Chapter Seven
Larry pauses uncertainly in his explanation, before turning his attention to Theodore Roosevelt. The president is making his way over to us on his horse. Rebecca and Larry exchange concerned glances.
"You're still awake?" Nick asks, more rhetorically than anything.
"It would appear so." Teddy responds.
Soon, the exhibits begin to file back in to the main hall, some wearing expressions of confusion. Others marvel at the sunrise just starting to stain the sky, something I imagine not a lot of them have seen before. Sacagawea join us by the main doors, gazing out at the dark blue sky, faintly lit by the golden sun beneath.
"Why are we still awake?" she asks.
"We're asking the same question." Larry replies.
"Can I go get some air?"
Larry turns to me, "Are you feeling okay?"
"A little dizzy. I think the breeze would feel good."
"Nick, go with her, please." Larry says.
"Sure."
Nick smiles at me, and we walk out the front doors into the brisk morning air. No sooner has the chilly air filled up my lungs, the air is knocked out of me. I gasp for breath, collapsing to my knees as the gold seeps into my eyes again.
"Holy crap. Alex? Alex!"
I can feel Nick attempt to put his hand on my arm, but he jerks it back. Shaking off the electricity from his fingertips, he rushes inside to get help. I'm alone, laying paralyzed outside of the front doors of the Natural History Museum. Not something I ever thought I would do. I'm finding it rather hard to breathe, choking on nothing. Moments later, Larry and Rebecca come outside with Nick.
"Get her back inside!" Larry commands.
Nick scoops me up in his arms, ignoring the electricity. Rebecca holds the door open, and Nick carries me through the doors. As soon as we enter, air blows back into me. The gold trickles away, and I can feel tingling sensations starting in my fingertips and toes. Nick sets me down on Rexy's pedestal as Wea rushes forward.
"Why did that happen?" she asks, more frantic than I've ever heard her.
"I don't know!" Larry replies, again sounding as if he's on the verge of tears.
"How is it that she can affect us?"
"It's the tablet. We need Ahk. Nick, go get-"
"I'm already here."
The pharaoh's calm, commanding voice rings throughout the main hall. I have no idea what's going on. Affecting them? How?
"Ahk, it happened again and I don't know what's going on-"
"Larry. My guess is as good as yours. Please, remain calm."
"This is my niece! I'm in charge of her and it's my job to make sure she stays safe and unharmed! Does she look unharmed to you?"
"No, I will admit that she doesn't. But I do have an idea."
Ahk steps forward, picking me up and carrying me towards his exhibit. Larry trails behind, likely not letting anyone else near me. He can be awfully protective sometimes. The pharaoh strides down several hallways. I can hear his heartbeat in my ear, beating rather quickly, but it's still calming. Ahk sets me down on his sarcophagus, allowing my head to rest on his shoulder.
"Are you feeling better?" he asks.
It takes a second for my brain to wake up far enough to transition into Arabic.
"A little. Do you know what she meant by my affecting them?"
"When you left the museum, we all went back to sleep. As soon as you came back in, everyone woke up again. I do believe the tablet has inexplicably tied itself to you."
"But I don't want it to be tied to me! How do we stop it?"
"I do not know."
"Hello? What are you saying?" Larry says, trying hard not to be mean.
"Just trying to figure this out." Ahk replies cooly.
"Could you figure it out in English?" Larry shoots back.
"Sorry." I mumble.
"I'm not upset with you, Alex." Larry says, giving Ahk a pointed look.
"How is this my fault?" the pharaoh asks, raising an eyebrow.
"You tell me. You're the one that knows the most about the tablet!"
"I don't know all of it. If anyone, the person who would know the most would be my-"
Ahk cuts himself off with a pained expression.
"Father." Larry finishes apprehensively.
Didn't Larry say something about how Ahkmenrah's parents are in the British museum?
"Yes. He knows the most." Ahk looks like he's in physical pain.
"Well then. Why don't we go back to the British museum?"
"Larry, you don't know what you're saying."
"Oh, I assure you, I do. If flying back to London is going to help Alex, then I'll do it. And you'll come with us."
"Is it even safe for me to fly?"
"It will be fine."
Even Larry doesn't look very sure about his response, but he continues anyways, "We'll pack you in the sarcophagus, and Alex and I will fly."
"But, Larry. There was such trouble last time with the museum transfer-" Ahk protests.
"If we make you leave at dawn, we won't even have to worry about staying into the next full day. Your father will be able to figure out what's wrong with the tablet, and then we can fix Alex, and leave."
Ahk still looks unconvinced.
"He doesn't have to." I mumble.
"Nonsense. Of course he does. His tablet did this to you, we need to figure it out."
"If that's what you want, then I suppose I can't object, can I?" Ahkmenrah asks sarcastically, glaring at Larry.
"I'm going to buy three plane tickets when I get home, one for Nick too. Don't bring anyone. This is a quick trip, in and out. We're not even going to worry about getting permission from McPhee. Not that he would give it. But that's not important. Alex, we need to go home."
"Do you really think it's a good idea for her to go home?"
"I…" Larry pauses.
"Please, leave her with me. She will be safer here."
Larry stares at Ahk for a moment, visibly weighing the options in his head.
"Oh, fine. I'll be coming back in a few hours. I'm going to try and get us tickets for today, so we can be to the museum by tonight. The flight is about seven hours, so we'll be there by this evening."
"How will you be able to get us tickets that fast?"
"I know some people. It'll be fine. Try and get some sleep, okay? You can sleep on the plane, too, but I know you don't like to do that."
I manage a weak smile up at him. He returns it with one of his own. My uncle bends down and kisses my forehead.
"Be safe."
"I will." I reply.
"The museum will be closed for a few extra hours this morning anyways, it's a Sunday. We can get out quick without drawing too much attention. Ahk, please don't tell anyone about this. Nick and I will get ready, and pick you two up in a few hours. I'll make Rebecca stay here with you guys for today until I come, in case you…"
He trails off. He's referring to my fainting spells. It would be nice to have Rebecca here anyways, just in case.
"We'll be fine, Larry. Go."
Larry gives us one last concerned look, and strides out of the exhibit. Ahkmenrah is still cradling me against his chest, but I'm feeling a lot better. I know he prefers Arabic, so I resolve to speak his language.
"Can we go look at the sunrise? They always make me feel better."
"You're awake at that time?" he asks quizzically.
"I don't really sleep at night. I like to watch the sunrise in the morning. I fall asleep to the sunlight."
He chuckles, "No harm there, I suppose. I can guarantee you've seen more sunrises than I have."
I smile, and he picks me up again. He makes it seem like carrying another body is rather easy. He exits the exhibit. Instead of turning down the hall, however, he retreats further back into the secluded hallway. There is a door at the end. I hadn't bothered to read the sign before now, but it is clearly marked "ROOF". Ahk opens the door and carries me up the stairs, pushing open another door and walking us out into the dim sunlight. The view from up here is incredible, the sky is brightening into shades of purple, orange, and pink, and the sun is peeking through the leaves of the trees in Central Park.
I feel the tugging of my breath leaving my lungs, and I clutch his robes as I prepare for the choking sensation, but it doesn't come. It seems whatever it is that is affecting me has begun to normalize. He freezes until I nod my head that I'm alright. His face melts into a look of relief.
"I knew it." he breathes.
"Knew what?"
"The tablet and you… You've somehow gained its powers. I can walk in the sunlight with you."
I pause as his words sink in. The tablet, which only brought them to life at night, has suddenly been shifted into overdrive. It works during daylight, too, and all because of me.
"Does that mean that the exhibits inside have fallen back asleep?"
"Yes, but only temporarily, until we go back inside."
We lapse into silence. He has sat down on top of an electrical box, and set me down next to him. I can sit on my own, but his hand is still on my thigh. I try to subtly get his hand off of me, but he notices.
"Please, I have to be in contact with you for this to work."
"Oh. I thought…"
"I assure you, Alexandria, I am a perfect gentlemen. Nothing to worry about."
I can feel a blush creep up my cheeks. Of course he isn't interested in me. Duh. Now that he mentions it, I can feel a dull electric current tingling where his fingers are. I'm keeping him alive right now? What a scary thought. A brisk morning breeze blows over us, chilling me. I slide a little closer to him. His fingertips trail up my leg and around my waist, pulling me closer to keep the cold air away. His touch sends electric currents through my veins. A yawn escapes my mouth before I can swallow it. Ahk notices, and chuckles.
"The sun is making you tired?"
"It always does. Those warm rays are hard to resist."
"You can sleep if you'd like. Larry spoke as if you don't like to sleep on airplanes?"
"No, I don't. Maybe I should fall asleep…"
Just as I begin to get comfortable against him, though, the door bangs open behind us. We turn around to find Rebecca. She blushes, mistakenly thinking that we were having a "moment", but she quickly remembers her original purpose.
"Everyone in the museum just went back to sleep where they were standing. Ahk, I don't know what the tablet is doing, but-"
"Relax, Rebecca. It's controlled by Alexandria. We can come back inside, if you'd like."
She blinks, "Well, I, uh, yes. Yes, I would like that, please. Wea and I were in the middle of a very interesting conversation about Westward Expansion."
"How exciting." Ahk says drily, with a small smirk.
Rebecca realizes how nerdy that sentence was, and flashes a sheepish grin. His hand slips back to my arm. I can pinpoint exactly where his touch is, it leaves a burning sensation across my skin. Not a bad feeling, but a strange one.
"Can you walk back inside?"
"I think so."
We stand, him taking my hand and helping me back inside. I feel like an old woman. Not like arthritis, but very, very tired. But at the same time, I feel more alive than I've ever been. This is weird. I can only hope that Ahk's parents can shed some light on the situation. Our trio crosses back through the roof door, a tingling sensation spreading over my skin as the museum awakens around us. Ahk lets go of my hand, as being back inside the museum seems to extend my powers throughout the building. It's nerve-wracking to think that I'm the one controlling the lives of these people. If we can break this bond between the tablet and me, I'll do it, no matter the cost. Rebecca has continued on down the hallway, but Ahk has stopped by his exhibit.
"I'd like you to see something. Come inside?"
"Lead the way."
I follow him inside of his exhibit, where the two jackal guards bow at our entrance. He leads me to the back of the exhibit, where the tablet has been hung back on its place above Ahk's sarcophagus. He gently lifts it from its frame, gazing down at its shimmering gold surface.
"Can you read the glyphs along the top, here?"
I peer over his shoulder, quickly analyzing the golden drawings.
"It says that when reunited with life blood, power will be restored. What does that mean?"
"To be truthful, I haven't the slightest idea. I think it has to do with you. I think my parents will know what it means."
My eyes roam the tiles of the tablet, each one designed to bestow a gift upon Ahkmenrah. Strength, courage, kindness, integrity, patience, confidence, compassion, and happiness. The one in the middle seems to be the most important, it stands for eternal life. The engravings around the edges of the tablet say something about using the power of the mind to make the tablet do your bidding. It says that if one has good intentions, anything is possible. I look back up at him to find him gazing down at the tablet.
"This tablet was crafted by the High Priest of Egypt under the light of Khonsu, the moon god. The tablet is merely a vessel for his power. Did you know that the priest gave his life for this tablet? His powers were affected by the tablet, which was powered by moonlight. I think that his powers have been transferred to you."
"Why would it be doing that? Why me?"
"I don't know. I wish I did. This tablet has surprised me over and over again. As soon as I think I have it figured out, it throws another mystery into my face. An everlasting enigma."
I hum my agreement. We sit for a moment, gazing at it.
"This tablet. This has been my heartbeat for thousands upon thousands of years. When I died, this tablet sparked to life so quickly I barely had time to be dead. To enjoy my new peaceful existence. But by then, I had been buried in my tomb. As a result, it brought me to life, as it was designed to do, at each moonrise, and killed me at the first touch of morning. But there was nothing to live for. Nothing inside that dark sarcophagus."
He looks up at me, an unexpected look of pain filling his darkening eyes. His voice comes out as barely over a whisper.
"Do you have any idea what it feels like to have your organs fail every sunrise? To die over and over again? To have the only way of telling time be when you wake up and when you die? Soon, it's impossible to keep time. The weeks stretch into months, and then the months stretch into years, and the years stretch into centuries. Because you're wrapped in bandages, stuffed in a sarcophagus, and buried beneath the Earth's surface. No one knew I was alive. No one knew that I could still breath, walk, talk. But all I ever breathed, over those thousands of years, was my own rotting stench. I couldn't walk. The only person I had to talk to was myself. And the walls would close in on me every morning as I felt the wind escaping my lungs, and the stab wounds in my chest would burn but I had no blood left to bleed. Because I was dead. Do you have any idea what that feels like? To have your life controlled by a hunk of metal?"
He is practically glowing with the amount of passion radiating from him. His knuckles have turned white from clutching his tablet. His eyes have darkened almost to black, and his chest is rising and falling so quickly I'm having a hard time keeping up. I almost reach out to touch him, but he looks too upset. I don't want to hurt him even more. Ahk gazes scornfully down at the tablet in his hands, something that he so highly regarded only a few minutes ago. A sick feeling pits in my stomach. After all, am I not the same thing? If I leave him, I'll kill him. The weight on my shoulders grows substantially heavier. The lives of the exhibits in this museum are dependent on me. I'm the one now causing the pharaoh's pain. Ahk has as much reason to hate me as he does the tablet. No. I don't want that. We need to get to Ahk's parents soon, so they can undo this mess.
"Ahk, I, I'm sorry."
I tentatively reach out and touch his arm. My touch seems to bring him back to his senses. He blinks, his eyes returning to their normal chocolate brown color, and he releases the tight grip he has on the tablet.
"Alexandria, I apologize. You didn't need to see that."
"It's alright. Now I understand. I understand why you hate that thing. I understand why you hate-"
I cut myself off. I can't bring myself to say it.
"Hate what?" he asks, inquisitive eyes searching mine.
Me.
hi! I'm back! tbh I loved writing Ahk's part I like getting to see another part of his story. trust me, there will be plenty of Ahk's back story to go around in later chapters. anyways, hello and THANK YOU to The Time Vulcan, , RorschachinBlueJeans, jess114, To the Redwoods, Stroylover, ElithaAndWest, mushastar128, MakaylaDevine (THANK YOU for favoriting me!), La Clair, angel'slittledemon, and KateVeen. YOU ALL ARE THE BEST and I love you all so much! seriously you all are killing me with your overwhelming support, and I absolutely loved reading your reviews oh my gosh those never fail to make me smile. I hope you enjoyed this chapter, please don't hesitate to review and tell me if you like it! thanks for reading, please remember to review, favorite, and follow! much love to you all :)