Momochan77: Hello friend! I am so, so, so sorry this chapter took so long to post! When I went to update this story after seeing your last wonderful comment I realized something. . . I never finished the chapter! Or the second movie in fact! Oops. Anyway, I've been binging the third one and typing up a storm to try and catch up. I am so excited for you to see where Billy and Anna go in it. So far I'm really pleased with how it's turning out. Thank you again for your continued support of this story. Without your comments I'd probably have abandoned it after chapter 5 or 6.
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Chapter 9
"Look a little nervous there Ramen noodle!" Jed called from inside the hourglass. He was buried in sand above his shoulders now but that hadn't stopped his smart remarks. "Cuz for me this is like a spa treatment. Sand bath is rejuvenating for the skin. Exfoliates."
From his Archie Bunker throne Kahmunrah sat waiting for Larry Daley. He'd been certain the man's loyalty to his friends would be enough motivation for him to do as the Pharaoh commanded. But now with minutes left he was starting to get nervous - and needed a distraction.
"Giving up yet?"
He smirked at the little cowboy, "Oh, not quite yet, no. In fact." He picked up the hourglass, "Let's see if we can't make time fly, eh?"
He began to tap the glass with his palm making the sand shake and get closer to the little man's chin.
He chuckled as he enjoyed the game. Then a buzzing sound reached his ears and he paused.
"What is that funny sound?"
Suddenly the window shattered and he was thrown forward as the spruce and canvas plane crashed into the room. Kahmunrah rolled down his pile of treasures as the plane scratched its way across the floor and smashed into a display case at the other side of the room.
Before it made contact Larry tumbled out with the tablet clenched in his hand. He hurried to stand up and rushed toward the plane as an antique rug from the case folded itself over the aircraft.
"STOP!" Kahmunrah commanded making Larry halt his steps. He kept his back to the ancient Egyptian though, at least until Amelia poked her head around the rug and gave him a nod letting him know she was okay. Once he was certain of that he turned to Kahmunrah who was approaching. Unfortunately, the hourglass hadn't broken with the window, otherwise Jed would be free and the Pharaoh would have lost his only leverage.
"Well, well, well, well you certainly know how to make an entrance Mr. Daley." Kahmunrah said as he stepped down from his mountain of treasures and approached the night guard. "I hope for your little friend's sake here, that you also figured out the combination."
"Give me Jed!" Larry demanded reaching for the hourglass. But Kahmunrah pulled his hand back keeping it out of reach.
"Oh, no, no, no. First give me the combination and hand over that tablet."
This time Larry pulled what Kahmunrah desired out of his reach, refusing the Pharaoh, "I'll give you the tablet and the combination when you release my friends and give him back to me."
"I shall release what I want to release, the moment I want to release it."
"Great, and I'll release what I want to release at the exact moment I want to release it. Okay?" Larry bargained.
"Tell me the combination, and give me that tablet, right now or I shall kill all your friends. Starting with the little shaggy headed cowman."
"I ain't shaggy headed!" Jed yelled from behind the glass, "Gigantor let me take this guy out!"
"Don't worry, I've got this handled." Larry assured him before turning to Kahmunrah, "You don't want to give me my friends, then you're not gonna get your combination or your tablet."
"All right, I'll tell you what, they didn't call me Kahmunrah the Trustworthy for nothing, here you go – THEY DIDN'T CALL ME KAHMUNRAH THE TRUSTWORTHY! They called me Kahmunrah the Bloodthirsty who kills whoever does not give Kahmunrah exactly what he wants in the moment that he wants it! Which is right now! When I also better get the combination and the tablet!"
"That's what they called you?" Larry asked skeptically.
"It was shorter in Egyptian." Kahmunrah defended.
"Great, I'll give you the combination after you give him back." Larry reached for Jed again.
"How dare you! If you touch that again, I shall kill you right now. Do not touch this. This is a no-touching zone!"
"Good. Well, then. . ." Larry reached for Jed again.
"Oh my God! I can't believe you reach across like that again! I can't even believe it. Oh, God I want to kill you right now. . . if you didn't know this combination, you'd be so dead right now, it would be unbelievable."
"Great, except I do know the combination."
"Don't! Cross! This! Line! With your hand." Kahmunrah demanded, slashing the 'line' for emphasis. Larry opened his mouth to speak but the Pharaoh cut him off, "How dare you! If you speak again, if you speak again, I'm going to kill you. Do you understand this? Don't say it! Oh God, I see you getting ready! Oh my God don't say anything! I shall murder you if you talk again. Now give me that tablet, and give me, the combination."
"Okay. After you give me Jed and release my friends." Larry said reaching out again.
Kahmunrah's jaw dropped as he gasped, "You did all three, you spoke and you reached your hand across -"
"Look, I can talk to you about this all night."
"How about this? How about I don't kill you right now like I really, really want to and I give you precisely five seconds to give me that tablet and tell me the combination?"
"We already got the combination." Capone announced as he strutted into the room. He had Ivan on one side and Napoleon on the other. Each man had his henchmen lined up behind him. Capone's men were a bit further back because Billy and Anna were stuck in the center, escorted like prisoners.
"It's pi! 3.14159265." Capone announced pulling out the little Einstein and holding him by the scruff of the neck. He tossed him up in the air and caught him with his other hand before flicking him in the head and holding up a threatening fist. "Mr. Crazy hair here, he sang. Oh ho, ho did he sing. Like a canary."
"I'm sorry Larry."
"Hey enough out of you!" Capone hit him again, "Remember what happened last time?"
"Stupid man." Einstein muttered.
While Larry was distracted Kahmunrah snatched the tablet and tossed the hourglass. Larry lunged for it, grabbing it before it could hit the floor.
"Must be a real bummer for you Larry. Knowing that all of your valiant efforts, were in the end for naught. What a terrible disappointment you must be to yourself." Kahmunrah gloated as he placed the tablet in the gateway and began pressing in the combination. The tablet glowed giving Kahmunrah an aura of golden light as he turned to them, "Hear that humming sound? Do you know what that sound is?"
Ivan raised his hand. "It's rhetorical." Kahmunrah scolded, "That is the sound of the End."
Then he began chanting in Egyptian. When he was finished the sarcophagus slid forward and the gate opened behind it. A swirling vortex of grey dust in a sickly green grey fog appeared and drew closer to the gate bringing forth the dead. Even Ivan, Napoleon and Capone were shocked, so much that the mobster dropped Einstein.
"Welcome to the new, extended reign of Kahmunrah, Fifth king of Egypt, and now, THE WORLD! Horus, Ra, my warriors come forth! Send Larry Daley and his friends to their doom!"
The dust formed strong men carrying spears with heads like birds and wearing Egyptian headdresses. Capone, Ivan and Napoleon rushed off to the side of the room wanting to be away from this as much as possible. Anna and Billy were pushed forward as their men followed their leaders and the warriors circled them as they turned to stand back to back with Larry in a triangle. Billy's hand kept reaching for his empty holster, after a moment Anna's hand reached out and took it. She slid her fingers between his and he held on tightly in response.
In sync the warriors stopped and Kahmunrah gave them an order in their native tongue. All their spears lifted and aimed for the necks of Larry, Anna and Billy.
"Halt!" a voice called breaking the deadly silence. They all turned to see Octavius in the broken window with his sword held high, "The mighty Octavius has returned! I ride on the back of nature's most fearsome creature! I ride – the squirrel! Forward now, my mighty steed!"
The squirrel charged through the legs of all the warriors and stopped at Kahmunrah's feet.
"Do you wish to surrender honorably? Or must this end with the spilling of your blood?"
Kahmunrah looked up at their trio amused, "This?" he chuckled, "This is your big rescue?"
"Oh no." Octavius corrected, "This is."
The broken window was smashed more as a huge white figure stepped through and into the room. The army of the dead forgot about the trio and turned to the new bigger threat. Anna almost fell over, when Larry had said they'd met Abe Lincoln she hadn't realized the statue from the actual memorial would be able to leave his seat and move freely. Billy had to steady her, wrapping one arm around her waist, as one foot gave out and she barely caught herself.
"What is that thing?" Kahmunrah asked.
"The name is Abraham Lincoln." The president introduced himself grabbing the lapels of his coat, "And you sir are in a heap of trouble."
"Attack it! Mahk-tah, ta!" Kahmunrah ordered but the warriors looked confused. He rolled his eyes and cawed like a bird. The first row of the army threw their spears which bounded right off the President.
"Disgusting half-pigeons!" Abraham sneered as he crouched down and flicked several of the warriors across the room with ease. One swipe of his arm took out an entire row of them. The ones that were left screeched – which sounded like an uh-oh – before they ran back into the gate.
"No, no, no, no, no. Hello?" Kahmunrah asked befuddled.
"Adios bird brains!" Jed shouted gleefully.
"Wait, wait, wait, wait. No, no!"
"Goodbye strange bird men." The president bid politely.
"Whoo! Look at 'em skin out!" Billy laughed, "Cobardes!" (Cowards)
Anna rested her head on his shoulder, too burnt out from the sudden shift of emotions to do much else.
"Do not return to the Underworld!" Kahmunrah ordered but it was ignored.
"Yes, yes! Do go back into the Underworld!" Octavius cheered, "Thank you for coming! Goodnight!"
"No, no!" Kahmunrah shouted as the last warrior pulled the door closed behind him and the gate returned to normal.
Kahmunrah stared at the closed gate for a moment. Afterward he turned to the rest of the room, "Oh, this is awkward."
"It appears my work here is done." Lincoln said before bending down to Larry, "Just remember son, a house divided against itself, cannot stand. Farewell."
Abe turned and ducked his head as he stepped out the window again. Once the president was gone Ivan turned to Kahmunrah who was staring off at nothing in shock. "What now?"
"You know I'm not quite sure." The Pharaoh admitted looking up to Larry, Anna and Billy. "I suppose we can start by watching them die."
"Streltsy, make them dead." Ivan commanded with a single point. But once again before the order could be carried out a bugle blast sounded.
"Oh now what?" Kahmunrah asked as they turned to the main hall. Amelia stood at the front of a large group. She was flanked by Sacagawea, Attila, the Tuskegee Airmen, the Thinker, the cavemen, the octopus, the cupids and on horseback was General Custer.
"We are not going to attack. . . right. . now!" Custer shouted as everyone gave a war cry and rushed forward to charge.
"Get them!" Kahmunrah ordered and all the men rushed ahead to clash with the army. Larry turned and ducked making one Streltsy somersault over him. Billy spun Anna as he turned so she was behind him, before he grabbed the end of one of the French men's guns pushed it away from them, grabbed the man's collar and wrestled with him until his back hit the ground. Anna grabbed an old pistol from the soldier before kicking him in the face knocking in out. She tossed the pistol to Billy as one of the cavemen reached them and began taking care of smashing the downed man with a bone. Anna grabbed the long rifle and used it more like a spear, stabbing at anyone who came close to her. It also came in handy for tripping people and she was able to use the butt of it to whack people in the face.
Meanwhile Billy had figured out how the old pistol worked and was firing off shots quicker than anyone could comprehend. A whinny broke through the air and somehow over all the noise it reached Billy like a beacon. His head snapped to Custer's horse, now unoccupied, as it raced around trying to get itself out of the fight.
As it ran past Billy he grabbed the reigns and hoisted himself into the saddle. Taking the lasso from the saddle horn he quickly put his years of cattle rustling to work and roped one of the nearest Streltsy. The man fell back as Billy dragged him along behind the horse. Then he came to an abrupt turn making the tin man slide across the floor and into more of his own men, the French and the gangsters, taking them out like bowling pins.
In the belt of one man he caught sight of his Thunderer. Roping the mobster he pulled him off the floor and next to the horse.
"I'm going to be needin' that." Billy told him, swiping his pistol from the man's belt before kicking him back to the ground.
He gave the room a quick once over and found Anna holding her own. Once she downed the man she'd been fighting – with a good knock to the jaw mind you – he called her name. She heard it and he lifted the lasso in his hand. She nodded and he sped the horse toward her tossing her the end. She ran several feet from his side as he rode and they tripped several more men clustered together.
Dropping the rope he circled back around and held out his hand. She grabbed tight and he pulled her into the saddle behind him. Kahmunrah was among the fighters, his skill with his curved blade taking out several of the Huns and cavemen.
"Hang on." He told Anna who nodded as he turned the horse toward the Pharaoh and rode forward. Billy readied his gun but Kahmunrah turned and used one of the men he was fighting to shield him from the hit. Thankfully the bullet didn't get through the Hun's armor. But when Billy angled the horse to skirt by, at the same time Kahmunrah was freed of his fight when the Hun was distracted by some Streltsy. That gave him the opportunity to slash at the front of their horse making the beast fall on its front legs and somersault across the floor. Billy and Anna were sent sprawling, the horse nearly landing on top of her.
Billy ended up on his back and Kahmunrah placed a foot on his chest keeping him pinned. Billy tried to sit up, his hat falling from his head but Kahmunrah only stomped down pushing the air from Billy's lungs. He laid his head back down as Kahmunrah pointed the end of his blade to Billy's throat.
"You have been nothing but a thorn in my side!"
Billy grinned, "I have a habit of that."
Kahmunrah sneered and rose his blade preparing to take the Kid's head off. But before he could decapitate him Anna jumped onto his back making the Pharaoh remove his foot from Billy's chest as he spun and tried to throw her off. Billy swung his leg out knocking Kahmunrah's feet out from under him. The Pharaoh fell onto his side. Once on the ground Anna let go and rolled away from him as Billy got up on one knee. The Pharaoh fought his way back up until he was standing. He'd swing at Anna, only for her to dodge. Then swing at Billy who used the French man's revolver to deflect the blow. Sparing half a second to look around Anna was able to grab a fallen round shield one of the Streltsy had dropped.
Back and forth it went, Anna, then Billy, Anna, then Billy, until another fight bumped into Anna from behind distracting her. She didn't get a good look at the person, but their body hit her right side, pulling back her arm and the shield with it. Kahmunrah's next strike slashed across her front and sent her to her knees. Her hands laid flat over the wound as she looked at the ground and focused on breathing and trying to ignore the sudden sharp burning pain.
Seeing the blood on her fingers Billy became enraged and stood, trying to hit Kahmunrah in the back of the head with the handle of his gun. But Kahmunrah heard him and turned just in time and met the gun with his blade. He pushed Billy back, being stronger than the Kid, and a more advanced fighter. He swung his blade left to right, back and forth. Billy matched what he could as he backpedaled until Kahmunrah tricked him with a fake out, slashing the blade then using the handle to strike Billy across the face knocking him back to the ground. He caught himself on his hands and knees that time.
He expected the Pharoah to finish him off but when no final strike came Billy looked over his shoulder and saw Kahmunrah heading for Larry who had the tablet in his hands as he skirted around Capone, Ivan and Napoleon who were all fighting amongst themselves.
Billy turned to Anna who was still curled into a ball while she sat on her knees, looking very vulnerable among all the fighting. He raced to her and pulled her out of the way, sliding her into a safe alcove between the mound of riches Kahmunrah had gathered, and the gate to the underworld.
"- because now I have the tremendous pleasure of killing you myself!" they heard Kahmunrah shout and looked back toward the fighting to see the pair locked together, Kahmunrah's blade pressed against Larry's flashlight.
The Pharoah raised his free hand and slapped the flashlight down, then he spun and swung at Larry who had backed up just in time. Kahmunrah swung again and Larry dodged, ducking under his arm and getting behind the Pharaoh. He tossed the tablet to Amelia who was standing before the gate, meanwhile everyone else's fights were ending and they turned their attention to Larry and Kahmunrah too.
By this point Kahmunrah had recovered from his last failed swing and had turned back around to Larry who was ready with his flashlight. He swung high and Larry blocked, he swung low and Larry blocked, but all the while Larry backpedaled giving Kahmunrah the offensive. Each strike of the Pharoah's grew harder and harder in his bloodthirsty rage until he swung hard enough to knock Larry's flashlight out of his hand and across the room. Seeing his victory Kahmunrah swung for Larry's head but he ducked, then he aimed for the night guard's feet and he jumped. Landing back down Larry's foot pinned Kahmunrah's blade trapping him, but Larry had no weapon to finish him off.
Making a choice Larry ran for his flashlight, diving across the floor and grabbing it just as Kahmunrah jumped to land a killing blow. Larry rolled onto his back and turned on the torch, shining the light in Kahmunrah's eyes and blinding him momentarily which made him miss as he stabbed his blade into the floor. Larry kicked him in the face knocking him back and onto the ground. Kahmunrah recovered quickly as Larry got to his feet. He nodded to Amelia who began to open the gate.
Kahmunrah – oblivious to her – swung again and Larry ducked. This time when he popped up Larry went on the offensive, dealing blow after blow and forcing Kahmunrah back. His final hit pushed the Pharaoh all the way to his knees. Kahmunrah pushed back and Larry stepped back as the blade was thrust forward. Spinning, Larry pushed his back into Kahmunrah's chest trapping the Egyptian's arm under his bicep. With his flashlight in his left hand he brought it back and knocked the air out of Kahmunrah making him double over. Larry turned around again and brought his flashlight to the back of Kahmunrah's neck holding him in his hunched and humiliated position as the gate to the underworld opened behind him.
"What are you?" Kahmunrah asked stunned.
"I'm the night guard." Larry replied before giving him a shove and sending him into the End. Kahmunrah's final shout faded away as Amelia shut the door and Larry spun his flashlight victoriously.
Cheers erupted from everyone, in every dialect.
"Victory is ours!" One of the Tuskegee Airmen yelled as he bounced on his feet.
"Yeah! That's what I'm talking about!" the Cupid's all high fived in the air.
Beside Anna, Billy chuckled and turned to her, "Well that was fun."
Anna laughed then cringed, "Oh, don't make me laugh, it hurts to laugh."
Billy's laughter subsided but his smile didn't go anywhere, "Why don't we get that taken care of?"
"Okay." She nodded against his shoulder, tired and ready for a long, long nap.
Billy left her for only a moment, she saw him tap Sacagawea on the shoulder and ask her something. She raised a hand to her mouth before looking to Anna with worry, then she led Billy away. He came back soon enough with a red first aid kit and started rifling through it. Luckily for her first aid kits and their supplies were usually well marked so she didn't have to explain much to Billy on what everything was. She was worried however, when she saw him pull out a needle and thread.
"Is it that bad?" she asked.
"Better to be too careful then not enough." He said as he tugged her shirt down and got to work. She grit her teeth and mentally told herself if she could get through cramps she could get through this.
The cut Kahmunrah had given her started at the center of her breastbone and slashed diagonally up to her shoulder. As Billy stitched her up with one had he dabbed the blood out of his way with the other. It didn't look too deep but Anna had to admit he was right; they still had to get back to New York and she really didn't feel like bleeding out on the way. And it wasn't so bad once the pain led to numbness and left only an uncomfortable pinching sensation with each stitch.
"Not your first time?" she asked trying to keep her mind busy.
He chuckled and shook his head, keeping his eyes on his work, "Had to patch up more than a few of my boys after a battle."
"Mmmm. So, how'd I do?"
His grin widened and he looked up at her, "Fought better than most of the men I rode with."
"To be fair, most of your men were probably much better with a firearm then I am."
He looked back down at her cut and finished the stitches. Then he dug out a roll of gauze and medical tape that were rubber banded together.
"What's tape?"
"It holds down the gauze." Anna explained, "It's sticky on one side."
He shook his head amused, "Wonder what else they thought up."
Anna felt a pang in her chest, and not from her injury. Billy only had a couple hours left before sunrise and unlike the museum in New York he wouldn't get another night to be alive. But either that thought hadn't entered his mind yet, or he was ignoring that fact completely as he kept grinning. He unrolled the gauze an inch and placed it at the center of her chest holding it down with his hand as he unrolled more and gently pressed it over her stitches. When the bandage was rolled out he ripped the tape with his teeth and stuck it to one end rubbing it down to make sure it would stay.
He felt her eyes staring at him as he worked and turned to look at her. He didn't ask anything and Anna kept herself from shying away. She brought her mobile hand up and cupped his cheek letting herself take in just how real he was right now. His skin felt just as real as anyone else's despite not being made of flesh and bone. Her earlier train of thought returned as she figured, why not try with someone you'll only know for one night?
Then she leaned in and kissed him.
Billy automatically leaned forward deepening the gesture and Anna's hand moved to the nape of his neck. She lost all track of time as she savored the moment. She knew how quickly a memory could fade and this one had to last the rest of her life.
Her heart skipped a beat and Billy chuckled. With his hand still on her chest he'd no doubt felt that and Anna blushed the brightest she had all night as they pulled apart and she looked down to her lap. Billy took her chin between his fingers and lifted her face back up to his before he leaned in for more. She had no problem with that, even when she ran out of air.
When Billy pulled away it was his turn for his eyes to fall to the floor.
"What?" Anna asked catching her breath.
He gave an unsure chuckle before looking back up to her, "Been walking around all night. That's the first time I felt really alive."
She looked down at her lap again at that. Billy chuckled at her reaction and leaned in pressing a kiss to her forehead.
"Oh man, we've got two hours til sunrise. I got to get you guys back." Larry announced checking his watch.
"In case you forgot Gigantor." Jed spoke up, "They don't want us there anymore."
"Well I do." Larry replied before turning to Amelia, "Hey, think you could hook us up with a ride?"
She grinned, "My pleasure of course."
Larry nodded, "Hang on a second. One last thing I've got to take care of."
Larry marched out waving the giant octopus along with him.
Billy finished patching Anna up before he helped her off the floor trying his best to not move her shoulder too much. He kept an arm around her just in case as they crossed the room and followed the others out. Then Anna stopped and carefully bent down. She picked up Billy's hat and straightening back up returned it to his head smiling, "There. Much better."
He grinned at her and tipped the brim making her giggle before they continued on their way out.