It was dark, very dark. Charly couldn't see an ounce of light anywhere. And someone was beating on her head. Over and over again, they just kept pounding. Her body was swaying as well, just rocking from side to side, almost nauseating her. Her back was wet, why was it wet. She couldn't understand. She couldn't think, not with them pounding on her head!
Charly reached up towards her head to stop the people from pounding, but when she got there she found nothing happening to her. There was nothing hitting her head, just a small bump and cut on the middle of her forehead. Charly then reached down to rub her eyes and found that were closed. She slowly moved he hands away and opened her eyes. She was looking up to the sky. A beautiful blanket of dark blue splattered with white, blue and red specks. 'When did it become night? Where am I?' she thought. Charly sat up and looked around.
"What are you doing?" a sharp voice snapped at her.
"Where am I?" She saw she was on a small boat, and a small man was curled up at her feet, but some one was also behind her.
"You are here!" the voice snapped again.
"But where is here?" she snapped back turning around. She remembered that voice, she remembered the dark man in the market while she was with Jonathan. She remembered going into the store and getting attacked by the man. When she looked around though all she could see was a shadow.
The man snorted and began fussing with something. Then he handed her a canteen. "Drink!"
"Alright" she said taking from him. "You don't have to be such an ass about it!" she smiled to herself at the comment. She drank from it (this taste's weird, she thought), closed it up and threw it back at him. She heard a splash, then laughed at the thought of the canteen sinking in the water.
"You bitch!" he snorted out, but Charly didn't really here. She began feeling dizzy and it began to get darker. Then she felt herself sliding back as everything went dark again. All the while there was a hefty laugh from behind.
The ferry landed in Thebes by mid-afternoon the next day. Jonathan was the first off the boat when it docked. Behind him were Rick, Evy, Alex and Ardeth. They were all prepared to take on what was awaiting them in Aknatri.
Rick got five camels at a bazaar near the port, one for each of them, including Alex, who he was unsure of riding by himself. They distributed all of their supplies amongst them to even out the weight on all the camels. Jonathan just watched while all this was going on. Evy noticed the sullen look upon his face and decided to go comfort him.
"Jonathan?" she called, but he kept staring off into the distance. She raised her voice, "Jonathan!" She was so loud that she expected him to snap to her attention but he just kept staring, as she was getting ready to shout again, he blink and looked at her.
"Do you think she's ok?"
Evy was surprised. Then she smiled at him and took her most soothing, motherly voice and said, "of course she's ok. I am sure she is very strong. She related to Rick after all! I think all O'Connell's are built like that." She giggled at her attempt to cheer him up, but he only put on a slight grin then looked away again.
"You're in love with her."
Jonathan then snapped his head towards her. "What?"
"You're in love with her. I noticed it yesterday while we were waiting for Rick and Ardeth, and you were pacing in front of the hotel. You are completely in love with her"
"No I'm not."
"Yes you are. You light up when she's around, or name is even mentioned. You are so distraught over her missing. I haven't seen you drink since you met her. If you're not in love with her, then what is wrong?"
Jonathan shook his head at her and looked away. Evy took this as a hint and walked away. She knew though that she was right and now that it had been brought to his attention he would realize that he was, indeed, in love with her.
Evy's train of thought was broken when Rick grabbed her from behind and kissed her neck. He worked up to her ear and whispered, "Are you ready to do this again?"
Evy turned in his arms and looked into his eyes, and then she kissed him lightly on the mouth. "If it will help save you sister, then yes."
Rick rolled his eyes at her comment. "He is trying to weaken you and your family." He heard Ardeth's words sound in his ears. Then he looked back down at Evy, "You right, we have to save my sister."
"Thank you." She said and then kissed him passionately.
"Give me a break!" sounded Alex's voice, and Rick and Evy broke apart.
"Alright let's go" Rick said to the group around him. Ardeth climbed upon his camel, Rick helped Alex on, then mounted his. Evy ran to Jonathan.
"Let's go find Charly," she said looking straight into his saddened eyes. Then she took his hand and led him to his camel. He hopped on, as she was getting on hers. Then the group was off, walking in a relatively straight line following Ardeth's lead