Authors Note: '*' followed by Italics indicated a dream/vision.
Chapter 6: The Forces Gather.
The attack started with a low whirring sound accompanied by the muffled tremble of hooves that got louder as it approached. Audible above the growing pounding was the trill of many voices joined with the soft whinnying and braying of horses. As soon as Evelyn heard this her mind immediately raced back to when they were at Hamunaptra and they had come in contact with Ardeth for the first time. As the fear grew inside her body and her adrenaline began to flow Evie wished that Ardeth were here with them now to help them fight off whatever these things were which rushed towards them from all directions out of the black night.
~*~
Somewhat aware of the approaching noise in the background Alex struggled to stay conscious. He fought with all his strength but in the end his mind surrendered to the sweet oblivion which he had seen much of as of late. It was here that the battle laid itself out before his closed eyes.
*They came from all directions, surging forth like a mound of hungry scarab beetles. Their black robes flooded out behind them, and their dark faces were painted in heavy maroon clay. Their teeth were bared, much like a wild animal, and their lips were drawn back as they screamed into the night. He caught the slightest glimpse of silver hanging off all waists. The glint, which undoubtedly was the shining of many scimitars, glimmered with an unknown source, for the moon was not out and the stars did not shine. Fear began to well up in his subconscious and he began to shake, not knowing what would become of him. He frantically looked around for a place to hide but then suddenly remembered that they were in the middle of the desert with nothing surrounding them for kilometers. He panicked and began to whimper as his lids squeezed together more tightly trying to shut out the horrible images that were flashing before his eyes. *
~*~
As soon as both Evelyn and Rick realized that they were about to be attacked they moved simultaneously towards Rick's bag of weapons. Tossing the Thompson to a blubbering Jonathan, Rick took the shotgun, leaving his wife the pistol. But, she shook the small gun aside, insisting on using Rick's sword as her only defense.
Rick turned towards Izzy, frantically thinking of a way to get Alex far from the fighting. He had become unconscious again and Rick knew that he was just a blob of bait, waiting to be consumed. Searching the landscape before him all Rick's eyes came in contact with was sand for miles and the wreck of the airship. Then, an idea popped into his head. "Izzy, take Alex and get yourself and him into that wreckage as fast as possible, it may be his only chance. Don't worry about hurting him when you move him, he is knocked out well enough so that he won't feel a thing. Stay there until any of us come for you. If it gets too dangerous inside move out and hide behind it, they hopefully won't even bother to check." He inclined his head towards the mass of approaching forms. "Oh, and you might want to take this with you," he said thrusting the diamond shaped treasure into his arms as well as handing him the pistol, which Evie had refused just, seconds earlier.
Izzy cursed silently to himself wishing that he had never signed onto this mission. It was already more than he had bargained for. "And, what am I supposed to do if they find me, hmmm O'Connell? Run away like a little kid, screaming my head off?"
Rick looked at him blankly, not understanding how Izzy could not absorb his simple. "Izzy, just shoot, and hope it hits."
The realization registered on Izzy's face and he said rather cheerfully, "Oh, well that doesn't sound so bad."
"Right..." came Rick's reply.
~*~
As the attackers struck nearer and nearer towards Rick, Jonathan, and Evelyn, Selim could smell, and sense death in the air. His eyes lit up with demonic fury, and he grinned evilly, forcing his mare to take longer strides. His sword came out of its hilt with a slight ring of metal upon metal, and he got ready to strike. In the distance he could see the three adults frantically trying to prepare for the obviously unforeseen attack. He let out a small chuckle at the absurdity of the situation, but deep down he knew why he laughed, he was nervous, a coward. He could only take strength from knowing that he would cause pain. He would enjoy it, seeing the agony in the boy's eyes as he pleaded with him not to take his mother away, seeing the anger in Rick. Then, he told himself, then I will kill the mother and take the treasure that should have been mine years ago. Again his features brightened as he malevolently smiled inwards.
~*~
*The army continued to swarm forth, but Alex could no longer see them for he could feel himself flying through the air away from them, away from the carnage that would surely ensue. His spirits fell as he realized his parents were behind him preparing for battle. He then became grief-stricken. His father was so tired, he had been fighting almost non-stop for two days, he was scared that he would not have enough strength left in him to raise a gun. His mother, she had been killed and then resuscitated, he did not want to lose her again. He knew in his heart that his uncle would probably be the only one left afterwards. He tried with all his might to send forth vibes of strength towards his family, willing them to fight honorably and to survive. He then relaxed into the comforting arms that carried him, knowing somehow that for the time being he was safe. *
~*~
Ardeth's horse sped across the desert, wet sand flying behind it. Ardeth sat crouched upon his mount, making the aerodynamics better so that they could travel more swiftly. He mentally prepared himself for battle, knowing all too well whom he was up against and what the case would be when he arrived. He prayed silently to Allah that the O'Connells would be faring well when he arrived. But doubt ran across his features. Rick had been fighting for almost two days straight and even as strong as he was no mortal man could have everlasting strength. He set his teeth hard in his jaw, clenching and unclenching willing himself the strength to embrace whatever he encountered. He would have revenge, Selim would finally be brought to justice, and the Med-Jai would be free of hate.