Heroes Taken

Malik leaned full into the cage door…which swung open. Grumbling something about cages and half assed mummies.

* Kurai…yup….this just keeps getting better and better.* she thought.

With that, she scampered forward and latched her teeth firmly in Kurai's arm.

Kurai howled and dropped the sword he was clutching.

" Hom Sato Morphius!" he hissed at Malik.

She felt herself turning back into a human. She let go.

" Good!" she smiled and raise her sword she had kept.

" Foolish girl! Do you really think you can kill me alone?" Kurai asked.

" No, but that's why they're here!" Malik answered pointing behind him.

Kurai turned to see Evy and Mariana enter the tent.

" Right into my trap!" Kurai laughed sinisterly.

" I hope you said your goodbyes to your husband, lady O'Connell, because you may never see him again! And that goes for you as well!" Kurai said to Evy and Mariana.

Mariana's face went from stark white to an " I'm going to rip out your arms and beat you with them!" look.

Evy's face went pale and the very statement from Kurai. She realized all of this was a trap. A trap to get them out of the way, so Kurai could get Rick and Ardeth, and she never saw it coming.

" Where's Alex!" Evy yelled.

" Don't worry, your precious son is fine, I do not care for him." Kurai said smiling at her.

" I…don't understand." Evy said almost in a choke.

" The only threat I have is your husband…and that Medji, you are no threat, so I could care less whether you live or not." Kurai answered.

" Oh, you are wrong…we are a threat and you will soon realize it." Mariana snapped.

" Well, only time will tell. But perhaps you should see to your son, and explain that he will never see his father again. I have matters to attend to. Have fun!" Kurai said waving and he vanished.

" No!!!" Evy yelled running at him, as he vanished.

" Mariana…it's a trap…he was getting us out of the way so he could get Rick…and Ardeth." Evy said turning to her.

" I know." Mariana said, also with a frightened look on her face.

" He had it planned the whole time…" Evy said.

" I knew I sensed something was wrong…I didn't want to go…because of my vision…but Rick wanted me to come to Alex." Evy added.

" I know, it was the same with me." Mariana replied.

" What do we do now?" Malik asked.

" You are going to stay with Alex when we find him. Mariana and I are going back to Rick and Ardeth." Evy answered starting to walk out.

" Evelyn, I don't think you guys…" Malik started.

" I'm not going to stay here and let my vision come true! I'm not going to just do nothing!" Evy yelled and she left the tent.

" I'm not either, I'm not going to let Ardeth die!" Mariana said following Evy out.

" Well, I guess its settled then." Malik said to herself.

" Evelyn, I know nothing is going to stop us from at least trying but we need to go prepared." Mariana said.

" I know…I have stuff in the room." Evy answered.

Just then, Alex came running up.

" Mum!" Alex yelled.

" Alex? You're alright!" Evy said bending down to pick him up.

" Where's your uncle? And why aren't you with the Medji?" Evy asked.

" Mum, its fine, they are coming." Alex answered.

" Evy? You alright?" Jonathan asked walking up.

" I'm fine, but we have to go get Rick and Ardeth." Evy answered Jonathan to where only he could hear.

" What do you mean get them?" Jonathan asked.

" Kurai…he has them." Mariana replied. " We are going after them." she added.

" Where are the commanders?" Evy asked Shakiri.

" They are here, watching over the fort." he answered.

" Good. I have to ask you, will you please watch Alex, we have to go back." Evy asked.

" We will fight for him with our lives." Shakiri replied.

" Thank you." Evy said.

" Mum? Why are you leaving?" Alex asked.

" We have to go back to sa…I mean help your father." Evy answered.

" Alex, Please stay safe." she added.

" I will." Alex replied smiling.

Evy hugged him tightly. Then, she and Mariana started to walk away. Jonathan started to follow them.

" You are going alone?" he asked.

" Not alone, Mariana is coming too." Evy answered grabbing her bag, that had some of her items for being *prepared* in it.

" Maybe, I should go…" Jonathan said.

" No, I need you to stay with Alex." Evy interrupted. " Jonathan…please tell Alex, I love him." she added.

Jonathan looked at her.

" Evy, you're not going to do anything drastic are you?" Jonathan asked.

" Jonathan, I'm not going to let Rick die." Evy answered getting on her horse.

" Evy…be careful…and…I love you…old mum." Jonathan said, realizing he couldn't fight her.

" I will, and I love you too." Evy replied, and with one last look back at Alex, she and Mariana rode off.

" Where did he go?" Rick asked Ardeth.

They were still in the Kasbah, thinking Kurai was possibly still there.

" I do not know…" Ardeth replied.

" Well, is he still here?" Rick asked.

Just then, they heard a noise. They both quickly took a defensive position. Out of the corner, came Kurai.

" You're still here…waiting for me?" Kurai asked.

" We didn't know you were gone." Rick said aiming at Kurai once again.

" Well, I did…I went to see your son…and your wife." Kurai dais grinning evilly.

Rick felt a pain inside him…he hoped…he just hoped…he glared at Kurai angrily.

" Also, that Medji girl as well." Kurai added.

" You lie!" Ardeth yelled.

" Oh, you think so? Well O'Connell, your wife was telling your son that she was glad he was sage and the Medji girl was watching." Kurai stated.

" You bastard!" Rick yelled starting to lunge at him, but Ardeth interfered.

" You…lie." Ardeth said. " I can feel it." he added.

Kurai looked at him angrily.

" You will never know and will never see them again." Kurai said in a stern voice.

Rick had a very angry face. Ardeth was also looking angry…more than he had ever been.

" If you hurt my family….which includes my sister…I swear to you I will make you regret it!" Rick said taking the safety off his guns.

" I seriously doubt that." Kurai replied with no expression.

Rick had not taken his eyes off of Kurai, but Ardeth noticed something moving…there were men coming up behind them.

" O'Connell." Ardeth hinted.

Rick quickly glanced behind him, then looked back at Kurai.

" What is this?" he asked.

" I am only after the two of you because you are the ones who are a very strong threat to me. I cannot allow you to stop me this time." Kurai answered raising his hand.

" You used Alex as a distraction…" Rick said aloud, but more to himself.

" Clever man…and brave too." Kurai replied…and then snapped his fingers.

The men attacked. Rick was wondering whether he should take his eyes off of Kurai, and fight, but then he realized Ardeth was fighting them alone. Rick turned and the shooting began.

Evy and Mariana had just now reached the village where they had first seen Kurai at the Kasbah. They stopped.

" Can you sense him?" Evy asked.

" Yes, they are alive." Mariana replied.

" Lets go." Evy commanded and they took off towards the Kasbah.

Rick and Ardeth had defeated most of the men, but Kurai was watching them. He snapped his fingers again, and more men came in. Rick and Ardeth quickly glanced at one another, and then continued to fight.

Evy and Mariana had reached the end of the village and the Kasbah was in sight, just a few yards ahead of them. They heard shooting. Evy looked at Mariana, who looked back. They commanded the horses, and took off towards it, but not before both of them drew their weapons.

Kurai, with his senses, heard the horses of Evy and Mariana coming in the distance. He scolded himself.

* How can they be here? How do they know? I should have taken care of them.* he thought to himself. * It is time to stop playing*

Kurai raised his hands. Rick thought he sensed something…he turned around only had a chance to scream…at the ball of energy coming right at him.

" Ahhhh!" he screamed as he flew back and hit the wall. " Ardeth!" Rick said weakly and passed out.

Ardeth turned, and like Rick, didn't have time to respond.

" Argh!" he yelled flying backwards and landing beside Rick.

" Damn you Kurai!" he yelled and he too passed out.

Kurai sent his men to leave, he stood there smiling, looking down at the two men unconscious before him.

Evy and Mariana came riding up to the front of the Kasbah, just as Kurai's men were riding off.

" They are either retreating…or being ordered off." Mariana said getting off her horse.

Evy did the same. They both ran to the door and barged inside.

" Rick?!" Evy ran in saying.

" Ardeth?" Mariana asked.

" Sorry…" came a all too familiar, dark voice.

The moment he spoke, Evy and Mariana realized he was there. Evy looked at him, then saw something at his feet…it was Rick…and Ardeth.

" Rick!" Evy yelled

" Ardeth!" Mariana yelled.

" Enjoy you're last look at them." Kurai said.

" No! I don't think so!" Mariana said raising her hand.

" I wouldn't do that…" Kurai replied.

" Watch me!" Mariana answered.

Evy realized Mariana was about to reveal..the only chance they had at saving Rick and Ardeth. Just as she was about to say something, a small knife came out of Mariana sleeve. She threw it, but Kurai raised his hand, and the knife went flying to the other side of the room.

" Damn it!" Mariana whispered.

" You wont get away with this!" Evy snapped.

" No…you wont!" Kurai replied getting annoyed.

He raised his hand and waved it. Both Evy and Mariana instantly flew back.

" Ahhhh!" The both yelled.

" There is no pint in dealing with you now." Kurai said.

" Son of a…" Evy started.

" Correction, I am no ones son." Kurai said with a smile. " Goodbye." he finished.

" NO!!!!!" They both yelled getting to their feet to run toward their men.

Kurai with a flash, vanished, Rick and Ardeth with him.

" Rick!!!!" " Ardeth!!" Both of them yelled separately, but at the same time.

Evelyn fell to her knees, with sadness…anger…and tears. " Rick!!!!!" she screamed louder… and louder…at the top of her lungs, in tears. Mariana stood there, watching her…but had a angry look about her…almost to a point where it was evil.