The Mummy: The Scroll Of Life
Chapter 1
Intro: We find the O'Connell's back in Egypt six months after their second encounter with Imhotep. This time they plan on staying away from books and chests. But with the O'Connell's, cautious doesn't come easily.
A young girl moved stealthily amongst the crowd of Syrian people with great ease. Her brown hair was covered by a black turban that also covered her slightly tanned face. The brown eyes held a mysterious gaze as they looked amongst the crowed for a particular group of people. She had heard of a couple and their son who were on their way back to Humanaptra. she then saw the family she was looking for. She looked them over carefully, examining this family and then she saw it. The scroll sticking out of the rug sack the man was carrying. She realized she could do nothing with all of them together, so she waited, following closely.
"Rick, I'm going to take Alex to get a book for the trip." Evy said sweetly to her husband.
"Alright, I'll be around here, but Evy, be careful with the book alright?" Rick asked.
"I always am." she said with a slyish grin as she took their son and walked off."
"Yeah, right." Rick said to himself. "Sure you are."
The girl saw this as an opportunity to get him alone, and get what she was coming for. She walked up to O'Connell cautiously.
"Hello... sir." she said
"Um, may I talk to you?" she asked as she tapped Rick on the shoulder who turned around.
"Hi... and sure what do you want?" Rick asked trying to figure out if he knew this girl
"Oh, well um, I thought I recognized you but I guess I was wrong, so I'll just be on my way." "Good day." The girl quickly walked away.
"Hey dad!" Alex said as he and his mum came walking up.
"Hey Alex." Rick said staring in the direction of the girl.
"Who was that?" asked Evy.
"I don't know, but there's something about her that reminds me of.." Rick started but Alex quickly interrupted, as he had noticed something.
"Dad, where's the scroll?" Alex asked
Rick looked in the rug sack. He realized the girl had stolen the scroll right in front of him.
" Now I remember, she reminds me of Jonathan!." Rick said as he ran off into the direction the girl had gone in.
" Come on Alex." Evy said as she grabbed her son and followed Rick.
Rick had came to a three way street in the middle of the town.
"Great!" " Now what?" he said as Evy and Alex came up behind him.
" Rick, we have to get that scroll back." Evy said looking around
" Yeah, I know honey, but there's a slight problem." " Have you noticed the three streets?" Rick said in his somewhat annoyed voice
"Well, it shouldn't be too difficult.." Evy started
" I thought you were supposed to be smart." Rick interrupted still looking
" What's that suppose to mean?" Evy said now getting angry.
Meanwhile, Alex had realized which way the girl had gone and tried to get his parents attention who were now arguing.
" Dad." Alex said. " Mum." he said
" Listen here O'Connell, don't you tell me.."
" Guys!!" Alex yelled and his parents looked at him. " She went left." Alex said
" How do you know? " Rick asked puzzled.
" Because, if you go straight that's the way out of the fort and she wouldn't go that way because she would be in sight." "And she didn't go right because its a dead end." Alex said also annoyed. " Its not hard dad." Alex finished.
" See O'Connell, its not hard and to think and eight year old boy had to tell you." Evy said smiling but still a little angry.
" Yeah alright, I get it. Lets get going before she gets farther away." Rick said as they took the street on the left.
The girl slowed down as she reached a casaba taking a breath.
" Well , that was easier than I thought it would be." she said to herself. " I think it deserves a toast, to my victory.'' she said as she smiled and walked in the casaba.
As she entered she ran into a drunk man. "Sorry." she mumbled, checking that the scroll was in her pocket and returning her attention to getting a drink. She knew that her pursuers would be after her really soon.
She sat down at the bar table and ordered some whiskey. She gulped down 3 glasses before the O'Connell's finally walked in. The taller man walked over to her. She glared at him. Rick stared at this marvel of a girl. She looked about 5'6 and had black robes on. She looked about 19 or so and at the moment, smelled heavily of whiskey. He pulled up a stool right beside her. Maybe she was drunk enough that he could "coerce" the scroll off her.
" Hi. I'm Rick." " I don't think we were properly introduced when you took my scroll." he said. "But I believe you have something of mine." Rick finished.
Evy and Alex walked in
" Well, it certainly isn't your heart." she spat glaring at the woman and her son.
" What's your name thief?" Evy asked.
" You guys think I'm drunk!" " You think you can take this scroll off of me.. well it takes more than 3 shots of whiskey to get me drunk!" the girl snapped.
Rick stared in shock. " Three shots?" he thought to himself. He was amazed. Jonathan came into the bar.
" Hey Mariana!" he screamed at her patting her on the back. The girl sighed and her eye twitched. Darn him she thought.
" You know her?!" Rick asked. " Wait , of course you know her, you only mix with people like you!" Rick finished.
" Well I only know her because she's my dancing partner." Jonathan said hugging the girl's arm.
" Dance partner Uncle Jon?" "You cant dance!" Alex said.
" Exactly Alex!" "That's why I'm dancing." Jonathan said without thinking.
" Gee Alex, you a bright one today" Rick stated remembering the trouble in the street.
" Alright lady!, I'm gonna say this once, give us the scroll and we will leave." Rick said.
" Gee, that scares me." the girl said snickering
" Listen." said Evy " I'm sure there's something you want. Perhaps we can work something out." she finished.
" Yeah Evy, good idea. We can trade for the scroll" Rick answered. " What do you want?" Rick asked the girl
" Wait a bloody minute!" Jonathan interrupted. " I stole your stuff all the time and I never got offered anything!" Jonathan snapped.
" Jonathan, that's because your a wimp and once your caught, you try to find your way out of it with some stupid excuse and don't even think to ask." Rick answered
" First of all.." the girl started. " My name isn't lady!"
" Well what is it?" Rick asked smartly
" Its Mariana!" she snapped back
" Well, Mariana, what is it you want?" Rick asked
" I want the scroll!" she answered
" Well that's a problem because so do we!" Rick said. " That's a problem isn't it?"
" You're right, it is a problem.. yours!" Mariana said angrily
" Oh for goodness sake, lets settle down alright? We just want our scroll back." Evy said.
" Well your just a goody goody aren't you?" Marian asked
" I beg your pardon?!" Evy snapped
" Watch it!" Rick said
" And you, you are just some big protector aren't you?" Mariana added
" No! My wife can do more than good for protecting herself, but she's my wife and nobody talks to her like that!" Rick yelled
" Well sorry." Mariana said mockingly
" Alright that's it!" " Offer over! Give us the scroll!" Rick yelled angrily
" No!" Mariana yelled back
Telling that the man before her was serious, she kicked him in his reason for wearing underwear and ran out the door.
" Urgh!!" Rick yelled in pain
" Jonathan, go after her! " Rick said weakly trying to stand up straight
" Are you crazy!? She'll kill me! " Jonathan said as a wimp
Evy realizing Jonathan would do nothing ran out the door after Mariana.
" Evy! No!" " Not alone!" Rick yelled taking the pain and standing
Outside the bar, Evy sees Mariana on a horse heading out the main gate. Evy gets on a horse and follows. Rick comes out of the bar, Jonathan and Alex following.
" Oh God! Where did she go?" Rick said
" Look dad! Mums leaving the fort." Alex said pointing to Evy riding off.
" Come on!" Rick said heading for some horses.
Outside of the fort, Mariana was in front of Evy, thinking she was going to get away, but Evy was catching up.
"HeYa!" Mariana said trying to get the horse to go faster
" See! See! See! Hut! Hut! Hut!" Evy said to the horse. " Give up the scroll! You cant get away!" Evy yelled to Mariana, finally catching up beside her.
" What are you going to do about it? Your husband isn't here to help you!" Mariana yelled.
Hearing this, and being beside Mariana and her horse, Evy throws out her arm and knocks Mariana off the horse.
" Urgh! " Mariana moaned hitting the ground
" That's for kicking my husband! " Evy said getting off her horse.
" Oh so you think you can take me?" Mariana said pulling out her sword.
" How about with these odds?" Mariana said
" Foolish girl." Evy said
Hearing the insult, Mariana charged at Evy who quickly dodged the lunge, spun and hit Mariana from behind, knocking her to the ground.
" Ahh!" Mariana yelped
" Just give me the scroll so I don't hurt you." Evy said
" You cant hurt me old lady!" Mariana said lunging again but Evy keeps dodging the swings.
Rick has just caught up and sees them fighting.
" Your a brave girl Mariana, but you must not always try to be braver than you really are." Evy said.
" Err!!" Mariana lunged and this time knocked Evy to the ground.
" I hope you remember those words, because they will be the last you'll speak!"
Mariana holds up her sword over Evy and starts swinging it, but Evy quickly pulls our her Sai's and blocks the sword. Mariana looks a bit surprised. Rick comes over the hill and sees Mariana pushing down on the weapons, and Evy struggling to keep the sword away. Rick yells and catches Mariana by surprise. She looks up at Rick, and Evy takes the opportunity and knocks Mariana down, taking her feet from under her and gets up and holds her sai's at Mariana's neck.
" My husband told you girl, I can protect myself if I need to." Evy said. " All you had to do was give us the scroll." Evy finished.
Rick takes the scroll out of Mariana's pocket.
" Well, I had you!" Mariana said stubbornly.
" Sure you did." Rick started. " You obviously don't know what we have been through, we have our reasons for protecting ourselves. " Rick finished as Evy loosened her grip and got off Mariana and walked over to her husband.
" Pleasure meeting you Mariana." Rick said as they got on their horses and left. Mariana watched them leave, and then plops back down in the sand.
After sulking in her failure for a couple of hours, Mariana got back on her horse and headed back to the fort. She thought she could use a drink. So what if they had taken the scroll? She had already memorized it. She needed to find Jonathan and she needed a drink. Mariana walked into the bar and stood and looked. Sitting at a table in the far corner was Rick, Evy, their son, and Jonathan. They looked her way and their eyes widened. She personally didn't feel like fighting again so she ignored their insistant stares and got a bottle of whiskey. Jonathan got up from the table and walked over to her.
" What do you want?" she sneered
Jonathan, amazingly sober, winced
" I have come to apologize on behalf of my dearest baby sister, and her husband." he stuttered. Mariana stared at him. She scowled.
" If they wanna say sorry, they better come over here and say it themselves." she said glaring at the family.
Jonathan relayed the message and against all wishes on Evy's part, Rick came over to Mariana.
" Uh, sorry, Mariana, about what happened, but you left us no choice." he stated sincerely sorry.
Mariana glared at him. Then she smiled. Rick realized then that she wasn't looking at him, but at a guy dressed in black, just like her.
" Ardeth!" she squealed and with the grace of a cat walked over to him.
He grinned upon seeing her and swept her in a big hug. Rick stood there and Evy came over, both looking dumbfounded.
" So, Mariana, you have found O'Connell.'' Ardeth said smiling at Rick.
She blushed. ( If that was possible for a girl who not 10 minutes ago wanted to shoot Rick rather than speak to him.) She buried her face into the deep sea of black fabrics.
" She's a Medji?!" Rick asked, astounded
Mariana blushed harder and nodded her head, but just realizing that Evy was standing there, quickly let go of Ardeth and stood defensively with her arms crossed over her chest and looked away. Rick noticed this and tried not to smile." She doesn't want to show any weakness around Evy.." he thought to himself. But knowing Evy, she probably already figured it out and was waiting for a good opportunity to say something.
" Sorry if she caused you any trouble.. this girl is as cunning as a fox, and as swift as a cat." The handsome Medji stated.
Evy glared at Mariana
" Oh... No.. nothing happened." Evy stated sarcastically, as Mariana continued to look at nothing.
" Hmm" she said.
" Hopefully she has not caused any trouble?" Ardeth asked and everyone was quiet. " I take this as a yes?" Ardeth said taking the hint.
" Well, now that you mention it" said Evy " She did! She stole our scroll, we asked for it back, and she took off and I went after her and got it back." Evy snapped.
" Not without a fight you didn't!" Mariana said
" Yes that's true, but you didn't put up much of one." Evy added
Evy and Mariana glared at each other. Then Mariana lunged at Evy and threw a punch but Rick stopped her hand right in front of Evy's face.
" Don't do it again." Rick warned in his serious voice with the full intention of making sure the point got through this time.
"Hmmm" she mumbled as Rick let go of her hand.
" Well, this is interesting, but I think Ill just go back to the bar." Jonathan stated tying to break the tension.
" Jonathan, watch Alex." Rick said
" But I was going..." Jonathan started
" Now!" Rick said sternly.
" Oh alright, come on Alex. " Jonathan said as they walked away.
" I tell you, that man is about a wimp." Mariana said smirking
" Don't talk about my brother like that!" Evy shouted. " In fact don't talk about him at all!" Evy added.
" I will if I want too." Mariana said smiling.
They were staring at each other again, but this time Rick caught it. This time Evy lunged at Mariana but Rick intercepted. " Whoa!" Rick said as he grabbed Evy and threw her over his shoulders.
" Ardeth, Ill catch back up with you later." Rick said as he smiled and turned to walk away, Evy hanging over his shoulder was shouting.
" Put me down now Rick!!" she yelled as Rick walked out the door.
Ardeth looked at Mariana with the look that said you have been causing trouble.
" What?" " I didn't do anything!" Mariana said
" Mariana, you stole from them." Ardeth scolded
" I steal from everyone!" Mariana said.
" Not just that, but you mad Evelyn mad." he added
" So what?" Mariana scowled. " She's the one who.."
" Mariana, sit down and listen." Ardeth started. " The O'Connell's are good people."
" If they are so good, then why is she such a..." Mariana started
" You don't know what they have been through, Evelyn has ever right to be suspicious of you. Rick and Evelyn met, people with bad intentions have come along and under certain circumstances, the have learned to be protective and cautious." Ardeth lectured.
" But.." Mariana tried to get a word in.
" I want you to behave around them... they are my very good friends and I owe my life to them. Twice they have saved me and the Medji, along with the rest of the world. " "You remember that story I told you?" Ardeth asked
" The one about Imhotep? Yeah I remember." Mariana answered
" Well the O'Connell's are the ones responsible for saving the world." Ardeth said.
" Oh... I didn't know it was them.. I never would have..." Mariana started
" It is wise to know people before you judge them my young Medji." Ardeth said.
" Well, what if I.."
" Mariana, If you want to be a Medji, you must trust my judgment." Ardeth scolded.
" Oh alright Ardeth, Ill try." Mariana said sincerely.
Meanwhile Rick and Evy are in there inn room.
"Alright Evy, what going on?" Rick asked
" What do you mean what's going on?" Evy said innocently.
" Why are you so upset?" Rick asked
" The only thing I'm upset about is that she stole the scroll." Evy replied. Rick looked at her suspiciously.
" What?" she asked
" Evy, there's more to it than that, that's not why your angry." Rick said
" I don't know what your talking about." Evy said innocently again.
" Evy, something is bothering you about her and its not normal." " I'm worried, you have never acted like that to anyone, not even..Anucksu.. whatever." Rick said
" I told you what I'm upset about." Evy said looking at him sternly with the look that said "drop it".
" Alright. Fine! Don't tell me, but you need to be the better person here, like I know you can be, don't let her do this to you, don't let her get you upset when you two no nothing about each other." Rick said looking at Evy sternly
" Oh all right. All right. Ill try." Evy said. "But there's just something about her Rick, its scaring me." Evy said sitting on the edge of the bed.
Rick went and sat beside her and held her. "Well, like always, lets be cautious then huh?" Rick said looking deeply into his wife's eyes. His looks always relaxed her. Evy smiled and said " Alright... like always, why am I not surprised." Evy said and she leaned against Rick still smiling.