Anything For You

4: Class, Voice and Worries (Not all in that order)

-Nicky's POV-

I sprinted down the hall. I could almost hear Natalie behind me. I was outstripping her pace; I was that freaked out. Dexter was nowhere to be seen. Stupid capuchin.

I turned the corner and ran into Dad. Our heads collided. I winced at the sickening thunk. Then I staggered back, holding my head in my hands.

"Nicky, where's Natalie?" He asked.

"She's right behind-" I turned around. Natalie was no where to be seen. "Dang it. She must have stayed in the Egyptian wing. So she heard this creepy voice and took off to go explore. I followed her. We ended up in the Egyptian wing, and heard the scary metal voice call her name. I told her to come back, and left. I assumed she was behind me," I explained. Dad face palmed.

"You didn't bother to check for yourself?" He asked. I shook my head. I still hadn't sprung some stuff I'd been meaning to tell him. But it could wait.

"She sounded close," I muttered. And Natalie really had. She had sounded close enough to touch. Why hadn't I looked over my shoulder?

"Come on, Nicky!" Dad said. He sounded frustrated. I knew that tone of voice. He was maybe a bit frightened. He took off, heading for he Egyptian wing. I followed close behind.

***-Natalie's POV-

I was still talking to Ahkmenrah. He seemed normal for a dead guy. I wasn't a mask person. Once I started talking to someone really friendly, I told them my whole story. And he was desperate for a friend.

"They didn't let me out for 54 years. I'd never been out of my tomb before. And I was forced to sit there and hope, just hope, that someday soon, someone would let me out, and I could be free. I was claustrophobic, so that didn't help. Screamed a bit. Well, a lot." Ahkmenrah's voice sounded bitter. I felt bad. That was a horrible story. And I couldn't imagine Teddy being so cruel. But I didn't doubt it happened. Ahkmenrah sounded so sad. I lightly punched him in the shoulder. He raised his eyebrows. I grinned.

"Dude, stop with all the sad stuff! I bet my back story's better," I said. "More depressing." He smiled back faintly.

"So, I didn't know my parents. They were like all instituted high up in the government, and maybe they felt like they owed something to me or crap like that. So I went to foster care till I was ten. Then I got placed in a sort of, well, boring place, while I went to school till I turned 16. Then I got kicked out onto the streets. It was awful. People threw things at you wherever you went, and called you names like street rat, and other stuff, worse stuff. And did I mention that this was the middle of winter? It's almost Christmas. So I was sitting in a refrigerator box, with food nowhere in sight. And...I didn't believe I could live anymore. That nothing was worth loving for. It was so cold. I didn't have a proper coat, only a thin cotton jacket.

"My last day out there was the worst. You see, fights happen often on the streets of New York. I had never been in one, but it looked nasty. But my last day, I got caught in one. Some guy claimed I owed him money, and they beat me when I said I didn't have it. Some guy interfered and took me to Larry, who had adopted me without my knowing it. And then we went to the museum, and strings finally seemed to turn around for me. I would have been dead this year, maybe this week, if not for Larry."

Ahkmenrah never got his chance to comment. The sour wind suddenly blew forcefully into the chamber. I gasped at the timing, when Ahkmenrah stiffened. I looked over at him. He was deathly pale, and breathing rapidly. I was about to ask him what was wrong, but-

"COME! THE TIME RUNS OUT! COME, NATALIE DALEY, COME!" Then the voice and the smell were gone. I looked around again. Again, nowhere for it to be hiding.