Chapter 13 Prelude to a Kiss

I am sooo sorry that it has taken me so long to get this next chapter out :( I know that there isn't really an excuse, but I was on a journey of self discovery... :D

Steffi & Ari(huggles) all my fantastic reviewers(loves) and hopefully the newcomers ;) (loves)

Now, on with the story (finally)!

The wind gently caresses my face as we race toward my former place of work. My hair is streaming behind me, and just once, I let myself believe that this might turn out to be an adventure of sorts...

What am I thinking? Events like these cannot be determined as excitable by anyone involved in them.

I just hope that all my fathers work was correct- he spent most of his life on it for heavens' sake.

And I'm certain that the stelae contains some relation to the book.

Why else would it have pride of place in the museum above the staircase? With everyone 'oooh-ing' and 'aaah-ing' over it all the time I'm amazed that no-one has never payed more attention to it.

I cast glances at my brother; he seems to be in a permanent state of confusion. As for O'Connell, he doesn't seem to care.

I hope to God she's right. I'm all for resolving, I'm just not usually the one who comes up with the answers!

I catch her looking at me, and I give her a small smile. "Don't worry." I mouth, giving off more certainty than I feel. She takes a deep breath, and some how manages a shaky one in return.

Poor girl, she doesn't know what she's gotten herself into.

I mean, I don't expect her to be a female equivalent of me, hell no! I jus' think that stuff like this shouldn't happen, but it does, and it's always a shame that it's the innocent ones that dragged into it.

God only knows how many times I've seen bystanding fellas getting punched over someone else's problems. It's not great, it ain't even good; it's just one'a those things.

But the thing is, this time I ain't gonna jus stand by like I sometimes used to. There ain't a snowballs chance in hell that I'm going to let anything happen to Evelyn.

As we pull our sorry ass's up to the museum, I feel a shiver pass itself through her petite frame.

Hopping out of the car, I guide her down. I give her hand a quick squeeze before we carry on.

The two colossi Pharaohs bare a foreboding picture as we near the sandstone entrance.

"Evelyn."

Rick stops me. "As soon as we get in here, don't pay attention to a damn thing. Take us straight to the stela, got it?"

I pull a disgusted face. What does he think I'm going to do? Have a little dance around the library!

"Yes little Evie. Even if we're all to be mutilated or the Curator decides to give you fellow status- you aren't to stop, you hear? Not even to admire the scenery. O'Connell here won't have it!"

"Shut up, idiot." I reply, brushing past them all and pushing against the oak doors.

They creak open, every so slowly... I can't help but feel unnerved as the silence is broken.

I turn around and shrug. Rick pulls an unsure face, removing one of his revolvers.

"Oh Mister O'Connell, I doubt that that precaution is necessary. There isn't anybody here-"

"That's what worries me." He deadpans, taking the lead.

"According to legend the black book that the Americans found at Hamunaptra is supposed to bring people back from the dead. Until now it was a notion I was unwilling to believe."

"Better believe it sister that's what brought our buddy back to life."

"Yes. And I'm thinking that if the black book can bring dead people to life then-"

"Then maybe the gold book can kill him."

"That's the myth. Now we just need to find out where the gold book is hidden."

Just as I go towards the case, a disembodied chorus strikes up. Casting a worried glance at O'Connell, I slowly walk toward the hexagonal window that serves as ample sight out onto the grounds beyond the museum forecourt.

With a sickening lurch, I realise what the chorus is forming.

"Im-ho-tep. Im-ho-tep..."

We all stare, mutely on as we watch the enormous crowd approach.

"And last but not least-" begins my brother. "-my favourite plague. Boils and sores."

"They have become his slaves." informs the Medjai warrior gravely. "So it has begun. The beginning of the end."

They're all the locals...not to mention a few tourists. They're all staring blankly ahead, all joining together in a solemn chorus that seems to echo around us all.

"Not quite yet it hasn't. Come on."

I smile when we reach the stela. I allow the curator to start looking as I wring my hands in eager anticipation.

I press my hands against the cold, old stone, allowing my fingers to read the indents of the symbols.

The secret that would eventually save us from this curse.

All my life I have waited for this moment, and for it to come now, under the most dire of circumstances...

Hmmph.

"According to Bembridge scholars, the Golden book of Amun-ra is located inside the statue of Anubis." I say, thinking out loud.

"But tha's were we found tha black book." corrects Daniels.

"Exactly." I respond.

"Looks like the old boys at Bembridge were mistaken!" chips in Jonathan, in that infuriating way he has.

"Hmm yes...they messed the books up, mixed up where they were buried so if the black book is inside the statue of Anubis, then the golden book must be inside-"

"C'mon Evie faster!" He presses, unaware of how much he is making me flustered.

"Patience is a virtue!" I muse.

"Huh. Not right now it isn't!" retorts Rick.

"Uhhh I think I'll go get the car started!" calls Jonathan, mid-point and mid-run.

"Aha! I've got it! The golden book of Amun-ra is at Hamunaptra inside the statue of Horus! Take that Bembridge scholars!" I grin, feeling completely incontrol.

Right, she's got it! I look to everyone, and having got the info that we need, I realise that we have overstayed our welcome.

The doors heave and splinter and they give way to the crowd. "C'MON!" I yell, grabbing Evelyns' hand and dragging her to the side stairs. We take 'em three at a time, and I can't believe that we have to go back to that God forsaken place...

"Rick!" She cries in between breaths. "Where's Jonathan?"

Oh hell, didn't she hear him!

"Getting the car Evelyn. He's getting the damned car..." I rush.

I kick open the side door, and roll my eyes when I see Jonathan sat in his convertable.

"Come on Evie, hurry up! In you get-" He calls, pulling his sister in beside him.

I noticed that that sly bastard Daniels decided to run ahead of us, yelling-

"GET THAT THANG IN GEAR BOY! LETS GET OUTTA HERE!"

I jump in beside Evelyn, eager to get away.

"IMHOTEP! IMHOTEPPPPPP!" screams Beni like the little weasel that he is.

An unearthly scream emits from the hexagonal window that we stood in earlier. I glance up and wince at the state of Imhoteps face.

I lean against the front window of the car. I point an accusatory hand at Beni.

"YOU'RE GONNA GET YOURS BENI! YA HEAR ME? YOU'RE GONNA GET YOURS!"

I don't hear his answer over the sound of the mob chasing our car. I shake it off.

"Don't worry, they won't catch us up."

Evelyn nods.

Jonathan gulps down air like he only jus found out is was free.

Daniels sits there cussing, and the curator and Medjai are silent.

Gloomy bastards.

Rick gives Jonathan a self-satistfied smirk referring to his little outburst. I take a deep breath and let out a small cry when my brother suddenly slams on the breaks. The car jolts forwards, and I reach out to steady myself.

"Jonathan!"

"God damn it!"

"Wha' the hell are ya playin at boy? Drive the damn car!"

I look slowly from Jonathan and his perplexed expression to what has gained his avid attention. My eyes are wide with shock.

What in God's name...?

Rick leans in closer, squinting in disbelief. I can probably make an educated guess that I'm pulling a face that symbolises utter disgust, to match my reeling stomach.

I can feel Jonathan pushing himself backwards into the seat, slowly removing his hands from the wheel-

I sense Rick do a double take, before reaching his rather large leg over and stamping on my poo brothers foot.

Jon lets out a yelp, and immediately the car lurches forwards.

We're racing towards the crowd!

"HANG ON!" yells Rick.

The less than alive crowd starts running at his, seemingly unaffected by the fact that we're in a vehicle.

The next thing almost turns my stomach; the now crazed humans begin hurling themselves at the car and its passengers. I can hear bones cracking, skin tearing and crys of pain as we attempt to dispose of the extra passengers.

They all seem to be clutching at Jonathan, and I know he isn't a very safe driver but I doubt that them disturbing him will help.

"AAAAH!"

I push them off my brother as he elbows them, and I can feel Rick being pushed backwards by presumably a punch.

I let out a cry as one of the zombies grabs my shoulders. "AHHHH!"

"The girl!" lets out a foreign accent, and then the clutching hands are relieved from my shoulders.

I catch my breath and then jump when O'Connell begins smashing one mans face against the front of the car before pushing the unconscious body off the vehicle itself.

I turn to look at him, and almost catch his eye but suddenly some peeling and sore covered hand seizes me around the throat.

"Aaaah...ahhh..."

I manage to see Jonathan's startled look as he fights to regain control of the car. In one swift moment, my mind is made up and I do something that has to be inspired by the American next to me.

I take my index and third fingers and poke them sharply into my assailants eyes. The man begins to blindly scream in pain. Rick turns around and pushes him forcefully from the car.

I hear a crash as he falls into a stall.

I grab Jonathans arm and duck behind Rick's standing form as the mob continues to throw themselves at us. Rick dispenses of some more, much to my horror and relief but he abandons this when we all hear a desperate-

"O'CONNELL!" yells Daniels behind me, but when I turn around he's disappeared.

After punching a few more zombies, we finally turn a corner.

"Oh my God..." I breathe.

"Are you okay?" asks O'Connell, out of breath also.

I look at him and go to answer but feel the air forced out of my lungs with the impact of the car mounting a stall.

"Wooahh!" I yell, grabbing Evelyn and steadying myself. "Jesus Jonathan!"

I jump out of the unmobile car and grab Evelyn's shaking hands. "C'mon Evelyn."

She's frantic, and her eyes are wide. Jonathan rushes round and grabs his sister.

The mob move in around us...closer...closer...

I grab a flamboe and start waving it about...

Get back you bastards...

I sure as hell aint giving up without a fight...