Apologies for the short length, the next one will be longer! I don't own rights to Yu-Gi-Oh!
The Mummy's Curse
Something shifted beneath her, causing the upper portion of her torso to sink slightly, but the pain throbbing within her temples as consciousness returned in sluggish heartbeats suddenly became deafening when she found only darkness when managing enough strength to open her eyes. The last thing she remembered was falling backwards out of the plane but where was she now?! Adrenaline in the form of panic that caused sweat to break out across her body made whatever that was surrounding her to cling and stick to her being, coarsely grinding and rubbing against her skin as another shift caused her lower half to descend. No matter where she looked there wasn't a hint or trace of sunlight that would indicate the direction that would lead to escape from whatever this place was.
It hurts…
The right sleeve of her jacket was completely destroyed, leaving the skin underneath exposed and throbbing with pain. Leggings had been the first choice of bottoms today being as they were going to be walking quite a bit in the heat but they clearly were the wrong one when she noted how the ankle length leg portions had been worn until they reached her calves, a few gaping holes across her thighs that subtly burned from friction that must have been caused by the fall. What had once been a favorite outfit now was rendered almost to nothing! A familiar weight kept the left arm tucked between her legs, the pair of straps wrapped around her wrist telling her that she had instinctively grabbed hold of the carryon that had been with her, bringing with it the momentary relief that her personal belongings were with her, but it was replaced by blood chilling anticipation as a telltale rip sounded. Was it starting to tear?! Just how far had she fallen?! Was anything broken?!
It's so dark…
She shook her head fervently. Now was not the time to be scared or lose her nerve. All her life she'd been a fighter, a survivor, no matter what the world or society threw at her she always triumphed to stand proudly at the top of whatever summit had risen before her. This was no different…right? Shifting the bag to that it was no longer strangling her wrist, now nestled between her bent knees, she raised her free arms above her head. Nails and fingers tore at the surrounding substance, finding it to be sand, but no matter how much so dug or how quickly she moved it was replaced by more coarse grains to fall. A wiggle of her spine revealed that there the only injuries she'd sustained were a few cuts and friction burns, thankfully no broken bones, and froze as she sunk a few inches. Had she fallen into a pit of quicksand? Ask her any medical question or for advice and she would have an answer ready. How to get out of something like this? She didn't have a clue! Sure she'd seen her fair share of adventure films but those were stunts with crew ready to bail out the actor! This was real life and it was happening to her!
Why me?…
Another shift came in the sand as her right leg attempted to bend so as to try to find footing. Stop moving, idiot! She chastised herself as more sand fell from above. However this little confined space had happened, it was clear that if she continued to move around it just might cave in and bury her alive! There was one problem: the near fetal position that she'd found herself in was beginning to make her joints protest. It's been forever since she last stepped in a dance studio, let alone perform any stretches as she had as a child, so the stiffness of her adult body that wasn't used to such placement of ligaments and parts. Already her neck was protesting from how far it was bent forward enough for her chin to touch her chest. A chill passed down her spine at the thought that there might not be a tomorrow.
I don't want to be here…
It was then that something tickled her ear. Was she starting to hallucinate or hear things now that she was dehydrated and struggling to come to terms with the current situation? It wasn't unheard of in those who often found themselves in similar predicaments but entertaining the thought of ghosts calling her to the great beyond was not something she was in the practice of! The breath she was in the middle of taking stalled as the call of her name came but the one whom it had belonged to wasn't someone she knew to be dead. Voices, familiar ones that she identified as those of the other traveling members, were muffled but distinguishable. Where was it coming from though? Brief hope filled her though. If she could hear them then maybe they could hear her if she were to call out.
Someone help me…
Chapped lips parted as if to scream or shout but they clamped shut as whatever surrounded her began to swallow her feet. Fear unlike any she's ever known surrounded her hammering heart like a hand attempting to squeeze the life out of it when it worked its way up to pause at her hips as she froze stiff. She made to call out again, the now candle-like flickering flame that was her hope threatening to extinguish as the voices grew fainter. "…h…elp…" The dryness of her throat prevented anything more than the croak to sound. Even as she fought to fill her dry mouth with practiced tongue movements to stimulate the saliva glands, there wasn't enough moisture to lubricate or relieve the scratchy and parched esophagus.
And then there was only the sound of blood pumping in her ears.
Desperation filled her. Had they had moved on? She had to do something to get their attention! Planting her feet, she attempted to reach her right arm through the domed ceiling above her head in hopes to feel empty air…and found only more sand. Somehow she'd become so far buried that not even the length of her arm was capable of reaching the surface. The thought of standing was quickly put to rest while quickly retracting her arm when the roof crumbled threateningly.
Am I going to die?…
The childish question echoed within the confines of her inner mind, each reverb causing the muscles and tendons that had been tighter than strings of instruments to relax against her conscious will. Each breath taken was beginning to cause a slow burn to bloom within her lungs, testimony that the oxygen level in this space was waning as her wide unseeing eyes searched the surrounding darkness. What had paused in swallowing her lower torso continued its trek until it reached the curve of her waist where it halted once more.
Calm down, Anzu, hyperventilating is not going to help you right now.
Closing her eyes while taking a deep inhale through her nose confirmed that the percentage of oxygen within the space was indeed diminishing, quickly, but the knowledge that some quicksand pits having a bottom or under shelf sparked that hopeful flame once more. A tremor wracked her body as what felt like fingers brushed against her legs. Panic fully returned as they began to wander upwards until they came to a stop where the sand had stopped upon her waist.
I'm scared…
Her arms rose in front of her face as if to protect herself from whatever was coming but they slowly relaxed then fell to rest at her side splayed across the limited space as dizziness began to take its hold on her. Lack of oxygen and the surrounding sand seeming to suck every drop of moisture her body had to offer was making her head spin. Though she knew nothing but darkness surrounded her, she opened her eyes anyway and it was it was in the moment that the pounding of blood in her ears grew faint that she saw them.
A pair of brilliant ruby pomegranate red eyes were above her, as if watching with indifference as she struggled to take one last breath when the sand and hands rose higher to enclose around her chest.
So pretty…
She should be frightened by the sight but by this point the only thought that formed within her mind was how similar they appeared to the blood rubies that her mother had worn at the funeral. Quivering lips lifted into a small smile, causing the tight skin to split then bleed. Would they be waiting for her, mother and father? A song that was once her lullaby, sang by both when comforting her after a nightmare or helping lull her to sleep, filled her ears as the sand enclosed around her throat and caused it to reflexively shift in a swallow.
You are my sunshine…my only sunshine…
The lids of her eyes drifted closed as exhaustion fell over her like a weighted blanket, relishing as the ghost voices of her deceased parents finished the song as darkness and sand swallowed her whole.
. . . .
"Anzu Mazaki!" Hawkins called loudly, his throat beginning to grow dry from the numerous shouts of his missing student's name that it was feeling raw. He denied the offered water from his friend, saying that rationing their supplies were vital if they were all to last until help arrived, then turned his attention to the pair of pilots who was silently regarding each group in turn. "Any word as of yet, gentlemen?"
Odion, the dark tanned man with tattoos covering the side of his face, gave a curt shake of his head. "The radios have cut out but not before we received a response that a retrieval team would be arriving in a few hours."
"Central tower did warn that a small storm front was heading our way so it may be best that we find shelter until then." Marik's gaze wandered across the nearby dunes then pointed to the wing of the plane that was buried within. "If you all are comfortable with tight spaces, that right there would be perfect. The curve of the dune on one side and the plane on the other would provide protection from the wind. That side is unscathed so if some would be more comfortable inside they could take shelter there but for now that's our only option."
Loud voices rose in protest as several students from various groups began eyeballing each other.
Solomon drug a hand down his face. And this was why he never had children himself. They always found some reason to fight amongst each other even if for the pettiest of causes. He cast a worried glance to Arthur, finding him to be holding his chest as if experiencing pain, recalling the history of heart problems that he had and quickly took control. "All of you youngins shut your traps and pay attention!"
Silence fell at his roar, earning several wide eyed expressions as he called out in the various languages he knew.
"That's much better. Now all of you who are able, please move the luggage towards the side of the wing so as to create a barricade from the west. Those who are injured may take a seat and patiently wait your turn to be seen by one of the instructors. Everyone else is to help use sand to put out the engine fire and keep an eye out for the rescue plane." His gaze narrowed when several teens began to argue. "If I hear one more word of racism from any of you, I'm going to leave your sorry hides to fend for yourselves in the coming storm! And don't think I won't because I will not hesitate to!" The finger that had risen threateningly to point at those who were debating on protesting still warily regarded the stout man but quickly backed off the person that was their chosen victim with raised hands when his eyes flashed dangerously. It wasn't until they had all begun to carry out his instructions that he turned his attention to Arthur who looked slightly amused and grateful. "I swear, kids these days…"
"Good show, Solomon, but perhaps a bit more empathy for them would have been acceptable."
"Gotta grow up sometime. Perfect time to." His head snapped upwards as the pilots hurried towards them. "What now?"
Marik pointed up to the darkening sky. "It's growing and coming at us faster! We have to take shelter now!"
They shared a glance then stared out across the sand covered horizon. There was still no sign of young Anzu Mazaki no matter how far out they had sent a few of the classmates to search. It was as if the girl had just vanished into thin air.
Like magic.
The hairs across Solomon's body rose into needle sharp points as a whisper tickled his ear. He wasn't as young as those here but it appeared that only he had heard the ominous voice. What had they said just now though? It had been so soft that he'd barely distinguished it from over the rising howl of the wind. They couldn't risk staying exposed anymore with the storm approaching yet that didn't make him feel any better as he assisted Arthur towards the makeshift shelter. A few parachutes had been procured from the plane wreck, providing more shelter from the blistering sand and blowing wind. It was while placing the final touches on securing the large pieces of tarp that his motions stalled when seeing something moving amongst the wall of sand that was quickly approaching.
A hazy figure with blazing crimson eyes that were full of bloodlust and death calmly walked as if it were Death itself coming to collect the small traveling party, each step causing the golden sand beneath their feet to become black.
"Solomon, is everything alright?"
He started at the call, blinking, and searched the coming storm wall but found no trace of the figure he'd seen. "I-I'm alright." The Egyptologist shouted over his shoulder securing the final tarp with a calculated knot then turned to face those who now gazed up at the wing above their heads as the howling wind impacted with the plane and caused their makeshift shelter to sway dangerously. "For now, it's best that we sit out the storm." And with a huff, settled into a seated position beside Arthur, the pilots and other instructors following his lead, the various students soon also sitting in their designated groups to huddle closely as the temperature began to drop from the lack of sunlight.
Chao for now! See you next time!
