Forever Is A Long Time To Love

CHAPTER 7: The Stolen Tablet

LATER THAT NIGHT BEFORE SUNDOWN

I arrived a tad later than I normally would but that was because I was mainly avoiding Ahkmenrah. I didn't want to have another awkward run in with him. Especially seeing as I was hiding a secret from him. A very big secret. I liked him. A lot.

As I signed in with my dad for night duty, I was lost deep in thought over what I was going to do about my feelings for Ahkmenrah. I was so deep in thought that I didn't hear the approaching footsteps and subsequently, Dr McPhee came over and made me jump.

"Oh, got ya!" He joked, patting my shoulder. "How are you?" He asked.

"I'm doing okay thanks. Just still overly happy that I'm in a job that I love at last." I smiled.

"That's good. Good to hear. Listen, you remember those old night guards?" He began. I nodded, looking at him from my locker. "They're back every night. They are always watching near the Egyptian Artefacts. Can you keep an eye on them too?" He asked.

"Sure thing Dr McPhee." I replied quietly before turning away to lock my locker.

"Great. I'll err...see you about." He jittered and then walked away, leaving me alone.

After getting ready for the night to begin and watching McPhee leave, I saw that tomorrow I had to show one group around the whole museum as it was a school trip. My little brother's school. This will be fun.

TIMESKIP

The day came to a close as did my mind and I was left behind by everyone apart from my dad and Ahkmenrah. Nicky was joining us once his mum dropped him off here and then we could really party. But then something caught my attention. My head snapped round, Ahkmenrah noticing.

"What's wrong?" He asked me softly, getting dad's attention.

"Listen..." I whispered. It couldn't be right. I checked my watch which was accurate with the Museum's and dads to the second.

"I don't hear anything." Dad said.

"That's the problem. It's sundown." I said with worry. Dad and Ahk suddenly caught on as I hopped over the desk gracefully and sprinted as fast as I could to the Egyptian wing.

"Chels! Your leg! You shouldn't be running!" I heard my brother shout.

"FUCK MY LEG NICK! This is more important!" I shouted, something which I never did since my toxic relationship.

On the way we picked up Teddy, Jed, Octavius, Sacajawea, Atilla and the Civil War Brothers. What the hell was going on?

Upon reaching the exhibit, the Anubis Statues bowed to their Pharaoh, allowing us to pass and then resuming their guard duty. I was still so intrigued about everything to do with Ahkmenrah but I'd never ask him. He probably found it hard enough to fit in to this day and age anyway.

"The tablet...it's gone." Dad said.

"How will we find it?" I asked.

"Split up?" Nicky suggested. I nodded in agreement and everyone else also nodded or gave a vocal response in agreement.

"Right; Ahk you can check Ocean Life with Sacajawea. Nicky, you and I will go check south side. Teddy and Civil War brothers, you guys take the west wing. Jed, Octavius, can you guys check out back where their van is, Chelsea you check any sectors you think they'd go to." Dad said, formulating a semi-decent plan.

After splitting up, I managed to get myself lost and ended up back near the Egyptian exhibit. But that's when three shadows approached me. It was them. Who can I scream for?

"Nice to see you here Larry's kid. But your bravery is short lived. Don't mind if we just...lock up." They laughed, slamming the gates shut and locking them tight. I couldn't be trapped down here. It may be spacious to most but for someone like me who is claustrophobic, it's not that big of a space. The Anubis. Statues remained in their place, not moving and not doing anything. Why didn't they stop Cecil and the others? Either way, I was getting out of here and I was going to get out fast. It sounded hopeless but I was going to ram the gate with myself.

It took a while to prepare myself but when I eventually took the run and rammed it with my everything, it didn't budge. Just as I expected. My only choice was to call for help but who? Dad and Nick were so far away I knew they wouldn't help me.

"HELP! DAD...NICKY.....AHKMENRAH!!! I'M TRAPPED!!" I shouted in desperation.

"Chelsea!" I heard Ahks voice running down the hall. He reached me within seconds of me hearing his voice. "Who did it?" He asked me, taking my hands through the bars.

"C...Cecil and the others. Ahk get me out of here. The walls. They're closing in." I panicked, beginning to hyperventilate.

"Chelsea. Calm for me. You're claustrophobic aren't you." Ahk said.

"Yes. Dad has the keys!" I said with a still panicked voice.

"Forget the keys and get against this wall away from the gates." He began, turning to the Anubis guards. "Harraha." He snapped authoritatively. The guards raised their spears and because I didn't speak his language, I had no idea what he was saying to them. I closed my eyes, preparing to get stuck but an almighty crash was heard and I looked up to see the gates broken down by the statues. "Thank you." Ahk said, grabbing my hand and taking me with him.

We met back up with Dad and Nick who looked furious at what had happened to me. But we had more important things to hand right now. Like finding Ahkmenrah's tablet. I racked my brains until Attila came over shouting in happiness. We followed him and saw Guss and the other old dude tied to a bench by the miniature dioramas. Cecil wasn't with them. If I was to stand any chance of stopping him, I had to stop the van. "The van!" I shouted.

As myself and the group and ran as fast as our legs could carry us towards the back of the museum, I was racking together a plan for if he needed a plan B. However when I reached there, I wasn't of any use. The van was crashed and Cecil long gone. But where? An old man in the snow was no challenge.