The Cries of the Dead (A Moon Knight Inspired Fan-fiction)

Chapter Fourteen: Golden

"Lia, watch out!"

The words seemed to get lost in the wind as Steven reached towards Lia. Everything happened in slow motion.

He watched in horror as the cobra raised its head and clamped its fangs against her ankle.

Lia's face scrunched with pain and she looked down to where the snake was attached to her. Then her eyes met Steven's and the panic matched his.

He knew what a cobra's venom could do to a person. Knew that there wasn't much time before the paralysis set in.

Steven had to get her help, somehow he needed to get her back to the camp. They were so far away now that the tents were barely visible and there were no cars around.

Oh god, oh god. I don't know what to do.

His mind raced as he started to rush forward, forgetting everything. Decisions were too hard to make when he was in this state. Steven knew that he needed to calm down.

Suddenly, Lia collapsed. Please? Someone help her?

~ ~ ~

It had been a long time since Marc had woken somewhere that wasn't a bed. For a moment he scanned his surroundings, remembering that Lia had told him about seeing a tomb and camping.

The sand hills were vast and starting to blend into the darkening night sky. The full moon already provided its silver light, as the stars blinked into view.

Something caught Marc's eyes and he froze; just for a moment. "Oh my god, Ophelia?"

He stumbled the remaining steps towards her, and knelt over her seemingly lifeless body. Praying that she wasn't dead.

When he felt Ophelia's pulse he sighed with relief. But that relief didn't last long, because he spotted the cobra slithering slowly away from her.

Its unusual golden scales glimmering as it moved. Marc searched her body and found the punctures on her ankle, now understanding exactly what had happened.

Managing to stay as calm as he possibly could, Marc remembered what he'd been taught to do in these situations. He realised that there was nothing to use as a splint, but he would be able to apply pressure.

Ripping off Steven's shirt, leaving himself in a tight white t-shirt, he wrapped the material around Ophelia's ankle. Then picked her up, and carried her back to the camp.

He should have called an ambulance, but he didn't know how long it would take to arrive.

Carefully placing Ophelia in the first black jeep he found, he slid into the driver's seat and was relieved to find the keys still in the ignition.

As he started to engine, a few people ran towards the car, but he was already speeding away before they reached him.

Marc knew where the hospital was. He'd been there before, a long time ago. Right after Khonshu had saved him and he'd been sure he'd just imagined it all. But the doctors confirmed that he was fully healthy. And when the talk of what happened in the desert started, he'd had to escape the country.

When he screeched to a stop at the entrance of the building, Marc jumped out and rushed to Lia's side.

He hadn't known how long she'd been unconscious before he'd found her. But Marc assumed that Steven had seen it happen. Which was probably why Marc had appeared.

"Help," he cried out, as he burst through the doors. "Someone help?"

Nurses rushed forward, some stern faced; others concerned.