Alex's P.O.V.
OK so there's running and then there's RUNNING. My dad and I we were RUNNING. I was running faster than I had ever run in my life. We saw the pyramid in the distance, and I could just barely see the diamond glinting on top. Hope Uncle John doesn't see that. We'll never get him outta here.
I can't hear my mum or my Uncle John over the sound of dad and my breathing, but I know they are there. Probably running as fast as we are, or trying to anyway. Mum was wearing high heeled boots. I could never understand why she did that, but that's my mum for you.
As we cleared the forest the bracelet started to drain my energy. I feel as if a weight is pulling on me.
"Dad…. The Bracelet….." I can barely manage to get the words out before my legs give out. I am not going to make it.
"Come on Alex." My dad says as he picks me up and starts running.
We aren't going to make it.
I can see the line of the sun as we run up the stairs. We are so god-dang close!
My dad jumps right as the sun hits the top of the pyramid and we hit the wall. It hurt. It hurt a lot less then dying would have, so I am not going to mention it to my dad.
"You know, it's…. not… easy….. being a… dad" He is out of breath from carrying me and RUNNING. I kind of owe something to him
"Yeah, but you do it real well" I say as I look at him.
"Thanks" he gathers me in for a hug and we both collapse against the cold sand wall.
I hear a "Click" and a pressure that has been on my wrist since I put on that blasted bracelet loosens. I look down and see that the latch has come undone. I pick up that stupid thing and throw it as far as I can away from me. I never want to see it again. My dad just nods at me, too tired to say anything.
In the distance I hear my mum talking. I can't make it out, but I am sure she is talking to my Uncle John. I am just going to wait here till she comes up, I want a hug but she has to give it to me. I can't get up to get one. I am too tired.
I hear the blade enter my mom's stomach, but I don't quite understand what's happening till I hear my Dad shout my mom's name. If I thought he was running fast before it was nothing to how fast he ran now. I thought I was too tired to move, I can't believe how wrong I was. I am trying to keep up with my father but I just can't. I have rather short legs. He gets to her first.
I look over at the witch and she just waves to me. She is holding the black book and walking with the priest. I can't do anything but stare at her as I run to my mum. I look at her and my father, he is holding her, and she is holding her stomach. I can't see much over the bulk of my father.
He is hollering for my uncle
"She's going to be alright, isn't she dad?" I ask hoping against hope that my mom will be fine.
"She's going to fine. Ta-take him" I am scared. I have never heard my dad sound like this. I feel my uncle start to drag me away, and I don't fight. I am just starting at my mom's face, and although she doesn't complain I can tell she is in a lot of pain. My uncle is talking to me but I am not listening. I am trying to memorize my mum's face, not knowing if she is going to pull out of this.
"Take care of Alex" those words echo in my mind over and over. My mum isn't going to make it. I am never going to see her again. Never get to tell her how sorry I am for putting on that damn bracelet, for getting her caught up in this mess. What am I going to do? Where do I go? Who is going to teach me about Egyptian culture? I am on the verge of breaking down and crying. I look up at my uncle John and see that he is looking at my mum with a strange look on his face. I squeeze his hand holding onto the only lifeline I have left, and he slowly looks down at me.
I see a bunch of emotions play over his face before settling on what I would call courage. Having never seen courage on my uncle's face it was a bit of a shock for me. He turns to look at my dad.
"Rick?"
"Dad?" I need my father to look at me, and tell me it's all going to be alright.
He slowly looks at me, but I don't recognize the man. This is NOT my father. My father is tough and strong, this man isn't. He just stares at me, with his mouth open like a fish. Who is this man? This is not Ricochet O'Connor the bravest man on the planet. Where is my father? Is he still in there?
"Rick look. I know you are sad, we all are. But you have a job to do. If the scorpion king isn't stopped then E-Evy died for nothing." He croaks out the last bit. I can't hear this. I want my dad
"Dad? Dad, please get up. Dad please. I need you." I don't mean to say it like that, but that's what comes out. It's true I do need him, and mum too. I can't even look at what was my mother; I can't look farther then my father's face. I don't want to see my mum devoid of life like my father is right now. I can't handle it. Please dad, please don't leave me like this. I am trying to speak, but tears keeping clogging up my throat.
As I watch my father I see him start to come back to life. His mouth goes into a straight line, like the time I knocked over his vase and broke it but ten times worse. He leans over and gives my mum a kiss on the lips, and still I can't look at her face.
"Jonathan, I need you to stay out here and watch after Alex. No matter what happens you take care of him, do you understand?"
"What are you going to do?"
"Just promise me that you will take care of Alex."
No no no nononononononooooooooooooooooooooooooo! Dad, what are you going to do? Whatever it is, don't do it. Please don't do it. For me, please. I try to speak but the words just won't come out, I can only watch in helpless despair as my father walks into the pyramid. I don't think I will ever see him again.
"What do we do now Uncle John?" I ask hoping for some answers, something that can stop my world from spinning.
"I wish I knew kiddo, I wish I knew" I should've known he wouldn't have any answers.
I go to sit down on a rock that is away from what used to be mum, I can't be near her. My uncle John sits down on the ground next me. All the tears I had been holding in come flooding out, and I bawl. I cry for my mum, for my dad, and the life I had known that is now gone.
I cry until now more tears come out. I lay my head in my lap and just sit. I feel hollow, how can I be so hollow?
"Just think Alex, she's gone to a better place. Just like it says in the good book"
The book! Why didn't I think of that earlier? I raise my head and look at my mom now. She almost looks like she is sleeping. Well I think it's time we woke her up.
"That's it! Come on Uncle John, we have work to do."