There's A Fine Line Between Coincidence & Fate ✓

Chapter 26

We entered into the curator's office and I was immediately on edge. Ardeth sensed the change in me and drew his sword, ready to face off any attack. I placed a hand on his arm, there would be no reason to fight. "Hello James, Edward. It's been a while." I said, a sad smile on my lips. Sheathing his sword, Ardeth relaxed at my introduction. I had shared many stories of the adventures my siblings and I got into growing up and immediately recognized the names of two of my older brothers.

"Peggy!" I paused at the look of relief that came across both of their faces before they stepped up to me and pulled me into a tight hug. I couldn't help myself, I started to cry. I didn't realize just how much I missed my family until they were standing before me. It was easier when I didn't think about them. It made it hurt less.

"What are you doing here? Why are you here?" I couldn't help but ask. I sent up a quick prayer that it was only them and I wouldn't be confronted with the whole brood today. This was already going to be an emotional and stressful time.

"We hadn't heard from you or Jack in months. Mom was getting worried." James started to explain.

"I think you mean crazy." Edward butted in.

"Yes well, when we still hadn't heard anything, Edward and I volunteered to come to Egypt to find out what was going on. Most of the people we asked had no idea who you and Jack even are, let alone where you could be. We finally decided to check with the museum since, if you were going to go on a dig, you probably would have stopped here. Where's Jack? The curator wouldn't tell us anything and I don't see him with you." James said while Edward looked down the hall, just in case he was waiting outside.

I didn't want to tell them like this, but I couldn't keep the tears inside anymore. I broke down and thankfully, Ardeth was there to catch me before I collapsed to the ground. He pulled me to him, rubbing my back in comfort, whispering to me in Arabic that it would be ok and that I was strong enough to tell them what really happened. I slowly calmed down, tears no longer falling like a downpour and went to sit in one of the armchairs. I didn't miss the suspicious look that my brothers gave Ardeth, but I would get to that in a bit. I motioned for them to sit, which they did, before I took a deep breath. Ardeth placed a hand on my shoulder in comfort before walking to the door, taking Nasir and the curator with him. I understood what he was doing, leaving me to tell my brothers exactly what happened. I knew he wouldn't be too far away. Honestly, I would be shocked if he didn't stay right in front of the door the whole time.

"What I'm about to tell you is not to be spoken of outside of this room. You can't tell Mama or Papa, you can't tell Sarah, James, no one else can know. If you can agree to this, I'll tell you everything that has happened since Jack and I left home. If not, I'm walking out, and you'll never see me again. Can you agree to those terms?" I said, doing my best to summon my inner "mama" with her no-nonsense attitude that could get us to do anything. They looked like they wanted to argue but recognizing the look on my face, decided against it. They nodded.

"Good." I went on to tell them everything that had happened since Jack and I left over a year ago. I stopped myself right before I got to Jack's death. "This next part isn't going to be easy to tell you and you're really not going to like it but it's what happened. We had gotten back to Cairo and Bernard had just been taken from us. The previous curator and Ardeth explained what was happening as best they could and the rest of us returned to the fort where Rick and Jonathan left us to go find the Egyptologist who had been part of our group. Jack and Rick had locked me and Evy in her room before leaving Jack and Daniels to watch us. At some point Daniels left to go get a drink and Imhotep came for Jack. I could hear him screaming from the bedroom, but the door was locked from the outside, so I had no way of getting to him. When Rick and Jonathan got back and opened the door, I saw him. He looked exactly like Bernard did, every fluid in his body sucked from him. And his face was frozen with his last scream. It was the worst thing I've ever seen and probably will ever see." I had to stop there. "We went back to the museum after that. Evy figured out a way to stop the creature. But Imhotep had turned the citizens of the city into his mindless army, and they attacked. We got away but in the ensuing chase, Daniels was taken and killed. Evy was then taken by the Creature and we were left to be killed." I went on to explain the rest of what happened, strategically leaving out what had transpired between Ardeth and myself in the sewers.

I briefly explained my connection to Sekhmet that had started me on this journey and how it was my purpose to protect the chieftain of the Medjai, Ardeth. They looked at me with a mixture of awe and fury that I had put myself in harms way. "And then everything was over. Rick, Evy and Jonathan sent Imhotep back to the Underworld and Ardeth took me back to his people to explain what happened." I finished my tale, physically and emotionally drained.

"Well, that's all well and good, but why didn't you come home afterward? Mama has been beside herself with worry. Her and Pop almost came themselves. Thankfully, we were able to talk them out of that." Now they were angry.

"I wasn't in a place where I could deal with my own grief, let alone everyone else's. Jack was my twin and the only reason he was over here and involved with this was because of me. I was in a dark place for months." I attempted to defend my actions.

"And you didn't think that we deserved a chance to grieve? Jack was our brother too." Edward said.

"Of course I did! But for once, I was going to do something just for me. I didn't want to have to worry about making sure everyone else was grieving and not allow myself to do the same." I took a breath and realized that Edward and I were in each other's faces. Out of all the siblings, we were the most likely to throw punches because of an argument. Sensing this, James pushed in between us, forcing us to sit back down. Taking a deep breath, I continued. "I needed time to process. I wasn't sure if I was ever going to tell y'all that I was alive, because that would've meant acknowledging that Jack wasn't, but now I don't have a choice. I'm alive, I'm well, for the most part. Thank you for checking in." I made to get up to go join Ardeth outside and continue with the rest of our plans for today when Edward reached out and grabbed my arm, forcing me to stop.

"Where do you think you're going? We're taking you home." He informed me.

"Oh are you? Cause last I checked, I was an adult and not your child. I don't have to go anywhere with you, least of all home. This is my home now. I'm staying in Egypt." I told him defiantly.

"There's nothing for you here. Come home. Mom misses you. Dad hardly smiles anymore." James pleaded with me.

"You're wrong. There's one very important reason I'm staying in Egypt." I said, finally extending my hand to show them my wedding band. They both gasped in shock.