Chapter 22

Though his body had recovered, his mind was still very much ill at ease. Initially, he'd refused to believe his friends until Larry had showed him the spotless scene of the accident. Though they were satisfied by Ahkmenrah's testimony, the pharaoh was not. What had happened? It left only one explanation, which Ahkmenrah considered as he flopped backwards onto the couch, staring aimlessly at the ceiling. Could he have somehow manipulated his tablet subconsciously, unknowingly?

On the one hand, it was the simplest, most logical explanation. That, or he was losing his mind, which didn't bear much thinking about. Still, he couldn't shake the notion that his heirloom had nothing to do with the incident. Larry was right- he had used it before to fix his own tomb, and he'd done so without understanding how. To this day, he failed to figure it out! Dredging his memories, Ahkmenrah sighed as he rolled over onto his side. If he recalled correctly, despite his inexperience in mending his exhibit, he'd felt something when he did it- a pull, a connection to the tablet. At least he suspected he had. Last night, he'd felt none of those things. Something prickled uncomfortably as he sat up, too restless to settle himself down with his latest book.

He paced his exhibit uneasily. Something about it wasn't right. The ceiling, the crunch of glass, the roar of the tumbling waves... No way had it all been an illusion, and no way could his tablet have repaired it all so quickly. Even now, if he inspected his walls closely enough, they showed signs of wearing and fractures that hadn't existed before the Pilgrims had wrecked it. Subtle, but there for him to see. Adding more mists to the mystery, he'd inspected the scene of the accident twice, and found no signs of the wreckage he remembered. How could this be?

"Knock knock!"

Grinning, Ahkmenrah turned to face his oldest friend in the museum. "Good evening, Teddy. How does the night find you?"

Teddy chuckled. "Well enough. How are you feeling?"

"Better than earlier."

"Excellent! Tonight we roam these hollowed halls much as we did before. That is, if you don't mind accompanying an old man like me," he added sheepishly. When the pharaoh failed to respond, he sighed. "I recognize that pensive look. What troubles you, lad?"

"Nothing, only... How could I have done it, Teddy? How could I have completely repaired an exhibit so swiftly when I was barely alive?"

"Ah. Well, I understand why it would bother you, but-"

"It does not make sense! I know I am capable of restoring exhibits- I did so once- yet it is not enough. The circumstances were different."

"Meaning?"

"I felt something when I repaired my tomb. A pull, though I thought nothing of it at the time. After the accident, all I endured was pain from my injuries. My tablet was the last thing on my mind!"

"I believe you, Ahk, but what other possibility do we have? Let it rest," he finished, holding his hand up against his protests. "Whether you fixed it or not, the accident is past. All bad things do. Ruminating over it won't help, and you know this. For now, let it go, and come spend your evening with us! Everyone's eager to see you up and about!"

Reluctantly, Ahkmenrah conceded. "Very well. I could use some fresh air, anyway."


"You're not concentrating! Again."

The pharaoh squinted with one eye, risking the strictest reprimands for doing so. "Are you always so... Demanding?"

"What did you say?"

"Nothing."

"Good, that's what I suspected. From the top!"

After five more minutes, Ahkmenrah gave up and untwisted himself from the half-louts position, massaging his cramped leg. "From what you described, meditation is a relaxing activity used for focusing one's mind, correct?"

"True."

"Then why am I not relaxing?"

Sheepishly, McKenzie focused on her notes, twirling her hair absentmindedly. "Since you're so nobly avoiding stating the obvious, all right, yes, I am being a bit hard on you." At a pointed look from him, she added, "But I must be! If I don't push you, you won't do it..."

Why did this conversation feel uncomfortably familiar? He was so caught up in the sense of deja vu, he barely heard her ramble on.

"...Besides, you admitted your nightmares took on a darker tone, right? Something changed, and this may help us learn what. Unless you no longer wish to figure it out, of course."

"You sound like him."

"Hmm? Who, Teddy?" Not to toot her own bugle or anything, but she'd have been flattered to be compared to the president, who was regarded as a pinnacle of wisdom in the museum.

"No, not Teddy. More like... Nobody. Nothing, an old friend." Something about the way he said 'friend' made her suspect the individual had been anything but. Finally a lead!

"Friend, eh? Sounds more like a frenemy," she joked. When he merely looked at her questioningly, she groaned, "Right, I forget you know nothing of modern terms. Never mind!" Leaning forward in what she hoped was a confidential manner, she continued. "Not a very good friend, I'm guessing?"

"He seemed to be for a while. Then he- changed."

"How so?"

The pharaoh rubbed his temples, leaning onto the table. "I know you will not like my telling you this, but I do not wish to discuss it further tonight."

It took all the self-control McKenzie possessed not to shake him. "We're so close, Ahk! This close to uncovering the source of your turmoil, I know it!"

Ahkmenrah met her eye contact squarely, and for an instant, she actually hoped she'd gotten through to him. This might be it, the big break through! Then the look winked away. "You must not realize how difficult this is for me, how insurmountable what you ask of me is."

Well, at least he hadn't slunk back into silence.

"My past is not an easy subject for me to discuss, especially not when it involves Cambridge or my family. Even among my friends- the closest of allies!- I rarely divulge much, unless it is strongly connected to them. Therefore, I must beg for your patience a little longer." His face was so pleading, she could only sigh and nod her head in agreement. The main point now was for them to become friends so he would grow more open toward her.

"I understand, Ahk. Indeed, perhaps for the first time I really understand. Thank you for being so honest with me," she smiled reassuringly. "You may leave- I have some notes to go over. Go have fun with Nicky or Jed! Goodness knows they've all been miserable without you."

Ahkmenrah bounded off with the agility of a swan as he hurried off to rejoin museum life, leaving the girl alone with her journal once more.

An hour later, Teddy wandered in to find her still pouring over her notebook. "Are you well, child?"

With a sigh, McKenzie leaned back into her chair and closed her eyes. "I'm terrible."

"Terrible at what, pray tell?"

"I'm terrible at my job!" She thundered, springing unconsciously out of her seat. Realizing she probably resembled a toddler throwing a tantrum, she quietly sat back down. "I'm so sorry, sir, but I'm afraid I'm not a very good therapist. I know Larry and you lot counted on me to help your pharaoh, but I don't think that will happen."

"Mind if I sit down?" Teddy asked gently. McKenzie gestured in the direction of the only other chair in the room, which the president gratefully settled into. "Now, what sparked this? Did you and Ahkmenrah have another fight?"

"Not this time, though the fact you asked merely justifies my argument. On the contrary, we ended the session well enough, but our talk cemented my suspicions that he will never truly trust me."

"What precisely did you discuss?"

Teddy listened silently as McKenzie reiterated their conversation, then handed her the tissue box, which she not-so-daintily honked into. "He'll listen to you guys, he respects you most of all! The fact of the matter is he'll never be as forthcoming with me as he is with you."

Tilting his head thoughtfully, Teddy asked, "Those were his exact words?"

McKenzie nodded, taking another sniff.

"Then my dear girl, take heart! He practically poured out his soul to you tonight!"

"Wh-what?"

"He admitted he has trouble opening up to anyone; he did so with very little prompting from you! In my mind, that's progress. Take heart, dear child- he'll soon reveal to you what plagues him most." Before leaving, he turned to face her one last time. "I know you think he confesses all to me, but the truth is it takes him precious time to admit something is ailing him, even when I know there is. Fear not- friendship is afoot!" He left her feeling better than she had in days.


PhoenixFirre: Your review meant more to me than words could possibly express. Thank you so much! Don't worry, there will be more to come soon. ;)

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Well, this has been a rather productive weekend for me. I hope the inspiration flow continues! It always helps to have a friend look at you story with fresh eye. :)