Anything For You

8:Terrors and Tours

-Natalie's POV-

I darted into Ahk's tomb (temple, whatever). He was lying on the ground, not moving. The voice didn't come. I sat down next to him, squeezing his hand in mine.

"Come on, Ahk. Pull through." I said the words like a mantra. Over and over and over and over and over, like saying it would make everything ok. I couldn't believe we wanted to keep this secret.

Minutes passed.

He trembled. I talked. I tried to keep his mind off the pain, just talking, telling stories, trying to distract him. It wasn't working, I could tell. I didn't think he could hear me.

"And so I finally saw stars, actual ones. If I hadn't stayed up, hadn't gone to the museum, I wouldn't have made the wish. But I did." I lowered my voice. "I wished for love." I practically whispered. "And now...I think it's been granted." I didn't say anything more. I had told him about my friends, my past life, anything I could think of. I had run out of things to say.

Suddenly, the mental link I had with the voice's presence ruptured. The voice seemed to have its power drowning in a fading sea of gold. I saw flashes of it when I turned my head.

The tablet glowed. I gazed down at Ahk. He was shivering, again. Stupid, stupid voice!

He gave a gasp and opened his eyes. His green ones met onto mine. His were filled with pain and despair. Mine couldn't have been much better.

(A/N: I just now realized that they both have green eyes...lol I did not mean for that to happen)

He wordlessly thanked me. I understood. Talking about it makes things seem real. If we didn't mention it, it would just be like a nightmare, one that ended when the sun came up.

But he talked anyway. "Did you really say all that?"

"Huh?" I didn't comprehend him. "What do you mean?"

"During the...attack, I heard your voice. You were talking. Telling me about your life." I blushed. He heard that? "Never mind. Must've just been me."

"It was me." The words popped out unbidden. "It was me," I repeated. Ahk looked at me, startled. "I was trying to keep you distracted. Sorry, I started rambling."

"Don't apologize." He said. It was eerily quiet. "It helped...a lot." I smiled faintly.

That's when I realized we were still holding hands.

I thought about removing mine, but I thought he needed something to keep him grounded. (A/N: I make it sound like he's insane...whoops!)

Ahk must have noticed have noticed my glance to our linked hands. He gave mine a brief squeeze. I looked at him, startled. "Lighten up," he said. The comment was in such a joking manner that I laughed. But even after he stopped talking, he still didn't let my hand go.

We sat on the floor for a while, occasionally talking. It just seemed like a crime to disturb the peaceful silence that had surrounded the place.

Some time later, footsteps came walking by. I stood up, and walked out to meet whoever it was. Ciara. With her sister, Nola.

"Hi Natalie! Teddy said you might be in here!" she said brightly.

"Hi Ciara. Waddya want?" I made my manner cheerful.

"I was wondering if you could give Nola the tour. She and Daithi haven't gotten a tour yet."

"Sure." I felt bad for leaving Ahk. He was really lonely. I involuntarily glanced at the entrance. He locked eyes with me. I looked back to Ciara.

"Yeah, I'll give them a tour. Have you met Dexter yet?" I asked.

"Yeah. He's sort of annoying."

Oh. I agree.

"Yeah, I guess. How about Sacagawea?"

"Oh, she's so sweet! Soft-spoken, but sweet."

"Okay, um, should we collect Daithi and go?" Nola nodded. She didn't say anything. I wondered if she could speak.

We began to walk back toward the Ireland exhibit. Daithi was talking to Aengos. He put an arm reassuringly around Aengos' shoulders. Aengos shrugged it off. He stormed down the steps, knocking me over. Noticing me, he caught me before I hit the floor.

"Thank you," I said. He didn't answer, just stared at me. It was getting a little disconcerting.

I struggled to a standing position. "Umm...you and Ciara want to come? I can handle all for of you." He nodded. I turned to Ciara. "Hey Ciara, Aengos's coming! You wanna come?" She raced over.

"Yeah. And I've been meaning to ask, do you work here? The way you seem so comfortable around us, can control Aengos during one of his rages... Daithi's the only one who can do that, and even he has trouble. It's such a rude question for me to ask but I wanted to know." I shook my head.

"I don't work here. I'm just the night guard's daughter."

"Who, the guardian of Brooklyn? That's what Ahk calls him. Ahkmenrah is really nice, don't you think? Very noble."

"Yeah, Larry's my dad. And yeah, I guess Ahk's noble enough." Why am I so irritated with Ciara? She's so nice, always thinking the best of everyone.

I showed the family around. "If only Mother and Father were here," Nola sighed. Ciara nodded.

My heart wasn't in the tour. Anyone could tell.

"My lady, are you all right?" Aengos asked. I nodded.

"Really, you don't have to call me that. I'm fine with just plain old Natalie."

"No, I mustn't do that. Father always said, never let someone get away."

I chose to ignore that statement.

I'm sure I'd end up punching him later.

***

-at home-

I lay on my bed. I had completed the speech Teddy should give. I had a vague idea for Dexter to do. Sacajawea had volunteered to take care of the constellations. (A/N: I just realized I've been spelling her name wrong so I fixed it! Sorry!)

I turned my mind to tomorrow. School. Date with Leo. :( Planning. Museum. Bed. That was much of what my schedule consisted of. Except for the date. I was not looking forward to that.

Then I thought about today. And what I had said to Ahkmenrah.
"And now...I think it's been granted." How stupid was I?

But still...did I like Ahkmenrah? Or were we just friends? I didn't know if he liked me at all. He seemed like he liked Ciara. Or maybe it was the other way around.

I quit thinking about it. I'd ask him tomorrow night.

****

They friggin have a secret of the tomb e-book. And I have no money. And I was like....grr.

But anyway, someone's jealous! And someone else is confused. And someone's crazy. And someone else is in love.

(Dare I say too much)

Quick question: can you see this: 😆

I know this is a super short chapter in sorry I didn't have much time to write because I finished another chapter this morning.

Ciao!

#UNEDITED