Prisoner of Time

CHAPTER 14: Cairo

What happened after I finally woke up was quick and a blur. Father rushed in with my brothers Hayden and Braden and then mother followed behind. 

Questions were thrown in every direction at me and it was definitely giving me a bad case of whiplash.

"Where have you been?"

"Sis what is with that dress?"

"Leylila were you abducted?"

"We were so worried about you!" Mother threw her arms around me and started crying again and I felt a pang of guilt as I knew I couldn't tell them the whole truth. That I had traveled back in time to three thousand years ago and been abducted by a supernatural man. It sounded crazy even to me and I had been there.

I shrugged her off and placed a hand on my beating forehead, I had one hell of a headache that reminded me of that time I rebelled against father and my brothers and taken to the liquor cabinets.

"I... I don't know exactly what happened to me." That was technically the truth. I had no idea how I ended up back home since Ganzu was so intent on killing me instead of bringing me back.

It must not have been him, I mused. 

Then what?

"You can't expect us to believe that you were missing for several days and you don't even remember what happened to you?!" 

I marveled at what Braden said and how it seemed that time didn't quite work the same as when I was in ancient Egypt.

"Please, it was so terrifying, I think I may have been drugged. I can't remember hardly anything since the night of the party! I hit my head and fell down a flight of stairs, it is frustrating to me too not knowing anything."

This seemed to pacify them for the moment but I knew I was going to get an inquisition later. For now, they called in the family doctor to check me out and take my blood to make sure I hadn't been poisoned or given drugs. I didn't care. I was just happy to be home and exhausted from making the leap through time. 

I couldn't describe it if someone asked. It was cold, like the world had never known heat, dark like there was never a sun, no light. And the thing that freaked me out the most was that I wasn't alone while traveling through time. There were others with me there, passing by me, moaning in pain and terror, ghostly figures gliding past me, occasionally touching me. It was terrifying and I couldn't make any rational explanation of it.

"Leylila, what are you thinking about?" Hayden said which shook me from my reverie. 

The doctor had left after examining me about ten minutes ago along with my parents as they wanted to consult with him further about my physical and mental state of well-being. Braden said he had a pressing matter with some mummy or another and no one trusted to leave me alone for longer than a second so Hayden had volunteered to keep watch over me.

Like I was their prisoner.

"I was wondering how soon I could have some pizza, or a cheeseburger, or what about ice cream?! Oh, Hayden you must fetch me some!"

I couldn't let them worry about me any longer and treat me like I was some nut-job.

Even if I might start becoming one. 

So, I tried to divert his attention to something else, but I also really wanted the food. He chuckled a little before looking at me with mirth in his eyes.

"So you'll find me some?"

I could see his eyes searching mine for all the secrets that lay beneath the surface, but I knew he would never uncover them. Such as they were, lost like the sands through time. Hayden sighed and looked out my window into the tropical paradise that was our courtyard. Every year we paid a ton of money for them to take care of this oasis in the desert. I always thought it was silly and a waste of money.