C6: The battle through London!
"What now?!" Aida ran to keep up with her friends and felt a little hopeless at the next course of action, "We can't ho home, they'll look there!"
"We'll think about that-wait a minute!" Just as they exited the large doors to the entrance of the museum, Evy stopped and spun around.
"Evy?!" She watched her friend run back, but instead of going inside again, she grabbed hold of one of the benches and began to pull it across.
"Oh, Clever!" Aida ran to the other end and grabbed her side helping Evy to push it, "We might be able to stack the other one on top-"
"Girls, what are you doing?!" Rick ran back over and immediately stopped them by taking Evy's hand, "These guys don't use doors!"
'Uh oh.'
Aida let go and ran back after them, hoping they hadn't wasted time in getting away. Undead guardians, who are seemingly unstoppable? Doors were not an obstacle.
They flew down the steps at dangerous peed, rounded the corner to get to where they left the car, and stopped dead. The car was gone. As was Jonathan and Alex.
"Where the hell's Jonathan?" Rick shouted angrily, just as flabbergasted by their disappearance as Aida.
"Alex?!" Aida looked around for any sign the two might be hiding, "This is NO time for hide and seek!"
Suddenly, a large double-decker bus came roaring up the road, getting their attention. It began to slow down, which was odd because Aida knew the buses well enough to know that this one did NOT belong there.
"What on earth?!" She stopped suddenly when the bus came right up onto the path and turned about, stopping just in time so no one got flattened by its hefty weight.
It was a massive surprise to find that not only was Jonathan driving it, but Alex was upfront and peering out at them. But whilst they still had the transport, Evy, Aida, and Ardeth ran straight to the back of the bus to get on whilst Rick briefly went up front to berate Jonathan.
"I don't know WHAT happened, but if you get us out of here in one piece, I'll be very impressed," Aida huffed as she jumped on and immediately looked out the window to see if they were being followed. Once Rick was done yelling at his Brother-in-law, he hopped on as well and just as Jonathan pulled off, one of the wheels dropped down back onto the road.
Aida, unprepared, reached out to grab onto one of the safety rails, but a strong arm wrapped itself around her waist and held her up.
Since Jonathan was driving and Rick was in front of her, she quickly knew it was Ardeth who was holding her against him, steadying her feet and keeping her from falling.
She was glad he couldn't see the deep blush across her face.
"Oh, I bloody hate these things!" She half-turned and nodded, letting him know she was ok, "Th-thanks."
His arm left her, and she took a step away, peering back outside and trying her hardest to concentrate. They weren't out of danger yet and if every little touch from him was going to do that to her…she was going to be in a lot of trouble.
All three stood at the lower half of the bus, preparing their weapons, and watching and waiting. The guards caught up with them, bounding around the corner and spotting them on the bus. They ran and unfortunately, Rick's car was in their way, but instead of jumping over it or around it…they all jumped upon and smashed it with their feet and spears.
"No, no, no!" Rick yelled out and looked on in horror, "Not my car!"
"Tough luck," Aida put another round in her gun and nudged him lightly with her arm, "let's get them back, shall we?"
"Gladly," he glared out the back and shook his head, "oh, I HATE mummies!"
"Glad to see me now?" Ardeth gave Rick a small smile and Rick made his way upstairs, smiling sarcastically.
"Just like old times, huh?"
As he disappeared, Aida decided to follow him, though had to join in the banter herself.
"Ignore the sarcasm, he missed you terribly!"
Ardeth bestowed on her one of his deep, serious looks, his eyes almost glowing with an unreadable emotion.
"I missed him also."
For a moment, time froze. It was strange as though…he wanted to say something else. Or even someone else. The bus jogged her again and that seemed to restart her heart because she turned and darted up the stairs after Rick.
"You alright? You look a little-", Rick started but she shook her head and readied her gun.
"I'll let you know after! Come on, let's kill us some undead!"
They went to the back and pushed open the emergency window.
"We agree not to tell the kids we did the thing we always warn them NOT to do, right?" She held up her Enfield and waited for the right moment.
"What thing?" He played along and got his own weapon, pointing it at the four guards that were quickly gaining on them, "I got the ones on the left!"
Aida and Rick began to fire off shots, both ensuring they had the precision and power with their marksmanship. But whilst the shots landed and seemingly did slow them down, it was only for a few seconds. She was lucky to get a shot that threw one back into the path of a car…but even as the wheels went over the body, it merely got straight back up again.
"THIS ISN'T WORKING!" She yelled and watched in horror as the undead not only climbed the building beside them but proceeded to crawl hurriedly sideways, not losing any speed.
"I DON'T HAVE A BETTER IDEA SO JUST KEEP SHOOTING!" Rick looked momentarily worried but countered quickly by confidently shooting a mummy JUST as it leaped off of the wall and hurtled towards the bus. It exploded into dust before it could get inside.
"Well, at least we know it works!"
Aida could hear shooting and screaming from downstairs, but it was mostly from Ardeth. She hoped he was alright, but didn't want to leave Rick. That was until he actually made her.
"Go help, I got this!" He smirked and shot off another mummy, though this one dodged easily, "Evy will need you!"
"Alright!" She stumbled up when she stood from her seat, trying desperately to get her balance. When she realised that was going to be practically impossible on a very fast-moving bus, she decided to let momentum carry her and hurried forward as quickly as she could. But when she reached the top of the stairs, she had to stop and debate the best way down.
"JONATHAN, TURN!" She heard Evy cry out from below.
Unfortunately for her, Jonathan decided to help her make the decision and the bus violently swerved at the wrong time. She lost her footing, slipped, and ungracefully bumped down at least four steps before she managed to grab the rail.
"JONATHAN, BLOODY STEADY ON!" She winced at her sore backside, but a cry caught her attention. The shooting had temporarily stopped and when she looked to see why her eyes widened in horror.
One of the mummies had got on the bus and whilst it was missing its lower half below the belly, that didn't seem to stop it. Ardeth was attempting to fight it off. He swung out and it dodged by using the overhead handles and bars like monkey railings at a park.
Undeterred, Ardeth turn and grabbed it by its ceremonial necklace. He swung it violently, smashing it against the window, but when he pulled back, ready to launch another attack, it turned and swung out its arm. Long, sharp nails connected with Ardeth's should and he cried out and stumbled back.
"ARDETH!"
Aida had never moved so quickly before. She threw herself down the last step, held up her Enfield, and pointed it just as the creature moved in for the kill.
"OI, UGLY!" She cried out, getting its attention, "GO BACK TO HELL WHERE YOU BELONG!"
With one specific (and well-aimed shot) from her gun, the creature flew back and hit the ground, missing a sizeable portion of its head.
She caught sight of Evy and Alex and somehow, Evy now had Rick's gun.
"IT'S NOT DONE, GET IT EVY!"
The mummy indeed sprung back up and immediately moved its way towards Aida, swinging backward and forwards as it climbed with its hands.
"NOW!" She ducked down and braced herself as Evy readied the shotgun. One blast later and Aida felt a sprinkle of glass cover her, but luckily, none penetrated her skin.
She looked back up and sure enough, Evy had blasted the thing RIGHT out of the bus, through the window.
"WOW, MUM!" Alex cried out, smiling widely at his mother, "THAT WAS AWESOME!"
"That's something else she learned from your dad-speaking of-RICK!" Aida turned onto her back and yelled up the stairs, "YOU OK?!"
She heard a few thuds and grunts and was ready to get back up and help, but Rick reassured her with one simple word.
"Peachy!"
Of course, that could have also meant he needed help but was never going to admit it.
The bus swerved yet again and Aida almost slid right out and onto the street had it not been for her hand shooting out and grabbing a seat.
"JONATHAN-"
"HOLD ON!" He called on and she wondered why he turned away, afraid to look out at where they were going. Squinting, she just caught the sign that said, 'low bridge' before she yelled back upstairs to Rick.
"O'CONNELL, DUCK!"
Surprisingly, whilst the bus DEFINITELY hit the bridge, it carried on moving forward, only stuttering and jerking slightly. The cacophony of scraping, twisting and ricking metal reached her ears and sure enough, when she looked back up the steps, she could see the end part of the roof fly off. And by the looks of it, it also took out the last mummy.
"WOOHOO!" She shouted and managed to push herself up. Looking around, they seemed safe from the mummies for the time being. Though she was sure she had counted only three dead, she hoped that Rick had taken out that last one. Otherwise, there was going to be one undead mummy prowling the streets of London.
"EVERYONE ALRIGHT?!" He called down and everyone shouted back in unison.
"Alive and kicking!"
"Spiffing!"
"Alive!"
"We're fine!"
"DAD, THAT WAS BRILLIANT!"
Aida chuckled and got unsteadily to her feet, putting down her Enfield on the nearest seat and going to inspect the one person who was not standing.
"Ardeth," she awkwardly put her knee on the seat space between his open legs and leaned over him, "you're hurt!"
Ardeth, breathless and exhausted, nodded but gave her a small smile.
"I would be dead if it weren't for you and Evy."
Aida, ignoring the little beat of joy in her heart when she touched him, moved aside his robe and looked at the scratches on him.
"Not too deep. You won't need stitches," she smirked and carefully put the material back down, "though we may need to get some alcohol on it."
The bus slowed and jolted to a stop and she turned and called out to the inexperienced driver.
"You alright up there?"
He turned, a little shakily and waved.
"Absolutely fine, sweetheart. Put on a cup of tea?"
She could only roll her eyes. Jonathan LOVED to tease her by calling her pet names and since he was doing it now, she knew he was truly fine.
"Sorry darling," she said, sweet and sarcastically, "no kettle."
She looked back and Ardeth and caught him watching her with a curious look in his eyes.
But before she could question it, Rick came down the stairs, kicking aside sheets of metal that came down with him.
"Ah, good," she stopped leaning over Ardeth and smirked, "one piece I see."
Rick nodded and looked at her.
"You two ok?"
She nodded and looked down at Ardeth who turned to Rick with perhaps the sweetest expression she had ever seen.
"This was my first bus ride."
'Oh, dear.'
She turned quickly and walked past Rick.
"Let's see the damage!" She squeaked and tried to hide her blush. Damn Ardeth! God, she missed him so much and it was so easy to forget the years apart and with that look and smile…she damn near kissed him right then and there!
'And why didn't you?!'
She ignored her inner dialogue, trying to control and fight the words that were telling her to go and jump on him. She busied herself with assessing the damage to the bus and winced when she realised the police MAY find out what happened.
"Oh, I hope we don't get found out about this. I don't think the insurance will cover 'mummy shootout'."
Alex came to stand beside her and looked up as well.
"Wow. Amina would have LOVED this!"
She put her arm around her Godson and gave him a loving kiss on the top of his head.
"Awww…you're not to tell her anything that happened here tonight. Or no more jam scones," she caught sight of Evy and Rick kissing passionately and smirked, "AND I'll make it so mum and dad have to kiss more."
"Ugh, gross! Why-"
Whatever Alex was going to say was cut off, just as a sharp pain ripped through Aida's head and she felt a great force pull her back. She screamed and let go of Alex, but her eyes remained open and as she was dragged backward, Alex was grabbed and picked up by a man she knew all too well now.
'Lock-Nah-ALEX!'
Despite the pain and seeing they were just trying to get her out of the way, she reached for Alex and grabbed a chunk of his jacket.
Of course, when they saw she wasn't going to let go, the man who had grabbed her hair pulled her back so violently that she stumbled and fell against him. At such an awkward angle and finding it impossible to lash out, she could only scream and cling onto Alex as they were both quickly picked up and bundled into a car.
"GET OFF!" She screamed over and over again, kicking and thrashing out in the small space, but trying not to hit Alex as everyone crammed in.
Lock-Nah gave the signal to drive, but the door on the opposite side remained open and Aida tried to get his arm off of Alex.
"ALEX, RUN!" Despite the hands on her, she knew she had to get him out. It was him and the bracelet they wanted and she knew that they would take him back there…take him to Imhotep. She couldn't let that happen.
Another man in red tried to rush into the open car as Aida fought them off. Lock-Nah yelled something. She raised her foot for one last defiant kick.
Another sharp pain ripped through her, this time on her head. And after that…she knew only darkness, with Alex's scared voice calling out to her as she faded into the abyss.
"AUNTIE AIDA!"