Disclaimer: Universal Studios and Sommers own The Mummy not me

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Sally wore a light green summer dress as it was a rather warm night, and her hair was in two french braids. She was watching the dark water as it flowed past the boat, so she didn't notice that Evie and Rick O'Connell, their new guide to Hamenaptra, were looking at her.

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"So let me get this straight, that girl is your second cousin right?" he gestured towards the six year old who was now standing on the railing in bare feet. She had left her shoes on the deck nearby.

"Yes on my mother's side of the family." Evie just had to smile as she glanced at the little girl wrinkling up her face and sticking her tongue at her reflection in the water. Then she looked back at Rick.

"So how did you two end up with her?" The smile faded.

"Well, her mother didn't want her because she was illegitimate; it would ruin her reputation. So her came to stay with us while she was pregnant and left a few months after having Sally. We haven't really heard much from her since."

"What about her dad?"

"No one knows, except her mom."

"Hmm . . . sounds familiar." O'Connell said under his breath, but Evie heard it anyway.

"What sounds familiar, Mr. O'Connell?"

"Nothing," He shrugged off her question, but he though to himself, 'just reminds me of me.'

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Sally found herself getting tired as it was already quite late. She decided to grab her shoes and head to her room. On the way there she was drawn to the sounds of her cousin Jonathon. Triumphantly holding his cards and betting more money than he possibly owned, he made quite a scene.

She couldn't resist coming over to watch. If there was one thing Jon could do well, it was play cards. Looking over his shoulder made her grin just as big as he was. The other players seeing her face threw down their cards, folding. Sally wanted to burst out laughing, because Jon had been bluffing with a pair of threes. Henderson, one of the Americans, took all the cards and began to shuffle.

"Deal me in too!" she plopped down next to Jonathon.

"What are you planning on betting with?" Jon asked.

"Your money." Between the two of them they managed to lose a small fortune. Her from inexperience and him, from just plain bad luck. He didn't mind her losing since she was only playing with small bills. The guys went easy on her and let her win a few rounds before she got up to go to bed for the night.

Just as she was getting up to leave, Rick showed up. He was invited to join them, but he had declined, however he did take them up on a bet for who would get to Hamenaptra first. She felt uncomfortable around all this talk of Hamenaptra. She knew it was a forbidden place with curses and such. It was not a city that was meant to be found. She decided to change the subject and got an idea.

"Hey Rick?"

"What?"

"Will you come and tuck me in? Jon and Evie are busy."He looked at Jonathon who just shrugged. She could tell he was trying to find a way to say no. "Please?"

"Alright. Go get changed, and I'll be there in a minute."She did just that, and when he came in there she was sitting on the bed in her black pajamas.

As he was tucking her in she asked, "Rick?"

"Yeah?"

"Is it true about you going to Hamenaptra?"

"Yeah."

"Then you know why I'm afraid. Evie and Jonathon, they don't know like we do."

"What do you mean?"

"That place is for the dead; it's evil, cursed." for a moment Rick could see in her eyes the part of her that was Shashai. This was no child's fear, Rick grew up in an orphanage and he had seen what that looked like. This was the kind of fear he had seen in grown men. She knew what was at Hamenaptra, but he didn't understand how.

"Rick,"

"Yeah?

"Don't make me go in there."

"Okay. I'll have to talk to Evelyn and Jonathon, but - "

"No. They won't believe you." He could tell she was hiding something, but he couldn't tell what. Before he had a chance to ask her, they heard Evie scream.

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"Stay here until I get back." Everything that happened next was a blur for Sally. She had immediately packed a few necessary items in her small shoulder bag. The puzzle box and her bracelet had been among the things she had deemed obligatory. When Rick reappeared he asked her, "Can you swim?"

"Not very well."

"Alright," he turned and screamed "Jonathon!"

"Rick!"they made it over to him avoiding gunshots and flames.

"Make sure she gets to shore alright" He pointed at the farther bank. "I'm going to get Evie." Then he was gone leaving them to swim. Jonathon ended up doing most of the work, but they made it. Rick and Evie soon followed. A short while later so did the warden to everyone's disgust.

"Man! All my stuff is wet!"

"At least you have stuff, Sally, all mine is gone!" Evie moaned.

"Are you serious? You left everything?!" Sally laughed at Evie until she was sent a dark glare.

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Evie got new clothes from the Bedouins while the guys purchased the camels. It was interesting to Sally and Jonathon when they saw Rick's reaction after Evie stepped out of the tent. Then they rode for several days that seemed like ages to the six year old.

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What they did not know was that they were being followed by Ardeth Bay and the Mad-jai that rode with him. He was just doing his sworn duty until he realized that the young girl that rode with the British group was Sally. Now it was personal.

"Zahid, my friend, I have a job for you." he said to the Mad-jai on his left.