𝐈 𝐖𝐀𝐍𝐍𝐀 𝐁𝐄 𝐘𝐎𝐔𝐑 𝐒𝐋𝐀𝐕𝐄, 𝙞𝙢𝙝𝙤𝙩𝙚𝙥 𝙭 𝙢𝙖𝙡𝙚 𝙤𝙘

Chapter ten

.·:*¨¨* ≈☆≈ *¨¨*:·.

Later that very same day, when the sky became dimly lit and the stars softly shone in the sea of blackness above, Imhotep guided me through the mystery of a jungle that we have found ourselves lost in. We were both at the front, Anck-su-namun was tailing us and constantly looked my way to shoot a ghastly look in my direction. I tried to ignore her but nothing could steer me away from the feeling of burning eyes in the back of my head. I shuddered at the feeling, hoping Imhotep wouldn't notice. I looked behind and over my shoulder. Alex was in my sight, surrounded by men in red lead by Lock-Nah as the High Priest had named him. He looked scared if anything but as our eyes met, I sent him a smile of reassurance which he returned straight away.

"I'll let nothing harm the boy. I promise you." A deep voice spoke to me instantly getting my attention. I turned back only to find Imhotep eyes looking down at me before returning in front of him towards the shadows of the trees that loomed over us. I smiled at him. "I know." I muttered back. "But I can't help worry." Imhotep stopped in his tracks and turned to me. He placed both of his hands either side of my face and forced me to look into his eyes. "Love, look at me. The boy, Alex, he will be looked after. I haven't harmed the boy and I'm going to make sure that I don't and that no one else does. Please do not worry. I can't bare to watch the worry eat away at you. You do not deserve this stress, my love." He leant in towards me and placed a small kiss upon my lips and then he rubbed his nose on mine.

I smiled warmly, making him smirk before wrapping an arm around my waist, pulling me closer to him. "I hope you do not mind. I am not going to let you freeze." His murmuring voice stunned me and all I could do was smile again and let him do whatever he wanted. We began to walk again and soon we found ourselves in an open spot. There were bones all around and skeletons were just left lying around. I looked around, unsure of what we had just walked into. Imhotep looked emotionless and it was if he was not even bothered about where we were. He then pulled me closer. "Keep close to me. They will not harm me." I raised an eyebrow and a slight panic ran through me.

"They?" I questioned. But he did not answer. He just kept walking us forward and I saw Anck-su-namun right behind us in the corner of my eye. She looked equally as confused and worried as I was. Soon a big commotion sounded behind us. Several men shouted out and the sound of drawn swords was filling the air. Then I heard a painful, inhuman screech. And then the thought of Alex crossed my mind. He was back there. I tried to move but Imhotep's grip on me was strong. "My love. Don't struggle. I just want what's best for you. I can't loose you again." "I have to get to Alex!" I struggled again but it was no use. "My love please. Just come with me. The men will protect him, I promise." I shook my head. I knew that he was just trying to protect me but I couldn't just leave my nephew in danger.

I pulled away for the third time and finally slipped from his embrace. I ran back towards the sound of shouts. I heard Imhotep yell my name but I couldn't turn back. Not now. My legs carried me fast and my heart thumped rapidly in my chest. I found Alex and instantly skidded in the dirt on my knees to get a better position to untie his bonds. His eyes went wide when he saw me and when I undid the rope, his arms swung around my shoulders to hug me. "Hold tight, Al. Trust me." I felt him nod. I picked him up and made his legs wrap around my waist so he would stay with me. When I turned around, my eyes found a familiar figure dressed head to toe in black fighting Lock-Nah. Ardeth Bay. What was he doing here??

As soon as he saw me, he yelled in my direction. "Eric, good to see you. Evie and Rick are around here somewhere and Jonathan is taking the position of sniper up on the hill over there." - he gestured in the trees. - "Go, take Alex somewhere safe. I'll be right behind you. I promise." With a smile, Ardeth went back into the battleground, swinging his sword around, killing the men stone dead. I smiled back even though I knew he wouldn't see and I took of running into the trees and away from the fighting, with Alex's grip tightening around me. "It's ok." I muttered to him through heavy breaths. He only hummed in response, probably as a result of tiredness.

Just then, I almost collided with someone and to my relief, that someone was none other than Rick O Connell. "Eric!! Alex!!" He wrapped his arms around Alex's form and pulled him towards him. Alex's arms found their way to Rick, pulling him in for a hug. Someone else ran into me. Evie. She gave me a bone-crushing hug, not daring to let go. "Oh, baby brother. Thank the Gods you're both alright." When Alex told everyone that he had only minutes to live unless he got to the golden pyramid that was not far away, Rick urgently picked him up and ran with him in a direction. Evie and I shrugged, shocked a little by Rick's actions before setting off after them.

The sun was indeed rising and Alex did not have long. I just hope that Rick is fast enough to save him. Evie and I ran and ran until we were met with a sandy floor and the infamous golden pyramid stood, grandly just in front of us. I saw Rick and Alex at the base of it and Alex was still alive. I sighed a breath of relief and so did Evie by the sounds of it. Ardeth came running with Jonathan by his side moments later. Jonathan stopped, clearly put of breath. He used his sniper to help him keep his balance. Ardeth eyed him before rolling his eyes and looking back towards Evie and I. "Is everyone alright?" Ardeth called out to all of us. When we all replied with positive answers, Jonathan huffed in relief. "Phew. No casualties." And that's when I felt it.

I sharp pain hit my side like a blade slicing through a wheat bag. I looked down only to see that my bare torso was spilling with blood and it didn't look good. I think someone shouted my name but I couldn't make it out. It was all a blur. I found the pain too much and my legs soon buckled and I was soon met with the sandy floor beneath my feet. I rolled onto my back, the sun engulfed most of my vision. But that didn't matter. The faces of Evie and Rick and Ardeth appearing above me were all a blur anyways. "Eric. Talk to me." "Don't die on us now." "Please, I can't loose you too." Their voices swirled inside my head but my mind didn't focus on their words. It was all a slur with nothing I could properly make out.

"ERIC!!!!" Then there was another voice. It's tone rumbled inside my head, almost begging and forcing me to come back. "DON'T DO THIS TO ME. I'VE WAITED TOO LONG. NO!!! PLEASE!!!" The voice was speaking in Egyptian and it didn't take me long to realise that it belonged to Imhotep. I opened my eyes only to see his weeping face staring down at me. "Imhotep" I breathed heavy. He looked at me with a mix of emotions. "Oh Eric. I'm so sorry. I said that I'd protect you. I promised. And I didn't!!! I can't believe it I'm such a fool. I can't do anything right. How am I going to live with myself?" I tried to speak but all I received was pain. But I didn't care. "Imhotep. It's ok. It will be ok." He shook his head and more tears spilled from his eyes. "No it's not. Don't die please. I beg you."

I felt faint and my vision was starting to disappear. White specks were dancing in front and I soon found it difficult to keep my eyes open. When he saw this, he shook me a little by the shoulders. "No no. Don't you dare. I-I love you." He whispered the last part with a croaky voice. I felt my breath slow and my body and muscles started to feel limp. "I-Im sorry." I just about get out with dying breaths. The last thing I saw was the figure of Anck-su-namun standing only metres away with a bloodied knife in hand and a cruel smirk displayed on her face. "I...love...y-" But the darkness of death overcame me before I could possibly say anything more and my eyes fluttered shut with only Imhotep on my mind.

.·:*¨¨* ≈☆≈ *¨¨*:·.