The Mummy's Curse PART 6/6
PG
thelonepig@hotmail.com
Usagi groaned and stretched in the white sheets. She took note of the IV
sticking from her arm. It led to a bag of liquid hanging on a rack by her
bed. She looked up groggily and tried to sit up. As a sudden wave of
nausea passed through her, Usagi thought it a better idea to lay back down.
"You're awake," pronounced a nurse as she walked into the hospital room.
"Awake?" inquired Usagi curiously.
"Yes, you've been unconcious for over a day now. When the police brought
you here along with that other man, you were both badly injured, though he
was in much worse shape. We knew that you would pull through, but the
doctors are still working with him. I've never seen so many boils and scars
on anyone." The nurse shook her head sadly, then looked at Usagi and
smiled. "But now that you're awake, it will be much easier for me to
perform my check-up."
The nurse took Usagi's blood pressure and ran several other insignificant
tests. "Well, it looks like everything is checking out. Keep it up and you
may be out of here by tonight! I'll see you later. Would you care for
anything to read? I can get a morning newspaper."
Usagi nodded and thanked the nurse.
What had happened? Everything moved so quickly. Ashiki had attacked her,
but why? Was he truly that upset over her discovery? And when Usagi felt
that she was alone and had given up hope, Mamoru had appeared to save her.
What had happened after that? Clips of last night played over and over in
her mind like a picture show. Mamoru, stood with a faint glow about him,
wind rustling through his hair. Ashiki clutched his leg in pain, the skin
forming blisters and boils before her eyes. And then Mamoru ran as a
gun-shot rang out and then black.
What had happened to Mamoru? Had he been hurt? The nurse had said that
another man had been checked in at the same time as her, but from the
description, Usagi knew that they meant Ashiki. That meant only one thing.
Mamoru had escaped.
Usagi found some comfort in that thought, but wondered where Mamoru would
run to. Even free, he would not have a place to stay. Nobody would believe
his story about being a mummy. It was too unbelievable, too fanatical to
even entertain such a thought. However, she had seen his power right before
her eyes. She believed him now, and loved him more than ever for it.
The nurse reentered the room and set the newspaper down on the stand next to
Usagi's bed. She looked at Usagi and smiled. "Cheer up, eh?"
Usagi managed a half hearted smile.
"Listen hun, I'm sure your boyfriend is fine. Give it a few days and he'll
let you know where he is, I promise." The nurse winked and smiled at Usagi.
"How did you..."
The nurse opened the newspaper and displayed the front page for Usagi to
see. The front news story prominently displayed the heading "
." Usagi frowned and took the paper from the nurse's hand, reading through
the article.
The nurse excused herself and Usagi once again voiced her thanks.
The news story contained little information about the actual events as they
unfolded. Apparently, Ashiki was in critical care while she escaped with
'minor bruises and injuries.'
"Minor my foot," said Usagi aloud, looking at her bandaged wrist, wondering
if it was broken. It sure felt broken. She continued reading. The last
sentences caught her attention.
The suspect is still free. Please contact your
local authorities if you see or hear anything from
this man.
Usagi blinked. Mamoru a suspect? It couldn't be possible, it was all
wrong! Ashiki was the bad guy!
A knock sounded on the door.
"Come in?" called Usagi hesitantly.
A man dressed in a traditional detective-style trenchcoat and hat walked
inside, followed by two police officers.
"Ms. Tsukino?"
Usagi nodded, wide eyed.
"Would you mind answering several questions about last night?"
Usagi acknowledged that it would be fine, and the detective began with a
barrage of inquiries as to the events of the previous night. Usagi
straightened everything out as best she could, recounting the horrific tale
from hearing a sound in the living room. The detective nodded and took
notes, occassionally turning to the officer behind him and whispering
something before turning back to Usagi and asking her to continue.
Finally, the detective concluded his interrogation of Usagi and dismissed
himself with a polite "Thank you." He also added that he was sorry such a
thing had to happen to such a delightful woman. Usagi thanked the detective
for understanding and watched as he left.
Almost immediately, a doctor walked into the room.
"Well Ms. Tsukino, it seems you've recovered quite quickly. I don't want to
get your hopes up, but we may be able to release you by this evening. Oh,
and the museum called. They send their sympathies and I was told to let you
know that the exhibit would still be finished as per scheduled."
Usagi blinked. The exhibit! She had forgotten all about it. Thank heavens
she was still on time. Come to think of it, her presentation and the grand
opening was tomorrow night! She began mentally preparing over her notes and
even called her mom to have them delivered to her. Well or not, Usagi was
determined to be prepared and present her speech.
Over the course of the day, Usagi managed to finish her speech. Her mother
stopped in to deliver the notes and worry about her daughter's condition.
Later that night, Usagi was released under the understanding that she would
relax for a few days and allow her arm to heal.
The taxi pulled Usagi up to the front of her house. She paid the driver and
walked up the porch to her home. The window, she took notice, had been
repaired already. Usagi let herself in to her home and hung her jacket on
the coat rack. It seemed vacant without his trenchcoat there. The house
was emptier than it had ever been before. For a moment, Usagi let her hopes
up upon finding a note on her kitchen table. However, upon reading it, she
found it was from the museum explaining that they had taken the sarcophagus.
Usagi was hungry, but did not feel like eating. She cried herself to sleep
that night, wishing most of all for Mamoru to come back to her.
The sunlight came unexpectedly through Usagi's bedroom window. She flinched
and rolled over in bed, wiping the sleep from her eyes.
"Looks like it is my big day," Usagi sighed wearily. She wanted Mamoru to
be there to see the presentation and to comment on how she did. She wanted
him to be there to call her Sunshine again. But no amount of wishing would
be able to change the future. Usagi showered and dressed then grabbed
something to eat from the refridgerator. She had truly taken Mamoru and all
that he did for granted.
Locking the door behind her, Usagi walked the mile to the museum and walked
up the huge set of stairs. She nodded curtly in passing to one of the stone
lions that guarded the entrance.
The exhibit had been completed. Excitedly, Usagi ran through the different
displays, polishing plaques and picking up any garbage she found. Luckily,
everything had gone well in her day's abscence. Usagi found a chair at
which she could sit and look over her notes while she waited for her work
crew to show up.
Once they had, the entire central floor was measured out and chairs were
layed on two sides to fill the entire room. A portable stage was moved into
the room and a microphone set up, along with a backdrop and slide projector.
Finally, everything was ready and it was time for those with invitations
to begin showing. Usagi disappeared to change into more formal attire.
When she returned, the room was bustling with activity as historians and
archaeologists alike spoke over the discoveries and oddities contained
within the exhibit.
The lights in the room began to dim and everyone hurried to a seat. A
spotlight found itself shining from above the stage and an elderly man
stepped forward.
"Ladies and gentlemen, as President of the Tokyo National Museum, I would
like to thank you all for coming and acknowledge the woman that is here
today to speak of a discovery that should revolutionize the way we see
ancient civilizations. Hailing from our own city of Tokyo, I give you
Tsukino Usagi."
Polite applause roared through the room.
Usagi stood before her audience and gulped. She looked at the notes on the
podium before her and sighed. She crumpled her notes up in one hand and
deposited them in the trash can beside her.
"Ladies and gentleman, I must apologize. I have worked hard for this day,
and I know none of you will understand what I am about to do. These ancient
cultures we have researched and studied recently are histories of real
people. We do not realize exactly what they were capable of, nor do we
associate them as having lived. The discovery we are here to celebrate
today was too bring a new look into one of these civilizations. I must
acknowledge the help I had in this project, especially the diggers and the
museum staff for hosting us. However, due to unforeseen incidents, I have
decided it better to replace that which we have taken from the tomb and seal
it away until we better realize what it is we are dealing with here. It is
my wish that we will know and treat these civilizations as we know and treat
the civilization we live in now. Until that day, I bid you all farewell."
An uproar came from the crowd as Usagi stepped from the stage and walked
from the exhibit hall, leaving the noise behind her. She walked outside,
down the steps, and hailed a taxi.
Back in the exhibit hall, the uproar had hardly settled. A figure, dressed
in a tan trenchcoat and detective-style hat, stepped out from the back of
the room. He made his way for the door. His bandaged hand opened it and he
exited from the room.
Usagi unlocked her door just as the taxi pulled out from in front of her
home. She walked inside and deposited her coat on the rack beside the door.
Her favorite rocking chair creaked slowly back and forth as the fall
breeze filtered into the room. Usagi walked over to the phonograph and
picked up a record. She placed it on the player and set the needle in place
before winding the machine. The familiar jazzy music filled the house
again, for possibly the last time.
My love, here you are,
So close, yet so far...
Usagi stood in the doorway to the kitchen. She imagined Mamoru standing
there, the pancakes burning as he desperately tried to bat the fire out with
his hands. He looked up to her and mouthed something, before fading away.
I wish that somehow, you could know.
I want to hold you,
Walking back in to the living room, she saw Mamoru practicing his dance
steps. His two left feet stumbled across each other.
The way that I used to.
Under the moonlight glow.
And then she felt his strong arms wrap themselves around her. She reached
up, expecting to feel his warm hands. But even that wasn't real and he
disappeared.
All I can do is stand here and smile.
And reminisce a while.
Usagi rocked herself in her chair, thinking of the past. She did not want
to hope for a different future. She wanted Mamoru back. Caught up in all
of the emotion, Usagi cried.
Thunder crackled in the sky as rain began to patter across the roof. Usagi
walked over to close the window and found the "Room to Let" sign hung once
again.
"Mother..." she sighed under her breath, removing the sign.
The doorbell rang. Usagi picked up the shawl hanging on the rocker and
tightened it around her before walking slowly for the door. She opened it
hesitantly, completely uninterested in her guest. A deep voice greeted her.
"I was inquiring for the room to rent?"
"I'm sorry sir, I was just pulling the sign..."
"I understand miss, sorry to bother you." The man tipped his hat to her and
turned to walk away. "However, I doubt I'll ever find another archaeologist
as attractive as you to haunt."
Usagi glanced upward at the retreating figure. "Wait!" She called after
the man and ran out to stop him, the rain pouring down upon her and soaking
her to the bone. The figure hesitated and turned to her. Even with the hat
pulled down over his face, Usagi saw the familiar grin on his features. She
reached up and removed his hat.
"Oh, Mamoru!" Her tears, now turned to those of happiness, mixed with the
rain that fell. She reached her arms around his neck and jumped up to kiss
him. He found her lips and held them in his own. Usagi pulled away, a
smile of happiness across her face. She opened her mouth to speak, but
Mamoru placed his finger across her lips.
"How? I thought..."
"Shh," he silenced her. "You said so yourself. It was in your speech. You
don't know what we were capable of."
Usagi smiled and kissed him again. Mamoru grinned.
"Aren't you going to invite me in for some hot cocoa or something? It's
freezing out here and I for one wouldn't mind to get into something dry."
Usagi clutched him desperately as they walked into her home, leaving the
stormy weather behind. Never again would she let him go.
PG
thelonepig@hotmail.com
Usagi groaned and stretched in the white sheets. She took note of the IV
sticking from her arm. It led to a bag of liquid hanging on a rack by her
bed. She looked up groggily and tried to sit up. As a sudden wave of
nausea passed through her, Usagi thought it a better idea to lay back down.
"You're awake," pronounced a nurse as she walked into the hospital room.
"Awake?" inquired Usagi curiously.
"Yes, you've been unconcious for over a day now. When the police brought
you here along with that other man, you were both badly injured, though he
was in much worse shape. We knew that you would pull through, but the
doctors are still working with him. I've never seen so many boils and scars
on anyone." The nurse shook her head sadly, then looked at Usagi and
smiled. "But now that you're awake, it will be much easier for me to
perform my check-up."
The nurse took Usagi's blood pressure and ran several other insignificant
tests. "Well, it looks like everything is checking out. Keep it up and you
may be out of here by tonight! I'll see you later. Would you care for
anything to read? I can get a morning newspaper."
Usagi nodded and thanked the nurse.
What had happened? Everything moved so quickly. Ashiki had attacked her,
but why? Was he truly that upset over her discovery? And when Usagi felt
that she was alone and had given up hope, Mamoru had appeared to save her.
What had happened after that? Clips of last night played over and over in
her mind like a picture show. Mamoru, stood with a faint glow about him,
wind rustling through his hair. Ashiki clutched his leg in pain, the skin
forming blisters and boils before her eyes. And then Mamoru ran as a
gun-shot rang out and then black.
What had happened to Mamoru? Had he been hurt? The nurse had said that
another man had been checked in at the same time as her, but from the
description, Usagi knew that they meant Ashiki. That meant only one thing.
Mamoru had escaped.
Usagi found some comfort in that thought, but wondered where Mamoru would
run to. Even free, he would not have a place to stay. Nobody would believe
his story about being a mummy. It was too unbelievable, too fanatical to
even entertain such a thought. However, she had seen his power right before
her eyes. She believed him now, and loved him more than ever for it.
The nurse reentered the room and set the newspaper down on the stand next to
Usagi's bed. She looked at Usagi and smiled. "Cheer up, eh?"
Usagi managed a half hearted smile.
"Listen hun, I'm sure your boyfriend is fine. Give it a few days and he'll
let you know where he is, I promise." The nurse winked and smiled at Usagi.
"How did you..."
The nurse opened the newspaper and displayed the front page for Usagi to
see. The front news story prominently displayed the heading "
." Usagi frowned and took the paper from the nurse's hand, reading through
the article.
The nurse excused herself and Usagi once again voiced her thanks.
The news story contained little information about the actual events as they
unfolded. Apparently, Ashiki was in critical care while she escaped with
'minor bruises and injuries.'
"Minor my foot," said Usagi aloud, looking at her bandaged wrist, wondering
if it was broken. It sure felt broken. She continued reading. The last
sentences caught her attention.
The suspect is still free. Please contact your
local authorities if you see or hear anything from
this man.
Usagi blinked. Mamoru a suspect? It couldn't be possible, it was all
wrong! Ashiki was the bad guy!
A knock sounded on the door.
"Come in?" called Usagi hesitantly.
A man dressed in a traditional detective-style trenchcoat and hat walked
inside, followed by two police officers.
"Ms. Tsukino?"
Usagi nodded, wide eyed.
"Would you mind answering several questions about last night?"
Usagi acknowledged that it would be fine, and the detective began with a
barrage of inquiries as to the events of the previous night. Usagi
straightened everything out as best she could, recounting the horrific tale
from hearing a sound in the living room. The detective nodded and took
notes, occassionally turning to the officer behind him and whispering
something before turning back to Usagi and asking her to continue.
Finally, the detective concluded his interrogation of Usagi and dismissed
himself with a polite "Thank you." He also added that he was sorry such a
thing had to happen to such a delightful woman. Usagi thanked the detective
for understanding and watched as he left.
Almost immediately, a doctor walked into the room.
"Well Ms. Tsukino, it seems you've recovered quite quickly. I don't want to
get your hopes up, but we may be able to release you by this evening. Oh,
and the museum called. They send their sympathies and I was told to let you
know that the exhibit would still be finished as per scheduled."
Usagi blinked. The exhibit! She had forgotten all about it. Thank heavens
she was still on time. Come to think of it, her presentation and the grand
opening was tomorrow night! She began mentally preparing over her notes and
even called her mom to have them delivered to her. Well or not, Usagi was
determined to be prepared and present her speech.
Over the course of the day, Usagi managed to finish her speech. Her mother
stopped in to deliver the notes and worry about her daughter's condition.
Later that night, Usagi was released under the understanding that she would
relax for a few days and allow her arm to heal.
The taxi pulled Usagi up to the front of her house. She paid the driver and
walked up the porch to her home. The window, she took notice, had been
repaired already. Usagi let herself in to her home and hung her jacket on
the coat rack. It seemed vacant without his trenchcoat there. The house
was emptier than it had ever been before. For a moment, Usagi let her hopes
up upon finding a note on her kitchen table. However, upon reading it, she
found it was from the museum explaining that they had taken the sarcophagus.
Usagi was hungry, but did not feel like eating. She cried herself to sleep
that night, wishing most of all for Mamoru to come back to her.
The sunlight came unexpectedly through Usagi's bedroom window. She flinched
and rolled over in bed, wiping the sleep from her eyes.
"Looks like it is my big day," Usagi sighed wearily. She wanted Mamoru to
be there to see the presentation and to comment on how she did. She wanted
him to be there to call her Sunshine again. But no amount of wishing would
be able to change the future. Usagi showered and dressed then grabbed
something to eat from the refridgerator. She had truly taken Mamoru and all
that he did for granted.
Locking the door behind her, Usagi walked the mile to the museum and walked
up the huge set of stairs. She nodded curtly in passing to one of the stone
lions that guarded the entrance.
The exhibit had been completed. Excitedly, Usagi ran through the different
displays, polishing plaques and picking up any garbage she found. Luckily,
everything had gone well in her day's abscence. Usagi found a chair at
which she could sit and look over her notes while she waited for her work
crew to show up.
Once they had, the entire central floor was measured out and chairs were
layed on two sides to fill the entire room. A portable stage was moved into
the room and a microphone set up, along with a backdrop and slide projector.
Finally, everything was ready and it was time for those with invitations
to begin showing. Usagi disappeared to change into more formal attire.
When she returned, the room was bustling with activity as historians and
archaeologists alike spoke over the discoveries and oddities contained
within the exhibit.
The lights in the room began to dim and everyone hurried to a seat. A
spotlight found itself shining from above the stage and an elderly man
stepped forward.
"Ladies and gentlemen, as President of the Tokyo National Museum, I would
like to thank you all for coming and acknowledge the woman that is here
today to speak of a discovery that should revolutionize the way we see
ancient civilizations. Hailing from our own city of Tokyo, I give you
Tsukino Usagi."
Polite applause roared through the room.
Usagi stood before her audience and gulped. She looked at the notes on the
podium before her and sighed. She crumpled her notes up in one hand and
deposited them in the trash can beside her.
"Ladies and gentleman, I must apologize. I have worked hard for this day,
and I know none of you will understand what I am about to do. These ancient
cultures we have researched and studied recently are histories of real
people. We do not realize exactly what they were capable of, nor do we
associate them as having lived. The discovery we are here to celebrate
today was too bring a new look into one of these civilizations. I must
acknowledge the help I had in this project, especially the diggers and the
museum staff for hosting us. However, due to unforeseen incidents, I have
decided it better to replace that which we have taken from the tomb and seal
it away until we better realize what it is we are dealing with here. It is
my wish that we will know and treat these civilizations as we know and treat
the civilization we live in now. Until that day, I bid you all farewell."
An uproar came from the crowd as Usagi stepped from the stage and walked
from the exhibit hall, leaving the noise behind her. She walked outside,
down the steps, and hailed a taxi.
Back in the exhibit hall, the uproar had hardly settled. A figure, dressed
in a tan trenchcoat and detective-style hat, stepped out from the back of
the room. He made his way for the door. His bandaged hand opened it and he
exited from the room.
Usagi unlocked her door just as the taxi pulled out from in front of her
home. She walked inside and deposited her coat on the rack beside the door.
Her favorite rocking chair creaked slowly back and forth as the fall
breeze filtered into the room. Usagi walked over to the phonograph and
picked up a record. She placed it on the player and set the needle in place
before winding the machine. The familiar jazzy music filled the house
again, for possibly the last time.
My love, here you are,
So close, yet so far...
Usagi stood in the doorway to the kitchen. She imagined Mamoru standing
there, the pancakes burning as he desperately tried to bat the fire out with
his hands. He looked up to her and mouthed something, before fading away.
I wish that somehow, you could know.
I want to hold you,
Walking back in to the living room, she saw Mamoru practicing his dance
steps. His two left feet stumbled across each other.
The way that I used to.
Under the moonlight glow.
And then she felt his strong arms wrap themselves around her. She reached
up, expecting to feel his warm hands. But even that wasn't real and he
disappeared.
All I can do is stand here and smile.
And reminisce a while.
Usagi rocked herself in her chair, thinking of the past. She did not want
to hope for a different future. She wanted Mamoru back. Caught up in all
of the emotion, Usagi cried.
Thunder crackled in the sky as rain began to patter across the roof. Usagi
walked over to close the window and found the "Room to Let" sign hung once
again.
"Mother..." she sighed under her breath, removing the sign.
The doorbell rang. Usagi picked up the shawl hanging on the rocker and
tightened it around her before walking slowly for the door. She opened it
hesitantly, completely uninterested in her guest. A deep voice greeted her.
"I was inquiring for the room to rent?"
"I'm sorry sir, I was just pulling the sign..."
"I understand miss, sorry to bother you." The man tipped his hat to her and
turned to walk away. "However, I doubt I'll ever find another archaeologist
as attractive as you to haunt."
Usagi glanced upward at the retreating figure. "Wait!" She called after
the man and ran out to stop him, the rain pouring down upon her and soaking
her to the bone. The figure hesitated and turned to her. Even with the hat
pulled down over his face, Usagi saw the familiar grin on his features. She
reached up and removed his hat.
"Oh, Mamoru!" Her tears, now turned to those of happiness, mixed with the
rain that fell. She reached her arms around his neck and jumped up to kiss
him. He found her lips and held them in his own. Usagi pulled away, a
smile of happiness across her face. She opened her mouth to speak, but
Mamoru placed his finger across her lips.
"How? I thought..."
"Shh," he silenced her. "You said so yourself. It was in your speech. You
don't know what we were capable of."
Usagi smiled and kissed him again. Mamoru grinned.
"Aren't you going to invite me in for some hot cocoa or something? It's
freezing out here and I for one wouldn't mind to get into something dry."
Usagi clutched him desperately as they walked into her home, leaving the
stormy weather behind. Never again would she let him go.
