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Chapter 4

Elisabeths POV

" So let me get this straight... They rip out your guts and stuff them in Jars?" Rick asked as Jonathan was hitting dirt rocks with a shovel.

Evy got excited and answered. "They take out your heart as well. OH! and do you know how they took out your brain?"

I gave a gross look, knowing the process, but Jonathan answered before me.

"Evy, I don't think we need to know..."

"They take a sharp red hot poker, stick it up your nose, Scramble things about and then rip it all out through your nostrils." she mimiked the process with her pick.

Rick touched his nose at the thought. "That's gotta hurt?"

"It's called Mummification. You'll be dead when they do this." Evy added.

"For the record- if I don't make it out, please don't put me down for mummification!" Rick demanded.

I was just about to move over to the corner until a large crash shook me to the ground. A large object fell from the ceiling and I stood on my feet quick to look.

"It's a socophagus!" I said, examining the artifact.

"Buried at the base of Anubus. He must have been someone of great importance." Evy stated, looking over the coffin.

I was one to believe the other option. "Or he did something very naughty."

Evy and Rick were dusting off the words that could possible identify the person inside.

Jonathan picked up a staff with a flame and moved it over the words.

"Well who is it?" he asked.

"He that...Shall not be named." Evy answered. Rick blew away sand on the large metal shape attached.

"This looks like some kind of lock." He said, pointing to it's shape.

"Looks like whatever was inside wasn't getting out." Jonathan added.

"No Kidding! It's take a month to crack into this thing without a key." Rick stated.

That caused a spark in my memory.

"A key?" I whispered, then Evy remembered about a key too and ran to Jonathans bag to retrieve the puzzlebox.

"The man on the barge, the one with the hook... He was looking for a key!" She described. She opened it and placed it perfectly on the spot. She smiled in finding out what the puzzlebox was actually used for.

A scream shook me and I began to run with Rick, Evy and Jonathan behind me. Upon exiting the room and leading into the tunnel passage I found the heavy guars run down past us, screaming and holding his head as if something was trying to burst through.

He ran all the way down with his head past his chest. He clearly had no view because his bald head slammed into the stone and he collapsed to the ground, Dead. My hands clasped in front of my mouth to hold in a scream that threatened to escape my lips.

I sat in front of the fire next to Jonathan and Evy several hours later. I stirred the fire to gather more warmth around us.

"what do you suppose killed him?" Evy asked as she wrapped herself in her blanket.

" have you ever seen him eat?" Jonathan joked, throwing small pieces of paper into the fire.

I heard Rick approach us with added news.

"seems the Americans had a mishap of their own of their diggers were...melted." he explained.

"what?" Evy asked, confused by how that could happen.

" How can that be Rick?" I asked, curious myself.

" Salt acid. Pressurized salt acid, some sort of ancient booby trap." he explained, looking about the camp.

I let out a breath I didnt realize till just then I was holding.

"Maybe this place really is cursed". Jonathan wondered.

At that moment a gust of wind blew at us. I looked up and began to wonder if that was a warning or just considence?

" oh for goodness sakes the three of you." Evy stated, bringing me out of the fog.

" don't believe in curses?" Rick asked.

" no I don't. I believe if you can see and you can touch it then it's real." Evy stated.

I smiled at her, she was one brave woman and had a backbone.

"I believe in being prepared!" Rick said and cocking a gun right in front of Evys face. I glanced a look at Rick to stop being rude.

Jonathan went into the warden's bag to find anything valuable to take. He scrambled things around and let out a painful yelp which caused Evy and myself to scream.

"My God, What is it?" Evy asked, moving away from Jonathan.

He smiled and pulled out a large bottle of wine.

"Well, he may have been a stinky fella, but he had good taste." he said and took a large sip.

I heard a low rumble on the west of the camp site. A camel made a cry, a ran ahead and climbed on side of Anubis statue. I hid my face in my shawl and watched as a flood of black scarfed men came forth attacking us. I covered Rick, Evy and Jonathan from anyone who dared attack or hurt them.

From the corner of my eye I watched Rick jump on a man who was about to kill Jonathan. His head cloak fell and i saw his face. I was mist astounded at his face. It was almost God like- full of determination and power. Rick shot away the leaders sword.

Suddenly he was distracted by a man about to stab him and I watched the leader swipe out another large sword. I jumped ahead and punched his face hard. I jumped on top of him, but he was fast and threw me over causing my shawl to unwrap and my blonde hair cascaded over my face.

I felt his blade on my throat. This was it! I squeezed my eyes shut and waited for my death.

If I knew better I thought I were already dead. Then a pain on my back ashured me I wasn't. I looked at the man, breathing heavy as I couldn't stop my heart from beating out of my chest. He stared at me in a sorrow, in an apologetic view. At that moment I felt our eyes connect and I did not feel threatened as much as I did moments ago.

"Let her go!" Rick ordered, presenting a flamed stick of dynomite.

" Enough! We'll shed no more blood!" he announced, then warned " leave this place or die. You have one day!"

The blade left my throats hollow and his weight left my body. I quickly gathered myself up and watched the man in black begin his descent. He looked my direction and said several words in Arabic. I nodded and watched his horse and other members of his men gallup west away from the camp.

" Evelyn, are you alright?" he asked Evy as she rubbed the back of her head. She promised that she was fine.

" How about you beauty?" I heard Henderickson asked and looked at my neck. I didn't realize I was bleeding from a slight cut on my neck.

" Just a scratch." I said, giving him a dirty look.

" That proves it. SETI'S treasures got to be under that sand"

" No, these men are desert people. They value water! Not gold." Rick explained.

Burns walked next to Rick asking to group for the night and Rick was basically giving a no way look.

I took a deep breath and moved over to our camp.

"Lisa. You alright?" Rick asked, grasping my arm.

" I'm good. You ok?" I asked, making sure he was unharmed.

" yeah...thanks. You're always there to watch my neck." He mentioned.

"Always have, Always will." I stated. I was about to walk off until he gripped me into a hug.

I smiled andwalked over to my spot I sat before and began to clean my gun.

"That guy, The leader. He looked at you and said something to you... We're you able to translate it?" he asked.

I got uneasy remembering the words he said.

" He sent his apologies for causing harm against me. warned again that we should leave." I answered and went back to cleaning my gun from the powder and dust.

I reloaded it and placed it under my pillow.

I looked up some time later to see Jonathan passed out hugging the bottle of wine close. Rick looked to have drank some wine as well, and Evy was as drunk as a sailor.

Evy looked at Rick, a gleam in her eyes, perhapse the wine got to her head, or she swooned him so.

"I'm about to kiss you, Mr. O'Connell." she said, in a smooth voice.

He grinned and leaned his arm on his knee. "Call me Rick."

She smiled and repeated his name. She closed her eyes and leaned forward, then a soft snore escaped as she collapsed on Ricks chest.

I let out a soft giggle and laid on my blanket.

He held up a finger in threat. "Not a word." he said.

I closed my eyes and in my mind All I visioned was the dark man.

Ardeths POV

Once my men were out view, they asked what they were to do next.

"Go back to the camp. I'll keep guard of the tomb." I ordered.

They scattered back and I watched as fires died in the camps I watched.

I lead my horse down to Hamunaptra, to the women in blue. She laid sleeping in the open, nothing but a pillow under her head. Her blonde hair, which I've never seen on a women. It shimmered, even under the moons light. Slight goosebumps shivered her rest. He grasped the standing blanket at her feet and laid it over her.

I watched as the man in her group, the one who threatened us with dynamite, was asleep with both his arms and legs crossed and two shotguns under his shoulders.

I was right, he was a strong man and cared about the women dear. His affection for the woman in black was obvious, but what was the woman in blue? Both he and the woman in blue were american, but not involved with the other men on the other side of the camp. Siblings? I'm not sure.

I jumped on my horse and rode back to the desert with the moonlight leading my way.

Elisabeths POV

I opened my eyes hearing a horse neighing in the distance, and I realized my body was warm in the cold air. My blanket had been draped over me, but how? Rick hadn't moved from the position I last saw him, and Jonathan was passed out.

I drew my eyes over to the empty desert to see the man in black gallup away.

I laid back down knowing for the moment ...I was in safe hands on both sides.

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LisaBGreen