OK. So....I was bored, so I finished TWO chapters! Hurrah! Hurrah! OK. This chapter is dedicated to Imhoteps Lover (again) because she is special. And the next chapter will be dedicated to Deane, so it's fair, and because she's special too....and besides...*sniffs*...they're my ONLY REVIEWERS!!!! *cries* Oh well. More fun for them. Lol. OK, Girls (and guys, if I EVER get any more reviewers), here's the next chapter....which I'm sure you're dying to read, RIGHT? *all nod and yell "YEA!* *I smile* Good. Lol. J/K.
Chapter 4
The Cairo Museum was cool and dark.
"Almost like a tomb," Alex thought. He was jabbed painfully in the side and ordered to hurry up. He glared into the darkness and muttered, "Yea, yea, yea."
Soon, they had reached Alex's favorite area of the museum; the mummy exhibit. Alex heard quiet sniffling in one corner, and he gasped with surprise, "Uncle John!"
Jonathan Carnaham looked up, surprised, "Alex! What are you doing here?"
"I...ummm...kinda got myself into a little trouble," he said, nodding back to where a soldier was holding his arms.
Jonathan's face whitened, "Oh bloody heck. Your father is going to kill me."
The soldier threw Alex to the floor and ordered him to stay put while he left to find 'The Captain.' When the man had left, Alex got to his knees and started to untie Jonathan.
"Excuse me, Alex, but I don't think this'll work," Jonathan whined annoyingly, "Even if we do get untied, we'll have to run out into the rain and hide and find your parents..."
"Uncle John," Alex grunted, fighting with the heavy ropes.
"Yes?"
"Shut up."
"Yes, Sir."
Alex grinned at the prospect of being called 'Sir'. But his smile disappeared when he saw that the man had come back, and he had with him a tall, dark, muscular Arabian carrying a sword.
"Oh God," Alex breathed, glancing up into the soldier's face. Lock-Na sneered triumphantly, "Hello, Alex."
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Shanala had been through alot. She had been kidnapped, tied up, thrown roughly into a broiling hot tent, and then left alone to possibly die. But she had managed to untie her wrists and ankles and had made it to where she was now. That was how she knew she would make it. Nothing could be worse than what she'd already been through, right? Still, even with her stubbornness and fearlessness, she was finding it very hard to navigate through the endless twisting, pitch black tunnels. She knew she must have been wandering aimlessly around for at least a quarter of an hour, and she was already tired from running away.
"I really am not having a particularly good day," she mumbled, looking around her at the shadowy corridors. Her eyes had gotten somewhat accustomed to the light, and every other tunnel had torches, so she wasn't worried about the dark. She was worried about the fact that every time she turned a corner she could bump into...something...Shanala shook her head, freeing it of frightening images that did nothing to help her, and took a deep breath.
"Ok. I'm lost. I admit it." She had just entered the same room she'd been in three times before. She was beginning to feel very discouraged.
Shanala sighed and slid to the ground, "Maybe I should've stayed at the camp and waited until morning...although I don't know how that would've helped..." Then a voice inside her head whispered, "Because then you wouldn't have been so worried about bumping into Anck-su-namun."
Shanala frowned and snapped, "Shut up!"
But the voice continued, its chilling wickedness reverberating inside her head, "It's true, isn't it? You're afraid of her. That's why you ran away. You'll do anything to stay away from her. If it was anyone else who had kidnapped you, you wouldn't be so desperate to escape. Where do you have to go anyway? Your family's dead!"
Shanala scowled and didn't reply.
"Unless of course, somehow, your family was reincarnated?"
Shanala raised her eyebrows in thought.
"It's possible. Perhaps they are waiting for you...perhaps close by...in Egypt...in this city...in this desert...in this tomb..."
Shanala jumped up and looked around, expecting to see her father beside her. "Where?" she demanded "Where are they?"
"They are nearby..."
"Where?"
"In the next chamber."
"Are you sure?"
"Come here and see for yourself."
Shanala smiled and walked down another tunnel, her hopes rising, Then, her reasoning kicked in and she stopped dead in her tracks, her heart sinking.
"Yea right, Shanala. Your family's dead. Long gone. Forever. Something in here's messing with your mind..."
Shanala looked around, shivers running up and down her spine. Then the voice came again, and she knew it wasn't in her head. It was in the tomb. The tomb was talking to her.
"What's wrong, Shanala? Aren't you coming?"
Shanala slowly shook her head, "No. I'm staying right here."
"And why is that?"
"I don't want to die, thank you very much."
A chilling chuckle reached her ears, and she shivered involuntarily. The laugh made her want to run away, anywhere, to escape it, but she held her ground and bit her lip to keep from screaming.
Then, the laugh stopped and, right after it ceased, the voice returned, "Come here, Shanala. I wish to see you." Shanala closed her eyes and started to shake her head but she found she couldn't. "Funny," thought Shanala, "Maybe I've got a kink in my neck..." Then something happened that made her want to scream: she was walking towards the next tunnel, although she knew that nothing but terror awaited her there. She didn't want to listen to the voice, but she felt that she had too. It was as if she knew, even then, if she didn't listen, it would be worse than anything she'd ever experienced. And that was why she walked all the way through the tunnel and into the next chamber, which happened to be the same one that Rick O'Connell and his wife were in.
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"Let go!"
"Shut up!"
"Stop!"
Alex winced as Lock-Na raised his fist to hit him.
"I told you, shut up!" Alex shut his mouth, as he didn't want Lock-Na to lose his temper. He had learned five years ago that he had horrible rage.
"That's better. Now stay here until I find out what to do with you."
Alex frowned at his retreating back and shot back, "What? Too stupid to come up with something on your own?" Lock-Na froze, and slowly rose to his full height. Then he suddenly whipped around, his fist clenched around Alex's collar and a wicked dagger pointing at the boy's throat. Alex swallowed, resolving to show o fear.
Casually, he smiled, "Same old temper, I see." Then he dusted Lock-Na's hand from his shirt with his hand and stated, "You always were gullible, Lock-Jaw."
Lock-Na clenched his teeth together and slid his dagger back into its place. "You just wait, Boy," he hissed, "Your time will come."
Alex yawned, "Last time you said that, my dad saved me five minutes before that time came."
Lock-Na grinned, malice shining through his dark eyes, "Ah, but my Son, your father was close by then. Now he is on the other side of the city."
Lock-Na drew out his sword and traced a finger along it, wondering. "Imagine how distressed your father will be when he sees your remains scattered throughout the several rooms in your manor... and your mother..."
Alex shivered involuntarily and decided it best to leave his mouth shut. Lock-na left several minutes later, keeping Alex tied to a chair next to his uncle. Alex regained his composure and turned to his uncle, "You alright, Uncle John?"
Jonathan was close to tears as he choked out, "Why? Why do I have to be related to a pair of... adventurers? I always end up like this!"
Alex rolled his eyes irritably and retorted, "I'm proud of my parents! Besides, it's great to get adventure once in a while."
"I didn't mean to offend you," explained Jonathan, "but, if I may say so, I'm getting rather tired of mummies."
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If Jonathan thought he was sick of mummies, he should have spoken to Rick. Rick was so sick of mummies, he was about ready to give up on the world and let someone else take care of it. Who said it was his job, anyway? He was hugging Evelyn to his chest protectively, ready to do whatever it took to save himself and his wife, but not anyone else. Gradually, a dim red glow filled the room, rising slowly from the fiery pit, next to which Anck-su-namun stood. The glow transformed into a ghastly shape, looking somewhat like a man, and somewhat like a monster. Rick knew what I was.
"Oh I hate mummies," he muttered angrily.
The light floated for a moment, soaring eerily over the pit. Then, after a pause, it suddenly flew at Rick and Evelyn with a loud, deafening screech. Rick pushed his wife to the ground and ducked just in time, the glow brushing his arm on its way past. Rick looked behind him, where the light had landed on the ground and was dimming gradually, leaving a very disgusting skeleton in its path. Rick grimaced in disgust as the creature looked at him with empty, pit-like eyes. Decayed skin was hanging from his limbs, and some sort of bug was skittering along his hideous face. Rick could see his muscles beginning to cover his bones, and he kneeled next to Evelyn, helping her up as she stared in horror at the monster.
Finally she gasped, "I-Imhotep!" (And there you go, Imhoteps Lover!)
"Yep. Go figure, huh?" Rick said coolly, pulling her to her feet and glaring at the monster, which was now growing skin before his very eyes.
At last, the thing looked nothing like the filthy, disgusting creature he was, but like a rather handsome man. He was wearing dark regal robes that displayed much of his bronzed skin and that flowed almost like water down to his feet. He was the perfect example of an ancient Egyptian man—bald, tan, and muscular. His eyes were dark and were blazing with the utmost hatred as he gazed at the O'Connells, but soon his gaze swept over the room to Anck-su-namun, who bowed her head respectfully. Rick took a step backwards, taking Evelyn with him, ready to leave. That is, until the girl entered the chamber. Everyone turned to see her, although she hadn't made any sound coming in. It had almost been as if she had appeared out of thin air. At the sight of the young woman, Anck-su-namun smiled and beckoned her forward with her finger. Rick frowned when the girl willingly stumbled forward, even though her face was a mask of horror. It was almost as if she was being controlled... When she reached Anck-su-namun, the child looked up at her, visibly trembling. Anck-su-namun took her hand and brought her out in front of her, facing her towards Imhotep, who glared at her in anger.
"Seher!" he seethed, "Hourinto dimangus kindahsta?"
Anck-su-namun nudged the girl and she spoke in a high, shaky voice, "Ben mada cointasha limodus coidnita lokindus, Ben Allah."
At these words, Imhotep's look of contempt transformed into a sickening half-smile. "Ah, Shanala. Sieu kinshanat limnoscent dieu."
"Shanala. So that's the kid's name," Rick thought to himself. Then, to Evelyn he whispered, "What'd she say? What'd he say?"
"Well...I can't understand all of it..." Evelyn frowned, "Imhotep
wanted to know what she was doing here...and she answered that...someone had brought her back... it was probably Anck-su-namun... she called him 'My Lord'...and he said 'You have learned well, Shanala'."
"'You have learned well'? Sheesh, this guy's more of a creep than I thought. Just cause the kid called him 'My Lord', he goes off and says she's learned well." Rick shook his head disdainfully and muttered, "Watch that your head doesn't get stuck in the doorway on the way out, Imhotep."
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Alex bit his lip as he struggled to get his hands untied. The ropes were digging into his wrists, and it was all he could do not to yell out in pain. Jonathan was whimpering steadily in his chair, occasionally muttering things like, "Why me?" or "I hate mummies!" Finally, Alex snapped at him to can it, and Jonathan stuck his lower lip out in an obvious pout. With the silence pounding inside his own head, Alex was beginning to wish he'd let his uncle continue whining. That is, until the rope snapped and his hands were free.
"Yes!" he whispered triumphantly.
Jonathan kept trying to turn his head, demanding all the while, "What? What happened?"
Alex brought his hands in front of him and quickly freed his feet before turning to help his uncle. "Hold still, Uncle John!" he hissed, tugging on the ropes.
Finally, they were both free, and the raced out of the room as quickly as was possibly with Jonathan stopping to check around every corner.
"Uncle John!" Alex moaned when this happed for the fifth time, "We'll never get out of here if you keep-"
"This way." Alex froze as he heard Lock-Na's voice nearby. "Run, Uncle John!" the boy whispered frantically, "Run!"
Of course, Jonathan had ran as soon as he had heard Lock-Na, but Alex didn't know that. When he turned to where his uncle had just stood, there was no one there. Disgusted with Jonathan's cowardice but still glad that he had escaped, Alex took off down the same way he was certain his uncle had gone.
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Shanala was a considerably courageous young woman. She had faced everything ranging from snakes to death itself...and she hadn't been afraid of a single thing...except Anck-su-namun. And now, as she stood facing a regenerated mummy with Anck-su-namun behind her, her hands on Shanala's shoulders, she couldn't help but to quiver with fear. Shanala knew who this man was, almost as well as he knew her. She knew he was Imhotep, Pharaoh Seti's high priest, and also his murderer. She had learned that he had been punished with the Hum Dai, a dreadful curse in which the Egyptians cut off the tongue, gouged out the eyes, and wrapped the criminal in linen before sealing the person in a coffin. As if that wasn't bad enough, they fastened the coffin shut on the being... and thousands of scarab beetles they put in with the body. Shanala shuddered. Imhotep was not supposed to be alive! If brought back to life, he would have terrible immortal powers that no one would be able to stop. How Anck-su-namun had been able to track him down and bring him back to life was all a mystery to Shanala... She was jerked back to reality when a loud shriek sliced into her brain. She started and looked around her. Anck-su-namun had left from behind her and was now standing by Imhotep on the opposite side of the chamber. A group of skeletal mummies carrying swords and shields were charging at a crowd of men Shanala knew instantly as Medjai. However, in the midst of the mysterious soldiers, there was a strangely dressed man and a woman. Shanala jumped as gunfire rang out and one of the mummies fell to the ground. She backed up quickly and bumped into the wall of the tomb.
"Oh dear," she muttered, "Wouldn't it just be my day if I got shot now?" She slid to the ground and covered her head with her arms, praying that a bullet wouldn't ricochet off of something and hit her...
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Rick ducked as a bullet whizzed over his head. Really, he was very lucky he hadn't been shot or killed yet, because his thoughts weren't on the battle. They were on Evy. She didn't have any weapons to protect herself with, and Rick knew she was the one Anck-su-namun was after...besides his son, anyway. But Alex was safe, probably sleeping by now...it was his bedtime...or at least Rick thought so. He wasn't sure what time it was, but it had to be late; he was dead tired. However, he ignored all of this as he struggled over to Evy, who also seemed preoccupied with something.
"What is it?" Rick shouted over the gunfire.
"Rick! There's a little girl over there!"
"I know! So what?"
"Rick...what if she gets hurt?"
Rick sighed angrily, "Evy! What if you get hurt?"
"What?" she looked at him, "Me? Oh, Rick, I'm not that easy to get rid of, you know that."
"Yea but...I dunno..."
"Rick, I have to help her."
"No, Evy. Imhotep'll see you. Or the wench..."
"Rick, what if she gets shot?"
"Then so be it!"
Evelyn started forward and Rick grabbed her arm, "No, Evy. I don't want you to get hurt."
She jerked her arm away from him, frustrated, "I won't, Rick!" Evy pointed to the girl, "But she will! Look at her!"
Rick finally glanced over to where Evy was pointing, and frowned, "She's with them! Why should we help her?"
Evelyn crossed her arms and raised her eyebrows accusingly, "How do you know she's with 'them'?"
Rick frowned as he thought of a suitable answer. "Well," he finally replied, "Maybe she's not. But even so, the kid hasn't gotten hurt yet, right?"
Before Evelyn could reply, something swooped out of the shadows and landed with a loud crash between her and Rick. Rick looked at the ugly decaying mummy, grabbed his gun, and coolly shot the thing's leg off. The creature fell to the ground with a howl, but not before grabbing Rick's arm in its powerful claw. Rick went down as well, and, before he could struggle to his feet, the mummy was wrapping its filthy hands around his throat and choking him. Rick was reaching for his gun, which, unfortunately, had fallen a few inches form where he had landed. However with much strain, he reached it, picked it up, and blew the skeleton into smithereens. Then, he calmly got to his feet and turned to where his wife had been, "Now then, Evy-"
Rick stopped mid-sentence; Evy was running away from him and towards the girl, who lay curled up on the floor of the tomb. Of course, this wouldn't have worried him as much if she had seen the large Arabian soldier striding towards her...
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Evelyn skidded to a stop next to the girl and dropped to her knees. Gently, she reached out and touched her shoulder, "Are you alright?"
The girl jumped at her touch, and then slowly looked up. As soon as Evelyn saw her face, she felt dizzy. She quickly closed her eyes and leaned against the wall next to her to support herself, her head dropping towards her chest...and then her head snapped up and she opened her eyes...
She was looking at a young girl with gorgeous dark blue eyes and a small, shy smile. Her hair was smooth and shining and came down to her shoulders, where it lay in dark brown folds over her back. She was standing next to a wall where several hieroglyphics were engraved, her hands behind her back and her head tilted slightly to the right.
As suddenly as it came, the vision disappeared leaving Evelyn shocked and dizzy. The little girl-- "Wasn't Shanala her name?" Evelyn thought—was staring at Evelyn with a mixture of awe and fear on her face.
"Are you ok?" she asked.
Evelyn nodded, holding her hand to her forehead. "Not another vision!" she thought, "Not now!"
Shanala tilted her head to the right, "You got all strange for a second..."
Evelyn looked up at her, and almost fell over; she looked exactly like the girl in her vision! Evelyn opened he mouth to speak, but before she could, Shanala got a look of sheer terror on her face and she backed away, screaming. That was when Evelyn heard Rick calling her name desperately...and felt something hit the back of her head.
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Shanala shrieked louder as the woman crumpled to the ground in a heap. She sat frozen, eyes not leaving the still form of the lady. Then, Abitula, another of Anck-su-namun's 'loyal servants' picked her up and slung her over his shoulder.
"No!" Shanala yelled finally standing up and running at Abitula, "Leave her alone! Let her go! She didn't do anything!"
Shanala turned her head when someone pushed past her and nearly knocked her over. The next thing she knew, two mummies had landed directly in front of her and were dragging a fighting man away. He was the one who had been so protective over the woman, and Shanala could only assume that they were husband and wife.
"Evy!" the man yelled, "No! Let her go! You-"
The mummies threw the man down on the ground and took their curved swords from their sides. Shanala backed up slightly, and bumped into someone. Instantly, the person grabbed both of her arms and pulled her back a little further. Shanala didn't need to turn around to know who it was, but she did it anyway. Anck-su-namun was staring at the man with malice filling her dark eyes. Shanala looked at him too, just in time to see Imhotep walk before him.
Imhotep smiled his haunting half-smile and sneered, "Ben tunickmum tio lei. Kom ishtada le cudoptera, es lomuintus ahibue sieu!"
With the last words he laughed triumphantly, but all the man did was frown, "Huh? What'd you say?"
Feeling it was her duty, Shanala softly replied, "He said 'My arch rival. At last I have overpowered you, and now I shall destroy you!'." Anck-su-namun placed her hand over Shanala's mouth, but it didn't matter; Shanala was done anyhow.
The man scowled angrily at Imhotep, "Tell him I say he's an old windbag that really needs to clean himself 'cause his stink carries all the way down to me. And also tell him that he'd better look out behind him, before Ardeth knocks his guard's head off."
Anck-su-namun let go of Shanala and both of them glanced up to where the man was looking, and saw a Medjai warrior bring the heavy end of his gun onto a soldier's head, and then point the nozzle at the mummies.
While everyone was focusing on Ardeth, the man leaped to his feet, grabbed a revolver, and shot three quick blasts. Two exploded both mummies, and one hit a soldier full in the chest. Shanala couldn't help it; she laughed and clapped for more. Anck-su-namun turned to glare at her, but Shanala ignored her; this was great! The man obviously liked the applause, because he grinned and shot two guards with one bullet, before looking at Shanala for support, who giggled and smiled at him. It was then that the Medjai shouted, "Rick! Look out!"
The man (Shanala supposed he must be Rick) quickly turned just in time to get a blow to his face. He fell over and landed on the hard ground as yet another mummy raised its clawed hand into the air and brought it down, intending to cut Rick to ribbons. Shanala started forward in protest, but Anck-su-namun grabbed her shoulder to prevent her from moving forward.
"But-"
Anck-su-namun placed a finger to her lips and said, "Nai, Shanala. Sieu ata kindanga kin bien."
"No, Shanala. You are coming with me," translated Abitula.
"I can understand her!" snapped Shanala.
Anck-su-namun pulled her away from Rick, and Shanala shook her head in protest, although she knew it was no good. Anck-su-namun would make her go. No matter what.
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It was very easy to get lost in the Cairo Museum. First of all, it was quite large, with several twisting hallways that did nothing but pull you deeper into its depths. Secondly, the only exit was at the front of the building, which happened to be the hardest place to find. And, besides those things, it was pitch black as Alex stumbled blindly through the rooms and halls, occasionally calling his uncle's name, though not often for fear of being caught again by Lock-Na.
Finally, Alex saw a faint glow somewhere ahead of him and, assuming it was the front door, he ran towards it expectantly. Then, when he heard a sharp cry in the next room, he stopped and backed up, shocked. Heart hammering from the sudden scream, he leaned against the wall gasping for breath as he listened to the voices nearby. A woman was speaking in an undertone to someone, and Alex recognized her voice, although he sincerely denied it: it was Anck-su-namun. The other voice was that of a young girl, probably around his age, and she was crying. They were speaking in ancient Egyptian, so he could only understand snatches of the conversation. All he knew was that with every minute that passed by, the girl sobbed louder and louder. Usually when people cried, Alex left them alone.
But this girl sounded afraid, or maybe like she was being harmed, and he couldn't help but to peer inside the room. The room was dimly lit by a single light dangling form the ceiling. Really, it wasn't a room at all, but a corridor between two rooms. A large man in armor was leaning against a wall, his arms crossed over his chest and a sword dangling at his side. Anck-su-namun was in the middle of the hallway, leaning over slightly so she was face to face with (Alex could only assume) the girl who had been crying.
If Alex looked closely, he could see that her face was streaked with tears and her eyes were red from crying. Anck-su-namun seemed to be giving the girl a lecture and Alex cringed; he hated getting lectures himself. Then Anck-su-namun hissed something Alex understood by heart: "Es Kinaterno iknomash?" Is that understood?
The girl hung her head and softly replied, "Tieu, Mada."
Alex supposed that meant 'Yes Ma'am', because a smile suddenly appeared on Anck-su-namun's face and she straightened the girl's hair, almost in a motherly fashion.
Alex noted that instead of becoming happy or at least relieved, the girl seemed terrified and cast her eyes down, biting her lip forcefully. Anck-su-namun straightened and turned to the man leaning on the wall.
Switching to English, she questioned, "Where is Lock-Na?"
"Right here, My Queen."
Alex jumped at the sound of Lock-Na's voice directly behind him. He whipped around in fear and came to face to face with the Arab, who smiled triumphantly and grabbed him by the upper arm, "Let's go, Boy. I believe my queen would like to see you."
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If there was one thing that ticked Rick off, it was fear of his family coming to harm. His wife and his son meant more to him than anything (he often said the only thing that mattered to him; it would have been all the time had Alex not been so witty and come up with good comebacks in arguments they had.)
So, as he stood with mummies flanking him on either side and with his gun smashed nearby on the floor and with his arm slashed from mummy claws (the mummy now lay in tatters on the ground), he was ticked. Maybe not only ticked, but he knew better than to even think about a swear word at the moment.
If he started, he wouldn't be able to stop and Evy would get irritated. Imhotep stood in front of him, a sneer on his tan face as he held Evelyn by the wrist. Rick clenched his teeth and hissed, "You had better let her go you-" A mummy hit him hard in the stomach and he doubled over wheezing. Evelyn winced for her husband and whispered, "Rick!"
Rick stared hard at the stone floor, refusing to show pain or fear, for his wife's sake.
Evy was fighting back tears, but when she spoke she was calm, "Rick...I...I need to go with him."
Rick jerked his head up and croaked, "What?"
Evelyn sighed, looking for words to describe what she meant, "The girl, Rick...it's the girl....she...I need to...I need to know who she is..."
"So you're gonna go with this creep?" Rick shouted, pointing angrily at Imhotep; the man gave him a sneer.
However, Evelyn looked at him desperately, her face sending some secret message that only Rick understood, although he didn't quite get it completely.
Evy gave him a tough smile and whispered, "I know you'll save me. You always have. I have to do this Rick. It's...it's for the best. It's....it's something I need, Darling..." She blinked rapidly and Rick saw tears in her eyes, "Please understand..."
Rick licked his dry lips and closed his eyes for a second, thinking.
Slowly and calmly, he straightened and looked at Evy pleadingly before staring coldly at Imhotep, "You've only won the battle, Buddy. Only the battle."
Imhotep grinned triumphantly and said something in Egyptian, although Rick didn't hear. He was staring at Evelyn. He was worried she was afraid, but when he looked into her deep blue eyes, he saw nothing but complete trust and resolve.
As Imhotep turned and began to lead her away, she mouthed, "I love you, Rick."
And he had to fight back tears as he replied, "I love you too, Evy. I'll get you back. I promise."
Imhotep turned and gave him the same sneer he had given him fourteen years before. When he had taken Evelyn to Hamunaptra...then, Imhotep nodded at his mummy soldiers and yelled, "Ahibue Setnae!" The last thing Rick saw was his wife disappearing with the regenerated mummy.
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