Chapter 2: Cities
As we traveled through the desert I ran back through how the people with me had saved me and what we were heading into. Brother and sister, an American soldier guide, a prison master, and me, a broken Egyptian woman.
**One Week Ago**
I was running through the streets, having left that room after being freed and trying to find a way to get as far as possible. I seen a boat just about to take off and dove onto the deck, rolling and hitting several boxes. I groaned and looked around, trying to see if there was anyone that was going to come after me. The boat left the port and I settled between some boxes as a hiding spot, hoping that no one came across me. I curled into a ball and tried to sleep, but the fear of eyes on me, on hands on me, everything forced me to remain awake. I overheard some people talking from my spot and saw a woman and man at a table.
The man was checking a bunch of guns and other weapons as they spoke about the City of the Dead legends and how he had been there before. Shortly after the lady stormed off after he said something about a kiss and he headed my way, I pulled back, hoping he would just pass me over. Suddenly he grabbed another man hiding, apparently they knew each other after a short talk, the man threw the scared man overboard. I didn't see much more after he took off after where the lady stormed off and I peeked out, seeing wet footsteps. Someone else had joined the boat…were they after me? For the Master's death? For running away? Would I be taken back?
I was caught up in my mind when a hand grabbed me, I screamed as I was jerked from my spot and faced with a tattooed man in black. Something in my body reacted as I went to fight, but I stopped. He spoke in Arabic, calling me the lost one, his eyes boring into mine. I could hear it now, the screaming, the fighting, gunshots, these black dressed men were attacking us. He went to speak again when someone crashed into us, forcing the man to let me go. It was another man, holding a black item in his hands as he looked terrified at me. Flames began to spread quickly and he helped me up, apologized and we jumped out of the way of another man trying to attack.
There was few men shooting and laughing as if this was a game before a flaming man started toward the man beside me. He was shot and killed and the man tried to act tough, but flames burst forward and I leapt from the boat, most of the people following after me. I came up for air and started swimming, away from the people that was crowding the side of the river, I didn't want to be around anyone, I just wanted to be free. I coughed as I made it to shore and fell down, sighing and catching my breath.
"Hey lady!" I shot up and looked at the people standing above me. The lady was there, the american and the man that ran into me. "Who are you?" the man reached for me and I flinched away, throwing my arms out to cover myself in defense. "You've scared her. Go away you two." the woman voice came and I heard their footsteps leave. "It's alright now." she didn't try to touch me, her voice soft as she sat and waited for me to look up at her. She was in a thin nightgown and drenched, but she smiled at me and gave a small wave. "You can't stay here alright. Come with us. There's a village nearby, we can get some clothes and you can decide what you want to do."
I spoke in Arabic, telling her that I couldn't be around them. She guessed I meant men and nodded, "I understand. You were…hurt right? By men?" I nodded and she sighed, but asked me to join her again. "I promise my brother, Jonathan and Mr. O'Connell will not touch you at all, not even speak if you don't want them to. I just want you to be safe. What's your name?" I thought about her words, she seemed nice enough, but it wasn't her I was worried about. "Anippe." I told her and she smiled again, holding out her hand. "I'm Evelyn. Lovely to meet you." I flinched at the word and she noticed, apologizing.
After a moment, the men returned and she got up, telling them to stay back and they needed to talk. I got to my feet and looked at the crowd of people leaving the other side of the river, I could swim across and go a different way, but then again, there was way less men on this side currently. "Anippe, we are leaving. Are you coming?" I nodded and I stayed by her side, away from the others until we reached the village. They went off to buy some camels for the travel and Evelyn and I were taken to get some new clothes. We were both dressed in black light clothes, easy to breathe in and move around.
"Are you coming with us?" I paused as I saw her brother and O'Connell heading our way. "I owe your brother my life, I have to repay it." I told her and she blinked, realizing that I could speak English. "Jonathan? He saved you?" I nodded and we both looked at him, it was just an accident, but still, he was the reason I was alive. She went to tell them to get another camel for me and soon after we were on the way again. I knew I didn't want to go to the city of the dead, but if that's where Jonathan was going, I needed to go and quickly repay my debt to him before I was truly able to be free.
So here we are now, the other group had joined us as we were waiting for the City to reveal itself to us. Something was said about a bet and then the race took off, I reacted and rushed after Evelyn and the others. She was the first in the city and I was not to far behind her. We found a spot for camp and she told me to stay her while they go to look for an entrance. I wasn't sure since there was a lot of people around, but O'Connell handed a pistol to me. "Shoot anyone that comes near you that you don't want to." was all he said and they went off, making me wondering if he was different than others.
I sat on the blanket, watching all the people working and digging, seeing Evelyn and the others in the distance, she must know of a secret entrance or something. I felt eyes on me and I tightened my grip on the gun, I wasn't even sure how to shoot this thing. I turned and looked around, but there was no one near me, it seemed like most of them were underground now. So why did I feel these eyes on me, it was so close. I stayed there for hours and hours, letting the day pass by and it was nightfall when the others returned. Evelyn told me what happened to the prison warden and I couldn't help but feel some joy, he didn't seem like a good man, I felt the same way around him that I did around the Master, it was terrible.
They continued to talk about it when I felt a shiver and felt the eyes on me again. I stood up, taking a few steps and looking around, I needed to figure this out. Jonathan let out a shout, scaring all of us and pulling out a broken bottle. I heard horses in the distance and O'Connell did too, handing Evelyn a gun and telling us all to stay here. I wasn't sure what the feeling was, but I felt my feet moving forward and following after Evelyn and Jonathan.