Author's Note: Things have finally calmed down and I can write again. Thanks for the patience. I have taken some suggestions into account and have changed a little from the movie. I hope you like.

Chapter 6: Local Pigmies and Heartache

Ardeth attached another update to Horace and sent him flying. Dad then led us deeper into the oasis. After a few moments, a gunshot floated through the air and Horace gave a screech.

"Horace!" Ardeth yells. He pauses before turning to face us. "I must go."

"Wait," I say. Before I can continue Ardeth interrupts.

"I must let the commanders know where we are." He gives me a sympathetic look. "If the army of Anubis rises…"

"I need you to help me find my son," my dad says with a hint of desperation. There is a pause in which Evy grabs my hand. I squeeze back knowing we both need the reassurance.

"Then first I will help you find your son," he finally replies. Evy and I both breathe out a sigh of relief.

"Thank you," I say. He nods his head and we are off once again. About an hour into our trek, Evy comes back and falls in step beside me. I glance over at her, but she is looking forward. I return my gaze forward and we continue on.

EOEOEOEOEO

It was night by the time we reached a cliff side with a great view of the valley below. We were readying ourselves with guns and ammo.

"Do you hear that?" my dad asks.

"What?" Ardeth replies.

"Nothing, absolutely nothing," dad states bluntly. I let out an involuntary shiver. I don't like the silence. I just know something is going to happen.

"I say chaps look at this, shrunken heads. I would like to know how they do that," I hear my Uncle Jon say. We all stop and turn to look at him. "Just curious," he says as he shrugs.

"Are you any good with that?" Ardeth asks me. He is glancing at the gun in my hands.

"You do know who my father is, right," I quickly retort. He gives me a brief smile.

"Are you any good with that?" asks my Uncle Jon. He is pointing to the sword in Ardeth's belt.

"We will know soon enough," Ardeth quickly whips it out and holds it to Uncle Jon's neck. "The only way to kill an Anubis warrior is by cutting off its head."

"I'll remember that." All I can do is chuckle at this exchange. Uncle Jon is quite the character. I look over at dad and Evy. He is giving her some last minute instructions. She reassures him that she won't miss. He gives her a kiss and comes over to me.

"Remember what I taught you. Stay relaxed and don't be afraid the pull the trigger."

"I've got it under control," I say. I give him a quick smirk before continuing, "I do have you for a father after all." He softly chuckles at that before pulling me into a hug.

"I'm going to get him back, Em."

"I know you will dad." He pulls away and plants a kiss on my forehead before walking away. As Ardeth walks by he pauses and squeezes my shoulder. I look into his eyes and nod. I have a feeling I might not see him again.

A few moments later a group of men walk into the valley. Out of nowhere a breeze begins to pick up. I glance over at Evy and she gives me a reassuring glance. We all get ourselves into a shooting position.

"Jonathan," Evy states quickly.

"Yes."

"That's my husband and my son down there. Make me proud." I can't help but stifle a laugh.

"Today's that day Evy," he replies. We all cock our guns and take aim. It doesn't take long for all hell to break loose. Men are vanishing left and right. It looks like they are struck down by an invisible source. The others are running and scattering. Suddenly, I catch sight of dad and Ardeth. I take aim and start shooting down men in their path so they can focus on finding Alex.

"Dad," I hear Alex's voice floating through the air.

"Alex," my dad yelled back. Suddenly two guys appear behind him. A quick shot from me and from Evy ensures his safety.

"Dad," I hear Alex again. He sounds scared. Dad takes off running and the three of us clear a path for him. Once we see that Dad, Alex, and Ardeth are safe we head off. We quickly meet up with dad and Alex.

"Mom." "Alex." They say at the same time clinging on to each other. After a couple seconds they split and Alex turns to me. There is no hesitation as he jumps into my arms. He quickly pulls away.

"What were those creepy little pigmy things," Uncle Jon asks over our hugging.

"Just the local natives," dad replies.

"Are you sure?"

"It was nothing."

"Come on mom. Come on you guys," Alex says in a rush. "We have to get to the pyramid. I have to get the bracelet off now."

"Leave it on Alex. It looks good on you," was Uncle Jon's reply. Dad, Evy, and I all chuckle.

"No you guys. You don't understand. He told me the bracelet will kill me if I don't get inside the pyramid before the sun hits it, today!"

"Oh my God," Evy and I both say at the same time. We hear screeching behind us.

"Time to go," my dad says as he ushers Evy and Alex forward.

"I thought you said it was nothing," I reply as I grab Uncle Jon and pull him along. As we are running I notice Uncle Jon head down another path.

"Where's Jonathan?" Evy yells this as she glances back and sees me alone.

"He ran down a different path," I am able to reply. We come to a gorge and there is a tree there for a bridge. We all quickly run across with Jonathan bringing up the rear. Dad lights a stick of dynamite.

"What's that for," I hear Uncle Jon ask.

"Just a little something in case of emergency," he replies before throwing it at the pigmies. After I hear the explosion, I glance up and notice the sun beginning to rise.

"Dad," I say. He looks at me and notices the sun as well.

"Come on Alex," he says as he grabs him and starts running. I am running closely behind them. The pyramid is within sight when Alex's legs buckle beneath him.

"Dad, the bracelet," he says weakly. It's already starting to affect him. Dad picks him up and continues running. Dad loses his footing in the sand, and it slows him down considerably. He is almost to the entrance when the sunlight floods over me. Dad jumps and they land inside the entrance. I reach them and know something is wrong. Alex isn't moving.

"Dad, is he okay?" I ask fearing the answer. He doesn't reply but looks up at me. I know by the look on his face that we were too late. I hear a clicking noise and the bracelet comes off Alex's arm. I hear a grunt of pain and a yell. I turn back to see Imhotep throwing Uncle Jon. The reincarnated Anck-su-namun is standing holding a knife that is implanted in Evy's stomach.

"No," my dad yells. He runs to her. I stand rooted to the spot, unable to move. I watch as the knife is retracted and Evy falls to her knees before falling backwards. All the while her eyes are focused on dad. I look at Anck-su-namun as she and Imhotep walk into the pyramid. She smiles and gives me a brief wave before continuing on. All I can do is watch as my father cries over Evy. I have lost another mother.

"Emily," my dad calls to me a few minutes. His voice is thick with pain and cracks from crying. I bend down and throw the bracelet away from Alex's body before scooping him into my arms. I slowly walk to my dad. Uncle Jon comes up to me and takes Alex. I turn to dad and see the tear tracks on his face. He is no longer crying but has a determined look on his face. He takes a shaky hand and wipes the tears from my cheeks. I hadn't even realized I was crying. He pulled me into a hug.

"Stay here," he says as he pulls away.

"What are you going to do?" I ask. I already know the answer.

"I'm going to end this," is all he says. He turns around and walks away. I watch him go before turning back to Uncle Jon. He has put Alex next to Evy and is staring at them. I walk up next to him and he pulls me into a hug. No words are spoken as we cling to each other trying to make sense of it all…