Imhotep was walking aimlessly by Nile's bank. He wouldn't put his hands on the book again so easily. Why was everything so hard for him? Past memories surrounded his mind.
He was a young teenager. Even though he was supposed to succeed his father as a High Priest, He recruited himself in the army and became a skillful soldier. In an afternoon, he saw a girl at his age picking water on the river. He approached her while she continued doing her task, pretending he was invisible. Her clothing wasn't expensive. Maybe she was the daughter of some merchant.
– You, give me water. – He ordered her.
– No. – She said putting the vase on her shoulder.
– I'm a soldier.
– And I'm not your servant – She sniggered and left.
That was sassy. But he wasn't going to give up. Next day he tried to talk with her again, and the day after, but she never cared about him. One afternoon he lay down near the river's bank, weary, after helping his father at the temple and fighting. He dozed off and when he woke up, someone was sat beside him. It was the sassy girl. She had a jar and a cup of water in her hands.
– Drink it, soldier – She offered the water to him – You look tired.
He accepted. They talked and she even took care of his wounds. They became friends and soon they became lovers. She was the daughter of a scribe, and her name was Amunet.
Imhotep wished to propose her. His father approved. Maybe with a wife his son would give up on the army. Amunet's parents were thrilled, but still Imhotep couldn't offer a comfortable life for her. So they agreed that Amunet would be promised to Imhotep, as his fiancée for a while.
Whenever Imhotep returned from a battle, Amunet welcomed him warmly. He used to buy her gifts and she wore them with proud and love. They finally got married. One day, Imhotep's infantry was called to fight in the South, away from his wife. It was a bloody battle, but Imhotep survived. It was a long trip back home. When he arrived, his city was sacked. The invaders have made a surprise attack. He looked for Amunet, but he didn't find her. Witnesses told him his young wife had been killed and her body thrown on the river. They searched, but there was no trace of her.
He prayed for the gods that she would be still alive, and then he prayed for them to have mercy on her soul. He gave up on the army. Why fight for Egypt if he couldn't protect the ones he loved the most?
Back in the present, Imhotep looked at the river which brought and took his love away. If Amunet had lived, their lives would have been short, but truly happy.
In that night, He drifted thinking about Amunet.
When Imhotep opened his eyes, everything was light. He was at the Nile's bank again, but its waters were white. His head was resting on a woman's lap. Was she Amunet?
– Trust what you see, my beloved. – Amunet smiled to him.
– Amunet! – He touched her face. Her hair was long now and she seemed peaceful.
– Your prayers – A tear rolled her cheek – I'm so sorry.
– No, It's my fault. – He told her.
– Please, Imhotep, don't hurt my girl! She needs help! Please help her! – Amunet cried and vanished.
A woman dressed in black veils seized Imhotep. He heard Helena crying. He escaped the darkness woman and woke up. He knew she was coming for Helena too.
On the next morning, Alex and Lin were returning China. Although Alex wanted to help his parents, he had to keep an eye on his mummy too.
– Will you be all right? – Alex touched his sister's chin.
– Yea, stay cool. – Angelica answered him.
– I might get a cold.
They both laughed and Alex and Lin left.
Some moments after, Ardeth came into the O'Connells house.
– Good morning. I need help. A creature was unleashed from hell.
– You know – Rick sighed – I wish I could say "I'm glad to see you" one day.
Ardeth told them Bakir had summoned a dark force. Maybe she was Anput, the wife of Anubis, or maybe Hecate or Hel… A death conductor, a "grim reaper" for the lost souls. Bakir was dead now, and maybe the creature was coming for Imhotep and Helena.
Angelica rang the Crawford's manor bell. Her parents and Ardeth were behind her. She was nervous. Helena opened the door. Anck su namun looked worried when she saw the O'Connells.
– We came in peace! – Angelica told them – I mean… to help! Well… Something really bad is coming to…
– We already know that. – Imhotep appeared putting an arm around Anck su namun's shoulder – We don't need your help.
They heard a loud howl. The Darkness lady, Anput, was there. She laced Imhotep and Helena with ropes. Her jackals rushed to Rick, Ardeth and Anck su namun as they tried to stop her. Evelyn rushed to the car. She had a bright idea. Hashim appeared. Angelica and Hashim cut Imhotep's and Helena's ropes. Evelyn lit the car headlights on Anput and she vanished with her jackals.
–You were saying? – Angelica asked Helena.
–We got the book of Amon-Ra, okay? – Helena told her
–They don't need our help – Ardeth told Angelica.
–But Helena…
– Enough Angie! – Helena shouted – Thank you, but I'm not the stupid girl who dated Lucky Jay anymore. I know what I'm doing this time!
– Let's go. – Evelyn told Angelica, holding her shoulders and conducting her to the car. Imhotep closed the door.
–Damn – Angelica pressed her eyes and started to knock at the door.
– Angelica! By the God's sake! – Rick cried.
–Hell Helena! – Angelica cried – Remember after your parents died and my dad rescued you from Lucky Jay? – Angelica was screaming at the closed door – You told me that everything you touched died! And I told you…
–You told me you weren't dead yet! – Helena shouted as she opened the door with tears on her eyes – That we'd stand together until the damn end!
–And that was a goddamn promise! – A tear rolled Angelica's cheek – You told me the same thing when my mother died! Maybe you didn't mean it, but I did!
Helena hugged Angelica.
–I'm cursed! – Helena told her.
–Just because your parents were… Bonnie and Clyde from Ancient Egypt, it doesn't mean you're cursed.
The O'Connells stared at Imhotep and Anck su namun. Those girls wouldn't be easily separated.
In the evening, they all went to The Baron's Palace. Outside it, Hashim was being scolded by Ardeth.
–You are a desert man, not a city boy. Come back now.
–I am more useful in here.
Ardeth stared at the most obstinate of his children.
–You want to stay near her. – Ardeth looked at a window. He saw Helena.
–I…
–She's cursed. You must forget her.
–I tried, but I can't – Hashim sighed
–You have until tonight to leave. – Ardeth entered.
When Hashim was alone, Helena went to speak with him.
–Hey… Thank you for saving me. – She felt awkward.
–Anytime.
They both smiled. Hashim had a Horus falcon tattooed on his chest. Anck su namun called Helena. They got inside. Imhotep glared at them both. Angelica almost teased them. Inside, The Baron's Palace had an awful smell. There was trash everywhere and some hanged skinned cats.
– So, what's the plan? – Rick asked.
– When she comes, I'll send her back. – Imhotep was opening the book of Amun-Ra.
They waited. It was dark when they heard the sound of Anput's spectral horses. She got through a wall. When Anput saw The Book of Amun Ra, she stared motionless at Imhotep, and then she floated at his direction. Imhotep started to read. Her 3 jackals attacked Hashim, Ardeth, and Rick. Helena and Anck su namun stood behind Imhotep. Evelyn rushed at Anput, but the goddess pushed her with a move of her hands. Anput seized Angelica by her neck and Angelica took one her veils off.
– Damn! – Angelica cried - You're one ugly bitch!
– Angelica! – Evelyn scolded her.
Half of Anput's face was in terrible decomposition. Some of her face bones were visible. She let go of Angelica to cover her face again. A vain gesture for such creature. She roared and rushed at Helena and Imhotep, but he had already read the spell. A deep fissure opened on the floor and the jackals were sucked into it. Anput grabbed Helena's ankle as she was being sucked to hell. Angelica held her friend and Evelyn held Angelica. Soon, Evelyn was holding the edge of the deep fissure in one hand and Angelica in the other.
–Evy, stop! You're going to fall! – Angelica cried at her.
–I'm not losing you again!
–Hold my hand! – Anck su namun raised her hand to Evelyn.
–Rick! – Evelyn cried, she didn't trust Anck su namun
Rick rushed to help his wife, but Evelyn fell with the girls and the deep fissure was closed when he arrived. He yelled for Evelyn, but there was no answer.
–Summon them back! – Rick roared at Imhotep.
–I can't! They're not deities! – Imhotep was dismayed.
–Where did they go? – Anck su namun asked apprehensively.
– Duat – Imhotep said.
– If they're alive, they're in hell. – Ardeth explained Rick.
– It's not as simple as your monotheism! – Imhotep told him – The Duat is more than hell. It's a journey filled with limbo, hell, and heaven in one place. Another world where nothing is what it seems.
– Another world, uh? I know who can help then. – Rick told them and rushed to his car.
Carlos woke up with someone knocking at his door. It was Rick, Imhotep and Anck su namun.
– I need your help – Rick said.
– You need my help with what? – Carlos told him, still asleep. His beard was badly shaved and he looked terrible.
– Angelica.
Carlos laughed.
– Angelica? Oh no, she has you now. I feed her and raised her until she was 18, but who cares? she has Helena! – He shouted - You're the father! She's your problem. – He poured some whiskey in a glass.
– Now I know why they'd rather live alone. – Anck su namun said.
Imhotep made the whiskey burst into flames. Rick grabbed Carlos by his shirt collar.
– You own me a whiskey. – Carlos slurred at Imhotep.
– Listen up! My daughter and my wife are in hell right now, and you're going to help me to get them back. You own that to Angelica! – Rick yelled at Carlos.
– Wait what do you mean by hell? – Carlos asked.
They explained him everything. Carlos picked up a spring wire.
– The universe is like this spring. – He stretched the string before them– Each curve of it is a dimension, a world. They're all parallels, you see? So they are nearer than we can imagine. We just need to discover its frequency to get there.
Carlos picked up his radio and other machines.
– Is he really reliable? He may be crazy. – Anck su namun said.
– Or really wise. It makes sense. – Imhotep told her.
– He did it once, he can do it again. – Rick told them, not believing they were sitting together.