Chasing Chaos: The Rise of Chaos

Chapter 6: The World Encircler

That night Caitlin did not sleep. Even if she hadn't learned that an evil entity had been trying to enter her subconscious mind, she doubted she'd be able to sleep anyway. It was quickly becoming the norm.

She sat in front of the blue glow of her laptop clicking away at links that brought her to sites about ancient egyptian gods and goddesses. Mafdet sat by her side, studying the screen without a word. She hadn't spoken in the two hours since Caitlin began her research. The only thing that gave the cat away as something other than just a cat was the slow movement of her eyes as they read the text on the screen.

"So Apophis is the enemy of Ra," Caitlin said aloud as she studied an ancient depiction of the god of the sun standing before a long, coiled snake.

Mafdet slowly closed her eyes and stretched, finally looking like a regular cat again. She curled her tail around herself and laid down. "All of this I know," she said mournfully. "I was told this world had more knowledge. I've yet to encounter it."

"Well," Caitlin asked, leaning back in her chair and rubbing at her tired eyelids, "Tell me what you do know and we can fill in the blanks. I don't know a whole lot about egyptian myths, but we can find out anything on the computer."

"Apophis is the is the Lord of Chaos, the devourer of souls, and the enemy of Ra," Mafdet stared at the depiction of the snake with hatred. "He resides in the underworld, but we do not know where. Ra searched tirelessly for him, battled for eternity, and finally fell to the serpent when Ra and his defenders succumbed to his evil gaze. He was swallowed whole. Ever since I've been searching for his location, but he remains elusive."

"Your world, where is it? What is it called?"

Mafdet seemed to search for words. She did not reply immediately, and when she did she seemed almost uncertain.

"It is a world unlike yours, but also similar. There reside gods and beasts that you could not imagine, and some your kind already has. Most do not know how we came to be there, but some are old enough to remember. Ra was one of the few. He did not divulge his secrets to me, but just before he was taken by Apophis he sent a vision that the answers could be found here and created a portal for me to pass through. So, I have searched for the answers, but it has been the same every time. All the knowledge I have found in this realm has not led me to any new revelations. I cannot find where Apophis lies, and if I cannot find him then Ra is doomed."

"So what you're saying is your world is where all of the old gods live?" Caitlin was beginning to grow excited despite the imminent danger. Another world full of magical beings actually existed? This was crazy.

"Yes," she replied.

"Is it like Earth?"

Mafdet did not answer. She merely stared into space.

"Mafdet?"

"It is known by Annenlok in the ancient tongue," she finally answered. "The Other World. This is the only name I know it by."

"Are there any others that can help us?"

"Only I made it through the portal. I still do not know how to return, Ra did not show me the way. Even if I could I do not know of any that are old enough to remember how Apophis came to be or where he resides. I am trapped as a fish in a dwindling desert pond."

Caitlin groaned and raked her fingers through her messy hair. "So there are no leads and nothing we can find to help us. Great."

Mafdet looked down, her eyes as mournful as a cat's could be. "Perhaps the knowledge has been lost."

"Don't be so pessimistic," Caitlin said. Then she smiled and snapped her fingers. "I've got an idea. Let me ask one of my teachers tomorrow. He knows a lot about mythology and ancient history."