Can A Museum Solve Your Problems?

Bruises

Ahkmenrah's Point Of View

Arcadia didn't return the next night. I was a little disappointed, but I knew that she wouldn't be here every night. She had told me that she goes to school with Nick, so she must be busy. I couldn't help but feel a little upset though. I felt a connection with her; one I hadn't felt even when I was alive.

"Ahkmenrah, are you feeling alright?" I turned to see Larry looking at me. He looked worried.

"I am fine Larry." I replied. I wasn't sure if I was trying to convince him of that or myself.

"You miss Arcadia, don't you?" Larry sat on the bench I was sitting on. I couldn't help but sigh.

"I do miss her, a little bit." I admitted.

"Nick came by earlier to tell me why she isn't able to come."

"What is the reason?" I was nearly embarrassed with how excited I was to know why she wasn't here.

"Nick said he saw some bruises on her and so she's avoiding everyone."

"Bruises?"

"Like from someone hurting her." I was angry by that. How dare someone harm her? I stood up and walked off. I was shocked by how angry I got. Does this girl really mean so much to me so quickly? As I walked away I heard Larry speak again. "She will be here tomorrow night. Nick will make sure of it." I had known she had a bad boyfriend, and a questionable father, but I didn't think she'd be in danger.

The Next Night

Normal Point of View

I just wanted to go home and be alone. Nick saw the bruises on me though, so he of course dragged me to the museum. He told me that I was going to have to explain the marks on my body to him and to Ahkmenrah.

"Why the hell would you tell him?" I snapped. I didn't want Ahkmenrah to know. I didn't need him caught up in my problems.

"He wanted to know why you weren't there, so my dad told him." Nick explained. "Ahkmenrah cares for you." I could only sigh. I guess there was no getting out of this.

When we got to the museum, I went to the Egypt exhibit right away. Nick had gone to let his father know where we were. We had got there only minutes before sundown, so I didn't have to wait long for Ahkmenrah to come to life. Larry had already opened up Ahkmenrah's tomb, so he was able to climb out.

"Hello Ahkmenrah." I said, again startling the attractive mummy.

"Arcadia!" He made his way to my side and hesitantly ran his hands over the bruises on my arms and neck. "What happened to you?"

"My boyfriend got angry." I mumbled, quietly.

"Why?"

"I caught him cheating and tried to end the relationship. He told me that I belonged to him and then he hurt me as "punishment" for trying to leave."

"Arcady..." I heard Nick whisper. He sounded so upset that this had happened. I turned my attention back to Ahkmenrah. He looked angry. For some reason, him looking angry actually made him look even more attractive.

"Ahkmenrah?"

"How could anyone hurt you? You are such a beautiful girl."

"Some people are just jackasses?" I replied with a smile. Ahkmenrah wrapped his arms around me and held me to him.

"I feel pain in my chest. It would be heartache if I still had a heart." Ahkmenrah told me. Nick excused himself from the room probably to tell his dad about what happened to me.

"Why do you care so much Ahkmenrah? We only met a few nights ago." He broke the hug to look me in the eyes.

"I am not sure why I am so drawn to you. I have found myself so very attached to you. I cannot help it." The look in his eyes told me that he was telling the truth and that he meant it. I couldn't help but hug him.

"Thank you. Thank you for being damn near the only person who cares so much."

"Nick cares about you as well." He still hugged me back. I couldn't help but to start crying. For some reason the thought of being cared about was making me bawl like a baby.

That's when Nick returned with Larry. They watched me and Ahkmenrah sit on the ground. They watched as Ahkmenrah tried to soothe me and calm me down. I spent so long trying to be strong that I had a lot of pent up crying and sadness. It seemed all of that was coming out right now.

I had eventually fallen asleep in Ahkmenrah's arms. I wasn't sure when I fell asleep, but when I woke up it was light outside and I was on a bench. Nick told me that Ahkmenrah held me for as long as he could. He said that Ahkmenrah was sorry he couldn't say good morning, but he wanted to let me sleep.

"Thank you for bringing me here. I think Ahkmenrah is what I needed." I said to Nick when I was fully awake.

"Good, because he might be a mummy during the day, but I still approve of him more than your current boyfriend." Nick replied with a smile.

"Oh, I didn't know that I needed your approval." I said with a laugh.

"Course you do." Nick said, laughing as well.