Chapter 3

Kahmunrah looked them both up and down confused by their appearance.

"Mah kalimar-ah?" he asked in what Anna assumed was Egyptian. Larry didn't respond and from the confusion on Anna's face Kahmunrah tried a different dialect. "Parlevous francais? English? English perhaps?"

Larry just continued to look confused, meanwhile Anna had her heart in her throat and looked from one sharp spear to the next. The warrior next to her had lowered his a bit so it wasn't directly at her throat but he could still run her through the torso with it if he needed to.

"I'm sorry who are you?" Larry asked and Anna almost slapped a hand to her face. Was there a third Egyptian Pharaoh he was expecting at this party? However, Kahmunrah seemed more then happy to shine in the spotlight and give a full introduction.

"I am Kahmunrah, the Great King of the Great Kings. And from the darkest depths of ancient history, I have come BACK TO LIFE!"

"A huh."

Larry's' lack of reaction didn't deter Kahmunrah and he seemed happy enough to introduce himself again with a back up line, "Perhaps you did not hear what I just said. I am a centuries old Egyptian Pharaoh, I was dead but now I have come BACK TO LIFE!"

"Yeah, no I heard that. I got that. Welcome back." Larry greeted him with a slight nod.

Now Kahmunrah did look utterly baffled by how calm Larry and Anna were. "Wh-who are you?"

"Larry. Daley, of Daley Devices up in New York." He held out his hand to shake Kahmunrah's but the action only made his guards twitch ready to strike in case he tried to hurt their king so Larry dropped his hand. He didn't introduce Anna and she was grateful for that, she didn't want this guy's attention on her, she'd rather be forgotten in the background. But then Larry carried on speaking and said the one thing Anna would have warned him against. "You know it's funny, I know your brother, Ahkmenrah."

Kahmunrah's face tensed and you could tell there was an edge to how he stood and the strain in his voice. At least, Anna could tell, Larry didn't seem to notice a thing. "Oh do you? Oh he knows baby brother, oh the favorite son."

"Yeah good kid." Larry smiled.

"Oh isn't he just." Kahmunrah sneered, "You know Mother and Father always gave him the best of everything and I do mean everything. They even gave him the throne, the throne that was rightfully MINE!"

Now Larry did pause for a beat, "Huh, he never mentioned that."

"I'll just bet he didn't. Well, now begins the era of Kahmunrah because I have come BACK TO- never mind just give me the tablet." Kahmunrah demanded holding out his hand for it, obviously tired of trying to impress Larry.

"Don't give it to him Gigantor!" Jedidiah called from inside the metal crate.

"Ogo-bogah!" Attila yelled.

"Silence! Silence in there please!" Kahmunrah shouted as he approached the closed and locked door. He barely glanced at Anna, seeming pleased by the fear in her wide eyes. Then he turned to the crate and slammed it with his fist. "Don't make me come in there!"

"No! I won't be muzzled!" Jed protested.

Then Kahmunrah turned back to Larry. As he stepped forward Larry stepped back. "Look, that tablet is more powerful than you, Larry Daley of Daley Devices, can possibly imagine. Bringing things back to life, is just a parlor trick. With it, I shall unlock the Gate to the Underworld and bring forth my army from the Land of the Dead. So, if it's not too much trouble, Mahk!" he shouted and four of the warriors raised their spears to Larry while the other two stood on either side of Anna and did the same. "Hand. It. Over."

Larry contemplated the demand for only a second, then very casually said, "Okay. Here you go." And passed the tablet to the Pharaoh.

Kahmunrah smiled, "Wise decision."

Then he walked past Larry. His guards lowered their weapons and followed their ruler as he headed for the door. Larry turned around and walked towards Anna giving her a long look before he went on speaking.

"Yeah, I know, I thought you wanted the cube."

Kahmunrah stopped in his tracks, "Mahk!" he ordered his men and they halted. He turned back around to Larry who turned to face him, "The cube?"

"The cube. . . of Rubik."

Kahmunrah looked intrigued as he came closer, "All right, what is this Cube of Rubik, then?"

"It's the cube. Ya know, the cube that. . . turns all who oppose you to dust? That one." Larry shrugged, "Whatever, I thought, it's my bad, cause, you know what? By the way your brother he didn't want to mess with it either, wanted to play it safe too. You just struck me as a next level sort of guy."

"Mahk!" the Pharaoh ordered again and all spears went up, this time only on Larry, "I am not my brother Larry, I will kill you and your friends in the blink of an eye. Hak." The spears lowered again, "Now take me to this Cube of Rubik."

Larry nodded and walked out. His intention was to leave Anna there so she could take the chance to get away. Instead Kahmunrah looked to her and raised his hand curling a single finger inward beckoning her to join them. She nodded and walked forward hoping to stay on the crazy Pharaoh's good side by being obedient.

The warriors lined either side of them as Larry led the way. Anna wasn't too sure what on earth he was up to until she saw the familiar crate marked ZUR 513. Then she did her best to hang back knowing what was coming.

"There it is." Larry pointed straight ahead.

"Open it." Kahmunrah commanded.

Larry walked right up to the box and undid the first latch. Then he moved to the second one. Anna braced herself and in the next second the whole box broke to splinters as a very angry octopus emerged from it. Anna jumped back raising her hands to protect her face from any of the wood. One tentacle batted the closest warrior into a crate higher up and the skeleton of a sabretooth tiger leapt from within and gave a roar.

The next man the octopus threw let out a box of pterodactyls that took flight and soared around the warehouse. Then the Pharaoh was grabbed and the tablet in his hand flew into the air. Larry ran for it and sliding across the smooth concrete floor like a pro baseball player caught it before getting to his feet and running to Anna.

"Come back here! Come back here with my tablet! I still have your friends! Kah et mar. Ah. Rah!" Kahmunrah shouted after them.

When Nicky had said this place was a maze he wasn't kidding. The aisles of boxes and crates didn't line up like grocery stores. One aisle would be very short making them choose left or right then another would be so long Anna worried that if their pursuers caught up to them all it would take was one well aimed toss of a spear and they'd be skewered.

On top of that there was muffled shouting, roars and other noises coming from inside every crate they passed as mannequins, statues and animals came to life for the first time. There was a screech and Anna looked up to see a pterodactyl swoop overheard. Luckily it didn't seem interested in a human late night snack and kept soaring.

She and Larry zig zagged through an S shaped bend until Larry stopped as he crashed into someone.

"Whoa! What's lit a fire under you?" a deep voice asked with a slight southern lit in their tone.

"Oh my God." Anna said in shock and awe doing her best to keep her mouth closed and not open like a gaping fish. The young man had barely dodged what would have been a nasty hit from Larry's body and had backed up just in time. He had the bluest eyes she'd ever seen and brown hair that was just long enough to start to curl at the ends giving it a wavy texture. He had a smirk on his lips, amused by Larry's stumbling as he tried to not trip over his own feet as he came to a sudden stop. That smirk let her catch a glimpse of his smile. Slightly crooked front teeth added to the boyish charm the grin had and she felt her heart skip a beat, literally and somewhere the back of her mind noted she should get that checked by a doctor.

The touch of southern roughness she'd heard in his voice matched the clothes he wore, dark brown pants tucked into tall boots, a vest that matched and laid over a button up shirt that was either black or dark blue – she couldn't quite tell in the shadow of all the crates and boxes. He had a red kerchief tied around his neck and a black hat that was caved in on one side.

She was having trouble remembering to breathe but did her best to blame it on the fact she'd been running for her life moments ago. But would anyone blame her? After all, she had William H. Bonney standing not ten feet in front of her, but he was better known as, "Billy the Kid."

He glanced at her at the sound of his name and tipped his hat with a smile, "Pleasure, miss."

She blinked a few times before blushing and looking away. Meanwhile Larry had been more focused on the serious issue at hand. She couldn't hold his earlier foolish behavior with Brundon against him, now they were one for one.

Larry tugged her by her jacket, "Sorry, can't stay to talk, we've got to – whoa!" he tried to back pedal around the last corner they'd turned but stopped almost instantly. Anna turned and saw the octopus and at Larry's cry it turned on them. A tentacle shot out and flung Larry to one side before it came back and knocked Anna off her feet. From another path the Egyptians showed up and charged down toward the four way intersection where they were.

''Find a way upstairs!" Larry shouted to her since the distance was too far apart to try and regroup now. Either the octopus would get them or they'd put themselves in the path of the warrior's spears. "I'll meet you there!"

Anna nodded and ran down the aisle she and Billy were in. The Kid followed but she didn't have time to stop him, she just wanted as much distance as possible between her and Kahmunrah's men. After taking several turns she began to run out of steam as her lungs burned. She leaned against the nearest crate, trying not to be off put by the shouts of mannequins begging to be let loose. Her hands rested on her knees as she took large gulps of air. Billy stayed nearby looking both up and down the aisle for any trouble.

"Well you two seem popular." He commented once her breathing had settled a bit and she straightened up resting her head back against the crate.

"Evil Pharoah." She breathed pointing the direction they'd come from, "Plot for revenge. Wants to take over the world. Holding our friends hostage." She shrugged before stopping to breathe again. Billy nodded looking back the way they'd came.

Anna though started looking for any exit doors that might lead upstairs to whatever building they'd ended up under. And she had no plan for if she ran into trouble, Egyptian or otherwise.

"Hey." She called getting the Kid's attention, "Any chance you could. . .?" she trailed off pointing to the gun holstered by his hip.

"I would if I could." He answered with a smirk, drawing his gun and approaching her. He popped out the cylinder revealing six empty holes. "Got no cartridges. Unless you know where I can find some."

She shook her head, "We've got nineteen museums above our heads. I wouldn't have a clue where to start looking. Sorry."

Billy looked up like he was trying to picture that. Then there was a loud roar, but not from an animal. This was mechanical and a hootin' holler joined it.

Anna knew Larry had told her to meet him upstairs. The problem was, one, what if he got in a tight spot and could use her help? And two, what if they both got upstairs but ended up in different museums? Taking a sigh she started back where she'd just come from, only making detours when she heard the revving of that engine and had to change her course.

The next corner she stopped at then peeked around to make sure there were no Egyptian warriors. Then she felt a presence slide up behind her.

"You do know you're running straight into the danger right?" Billy's voice whispered by her ear. She kept looking forward watching for any shadows or signs of Kahmunrah.

"That crossed my mind." She admitted before looking over her shoulder at him. He had his back to a crate and his head titled to the side leaning against the wood. She tried not to focus on how adorable the position was, "But are you of all people one to judge?"

He smiled, "Ain't judgin', just checkin'. Lead the way."

She failed to hide the tiny smile that escaped her control as the corner of her mouth pulled up for the briefest second. Turning back around the corner the coast was still clear so she continued running toward the sound of the revving engine. After making several turns she caught a glimpse of Larry driving some kind of old motorcycle with a car attached to the side. Knowing she wouldn't catch him on foot she tried to navigate a way that would intersect his path. She also was able to hear people shouting in Egyptian and slowed down to avoid crossing paths with them by mistake.

.

.

Larry sped down aisles and aisles of crates and storage looking for a doorway or anything to help fight a pack of angry Egyptian soldiers freshly brought back to life once he lost Custer.

Two warriors appeared in an adjoining path but he sped right by them making them jump back. He made the sharp left turn when he reached the next bend but the next person to stand in his way wasn't one of the Egyptians.

He brought the bike to a screeching halt and pivoted it so he didn't hit her. When he made the stop in front of her she looked calm as she asked him, "What's the rumpus ace?"

Her eyes were a clear blue brought out more by her red hair even though most of it was tucked under a leather cap and goggles.

"Look lady, could you get out of the way?" He asked keeping his voice low so no one would overhear. He turned behind him and checked that he still had time before his pursuers caught up.

"Lady? Who are you calling lady?" She asked sounding offended, "The name is Amelia."

A spear hit the front tire of his ride deflating it quickly and making a high pitched whistling sound. Larry's head snapped up to find Kahmunrah's men had caught up to him. They were a few rows over but there had been enough space between a crate and the storage unit for one of them to make an almost deadly toss. He had to get out of here now. (Italic last word)

He quickly grabbed the tablet and dismounted the bike, ditching it as he took off, but the redhead followed. Her pace was casual but she kept up and persisted in having a conversation with him.

"Amelia Earhart, perhaps you've heard of me?"

Unlike some historical figures, who grew more famous after their death, Amelia had been a marvel in her own time.

"Oh right, you're a famous pilot or whatever."

"Pilot?" She scoffed as if it wasn't a good enough description, "I was the first woman to fly the Atlantic! The first woman to receive the Flying Cross. First woman to fly across the forty eight states in a gyroprop ." she bragged with pride, "Now if you'd wipe that perhaps permanent look of alarm off your kisser. I was wondering if you might be so kind as to tell me exactly where I am?"

"You're in a museum." He answered coming to a pause and peeking between crates to see if he'd lost the soldiers yet, or if they were catching up again. "Or actually, under it. And I'm in kind of a dangerous situation right now, so you might not want to be anywhere near me." He informed her as he peeked around a yellow crate. He heard something slide across the floor and looked over his shoulder to find her standing right there, "Wow you're fast."

"What's your name flyboy?" She asked with a smirk.

"My name is Larry Daley."

"Well Larry Daley, in case you weren't listening, I'm not one to shy away from adventure." She said stepping around him and into the next aisle. Her hands rested on her hips in a pose she seemed very familiar with and for a brief second he wondered if that was the pose her figure usually sat in when she wasn't alive. However, in the next second four spears flew through the air hitting the crate behind her. Two landed above her right shoulder narrowly missing her arm and her head. Another was over her left shoulder while the fourth struck right in the bend of her left elbow. But the most disturbingly shocking part was Amelia didn't flinch at all. It was almost like she didn't notice them.

"Uh huh. What about spears do you shy away from spears?"

She glanced around, noticing the weapons for the first time. He rushed past her as she scooted from between them removing her cap.

"Let's ankle skipper. Now we're gonna have some fun." She grinned with a bright light in her eyes. "I spotted an exit in my travels before. It was this way." She said taking the lead.

.

.

Anna knew she was definitely lost. She'd made so many turns, detours and shortcuts trying to track down Larry that she no longer had any sense of direction. It would take her forever to even find the crate with her friends again. To make things harder she couldn't even hear the roaring of the motorbike engine which left her flying blind.

She stopped when she saw a shadow cross the floor from around the corner in front of her and backpedaled immediately. Luckily the crate nearest her had a tarp draped over it and she pulled it just enough to help hide her. Billy, who'd stuck with her this whole time, slid in behind her and while his sharp eyes were focused on what was approaching Anna did her best to ignore his breath on her neck.

But when the person who the shadow belonged to turned the corner she felt her whole body unclench at the sight of Larry with the tablet.

"Larry." She whispered as she left her hiding place. He looked just as relieved to see her as he wrapped her in a one armed hug.

"You good?" he asked.

She nodded, "Yeah."

Then someone cleared their throat and Anna turned and saw Amelia Earhart standing behind Larry.

"The exit I saw was this way." She said as she passed them and continued on with a very determined confident air to her steps. Larry didn't question her so neither did Anna. They followed the pilot to a green door with a bar that she pushed open and the four of them flooded into the stairwell and rushed up to the next level.

They emerged in an art gallery though Anna couldn't tell if it was the Freer or Sackler. Larry took the lead, his steps harsh and clearly desperate to find something that put a plan in his head. Amelia stuck close to him, though she fell behind just a tad as she gazed in amazement at the live art and sculptures. Taking up the rear of their group was Anna and Billy, and though the Kid seemed as in awe of everything around them, he was able to keep up. More than that, he kind of stuck to Anna's side.

"How long has your father been law?" Billy asked her and Anna turned to him confused.

"What?" he nodded to the patch on the shoulder of Larry's jacket. "Oh, it's not his."

Billy grinned, "So I'm not the only one who's committed petty theft here."

Anna smiled and shook her head, "I don't know if I would call, what, four to six years of horse and cattle rustling 'petty theft'."

He chuckled showing off that striking smile of his and Anna continued, "And he's not my father. He's my. . . well, there's not really a word for it. His ex-wife is married to my widowed father. His son is my step-brother."

"I've got a step-brother too. Do you get along with yours?"

Anna chuckled, "Most of the time."

She could feel her blush creeping up on her, so she turned her attention back to Larry. He was at the front of the group talking to Amelia but he looked around like he was searching for something and Anna wasn't sure what he might be planning. She hurried to the front of their group leaving Billy and Amelia to make introductions in the back.

"So what now? We hide the tablet? Stash it somewhere? Or do we just take off?" she rattled off questions.

"If we leave the museum Kahmunrah will follow us and I don't want this mess getting to the public, or the innocent."

"To be fair, he's planning on enslaving them all anyway if we can't stop him."

"So we stop him."

"Easier said then done."

"Well –" then he was cut off by a snowball hitting the side of his face. Only it was a very tiny one and when they looked for the source they saw one of the paintings had come to life. In fact, all of the painting were moving and alive. Just like in Harry Potter, Anna thought with a smile as she looked around at all the frames.

The closest one on her right was of a blonde girl crying. the little silver plaque beside it said it was appropriately named 'Crying Girl'. It was painted by several dots of color making up her skin with blocky swoops for her yellow hair all on a navy backdrop. Anna walked over to the sad face whose eyes turned up her as she approached. Slowly she lifted one hand and gave a small wave and smile to the girl. The painting sniffled and gave a small smile in return, her vibrant red lips turning upward at the corners and her eyes looking grateful that someone had enough compassion to look her way and not just pass her by.

"Hey!" Larry exclaimed and Anna turned to see him brushing another small but of snow off his face. The girl in the painting brought her fingers to her lips trying to hide her smile as she chuckled silently.

"This is new." Larry said in awe as he got closer to the painting that had thrown snowballs at him.

Anna crossed the room, where the next picture that drew her eye rested on the wall opposite the crying girl. This painting was of the ocean and was moving too, so you could see and hear the waves crashing against the rocky shore. She passed the doorway to the next room and circled to a painting of a man at a soda bar. She remembered seeing that picture in one of her schoolbooks but the title and artist was escaping her at the moment. Still, watching the little man wipe down the counter in front of her was quite the sight.

"Hey, it's alright. I don't want to hurt you." She overheard Larry as she stepped forward trying to read the name off the plaque.

"I don't think it's you they're afraid of Mr. Daley." Amelia warned and they all turned as the six Egyptian warriors backed them up to the wall. Three came from each doorway and surrounded them. Anna was furthest to the side, Billy beside her and Amelia next to him. The Kid had rested his right hand on his gun – out of old habit no doubt- but it was useless to him without bullets.

The Egyptians shouted to each other in their native tongue but before they could attack or drag them back to Kahmunrah Larry thrust the tablet into the arms of the farmer in the painting behind him and took the man's pitchfork.

"Trade ya. Thanks." The pair in the painting looked at the tablet confused as Larry spun the pitchfork. "Back off! Just back off! I will fork you!"

Behind Anna the little soda jerk smashed a beer bottle and held it out like he was ready to tousle too. The farmer's wife even had her fists up and was jabbing like she couldn't wait to see this fight unfold.

Amelia on the other hand looked bored as she rolled her eyes and took the pitchfork from Larry, "Never send a boy to do a woman's job. I spent two weeks spear hunting with a tribe in Micronesia."

She tossed the pitchfork but the man she'd aimed at caught it in his free hand. "The Micronesians had much slower reflexes."

The warrior dropped the pitchfork and the six stepped closer corralling them. Then Larry grabbed the tablet from the farmer, grabbed Amelia and dove into the black and white painting of 1945. The warriors attacked tossing their spears to try and stop him. With their attention on Larry Anna grabbed Billy's vest and tugged him in the opposite direction and they raced through the rooms trying to lose the three Egyptians who were right on their heels.

Thankfully some of the larger sculptures and art pieces made it easier for them to put distance between them and their pursuers. But only after rushing through a couple more rooms did Anna almost run into someone.

She made a sound between a 'eep' and a 'yip' as she stuttered to a stop as Kahmunrah stepped out from around the corner with a smile. Behind him were several black and white colored men and behind them was the young Al Capone she'd seen earlier. The three Egyptian warriors caught up behind them and pointed their spears at her and Billy's backs blocking any chance of escape.

"Well this certainly is a turn of events." Kahmunrah said sounding very pleased as he turned his attention to the Kid. "William Bonney."

Billy looked at him confused, "Do I know you?"

"No, but I know of you." Kahmunrah's smile widened as he stepped closer, "The mad-dog killer. The boy-devil. They say upon your death a dragon emerged from Hell itself claiming your body for its master."

While Kahmunrah looked almost giddy at the sight of Billy, the Kid rolled his eyes and seemed deflated. Anna knew from history that the press back in the 1870's and 80's was as crooked as it was now, it's politicians just as self-centered and greedy, and the rich businessmen just as corrupt. Billy had been written like some psychotic serial killer when in reality – and through decades of historians digging up facts – he had just been fighting for his life, killing people who were trying to kill him or who had already killed his friends. It was a very grey area, not the plain black-and-white Kahmunrah made it sound like.

"I could use a man of your skills." The Pharaoh went on, "Twenty-one men they say you killed is that it?"

"One for every year of my life." Billy confirmed and Kahmunrah grinned wider then the Cheshire Cat.

"Yes, you'd be a fine addition to my army. And in return of course there's, well, the world." Kahmunrah shrugged, his grin turning malicious.

Billy gave him a long look, then glanced over his shoulder at Capone and his men. Then he looked back at Kahmunrah.

"The whole world?"

"Oceans and all."

Billy gave a small breathy chuckle and smiled, "That sounds pretty good."

"Excellent!" Kahmunrah clapped his hand to Billy's shoulder then turned his sights on Anna who was looking at Billy with shock and betrayal.

"Now, Miss. . . "

She swallowed trying to bury her fear, "Anna."

Kahmunrah smiled, "Anna." Then his grin fell as he stepped closer to her, "Where is Larry Daley and my tablet?"

She met his hard stare and refused to back down. Her heart was pounding in her chest with fright but she knew if Kahmunrah got the tablet the world would suffer. Even if it meant staring death in the face she couldn't tell him where Larry had gone.

Kahmunrah scowled, "Mahk!"

His three men stepped closer and all three put the points of the spears to her neck making her tense. But she still stayed silent.

"He went that way." Billy said pointing lazily to the room they'd just left, "Jumped into a tintype they had hangin' on the wall."

"Mahk!" Kahmunruh shouted and the three warriors stood straight with their spears at their sides. Then their Pharoah pushed Anna back into the nearest one who immediately restrained her. "Go after Larry Daley. Trade her for the tablet. If he still won't cooperate – kill her!"

The men did as they were told and the one holding Anna dragged her off with a firm grip on her upper arm. Just before they left the hall she turned back and looked at Billy. She hoped to see some kind of regret or guilt on his face but instead he was smiling. Just like history said, smiling even during hard and serious times. Then the image of him and Kahmunrah vanished behind the corner of the wall.