Journey Across the Nile

Chapter Six

They reached the pyramid in no time. "She's right. There are next to no guards around anymore." Zalika said. "We still have to watch out. There might be some still walking around. The pyramid also has a mind of it's own." Nena said. "How do you mean?" Zalika asked. "Well, some of the magic merged with the pyramid.  Who knows what that magic will do?" Nena asked. "Fair enough. But I know a better focus point. Where is the entrance?" Zalika said. "Well, obviously not here." Nena said. "Probably on one of the other sides. We have to look for it, now." The girls ran to the other sides of the pyramid and found the entrance. "Well, let's go inside." Zalika said. They opened the door and went inside. After they closed it, they had their first good look inside. It was dark, for the exception of the torches that were on the brown walls. They were in a hallway. "People have been here recently." Zalika said. "There's fire." "I know. It feels old." Nena said. "I think we need to follow the hallway." Zalika said. "I think that to." Nena said, and they walked forward. As they walked along, they saw hieroglyphics on the walls that depict scenes of Djoser's life. "Kinda feel that we're the ones who are invading. To see so much of Djoser's life." Zalika said. "But, the tunnel splits here. Where to we go?" Nena asked. "Left." Zalika said and walked that way. They walked in another long tunnel that came in a chamber. The chamber was decorated with hieroglyphics with people doing their work. There were lighted torches in the corners, and the chamber was empty. "What is this chamber?" Nena asked. "I don't know. It's empty, so it could be to mislead people." Zalika said. "Well, I know for a fact that it's working."  Nena said. "Bad news for us. Let's head back and take the other side. Maybe that will work." Zalika said. They exited the chamber only to find a different hallway. "Zalika, tell me that those decorations on the wall are different." Nena said. "Nena, there wasn't any decorations on the wall altogether." Zalika said. "What is going on here?" Nena asked."Well someone or something is trying to mess with us." Zalika said. "I think it's the pyramid. Who else has this amount of power? And you need to know where we are, and the layout of the pyramid by heart." Nena said. "So, if it is the pyramid, it does not want us here." Zalika said. "I hope it can tell that we are trying to help and lead us to the Nifei." Nena said. "That is a possibility." Zalika said. "But we don't know until we actually take the hallway instead of just standing here." They walked until they found another intersection. "Left, right, or straight ahead?" Nena asked. "Let's go right this time and hope we go the right way." Zalika said. This corridor went wider and sloped downwards. "We are going down. Is it a good or bad sign?" Zalika asked. "We don't know where the Nifei are anyway. So we need to explore all the sections." Nena said as they reached an open space. It was a big room, and the corridor went on on the other side. In the room there were shabti waiting along the walls. "I don't like this at all." Nena said. "Those shabti look like they are not friendly at all." Zalika said. "Great." Nena said sarcastically. "Does any one want us to succeed?" "At least that a good sign. It means that we're on the right track." Zalika said. "You're sure it doesn't lead to Djoser's tomb?" Nena asked. "No, but we have to try." Zalika said. "Let's hope they are on our side."

Turns out they are not. As soon as Zalika steps forward, one shabti turns toward her and raises his khopesh. "Ok, they definitely don't want us at the other side. There must be something there then." Zalika said. "But what? And how are we getting there anyway?" Nena asked. "Question of the day." Zalika muttered and started looking on the walls. "Nena, look on the other side. Maybe there are hints on the wall that will help us cross the room." Zalika said. They scanned the walls from where they are standing. There were shabti in the drawings. "What are you trying to tell me?" Nena muttered, looking at the drawings. Then she noticed that some of the shabti have a dot on them. "Nena, come here. I see some sort of pattern." Zalika said. Nena walked over. "See these numbers? I think they mean something. There are also arrows and dots." Zalika explained. "I found on my wall shabiti and dots on a few of them. So they align." Nena said. "So, what I think this means is that we have to take the amount of steps in that direction, and do something with the shabti." Zalika said. "Well, let's try it out. We have to memorise everything. You memorise the shabti and I will do the steps." Zalika instructed. A few minutes later they were ready. "So, what do we need to do?" Nena asked. "5 steps forward." Zalika said. So they slowly did exactly that, and nothing happened. "And now?" Nena asked. "There should be a shabti with a red dot." Zalika said. "That's the one on our right." Nena said while pointing to the she shabti. "What do we do with the information?" Zalika asked. "There is a hieroglyph on each shabti. This one spells Isis." Nena said. "Why?" Zalika asked. "How do you mean why?" Nena asked. "Why Isis? Does it mean you host Isis?" Zalika asked. "I have no idea. But what is next?" Nena asked. "4 steps to the left. Then 4 strait and 5 to the right." Zalika directed. They walked the route and came in front of a shabti. "This is another one we need. This one says Ma'at." Nena said. "Is this personal or something?" Zalika asked. "Could be. Is there more?" Nena asked. "There are 2 shabti left. The next one is 2 steps over." Zalika said. "This one says Isfet." Nena said. "I told you, this personal." Zalika said. "This is very weird. But where is the last shabti?" Nena asked. "Opposite of us. One step ahead and 5 steps left." Zalika said. Once they reached the shabti they looked in horror. This one had their own names.

"What is this for some weird game?" Nena asked freaked out. "I have no idea. I just do not like this at all. We need to get out of here as soon as possible." Zalika said. "By the way, one step to the right and then strait." They reached the opposite end and immediately went into the tunnel. "That is creepy." Nena said. "I know. Let's get away from here." Zalika said. They ran along the tunnel when they reached a dead end. "We did all this for nothing?" Nena asked in disbelief. "Let's turn around." Zaika said, and they went through the tunnel again. Only there was a turn to the right. "This is a different one." Nena said. "Well, I'm following this one." Zalika said. And she did, while Nena hurried behind her. They reached a closed door. "Why is a closed door here?" Nena asked. "Shall we open it?" Zalika asked, ignoring Nena's question. "Yes. I wanna know what's behind this door." Nena said. They opened the door to a dark circular chamber. When they walked through the door, it slammed shut. Nena and Zalika jumped because of it and turned around. "It's locked." Nena said. "Since when are there locks in pyramids?" Zalika asked. "Since now." a voice said behind them. The lights went on. The girls turned around in horror to see a figure behind them. "Amethyst." Zalika breathed.