Anything For You

14: Information

-Natalie's POV-

I walked home with Dad. Car had a flat tire, and he didn't have an spare one. Of all the ways to go, this had to be a great one.

"Dad...there's something going on that you should know," I said. He didn't look interested. "DAD!"

"What, Natalie?" He asked, frustrated.

"Well, you know how I heard the voice." Dad nodded. "And you know how I told you it stopped." He nodded again. "It didn't."

"What type of joke is this, Natalie?" He asked tiredly.

"None. I'm not the only one who hears it. Heck, I'm not the one who hears it the most!" Dad gripped my arm, forcing me to a standstill.

"Who else hears it," he asked. I think he already knew.

"Ahkmenrah. And dad... It's really strange. Whenever he hears it-wait, remember what happened tonight, with the tablet?" Dad nodded. "That happens. Every. Single. Time. And it's so hard to watch, because there's nothing you can do to help him. His eyes get glassy, he starts to shake, and sort of faints, except he's still aware of the world. He says it's painful."

Dad whistled. "So what are you saying? What is the voice?"

"The tablet, Dad. It's the tablet. It's been calling for help, but it's horrible. I hear it, but I didn't put the pieces together until today. When I heard the voice again.

"And Ahkmenrah and I were thinking about it, after he let me out of the closet. And I ducked in to check on the tablet, because I thought it had something to do with tonight. The presentation and all. The disaster. Because Ahkmenrah collapsed at that, too. That was the big clue-in. And the tablet had turned a little more green.

"It's all connected, but we need to know more." I finished.

"Okay. You keep mentioning a closet. I didn't grill you about where you were in the museum, but I'd like to know what happened now." I nodded.

"So Teddy fired at you, and I tried to get him to stop, when Rexy and everyone else rushed in. Rexy began swinging his tail around, and he hit me with it. I crashed into a wall. When I was sort of out of it, someone decided to shove me in a closet, and lock it from the outside. And I yelled for help for a while, and no one came. For about an hour. Then I heard someone walk by, and I started shouting again. It was Ahkmenrah, and he let me out.

"After we checked his tablet, Ciara came in. She was acting really weird. She accused Ahkmenrah of being crazy enough to try to take over the world. He said it was something his brother would do. And then Ciara started telling me not to trust him and whatnot. That was weird, because Ciara and Ahkmenrah are friends. She took off, and I went to find you. He didn't explain about his brother. Who is he?"

Dad sighed. "Ahkmenrah's brother was Kanmunrah. His older brother. Ahkmenrah wasn't supposed to inherit the throne, but his father chose him. Kahmunrah was angry, bitter, jealous..unstable, if you wish. I ran into him a few years back in the Smithsonian. Creepy guy."

"Oh." That was all I could say. I would look it up later.

"But Dad. Something's up with the tablet. We need to find out. If they're crazy when it's corroding...what will they be like when it's fully covered? And somebody'll notice!" I said.

"We'll check it out tomorrow, Natalie. Right now, we have to get home." I nodded in silent agreement.

There wasn't a line for the elevator. We went straight up. Dad got a call from McPhee. This was bound to be good.

I could hear Dr. McPhee's voice shouting from the phone. "Larry."

"Hey, Dr. McPhee. Yeah...hi, how's it going?"