Okay. Now. Here's ANOTHER CHAPTER! Oooh! Ahhh! OK. Now, from here on out,
it's gonna take me a while longer to add new chapters and all. I had all of
these chapters written out already, and I only had to fix them up a bit.
Now I have to start again. I'll hurry though. So just hang in there!
"Patience is a virtue!" This chapter is dedicated to Deane. If I don't get
any more reviews soon, I'll just dedicate this whole book to her and
Imhoteps Lover...and of course my best friend Alicia and my fam, cuz
they're all kewl. (
Chapter 5
Alex O'Connell was like his mother in several ways. He was (as Evy put it) attractive, sweet and devilishly charming, and (as Rick put it) brilliant, witty, and able to drive people crazy. Still, he doubted very much if he was so much like her that he could have her 'visions'. His mum had started having them around five years ago (when he was eight). But ever since his thirteenth birthday, she had started having them again. In them, she explained seeing a little girl that looked a lot like her. On several occasions, the girl was playing, sleeping, and doing all the normal things any kid would do. But sometimes, she would be crying, or screaming, or running away in terror...which is actually exactly what Alex felt like doing at the moment. And, as he stood in front of Anck-su-namun with Lock- Na behind him, holding his arms, and Anck-su-namun a little too close for comfort (Alex thought her being five feet away from him was too close for comfort, so this was almost unbearable!) he wondered if he was 'seeing back' to when he was eight years old with a cursed bracelet locked to his wrist and a five day death limit overwhelming his mind...But when Anck-su- namun tilted his chin up, he felt her hand and it seemed real enough; so much for that excuse.
She smiled at him and stated simply, "You've grown."
Alex frowned irritably and snapped, "Well what'd you expect me to do? Shrink?"
Lock-Na shoved him roughly from behind, warning him to respect his queen. "Well, it's true," Alex muttered resentfully. Alex heard a giggle from behind Anck-su-namun, and he peered over. The girl was standing there with her hand to her mouth, soft laughter somehow escaping her tightly sealed lips. Alex grinned, loving the fact that he made a girl (and a pretty attractive one, at that) laugh. Anck-su-namun let go of Alex's chin and turned to the girl. Immediately, the girl stopped chuckling and looked nervously up.
Anck-su-namun glared down at her, dark eyes filled with contempt, "Shanala, yulendueno acomadioes sieu sintous linkinar?"
Shanala swallowed hard and stammered, "N-nokinaro, yo lonekihs."
Anck-su-namun placed a finger to her lips to silence her, and then turned back to Alex. Smiling slightly, she said, "This is Shanala. Shanala, this is Alex O'Connell. He is the son of the man you are so desperately worried about." Shanala blushed crimson and looked at the ground. Alex frowned, "Why is she worried about my dad?" Anck-su-namun's smirk widened, "Because, Alex. Your father has.how shall I put this.moved on to a better place." Alex felt his mouth go dry at about the same second his heart skipped a beat. He opened his mouth, but nothing came out except a shocked gurgling sound.
Swallowing several times, summoning his calm and courageous personality, he whispered, "Moved on? You mean like.well."
Anck-su-namun was relishing Alex's faltering bravery and serenity. Slowly and deliberately, she stated, "He has.passed away.gone to a better place.or, as you would probably most understand.died."
Alex felt a pain in his chest and found it hard to breathe, "He died? How? When? Who..?"
Anck-su-namun gave him a pitying look and stroked his cheek, "Oh.he died a while ago.from.certain circumstances."
"Who?" Alex repeated, tears welling up inside his eyes, threatening to spill over his cheeks.
Anck-su-namun simply gave him a look that quite plainly said, "I'll never tell." Alex looked down at the floor as he felt a tear escape from an eye. Quickly, he lifted up his hand and angrily brushed it away. "Ok. Think. Don't panic. Maybe she's lying?" But deep down, Alex knew how doubtful that was.
******************************************************
"Move faster!" Evelyn scowled and turned to the man that had shoved her, "I'll go as bloody slow or fast as I want, thank you very much! It isn't as if I'm too anxious to get to our destination, anyway!"
The man just grinned evilly at her and shoved her again. Evelyn seriously considered socking him, but she decided it wouldn't be the best idea to promote violence in a man three times her size. Instead, scowling, she turned and continued walking. "Oh God, Rick. I hope you're alright..." Then, she added, "And Alex, too." She smiled slightly in spite of her worried state, "Don't worry, Old Girl. They're both fine. They've both been in these.situations before, and they made it out fine." Still, she couldn't help but to feel a little bit anxious; she loved them both so much and if anything happened.However these troubling thoughts were pushed from her mind as a she stepped into a shadow. Glancing up, she knew her mouth must have fallen open in shock; she was standing in front of the largest temple she had ever seen in her life. Statues of the evil Egyptian god Set leered down at her from their perch near the door. Hieroglyphics were engraved at the entrance, and, even though she was being shoved every which way in the bustle to get into the structure, she could read a few words: "Death will come to any of those who enter this sacred place without the Blessing of Isis." Evelyn frowned and looked around, praying that these people had the Blessing of Isis.whatever that was. But then, everyone stopped. No one had gone through the gate, but all were near. Imhotep, who was leading, had halted. Turning, he spoke to an armored man nearby. Then, Imhotep left the group, walking not into the 'Sacred Place' but to the left, slightly behind the first large statue of Set. Evelyn took her eyes away from the hieroglyphics, which she'd been carefully reading for the last few minutes, and listened to the soldier speak. "Lord Imhotep has issued the command that no one shall enter this Sacred Land until he orders so. Until then, he wishes that we make camp and await his next orders." Evelyn didn't know whether she should be relieved about this news or not.
******************************************************
Rick was really a very patient man. After all, he had to be patient with a thirteen-year-old son who just had to insist to be like his father.but with his wife gone, his son in danger, his gun broken and his favorite shirt stained with scarlet blood, he wasn't feeling up to being patient. So, when a stinking, decomposing mummy tackled him down and roared its nasty smelling breath into his face, he simply took both of his hands and snapped the thing's arm in two. It jumped up and shrieked in pain, but not before another skeleton bashed Rick into the wall. Rick instantly kicked the monster, and then smashed its head into the wall behind him. The sickening crack that came with the satisfaction of killing the monster echoed around the room for a long time afterward. Now there was just the one mummy with its arm hanging on a sinewy piece of skin attached to its elbow. Rick looked around, trying to find any weapon he could find to break the creature into a million separate pieces.He spotted a spear on the wall and quickly rushed over to it, plucked it off the wall, and charged at the mummy.which shrieked in terror as Rick threw the weapon and it tore through the monster's body. Seconds later, the skeleton crumpled to the ground, defeated. "Easy enough," Rick mumbled, dropping the spear. He cracked his knuckles, thinking, and looked around. That was when he realized that Ardeth Bay, and the rest of the Medjai, were gone.
******************************************************
"Get in." Alex obediently stepped into the small room, numb with shock and despair. How could his dad be dead? He had always survived everything! And now.he was gone.Lock-Na impatiently shoved Alex into the room, causing him to fall over and land hard on his knees. The next second, Shanala was tossed with equal carelessness next to Alex. Lock-Na gave them both a triumphant grin before he slammed the door closed and told a soldier waiting outside to guard them while he spoke to Anck-su-namun. Alex moved his legs so he was sitting down and pulled his knees up to his chin. He stared hard at the ground, tears beginning to sting his eyes.
Then, quite suddenly, Shanala spoke. "Your dad's not dead."
Alex looked up at her sharply, "What?"
"He's not. I know it. He escaped."
Most times, Alex would have been happier than ever to hear those words.but not from her and not at this moment. Instead, he glared ferociously at her and snapped, "How do you know? Maybe you're lying to me!"
Shanala calmly shook her head and mumbled, "No. He's alright."
"Yea. And how do you know that?"
"Anck-su-namun told me earlier that they had captured your mother, but that your father escaped."
Relief washed over Alex immediately, but it quickly faded away as he realized what else she had said, "They got my mum?"
"Yes. I'm afraid so.but don't worry. They won't kill her."
"How do you know?"
"They're using her and you to lure your father into Set's temple. Once he's there.they're gonna kill all of you.and me too."
Alex swallowed hard and frowned, "Why you?"
"Me? I.am a sacrifice."
"A sacrifice?"
"Yes. It's.rather difficult to explain."
"Why? I don't understand."
"You see..I.I lived.in ancient times."
Understanding suddenly shot through Alex as she said that, "Oh! I see! Like my mum."
"Really? Well...who was she?"
"She was Pharaoh Seti the First's daughter...Princess Nefertiri."
Shanala suddenly gasped and stumbled backwards, staring at Alex in shock. "What? What'd I say?" Alex asked, frowning.
"N-nothing!" stammered Shanala, swallowing hard and licking her lips, "Nothing at all..." But Alex knew something was wrong. And he was determined to find out what it was.
******************************************************
Chapter 5
Alex O'Connell was like his mother in several ways. He was (as Evy put it) attractive, sweet and devilishly charming, and (as Rick put it) brilliant, witty, and able to drive people crazy. Still, he doubted very much if he was so much like her that he could have her 'visions'. His mum had started having them around five years ago (when he was eight). But ever since his thirteenth birthday, she had started having them again. In them, she explained seeing a little girl that looked a lot like her. On several occasions, the girl was playing, sleeping, and doing all the normal things any kid would do. But sometimes, she would be crying, or screaming, or running away in terror...which is actually exactly what Alex felt like doing at the moment. And, as he stood in front of Anck-su-namun with Lock- Na behind him, holding his arms, and Anck-su-namun a little too close for comfort (Alex thought her being five feet away from him was too close for comfort, so this was almost unbearable!) he wondered if he was 'seeing back' to when he was eight years old with a cursed bracelet locked to his wrist and a five day death limit overwhelming his mind...But when Anck-su- namun tilted his chin up, he felt her hand and it seemed real enough; so much for that excuse.
She smiled at him and stated simply, "You've grown."
Alex frowned irritably and snapped, "Well what'd you expect me to do? Shrink?"
Lock-Na shoved him roughly from behind, warning him to respect his queen. "Well, it's true," Alex muttered resentfully. Alex heard a giggle from behind Anck-su-namun, and he peered over. The girl was standing there with her hand to her mouth, soft laughter somehow escaping her tightly sealed lips. Alex grinned, loving the fact that he made a girl (and a pretty attractive one, at that) laugh. Anck-su-namun let go of Alex's chin and turned to the girl. Immediately, the girl stopped chuckling and looked nervously up.
Anck-su-namun glared down at her, dark eyes filled with contempt, "Shanala, yulendueno acomadioes sieu sintous linkinar?"
Shanala swallowed hard and stammered, "N-nokinaro, yo lonekihs."
Anck-su-namun placed a finger to her lips to silence her, and then turned back to Alex. Smiling slightly, she said, "This is Shanala. Shanala, this is Alex O'Connell. He is the son of the man you are so desperately worried about." Shanala blushed crimson and looked at the ground. Alex frowned, "Why is she worried about my dad?" Anck-su-namun's smirk widened, "Because, Alex. Your father has.how shall I put this.moved on to a better place." Alex felt his mouth go dry at about the same second his heart skipped a beat. He opened his mouth, but nothing came out except a shocked gurgling sound.
Swallowing several times, summoning his calm and courageous personality, he whispered, "Moved on? You mean like.well."
Anck-su-namun was relishing Alex's faltering bravery and serenity. Slowly and deliberately, she stated, "He has.passed away.gone to a better place.or, as you would probably most understand.died."
Alex felt a pain in his chest and found it hard to breathe, "He died? How? When? Who..?"
Anck-su-namun gave him a pitying look and stroked his cheek, "Oh.he died a while ago.from.certain circumstances."
"Who?" Alex repeated, tears welling up inside his eyes, threatening to spill over his cheeks.
Anck-su-namun simply gave him a look that quite plainly said, "I'll never tell." Alex looked down at the floor as he felt a tear escape from an eye. Quickly, he lifted up his hand and angrily brushed it away. "Ok. Think. Don't panic. Maybe she's lying?" But deep down, Alex knew how doubtful that was.
******************************************************
"Move faster!" Evelyn scowled and turned to the man that had shoved her, "I'll go as bloody slow or fast as I want, thank you very much! It isn't as if I'm too anxious to get to our destination, anyway!"
The man just grinned evilly at her and shoved her again. Evelyn seriously considered socking him, but she decided it wouldn't be the best idea to promote violence in a man three times her size. Instead, scowling, she turned and continued walking. "Oh God, Rick. I hope you're alright..." Then, she added, "And Alex, too." She smiled slightly in spite of her worried state, "Don't worry, Old Girl. They're both fine. They've both been in these.situations before, and they made it out fine." Still, she couldn't help but to feel a little bit anxious; she loved them both so much and if anything happened.However these troubling thoughts were pushed from her mind as a she stepped into a shadow. Glancing up, she knew her mouth must have fallen open in shock; she was standing in front of the largest temple she had ever seen in her life. Statues of the evil Egyptian god Set leered down at her from their perch near the door. Hieroglyphics were engraved at the entrance, and, even though she was being shoved every which way in the bustle to get into the structure, she could read a few words: "Death will come to any of those who enter this sacred place without the Blessing of Isis." Evelyn frowned and looked around, praying that these people had the Blessing of Isis.whatever that was. But then, everyone stopped. No one had gone through the gate, but all were near. Imhotep, who was leading, had halted. Turning, he spoke to an armored man nearby. Then, Imhotep left the group, walking not into the 'Sacred Place' but to the left, slightly behind the first large statue of Set. Evelyn took her eyes away from the hieroglyphics, which she'd been carefully reading for the last few minutes, and listened to the soldier speak. "Lord Imhotep has issued the command that no one shall enter this Sacred Land until he orders so. Until then, he wishes that we make camp and await his next orders." Evelyn didn't know whether she should be relieved about this news or not.
******************************************************
Rick was really a very patient man. After all, he had to be patient with a thirteen-year-old son who just had to insist to be like his father.but with his wife gone, his son in danger, his gun broken and his favorite shirt stained with scarlet blood, he wasn't feeling up to being patient. So, when a stinking, decomposing mummy tackled him down and roared its nasty smelling breath into his face, he simply took both of his hands and snapped the thing's arm in two. It jumped up and shrieked in pain, but not before another skeleton bashed Rick into the wall. Rick instantly kicked the monster, and then smashed its head into the wall behind him. The sickening crack that came with the satisfaction of killing the monster echoed around the room for a long time afterward. Now there was just the one mummy with its arm hanging on a sinewy piece of skin attached to its elbow. Rick looked around, trying to find any weapon he could find to break the creature into a million separate pieces.He spotted a spear on the wall and quickly rushed over to it, plucked it off the wall, and charged at the mummy.which shrieked in terror as Rick threw the weapon and it tore through the monster's body. Seconds later, the skeleton crumpled to the ground, defeated. "Easy enough," Rick mumbled, dropping the spear. He cracked his knuckles, thinking, and looked around. That was when he realized that Ardeth Bay, and the rest of the Medjai, were gone.
******************************************************
"Get in." Alex obediently stepped into the small room, numb with shock and despair. How could his dad be dead? He had always survived everything! And now.he was gone.Lock-Na impatiently shoved Alex into the room, causing him to fall over and land hard on his knees. The next second, Shanala was tossed with equal carelessness next to Alex. Lock-Na gave them both a triumphant grin before he slammed the door closed and told a soldier waiting outside to guard them while he spoke to Anck-su-namun. Alex moved his legs so he was sitting down and pulled his knees up to his chin. He stared hard at the ground, tears beginning to sting his eyes.
Then, quite suddenly, Shanala spoke. "Your dad's not dead."
Alex looked up at her sharply, "What?"
"He's not. I know it. He escaped."
Most times, Alex would have been happier than ever to hear those words.but not from her and not at this moment. Instead, he glared ferociously at her and snapped, "How do you know? Maybe you're lying to me!"
Shanala calmly shook her head and mumbled, "No. He's alright."
"Yea. And how do you know that?"
"Anck-su-namun told me earlier that they had captured your mother, but that your father escaped."
Relief washed over Alex immediately, but it quickly faded away as he realized what else she had said, "They got my mum?"
"Yes. I'm afraid so.but don't worry. They won't kill her."
"How do you know?"
"They're using her and you to lure your father into Set's temple. Once he's there.they're gonna kill all of you.and me too."
Alex swallowed hard and frowned, "Why you?"
"Me? I.am a sacrifice."
"A sacrifice?"
"Yes. It's.rather difficult to explain."
"Why? I don't understand."
"You see..I.I lived.in ancient times."
Understanding suddenly shot through Alex as she said that, "Oh! I see! Like my mum."
"Really? Well...who was she?"
"She was Pharaoh Seti the First's daughter...Princess Nefertiri."
Shanala suddenly gasped and stumbled backwards, staring at Alex in shock. "What? What'd I say?" Alex asked, frowning.
"N-nothing!" stammered Shanala, swallowing hard and licking her lips, "Nothing at all..." But Alex knew something was wrong. And he was determined to find out what it was.
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