Chapter 8

" Get that thing away from me!" Malik growled angrily.

" But its only a scarab." Ardeth said

" Oh, you're horrible Ardeth!" Malik screeched as Ardeth moved the bug towards her.

" What's the big deal?" Rick asked

" You of all people should know, O'Connell." Malik said, circumnavigating the beetle.

Ardeth smiled

" I can see why you like Jonathan." Ardeth stated.

Malik turned to him blushing furiously.

" I never said that!" she screeched

Ardeth shrugged

" Well, as if it wasn't obvious that you had a thing for him." Ardeth retorted

Malik's blush deepened.

" Leave me alone!" she turned away

Meanwhile Rick had picked up the scarab.. And being his somewhat mischievous self, thought it would be funny to make the bug "fly". Just as Malik turned away, Rick tossed the bug and it landed on Malik's shoulder. The men laughed heavily as Malik's screams filled the desert. Rick finally looked up to see Malik glaring at him. She raised a hand and it went flying. *whap*. Rick was promptly knocked over by the slap.

" Geez!" he muttered as Malik stomped ahead of them.

Ardeth covered his mouth with one hand.

" Well, we know its true at last." he commented

Rick stood up.

" Don't push it Ardeth." Rick scolded

" Well now that she is all cocked and ready to go, lets go get your wife, and my Mariana." Ardeth said

" Right." Rick said and the began to follow Malik, who was still muttering to herself.

Evy's body had been put on the same pyre as Mariana's had been. As everyone gathered around, Kurai took out the scroll and began to read it.

" Bu ran you, ba ram you, su ay am harom oo toopse." Kurai chanted

Suddenly he blushed

" Who gave me this accursed scroll?" he demanded. Mariana took this opportunity to take Evy's spirit for safe keeping.

* Alright Evy its time, don't worry.* Mariana said to Evy' who heard her in her head.

* Hurry up.. Mariana..* Evy thought to herself as she watched Kurai in horror.

* Don't worry Evelyn.* Mariana answered and by the time Kurai had the right scroll, Evy's spirit was safe.

Outside the temple Rick, Ardeth and Malik were trying to come up with a plan.

" So guys, um… how do we get in there?" Malik asked seeing the numerous guards in front of the temple doors.

" Live bait." Rick stated as he looked toward her.

Malik finally noticed the both of them staring at her.

" Oh no! What do you want me to do?.. Dress in drag and do the Hula?" she exclaimed.

Ardeth looked at Rick then at Malik

" Precisely." Rick stated

" Oooh! I hate you O'Connell!" Mariana said as she started to walk to the temple

" That's nice… you just save that for someone who cares… like the guards." Rick replied

Malik reached the entrance to the temple, and Rick and Ardeth were with her but out of site.

* Oh, they are going to pay for this.* Malik thought to herself.

* Come on Malik, just get it over with* Malik thought.

" Howow!" Malik screamed

The guards attentions were reverted to her and Rick and Ardeth slipped inside. Once Malik saw that Rick and Ardeth were safely inside, she whipped out her guns and shot the guards.

"Sayonara!" Mailik called and ran in after Rick and Ardeth.

Inside the temple, Malik had caught up with Rick and Ardeth. Rick was armed and dangerous and very alert. Ardeth was the same. Malik came up behind them.

" Nice dancing." Rick said sarcastically as he heard her come up behind them.

" Shut up." Malik said as she reloaded her guns.

" Do you hear that?" she asked both of them.

" Hear what?" Ardeth asked

" The chanting." Rick said as he took off toward the sound.

" Uuggh, wait for us!" Malik yelled after him and they followed.

The sound had led Rick to a big open room. He came up behind a pillar and looked cautiously around it. He became filled with horror. There were men with their backs to him and they were all standing around Evy. But that wasn't what was bothering Rick… it was Kurai.. Who was standing over her… chanting. Ardeth and Malik came up behind him and looked. Malik, was confused, but Ardeth looked almost the same as Rick.

" Ardeth, what are they doing?" Rick asked softly in a stern voice

" He is chanting…" Ardeth replied

" Chanting for what?" Malik asked in a whisper

" Either they are trying to bring someone back… or." Ardeth started but was interrupted by Rick.

" Or they are doing something to my wife!" Rick said and cocked his gun and took aim at Kurai

" Wait, don't do anything yet O'Connell." Ardeth said

" I'm not, I'm just ready… you always have to be ready." Rick answered in an angry voice.

As Rick, Ardeth and Malik stood watching from a distance, Kurai was finishing his chanting.

" Bring me the knife." he commanded and one of the men did so.

" With this, you shall be my queen!" he said holding the knife up over Evy.

Rick faintly hearing those words, and seeing the knife, he aimed his gun.

" Alright O'Connell, I think we can interfere now." Ardeth said

" I know…. Get ready." Rick said

Rick squeezed the trigger and just as Kurai was about to stab Evy, the knife went flying out of his hand.

Kurai looked up and saw O'Connell and his friends

" Sorry to interrupt the party fellows, but I'm getting a little lonely and I want my wife." Rick said in a very angry voice walking up the the little circle. Ardeth and Malik behind him.

" I am sorry, Mr. O'Connell, but I'm afraid you cant have her." Kurai said with a grin

" I wouldn't be smiling if I were you… my wife is very upset." Rick said

" What?" Kurai said turning around to look at the girl, but he realized it was a trick and turned back just in time to see the end of Rick's shotgun as it struck him hard in the face. Kurai fell, then Ardeth with his Thompson gun, started shooting and so did Malik. The covered Rick as he ran over to Evy's body that was still on the pyre.

" Evy?…" Rick said touching her gently. "Evy, wake up. Come on, wake up." he said again.

" Arrggh!" A man screamed running towards Rick who just punched him and the man fell to the ground.

" Evelyn, wake up!" he said tapping her shoulder. Rick then heard to shots, that were very close to him. He turned as two men dropped to the ground in front of him. He looked at Ardeth with a grateful look.

" Ok, now what?" Malik said still fighting.

" We finish getting rid of these guys, then we get Kurai" Ardeth answered

Kurai had gotten of the ground, from being hit, and had snuck up on O'Connell.

" Evy…please…wak.." Rick started saying but was interrupted by Ardeth yelling

" Rick! Look out!" Ardeth yelled

Rick turned around and saw Kurai who hit Rick as hard as he could and Rick flew across the room.

" AAhhhhh!" Rick screamed as he flew across the room and landed on the ground hard.

Mean while, from "above" Evy and Mariana are watching them fight Kurai.

" Rick! Look out!… Why cant he hear me Mariana?" Evy asked

" Because maybe he's to busy worrying about your body… or because.." Mariana started.

" Rick." she said looking horrified.

Ardeth and Malik are still fighting bad guys and Rick is still fighting Kurai. It gets to the point where Rick is pointing his gun at Kurai. Everyone stops fighting and Rick is wondering why, but doesn't take his eyes off Kurai. Then Rick feels a hand on his arm. He turns his head and sees Evy.

Rick, startled, hesitates. He looks into her eyes and suppresses a gasp. Her eyes were distant.

" Evy.." he whispered

She said nothing.

" It appears you are to late O'Connell." Kurai said

" What?" Rick asked still aiming his gun on Kurai

" Do not worry about it.." Kurai replied

" Oh, I'm going to… even if I have to beat it out of you!" Rick said as he charged at Kurai, but Evy grabbed him. He stopped and looked at her.

" You will not touch him." she said in a very different voice. Rick hearing the tone, was horrified. Something was wrong with his wife.

" What?" Rick said in a scared and shocked voice. " Evy, what's wrong?" he asked

" Argh" she screamed and she punched Rick and kicked him so hard he flipped over and hit the ground.

Ardeth and Malik stared out of shock

" Ev..Evy?" Rick said in pain..

" You see, O'Connell, you are too late. Now we will be leaving. Goodbye O'Connell." Kurai said with a grin

Rick got up.. In pain and started to walk to Evy

" Evy… what is.." "Arrgh" Rick yelled as another blow from his wife hit him.

Ardeth and Mariana were still watching in shock. Rick, who was beginning to cry, go back up and tried to go back to his wife.. But she hit him again as he reached her.

" Fool.." she said as she turned and started to walk with Kurai.

" Evelyn…. Evy…" Rick cried after her.. He was trying to get back up.

" That is not my name… she is no longer here." Evy's body replied and she turned and walked out.

Rick, hearing those words… stopped trying to get up… he couldn't believe what he had heard… his wife.. Saying she was not his wife… that she was not Evy. It hit him hard. He fell to the ground and began to yell and cry then, he passed out from the pain.

" Ardeth, what the hell just happened?" Malik asked

" The chanting.." said Ardeth. " The chanting we heard, was to turn her evil." Ardeth finished.

Malik looked at Ardeth.

" She has turned evil.. He has made her his queen and protector." Ardeth finished

" Ardeth… O'Connell, isn't going to like this." Malik said looking at him lying on the ground with a wet face.

" Yes, I know, but I also know, he will not fight her.. Which could make our situation more difficult." Ardeth replied

" Well, we had better take care of him first." Malik said still looking at Rick.