He walked on, hoping to find someone else or discover a way back to the surface. He kept one hand on the brick wall to guide them. I wonder if they got off the sand in time. Maybe they are trying to find a way to bring us back up?
Then again, how long has it been? We still need to find the soul of Zalaam before he claims someone's body and regains his power. Not to mention, the impending sunrise. What if they cannot find a way to get us? We nearly had to leave Octavius and Jedediah when they got lost. What if - Ahkmenrah stopped in his tracks and took a deep breath. Stop this. You are not helping by doing this. This is no time to panic. Besides, he realized, beginning to walk again, Mother and Father are down here somewhere. I'm not sure if Kahmunrah would leave me down here or not, but one thing is for certain: He won't let Mother stay trapped down here. He'd sooner turn to dust than allow that.
With renewed peace of mind, he started to call out again. "Mother? Father, can you hear me?" Through twists and turns, hallway after hallway, he continued to shout for them and listen for any sign that someone was near. "Mother? Father? Can anyone hear me?" For an empty tomb, there is certainly a lot of space here. At least the echo will help m-
Ahkmenrah turned around, gasping in fear. I heard something. There was something behind me, I am sure of it. It sounded like a gust of wind or...No, it must be my imagination. This old structure probably just makes some odd noises. "Father?" he began again. "Are you here? Anyone?"
Something moved in the dark and Ahkmenrah froze once more. Dexter looked around, so this time he couldn't have imagined it. He hadn't been able to make out a shape, but it seemed like something was in the room with him. "...Kahmunrah?" he asked. "Is that you?" He took a few slow steps. "Brother, I swear if you jump out and frighten me like you always did, I will-"
A rush of cold hit the center of his spine, as if his cape did not exist, and suddenly, Ahkmenrah couldn't move his legs. His head was spinning like he'd just gone in circles and his eyes lost focus. He felt himself wobble, uncontrollably. The cold feeling rushed through his veins in a moment, consuming him. With the remaining strength he had, he tried to choke out a yell, but it was as if he couldn't take a breath. Darkness filled his mind as the world around him went black.
A/N: I know, I know, evil cliffhanger. I'm sorry, but this chapter would have been HUGE if I didn't stop it here. That aside, what are we thinking? Be prepared, it only get's crazy from here! (Mwhahahaha!)