"Please? It's the only way!" Alex whispered.
Jonathan debated for a minute. He was not happy. Alex knew that meant he would do it.
He debated for a minute more while he stared at Imhotep. Then his expression changed. "I can do it."
Alex almost yelled with happiness.
Jonathan marched right up to Imhotep, much to everyone's surprise. He started to speak, when Imhotep smirked.
Yet again, he grabbed Jonathan by the throat and held him up in the air. Jonathan pushed on his chest and arms, trying to get him to let go. He kicked, but this time Imhotep was smart and kept his legs out of the way. Finally, Imhotep threw him into the far wall. Jonathan crumbled to the floor.
Alex and Evelyn ran to him.
Imhotep spoke with power. Evelyn turned to him, wide-eyed. "No!"
"It's okay, mom," Alex said. "He can't do anything now."
Evelyn looked confused. But it was true. Imhotep had decreed a fate to the universe and nothing had happened. Imhotep became angry.
They all looked to Imhotep. He looked down. His necklace was empty. When they looked back to Jonathan, he was smiling, and held the jewel up for them to see.
"Let's get the hell out of here!" Rick shouted.
Imhotep was screaming now. Cursing us all, Evelyn thought. She was too busy running to explain to the others.
They reached the outside and jumped on their horses. Imhotep was right behind them.
"Go!" Ardeth instructed them.
After hesitation, they left, wondering if they would see him again.
*****
Weeks later, they sat at home. The Jewel of Fate rested in the museum. Since they had left Hamunaptra, they had all been more quiet than usual. Jonathan and Alex had even managed to stay out of trouble. Not that anyone else paid much attention. They were all still worried about Ardeth. He'd obviously not made it, or he would have contacted them by now.
The phone rang. Evelyn went to answer it.
When she came back to the room, she was grinning. "Let's go!"
Rick jumped up. "Where?"
"To the hospital! They have Ardeth!"
Everyone hurried out. They made it to the hospital in record time.
"What happened?"
"Where have you been?"
"How did you get here?"
"Are you okay?"
Everyone started talking at once. Ardeth sat up with effort and smiled. It hurt, so he stopped. He looked awful.
"He's gone," Ardeth started slowly. It hurt to talk so he whispered. "During our fight, he killed my horse. He started laughing about it, then demanded the jewel. I gave him something else instead. My sword."
"What did you do without a horse?" Alex asked.
"I had to walk. That's why I look the way I do. I walked a very long way before some travellers found me near the city. I stayed only long enough to eat and rest, then I came here."
"Why didn't you just call?" Evelyn asked.
Ardeth looked at her sheepishly. "I didn't think of that." He looked down at himself. "Apparently they thought I hadn't rested enough and made me come here instead."
"At least you're safe."
Ardeth became quiet. "For now," he whispered. No one heard him.