Disclaimer: The O'Connell's, Jonathan, and Ardeth, sadly, do not belong to
me. Neither do the characters in the Xenaverse. They are all the product
of someone else's incredible imagination and I could probably never come up
with someone like them if I had a gun to my head.
Author's Note: This will be the last chapter with the Mummy cast exclusively.
After Evie's question, it hadn't taken long to realize that Tierney was not with anyone at all. Everyone immediately split up to look for her. Rick and Evie took the south half of their dig site, Ardeth and Alex took the north half. Jonathan, along with Taryn and Lynnea, remained close to the camp in case Tierney returned. Rick, Ardeth, and Jonathan all carried a gun so a shot could be fired in the air if someone found Tierney.
Evelyn couldn't help but worry about her daughter. She was, after all, only eight years old. And, while familiar with Egypt and it's culture, Tierney had just begun to learn extensively about the Ancient Greeks. And the terrain was also unfamiliar.
Rick, for his part, was simply annoyed. He had no doubt Tierney could take care of herself, but he was irritated with her for wandering off when she knew better than to do so. He and Evelyn walked in silence for a while, listening for the sound of their daughter's voice, watching for a glimpse of her. When they came to a cave, Rick hesitated. For all her bravery, Tierney, for some reason, didn't like closed in spaces. She wasn't afraid of the dark, but she resisted going into a small space unless she absolutely had to. Yet, something in him whispered that they should look for her in the cave.
At that moment, they heard a sound from deep within the black hole. A voice. They couldn't tell if it was Tierney's, but Rick swept his doubts away and fired the gun in the air. He handed it to Evelyn.
"When they all get here, and I know they'll all come, I'll need you to tell them what's going on. I may need help. If I'm not back by the time they get here, have Ardeth and Jonathan go in. Okay?"
Against her better judgment, Evie nodded in silent agreement and watched her husband disappear into the cave. It wasn't five minutes before the entire group was gathered at the cave, Taryn and Lynnea included. Ardeth and Evie were arguing.
"Evelyn, you can't go barging into the cave without any idea of the dangers that may lay ahead."
"Why not? You are. Rick did. Is it because I'm a woman? Really, Ardeth, I thought you were a little more progressive than that. I refuse to just stand by when my daughter and husband could be in danger. Alex, run back to the camp and get a few flashlights. We're all going in."
Alex didn't argue with his mother. He knew better than that. He ran as fast as he could towards the camp. Evelyn stood with her hands on her hips, staring defiantly into Ardeth's eyes. He met her gaze with a his own, almost as defiant as she, but knew it was hopeless to argue.
'By Allah, she is stubborn. But that's part of what makes her so special. And part of what makes her such a good friend,' he thought to himself. Outwardly, he sighed and turned his head, a physical symbol of his surrender. Evelyn smiled.
It didn't take long for Alex to return. When he did, they all ventured into the cave together. Ardeth led the way, followed by Evelyn. Alex and Taryn walked side by side and Jonathan followed them, his daughter clinging tightly to his hand. It wasn't long before they heard voices, obviously Rick's and Tierney's, and, since neither voice sounded upset or frightened, the group relaxed.
They followed the voices, which led them to an open space. It was a lit space, surprisingly, but Evelyn immediately noticed that the torch which lit the area was one from the dig site. She couldn't help but be proud of her eight year old's ingenuity. Tierney must have been planning to come down here for a while.
Rick turned as they walked up and a smile lit his face.
"Your daughter has found something extraordinary, Evelyn. Come and look."
Evelyn came closer and gasped at the sight of the object in her daughter's hand. A scroll. But not just any scroll. A scroll sealed with the imprint of an X. The edges were golden in color. Plainly, this was no ordinary scroll. Could it be?
"Haven't you opened it? Are there any more?" she inquired.
"No," Rick answered. "Actually, we had just uncovered it a few minutes before you got here. We've been looking for more, but, apparently, there are none. Just this."
"And these," Tierney said excitedly. She reached down and picked up a staff, then a sword. While Evie examined the staff, Ardeth took the sword from Tierney's hands with awe.
"A fine sword," he said. "Undoubtedly the property of a renowned warrior."
The group exchanged meaningful looks. Maybe this was the break they'd all been hoping for.
"Open the scroll, Tierney. Read it," said Evelyn.
"Uh, Evelyn? Are you sure about this?" Rick asked.
"It's just a scroll. No harm ever came..of..reading..a..scroll," she finished weakly. Four pairs of eyes fixed her with steely gazes. "Sorry," she muttered. "Go on, Tierney."
Tierney complied with her mother's wishes and broke the seal on the scroll. But she was not fated to read it. As soon as the seal was broken, there was a blinding flash of light. When the light returned to normal, there was a completely empty space where eight people had once been.
(TO BE CONTINUED)
Author's Note: This will be the last chapter with the Mummy cast exclusively.
After Evie's question, it hadn't taken long to realize that Tierney was not with anyone at all. Everyone immediately split up to look for her. Rick and Evie took the south half of their dig site, Ardeth and Alex took the north half. Jonathan, along with Taryn and Lynnea, remained close to the camp in case Tierney returned. Rick, Ardeth, and Jonathan all carried a gun so a shot could be fired in the air if someone found Tierney.
Evelyn couldn't help but worry about her daughter. She was, after all, only eight years old. And, while familiar with Egypt and it's culture, Tierney had just begun to learn extensively about the Ancient Greeks. And the terrain was also unfamiliar.
Rick, for his part, was simply annoyed. He had no doubt Tierney could take care of herself, but he was irritated with her for wandering off when she knew better than to do so. He and Evelyn walked in silence for a while, listening for the sound of their daughter's voice, watching for a glimpse of her. When they came to a cave, Rick hesitated. For all her bravery, Tierney, for some reason, didn't like closed in spaces. She wasn't afraid of the dark, but she resisted going into a small space unless she absolutely had to. Yet, something in him whispered that they should look for her in the cave.
At that moment, they heard a sound from deep within the black hole. A voice. They couldn't tell if it was Tierney's, but Rick swept his doubts away and fired the gun in the air. He handed it to Evelyn.
"When they all get here, and I know they'll all come, I'll need you to tell them what's going on. I may need help. If I'm not back by the time they get here, have Ardeth and Jonathan go in. Okay?"
Against her better judgment, Evie nodded in silent agreement and watched her husband disappear into the cave. It wasn't five minutes before the entire group was gathered at the cave, Taryn and Lynnea included. Ardeth and Evie were arguing.
"Evelyn, you can't go barging into the cave without any idea of the dangers that may lay ahead."
"Why not? You are. Rick did. Is it because I'm a woman? Really, Ardeth, I thought you were a little more progressive than that. I refuse to just stand by when my daughter and husband could be in danger. Alex, run back to the camp and get a few flashlights. We're all going in."
Alex didn't argue with his mother. He knew better than that. He ran as fast as he could towards the camp. Evelyn stood with her hands on her hips, staring defiantly into Ardeth's eyes. He met her gaze with a his own, almost as defiant as she, but knew it was hopeless to argue.
'By Allah, she is stubborn. But that's part of what makes her so special. And part of what makes her such a good friend,' he thought to himself. Outwardly, he sighed and turned his head, a physical symbol of his surrender. Evelyn smiled.
It didn't take long for Alex to return. When he did, they all ventured into the cave together. Ardeth led the way, followed by Evelyn. Alex and Taryn walked side by side and Jonathan followed them, his daughter clinging tightly to his hand. It wasn't long before they heard voices, obviously Rick's and Tierney's, and, since neither voice sounded upset or frightened, the group relaxed.
They followed the voices, which led them to an open space. It was a lit space, surprisingly, but Evelyn immediately noticed that the torch which lit the area was one from the dig site. She couldn't help but be proud of her eight year old's ingenuity. Tierney must have been planning to come down here for a while.
Rick turned as they walked up and a smile lit his face.
"Your daughter has found something extraordinary, Evelyn. Come and look."
Evelyn came closer and gasped at the sight of the object in her daughter's hand. A scroll. But not just any scroll. A scroll sealed with the imprint of an X. The edges were golden in color. Plainly, this was no ordinary scroll. Could it be?
"Haven't you opened it? Are there any more?" she inquired.
"No," Rick answered. "Actually, we had just uncovered it a few minutes before you got here. We've been looking for more, but, apparently, there are none. Just this."
"And these," Tierney said excitedly. She reached down and picked up a staff, then a sword. While Evie examined the staff, Ardeth took the sword from Tierney's hands with awe.
"A fine sword," he said. "Undoubtedly the property of a renowned warrior."
The group exchanged meaningful looks. Maybe this was the break they'd all been hoping for.
"Open the scroll, Tierney. Read it," said Evelyn.
"Uh, Evelyn? Are you sure about this?" Rick asked.
"It's just a scroll. No harm ever came..of..reading..a..scroll," she finished weakly. Four pairs of eyes fixed her with steely gazes. "Sorry," she muttered. "Go on, Tierney."
Tierney complied with her mother's wishes and broke the seal on the scroll. But she was not fated to read it. As soon as the seal was broken, there was a blinding flash of light. When the light returned to normal, there was a completely empty space where eight people had once been.
(TO BE CONTINUED)