Chapter 3
Perhaps the most determined on this voyage was Ardeth, but then again, Rick, for reasons unbenounst to him, found himself just as anxious to bring Mariana back. He couldn't explain it... it was almost like he was related to her. He knew he couldn't possibly be. She was Egyptian and he was American... Evy too seemed drawn into the emotional roller coaster. He put a comforting arm around Evy and she rewarded him with a smile. Jonathan and Alex had volunteered to stay behind and guard Mariana's body until they returned. Ardeth secretly was grateful for this. They unfortunately would have gotten in the way.
" So, do you know exactly where were going?" Rick asked already having a pretty good idea.
Ardeth smiled bitterly
" To hamunaptra... I think I know who's behind this one..." he muttered the last part.
Rick sighed
" Here we go again." he mumbled.
Ardeth chuckled.
" Yes,.. again... who do you think is behind it?" Evy asked somewhat thinking she knew who it was.
Ardeth's eyebrows arched in surprise.
" Well, its hard to explain.. he doesn't really have a names, so .. how about Kurai..." he suggested
Rick and Evy stared in confusion.
" Its not Imhotep?" They both said.
" No." Ardeth answered
" And Kurai means what?"
" Well it means dark." he explained
" Oh of course it does. Nice simple meaning. Catchy too." Rick said sarcastically.
Evy smiled at the joke.
" And, we had better be on our guard." Ardeth finished.
" Oh boy." Evy sighed looking ahead.
In front of them was a whole line of brown-clad riders. The obvious leader of the rider rode up to them. Ardeth immediately went on defense and if not for Rick holding him back, probably would have gone after the jerk.
" Good Morning. I trust you slept well?" Fatty said
Ardeth spat at the fat leaders feet. Rick moved him aside and stepped forward.
" Wheat do you want." he asked.
Fatso smirked.
" Our master needs a body to be resurrected.. in.. so we are going to either kill you .. or go after the girls body." he finished glaring at the other members of the group.
Ardeth growled and struggled to go after fat guys face, but Rick stopped him before he could do any real damage.
" Oh I see, you love that worthless Medji." the fat man commented, coming tantalizingly close to being killed.
" Die!!!" Ardeth said and broke free from Rick's grasp, pulling out his sword.
" Ardeth stop!!!" a voice screamed
Ardeth froze in his tracks.
"M- Mariana?" he stuttered looking around..
" You stupid Medji... how are you going to bring me back if your gonna get killed?'' the voice screamed.
Ardeth slowly put his sword away and walked back to Rick and the others, who were oblivious to what just happened. Rick decided he'd ask Ardeth later, why he had stopped so abruptly. Fat guy smiled knowing he had won this time. He called his men and they ran off.
" Lets set up camp right here.. for now." Rick suggested. Evy nodded in agreement.
As they were setting up camp, Ardeth was aware of the stares of Evy and Rick on him.
" What?" he asked trying his best to look innocent.
He was saved from explanation by Alex.
" I told him we shouldn't follow but he persuaded me other wise. *hic*" Jonathan was again on cloud nine, amidst a whiskey reduced fantasy.
" Well, to answer your question, the Medji heard the spiritual outburst of the dead girl.. as if it wasn't obvious." a voice came from behind.
They turned. There stood a girl in black robes.
" A Medji?" Rick asked.
"Hmm? Oh heavens no, I'm a tomb raider, name of Malik." she smiled.
She did look like a Medji, with the robes and marks similar to Ardeths.
" A what?" asked Evy.
" A tomb raider." said Rick
" She's sort of like you Evy, you know, goes on digs for artifacts, causes trouble." Rick said looking at Evy.
" I know what a tomb raider is Rick!" Evy snapped
" Well then why did you ask?" Rick asked
" Oh never mind, your to slow for your own head." Evy finished. Rick stared at her.
" Yes, well that's what I do, I dig up artifacts, but in a somewhat different way." Malik said.
" But he said like you.. You dig up artifacts?" Malik asked Evy
" Yes I do." Evy said getting into the conversation.
" Really? What kind?" Malik asked
" Oh well, Egyptian kinds, such as books, and chests, and..." Evy started
" The kind that have curses and bring back some worshiped dead guy who wants to take over the world and bring back his dead girlfriend." Rick finished the sentence for Evy.
" Wait a minute... books? chests? Dead evil guys?" " Your the O'Connell's aren't you?!" Malik asked
" Oh, so you've heard of us?" Rick said sarcastically
" Well, its known that you all brought Imhotep back twice and saved the world twice." Malik said. " Those things tend to stick out for a long time." she finished
" Yes , well we only brought him back once. The second time it was his girlfriend." Evy said
" Yeah, but both times it was her fault." Rick said pointing at Evy. Evy looked at him.
" Well, no matter who's fault it was, I know you saved the world twice." Malik said
" Well, I'm glad you know us." Rick said getting annoyed with the subject.
" Any way, I know what happened with Medji." Malik said
" What happened?" Rick asked
" The dead girl was communicating with him." she answered
" How is that possible?" Evy asked walking over to Rick, who could tell she was nervous.
" Well, because of their love for each other, he can hear her thoughts in his heart, its just so strong that they can communicate."
" Are you sure your a tomb raider and not some witch doctor?" Rick asked
" Witch doctor?! Where?!!" Jonathan said drunkenly standing up
" Jonathan, bud out!" Rick said
" Do you all remember Ahm-Shere? And when you died Mrs. O'Connell?" Malik asked
" How could we forget." Rick answered remembering how he had held his dead wife.
" Yes I remember." Evy also answered " But what's that got to do with anything?"
" Well Rick, do you remember ever feeling like she was with you before she came back to life?" Malik asked
" Well, Yeah, I did when I found the picture on the wall inside the temple.. but how did you know.." Rick said
" Its because of your love for each other that it was possible." Malik said
" Rick.. I remember.. when you found the picture.. I was trying to get you to believe that it was your destiny, because I knew it was and I believed it." Evy said
" Exactly. It was your love for each other that helped you to help your husband. That's why the Medji heard his girlfriend." Malik finished
" Well, that explains allot." Rick said. " Now at least we know there's a chance right Ardeth?" Rick said
" Yes.. a chance... I hope so." Ardeth answered.
Jonathan as usual was drunk and Malik was constantly trying to shoo him off of her. Ardeth chuckled and shook his head. She reminded him of Mariana in ways. He sighed as unrolled his bed roll... being without Mariana was going to be hard. Silent tears fell down his face as he fell into a dreamless sleep.