𝐈 𝐖𝐀𝐍𝐍𝐀 𝐁𝐄 𝐘𝐎𝐔𝐑 𝐒𝐋𝐀𝐕𝐄, 𝙞𝙢𝙝𝙤𝙩𝙚𝙥 𝙭 𝙢𝙖𝙡𝙚 𝙤𝙘

Chapter three

.·:*¨¨* ≈☆≈ *¨¨*:·.

When I woke, I first saw a red and brown roof above me. Where ever I was, I was moving. I tried to sit up, causing a agonising pain in my stomach. Ardeth was soon at my side. "Easy, there. It's a bit more than just a flesh wound." He slowly moved my hands away so he could have a better look. I looked down to see a fresh bandage across my stomach but small patches of blood were still visible. Ardeth was so in his element checking me, that he didn't see me unconventionally staring at him. He was indeed handsome and cute. But I could see clear as day, that there was something more beneath his ancient tattoos and dark, hawk, eyes, than people see. It intrigued me, to say the least and something deep down inside me, wanted to seek him out. 

"You will be ok. You'll live." He told me softly, breaking me from my thoughts. Ardeth was staring right into my eyes, never blinking. For someone who didn't like eye contact, I found myself staring right back into his. It was almost like time had stopped around us, the only thing that mattered to me in this moment was his safety. But this was all so strange. I had just met him for-gods-sake. I forced my eyes away, unsure of my tampering emotions. I cleared my throat. "Thank you." Ardeth nodded, his eyes wandering away also. "Of course. Any friend of Rick's, is a friend of mine." I caught him swallowing hard before he stood up and went to join Rick at the front of the bus that I had found myself in. 

Alex was soon at my side with Evie right behind him. "Uncle. Thank God you're ok." "Of course I am, thanks to Ardeth." I couldn't help but smile to myself as I mentioned him. Alex wrapped his arms around me. I winced a bit. "Easy Alex. Careful." Evie told her son. Alex's grip loosened but he still had a hold around me. I chuckled slightly at my nephew's behaviour. Evie noticed my happiness. "I honestly don't know what he would do without you, Er." I smiled as I looked down at him. "I don't know what I would do without him, either." Evie smiled back but it was soon gone. "You saw him, then." I didn't have to ask her who she was talking about as only one person came to mind. I nodded. "Yeah." "What happened?" Rick had walked up to us, Ardeth slowly on his tail, looking down slightly. The bus came to a holt and Jonathan appeared soon after.

When they were all in earshot, I spoke. "When I helped Evie out, a woman came up to me, to fight. But she said something odd." Rick narrowed his eyes. "I don't understand. Who was this woman?" "The Mummy, he called her Anck-su-" "Anck-su-namun." Ardeth finished before me. "Reincarnated." Rick and Evie nodded and Alex stood confused with Jonathan. I licked my lips. "But the woman called me a name. A name that I have never been called." When the people around me shared confused expressions, I pressed on. "Does Erebus mean anything to you?" I spoke to the group. Ardeth seemed deep in thought for a moment. "Erebus." He began, getting everyone's attention. 

"Erebus was a loyal servant to Pharoah Seti the first, as were the Medjai and, uhhh, the High Priest Imhotep." "Imhotep? As in, the mummy?" I questioned, still not understanding. "Correct." Ardeth answered. "Erebus was rumoured to of been a descendant to the great God Anubis." He looked at me, or my tattoo to be exact. I stared at my tattoo. "That bit makes sense. Ever since I got this tattoo, I wondered why I chose to get it. But it all makes sense to me now. If I am Erebus and a descendant of Anubis then my tattoo could of been a way of showing it, perhaps?" Ardeth nodded. "Seems to be. And your other one" - He gestures to my sleeve. - "of Pharaoh Seti the first, symbolises the loyalty you had for him."

"What more do you know?" Evie wondered. Ardeth looked between Evie and I, his eyes growing anxious when they got to me. "Erebus was known to have a secret admirer. A man who was obsessed with trying to win his heart. A man who would never stop until he was his and only his." "This man a mummy by chance?" Rick said jokily. No one laughed. I nodded and bit my lip. "The mummy - Imhotep, he said something about us not working out in the past life but we have been given another chance. He told me to go with him and not to fear him."

Ardeth stepped forward. "Well, he's not going to get you. I will not let that happen." I couldn't help but smile and a small blush formed on my cheeks. I tried to hide it but I swear that Evie saw. She smiled mischievously and I playfully swatted her as a silent way of telling her not to say anything. "Yeah, Uncle, so don't go wondering off." Alex spoke. Rick chuckled hard. "We should be saying that to you, son." I laughed at Alex's pout. "I do not." I ruffled his hair playfully. "Don't listen to them, Al. But in this situation, just be a little cautious." I winked at him and he smiled mischievously.

I slowly stood up. Ardeth came closer to help me. "I'll be fine." I reassured him. He nodded but his eyes still showed care and responsibility. I sighed. He felt responsible for my injuries. Shit. I don't want him to have that guilt. "This wasn't your fault, Ar. Please understand that." Ardeth looked into my eyes. "But it is. I should of never left you by yourself in the Museum. God, I should of never let you through the front door!" I gripped onto his arm. "Hey, stop. It's ok. I'm ok. Don't worry. I'm fine." He didn't say anything. He only sighed in defeat and slouched away, probably wanting some time to think.

Rick exhaled deeply. "I've never known him to ever care about someone that much. Especially someone that he has just met. Are we sure that Imhotep is your stalker and not him?" He tried to lighten the mood. "What?" He said as he caught Evie glaring at him. He rolled his eyes before looking out of the bus window. Evie looked back at me. She rubbed my arm soothingly. "You sure?" She whispered. I nodded, not wanting her to worry too much. "Please stop worrying about me." I chuckled. She huffed. "But it's so hard not to worry about my baby brother." She teased. I rolled my eyes but I smiled.

I looked over at Alex. He was slowly coming down the steps of the double decker and he jumped down the last one. He stopped and leaned on the window sill, staring out into the darkness of the night. I walked over to him, still clutching my bloodied side. "You ok, Al?" My nephew looked up at me, a slight worry in his eyes. "Y'know, before today I didn't believe in mummies. Gosh, how wrong I was." I hugged him with my free arm. "Shh, it will be ok. Your parents and Jonathan have done all this before and Ardeth is a Medjai. As long as we are with them, we will be ok. Alright?" I nudged him. He smiled. "Lets hope we don't get kidnapped then." He joked. I chuckled but winced as the pain increase due to my movement.

I looked back to see Evie and Rick having a moment. My heart beats happy for them. Evie told me that they met by chance in the lands of Egypt. For her, she said, it was like true love and love at first sight. I smiled recalling her words. But also my heart ached for myself to experience something like that, something powerful and binding. Destiny even. Is there such a person for me? I'm still not sure with Ardeth. I still don't trust him. But yet again, I don't really trust anyone. I turned back to see Alex gone. I rose an eyebrow at his disappearance and looked around to see if I could see him. But I could not. He was gone from the bus. I was about to say something when a hand clamped over my mouth, stopping any words from coming out. I was then dragged backwards and suddenly my instincts got hold of me. I elbowed the person behind me and they fell with a grunt, instantly releasing me from their hold.

I turned around only to be punched right in the jaw. I fell to the ground, my head colliding with the cold metal of the bus floor. I soon saw stars and my sight was slowly fading. I shook my head, trying to beat the unconsciousness. I tried to get up again but something came down hard onto my head, perhaps a butt of a gun. I lay there, my vision blurring. The last thing I saw was a man dressed in red sneering down at me. And then I was swept by darkness. 

.·:*¨¨* ≈☆≈ *¨¨*:·.

𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐰𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐞𝐧 𝐭𝐨 𝐄𝐫𝐢𝐜? 𝐀𝐧𝐝 𝐰𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐰𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐡𝐞 𝐰𝐚𝐤𝐞?

𝐊𝐞𝐞𝐩 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐂𝐚𝐠𝐞𝐝 𝐈𝐧 𝐁𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐚𝐠𝐞𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐟𝐢𝐧𝐝 𝐨𝐮𝐭.