It seems that the more I update, the more reviews I get…

OH MY GOSH! Thank you all so much! :D I cannot express how happy I am, so the only thing I could come up with to show my thanks was to update this again quickly. I know, a bit over a week… but I tried my hardest! ^^

RESPONSE~

i – Thank you so much for you reviews. Seriously, you give me such good pointers that I actually refused to touch this chapter until you told me what you thought of chapter six. When you finally did, (and it is okay that you replied late. Hope you had a good time on your vacation) I was so anxious! Anyways, I took your thoughts seriously, and made my changes. Chapter six was easy to fix and add to. I've done major changes when Yugi is in the Pharaoh's tomb. But for chapter five… heh. I'll get back to you on that. Anyways, thanks again. Your help is truly appreciated.

If you all are interested in some history facts, you can re-read Yugi's scene in the Pharaoh's tomb again if you like. And remember, constructive criticism is forever welcomed when it comes to my fanfics.

Enjoy!

Secrets Underground

Chapter 7

Landing on my chest, the wind was immediately knocked out of me as I fell straight on to a hard floor, the sharp pain not hesitating to begin running through my body like wildfire. I groaned, my aching arm moving to my stomach where I held it and painfully rolled over to my back. My eyes were squeezed shut, my face twisted with agony as I bit my lip and struggled to keep my groans in. Wheezes however escaped my mouth every now and then, and as the aches began to ease a little, I pushed myself up into a seating position. Clenching my teeth as more pain shot up my spine at that movement, I sat still for a short moment until it resided before blearily opening my eyes to look around. As soon as the bright dots that clouded my eyesight disappeared and I was able to start taking in my surroundings, my eyes snapped open at the first thing I saw with utter surprise.

Columns. Columns made out of limestone which was carved to create the bodies of Pharaoh's were lined up horizontally before me. As I gazed up at their faces, I couldn't help but gulp and suddenly feel small when compared to their unmoving, unblinking figure that towered before me. As I leaned back to get a good look at them, my hands went to the ground to keep myself upright. "What is this place?" I mentally asked myself, and curious I looked behind me only to see more columns lined up, mirroring the ones in front of me.

My heart thumped against my chest, and sweating heavily I could feel the worry building up inside of me the more I gazed around my new surroundings. The ceiling was intricately designed with images of Egyptian Gods and Goddesses, while the walls held similar, coloured images of people with food and other gifts in their arms. It seemed as if they were offering it to someone; someone important from the way they were kneeled down. As soon as that thought crossed my mind, I began to picture an Ancient Egyptian temple. They were built, dedicated, and protected since it was considered the house of Gods. Much religious activity like worships and other sacred festivals in Egypt were held in the temples, and the Pharaoh's were the ones who had the duty of protecting the shrines. But from the looks of what seemed to be this temple, it was very old. Then again, of course it was old. It had been thousands of years since the temples have been used. The Ancient Egyptian religion died out eventually, and the temples were abandoned and limited once Egypt became a Roman province. The ones that remained back then was used for government reasons, and now today they're just used as tourist attractions. It's a pity really, but if they were used as tourist attractions, where was the people? Where was I?

I looked around from my seat on the sandy floor in hopes of finding more clues to this strange mystery. The room was rectangular in shape, the columns on the longer walls while the smaller walls held more images and hieroglyphics. On my left, in the middle of the small, square wall held an enormous door that led to more rooms, and as I turned my head to the right, I was forced to stare in wonder. It had no door, and because of this I was able to see what was beyond the temple. What I saw was nothing important since it was everywhere, but it troubled me because it was all that I saw for miles.

Sand. There was just sand for as far as my eyes could see.

"Where am I?" I murmured out loud, and refusing to sit any longer I got off of the floor and began to slowly move towards what seemed to be the entrance to the temple. I used the walls for support as I made my way over to the entry way, and when I did, it only brought me more reasons to be anxious. As I stood at the top of few steps that led up to the doorway, I looked around the outside of the temple to see just more sand. My face scrunched up into confusion and I was forced to put a hand to my forehead and use it as a shade from the sun so that I could look around better. Sure enough, there were no people, and not a single building or tent in sight. That was impossible though. The sun was up and it burned down on me without mercy, but still, it was day. The place should be packed with people. Yet, I was alone with nothing but sand. It seemed as if this temple was abandoned, which was also pure nonsense. This temple was huge. There was no way archaeologists could have missed it.

Unable to wrap my head around what was happening, I just stood there, watching the wind zip by and blow the sand into the air. I listened, only to hear absolute silence. I had no idea where I was, I had no idea how I even got here, and I was totally alone. Just what the heck was going on? One minute I was in the Nameless Pharaoh's tomb, in his burial chamber, and the next minute I felt someone hug me, speak, and then shove me down to this place. I closed my eyes wearily, only to quickly open them when crimson irises invaded my mind. The boy in the Pharaoh's tomb, the one who pushed me had eyes just like the Nameless Pharaoh. Was that him? Did the Nameless Pharaoh send me here? If so, why? Why does he want me here, and where do I go next?

Tired, I leaned my head against the wall and slid down to the floor. I sighed deeply, pulling my knees up and leaning my head on them while my arms went into the space between my thighs and my chest. Shadi disappeared. He thrusted me into a place where I shouldn't be, and then another spirit drove me here. I shook my head, not helping but to feel sorry for myself. It might seem easy enough for me to leave now since I was no longer trapped in the tomb, but for all I knew I would go out into the desert and just get lost. I had no idea where I was, or where I should go or do next. There may not even be any civilisation for miles! Lifting my head, I brushed my sweat soaked hair back and tucked it behind my ear. How I wish I had a hair tie at this moment… Nothing was going right.

Weary but feeling a little more relaxed, I glanced around the temple aimlessly, my eyes squinting into the darkness as the statues of the Pharaoh's just seemed to grow in size. They were starting to look a lot darker, and a lot more threatening the more I stayed. I was only here for half an hour so far and my nerves were already through the roof. I groaned internally, my situation beginning to seem hopeless as I realised that I couldn't even stay here. Why would I stay here? If I stayed, eventually I would die from lack of water, and food. I even had nothing on me to live off of. Now what? Wait until death struck?

Just as I dropped my head back to my knees to mope in silence, allowing the dread to build up inside of me, I saw a flash from the corner of my eyes. It was a little golden glint, and as soon as I looked up to the middle of the room where I had seen it, my heart got a bit lighter. I quickly got up to my feet and walked over to the spot where I had fallen, only to have my eyes widen when I saw a familiar object. It was the same round necklace with the five pointers on its side and the eye of Horus in the middle that I had found with the Nameless Pharaoh's body. It must have fell with me since I did have it my hands when I was pushed.

Kneeling down, I picked the necklace up and brushed off the grains of sand that had settled on it. I examined it closely, turning and twisting it around in hopes to see something, anything that could help me get out of here, but I found nothing. That wasn't the only thing I was looking at though. As I inspected the object, I realised that it was made out of pure gold. And what was even stranger was that it didn't have a single drop of blood on it even though the Pharaoh's sarcophagus was coated with blood.

To get a better view of the strange piece of jewelry, I walked over to the doorway of the temple again and stood underneath the ray of sunshine that shone down on the sanctuary. Looking closer now, I saw that the jewelry had absolutely no scratches on it. How could that be? My brows furrowed as I put two of my fingers through the eyehole where the rope of the necklace would go and just rested it on my palm. The pointers dangled at the sides, and I just sighed in defeat, not getting anything else out of the strange trinket.

As I stared at the necklace once again, I watched in astonishment when the necklace began to glow, and the right, top pointer suddenly rose up. As I stepped out more into the sunlight to see where it was pointing towards, the necklace glowed even brighter. I stared, completely baffled. I turned around to go back inside, only to have my excitement vanish and turn into confusion when it stopped glowing, the pointer falling back into line with the others. Taking a step backwards without looking away from the pointers, I watched with wonder as it glowed again, this time the left, top pointer rising up and pointing in the same direction the right one was pointing towards just a few seconds ago.

"Huh," I said to myself with a tiny smile, and just to experiment I stood where I was and turned the necklace around to stare with amazement as a different pointer rose up and pointed in the exact same direction. I stared at the place where they were pointing at, but I saw nothing except for sand. What were they pointing at? I didn't know, but so far it was the only one with a possibility of me getting out of here alive, even though it was a very tiny possibility. So, taking a deep breath, I took one last look at the temple and walked down the stairs. I was putting all of my faith into this necklace.

It was all or nothing now.

It's official. I was lost.

Exasperated, I coughed dryly, my arm moving to cover my face as another gush of wind blew past me, causing the sand to fly once again. As soon as the wind was gone, for now, I opened my eyes and looked up to squint into the distance. There was still just myself and the sand, and by now I've been walking for what seemed to be forever when in actuality it was probably just under an hour. My throat was absolutely parched, and my mouth was as dry as it could be. I needed something to drink, but there was nothing for me to have. I just moved slower in hopes of saving my energy, my foot dragging in the sand that endlessly surrounded me.

I glanced at the pointer with frustration only to see it still pointing in the direction I was heading in for all this time. I was following it, but so far I didn't find a single person, or anything as a matter of fact. The temple was now long gone, and regret was piling high in my head. The more I walked the more I wished I had stayed back at the temple because there I atleast had shelter. This was a stupid move, and I could possibly die right here. If I was sent to the temple I should have just waited there because mother always told me that when you're lost, stay in one place until someone finds you! Dammit. Why is it that I remember these life lessons when it's already too late?

Scowling to myself, I stopped walking and took a few breaths, allowing my eyes to wander aimlessly across the desert. I just had no more will left to continue, but I had to have faith that I can get out of this strange occurrence alive. Sure, Shadi left me and I was sent to the middle of nowhere… it was alright. He would come back for me. Whether I liked it or not, Shadi was going to find me and take me and force me to do whatever he wanted because he needed me to "save the Pharaoh". It's apparently my destiny, so if I die I won't be fulfilling my destiny. Right? Then again, for all I know I'm already dead and this is all just a hallucination.

Holding my sides as another wave of exhaustion slammed into me, I breathed in and out slowly, my teeth clenching together. I shook my head, feeling the sweat that soaked my skin. "Great, now I'm talking to myself," I said out loud, and I stood upright again to take my jacket off. Holding it in the crook of my arms, I wiped my face and took another look at the necklace. The pointer was still upright, looking absolutely sure of where it was going, but I just sighed, pushing my sodden hair out of my face. I needed water soon or else I'll just collapse. I stood still, trying to calm my pounding heartbeat. I just listened to the soft whistle the wind made when it blew by until I could almost hear the blood pounding through my head. I inhaled deeply, and from the corner of my mind I felt a small breeze as I heard rushing water splashing against its bank.

Rushing water?!

My eyes snapped open and I immediately looked up and eyed all around. Now that I caught a whiff of it, the sound was actually louder than I had first thought. I listened closely to hear what direction it was coming from, and as soon as I figured out which way the sound may be, I began to walk, ignoring the pointer as it pointed in the other direction while I went to the left, in the opposite direction. It didn't take long for the sound of water to get louder and louder as each minute passed. There was no doubt about it now. Surely there was water not too far now.

As I walked across the sand, I eventually slowed and came to a stop as soon as I came to a hill, and in awe and joy I gazed down at the Nile River that ran from one end to the other. I grinned broadly, and from the little power walk I had done I bent over and held my knees to catch my breath, refusing to take my eyes off of the river to make sure that my mind wasn't playing tricks on me. However, my mind wasn't fooling me and the infamous Nile that defied the minds of scientists was running northward towards the Mediterranean Sea before me. A very unusual route for a river to take, but was considered fortunate by the people of Egypt, and right now, very fortunate for me.

Once I caught my breath, I looked down the hill to see that it wasn't too steep for me to go down. After that was determined, I carefully ran down, keeping my balance as the sand raced to the bottom as I sped up. Eventually I was stepping on rock since the sand thinned out, and before long I was brushing up against little bushes and small trees the lower I got. I mentally cheered, glad to finally see some vegetation instead of sand.

I got to the bottom only to stop and stare out at the water with my left hand up against my forehead to create some shade from the sum. The water was a wonderful blue colour, and lining the edges were grey rocks of all shapes and sizes. It was beautiful, very heartwarming, and I closed my eyes with a big, happy sigh as a warm, cool breeze blew by me instead of hot breeze. Opening my eyes once again I looked at the water, and without thinking twice I dropped my jacket to the ground along with the necklace and walked up to the bank. Crouching down I picked the water up and used my hands to drink a bit. Once I had my fill, I used the water to wipe my face and arms, trying to wash as much of my hair as possible. It was still kind of sticky from my sweat, and was beginning to smell awful against my skin, so a wash was necessary for me to continue this hellish journey. In fact, why should I continue? What was wrong with here? There was water for me to drink, and surely people would come here as well. I'll be alright.

Standing, I stepped back just in time to see a fish swim by and head back deep in the water, only to see the shadow of a large animal swoop in and eat the fish. Startled by that horrific scene and realising just what that creature was, reality and my brain returned and crashed into me like a bag of potatoes. It was then did I understand how lucky I was to be alive. This was the Nile River! It was extremely dangerous. There were ten different, venomous snakes slithering all around on the land, and I was literally just near the water where even more dangers lived. A twenty to thirty foot long crocodile could have swooped up and ate me, or one could have been walking on the land and easily attacked me. They preyed on humans, and frankly I made myself an easy bait, one just screaming to be killed. And that's only half of the dangers that the Nile held. There were also Hippopotamuses, and insects, and it just dawned on me that drinking the water from the Nile may have not been such a good idea.

Suddenly fearing for my life, I walked back to my jacket and picked it up along with the necklace. It was still glowing, pointing back up to where I was before I found the Nile. I sighed, and didn't hesitate to begin climbing. It was a bit of a struggle, but in the end I was safer up here than down below where I could be mauled. There wasn't much shade, but I would have to deal with it. I flopped down on my jacket that I had laid on the sand. Here I can regain all my lost energy, and feel the cool breeze without half the dangers. With hands on my lap I watched as birds flew about, and I calmly looked at the river, listening to the waves. It was so serene that I didn't want to move a single muscle, but I knew that I would have to continue walking sooner or later.

As I looked out to the water as a bird flapped about for a bit before swooping back into the sky, I smiled a bit at how different this area was from the rest of the land. The desert was barren and hot, while the Nile flourished with plants and animals of all kinds. Of course. It is considered the birthplace of all life here in Egypt. With the Nile, Ancient Egyptians were able to build their homes, they were able to farm and live. Without it running through this land the Egyptians couldn't have possibly survived. And, according to the Ancient Egyptians, the reason as to why the Nile was full of fertility was because of a very popular tale concerning their god, Osiris.

The story goes that Osiris was betrayed and murdered by his brother, Set. Set was deeply jealous of Osiris, so he tricked Osiris by allowing him to lay down in a very glamourous sarcophagus, promising that he was going to give it to the person who could fit inside. But, as soon as Osiris was laid down, Set shut the lid and threw Osiris into the Nile, killing him. Osiris's wife, Isis went in search for her husband's body to give him a proper burial, and unable to find it she asked some children who were playing by the Nile. They knew where he was, and they showed her where the coffin had eventually washed up. She found the sarcophagus in a tree at Byblos, and took his body back to Egypt. However, Set knew Isis was looking for Osiris, so before she could find him, Set found him and chopped his body into bits and scattered them all over Egypt. Again, Isis went out and found the remains and gave them a proper burial, a reason as to why there are so many tombs of Osiris throughout Egypt. Unfortunately, Isis was unable to find his genitals which were thrown into the Nile by Set and eaten by a crocodile, and this was why crocodiles were connected to the god of fertility, Sobek. And, since Osiris was still missing a part, he was unable to move on and became the Lord of the Afterlife. As for Set, Osiris's son, Horus, avenged his father's death by defeating Set. It was a great story, one that I am still quite entertained by. It was this story that began the idea that children were a gift, a prophecy because they knew something that Isis did not know.

I sat there for a few more moments, just enjoying the peace and quiet for a while longer only to be suddenly tugged harshly. My eyes fell to the necklace that was in my hands, and I watched with wonder as the necklace vibrated and glowed intensely. Pointers went up and I watched as it began to move, turning from one side to the next as if following something that was behind me. I stared at it, unsure of the reason as to why it was acting up like that, when I then heard it. I could hear something other than the waves. It didn't take too long for me to figure out what the sound was, and as soon as I did my eyes snapped open. Turning around I looked on as a couple of horses galloped away into the distance with their riders donned in a white robe which flapped in the wind. I would never be able to catch up to them, and nor would the people hear me if I shouted for them to stop, but atleast now I knew that there were people around here somewhere. As the sound disappeared I looked back at the necklace, only to see that it dimmed and stopped vibrating, returning to its former direction as if nothing had happened.

I got to my feet hurriedly and brushed my pants off, and taking a last look back into the distance I grabbed my jacket and shook the sand off roughly. I gazed at the miles of sand with more confidence before casting a look back at the Nile down below. I didn't want to lose track of the Nile, just in case the necklace and my theory was wrong, so maybe I could just stick close so that I know where it is, yet still figure out where the necklace was pulling me. Apparently the necklace did know where it was going, so now I had to find those people and get some help.

I began to walk towards wherever the object was directing me while still keeping track of where the river was. In the end I noticed that the necklace was somewhat following the river, so I was glad that keeping track of the Nile would be a bit easier. Eventually though I strayed farther and farther away from the Nile, but now I knew which direction it was in. I walked off into the sands until I couldn't see the river anymore except for a little speck in the distance, and I took another look at the necklace. It was glowing even brighter, vibrating slightly. I walked up a bit more for another few minutes only to begin running when I spotted the top of a building in the distance. But as I got closer I was forced to stop once I came to the edge of a pretty steep cliff that was way too high up to slide down. I would have to find another way around it. After looking at the cliff and thinking about how I should get down, I looked up to see what laid before be, only to have my mouth fall open from shock.

Before me stood a village. Not a city at all, but a village. It looked like an ancient town, and as I squinted to have a better view of the place, I saw people, and that calmed my heart a bit. However, the thing that I was unable to ignore for any longer shone and glinted, so I had no choice but to let my eyes fall on the huge, golden-like structure that stood up ahead, seemingly watching down on the village. It was the same building that I had spotted. Dread and fear began to build up inside of me as I stared at it with a dumbfounded expression, and I could slowly feel my heart moving up to my throat. This was crazy. Just impossible. There was no way that the building could be real because they existed thousands of years ago. It was supposed to be buried under layers of sand, and the only way I should be seeing it is in a movie about Ancient Egypt and through whatever archaeologists were able to unearth. Not in real life. Not in the present day. Then why? Why was I seeing this here?

Why was I seeing a golden painted, Egyptian palace?!

And there we have it! The end of the chapter. To be honest, there was actually so much more that had to get added to this chapter, (Yugi going into the village and all) but I decided against it and just leaving it for the next chapter. I'm going to take this slow, keep you guys hanging. xD But as for this chapter, oh my… so much details. It's difficult, trying to find different ways to explain things and trying not to be repetitive. I spent a lot of time looking at each word, every paragraph, making sure that if I have to say a word again that it's far apart. –Sigh– I hope it's good. And as for descriptions, hehe, Google was a big help and Wikipedia is awesome for finding quick, basic info on Ancient Egypt. Hope it suffices. I hate research, but I'm trying my best. :D

I'll try my best to update again as soon as possible. Writing these chapters take a lot of time, and I really don't want to rush it just for the sake up updating quickly. I do hope you understand. I want to make sure everything is perfected to the best of my abilities for you all to enjoy, and from the looks of it, my hard work is paying off.

So, thank you all for reading and being patient. Please review. And until next time… Bye~