Desert Curses

Red Dawn

Authors note: always loved the mummy movies never thought about writing a fanfic but here I go. Hope you all enjoy. Vote and comment.

The temperature was at least 100 degrees Celsius and the humidity 90% in the valley of the Kings. Though the entrance to the tomb was only somewhat cooler she carried on. Sweat glided across her skin as she finished transcribing the hieroglyphs on the door. If her gut was right this wasn't just a tomb. Made only a few years after Akhenaten took rule and tore down the old gods.

This could be a temple hidden under the guise of a tomb. The hieroglyphs were riddles and not exactly what you would find depicting the life of someone already dead. There were also too many clay statues of cats found in the ruble at the entrance. A temple to Bastet would have been visited by low rank mothers wanting protection from the dangers of childbirth.

The hieroglyphs didn't seem welcoming. It seemed that after this "tomb/ temple " was closed down they took measures to protect what was inside. Laid down by the priests of Amun once their power was reinstated.

Many of the workers were wary of disturbing this site. Some said a curse lay over it protecting its riches. Some said a fierce guardian lay in wait for any that dared enter. She didn't believe in such things but she did want to find out what was behind this door. Darcy Carnahan was curious and determined. She would find out the answers to the questions she had.

"Darcy?" Ahmed called from the top of the ramp.

"Yes what is it?" She said distractedly.

"Perhaps you should rest a while if you are finished with the hieroglyphs. " his voice was closer.

"Will you ever stop worrying over me like a mother hen, my friend?" She called back.

"No you are far too good of a boss to let die from dehydration." With that she looked over the door once more and at her sheets and sheet of paper. Making sure every last symbol was copied.

They were done for the day she just needed to translate the hieroglyphs and they could bust the door down tomorrow. She rose dusting off her Bedouin dress and shaking out the head covering. Gathering all her things she made her way to the top. The glaring harsh Egyptian sun was merciless as it blinded her for a moment.

Ahmed's smiling wrinkled face filled her site as he took her kits and ushered her to the tent she called her own. She sat heavily on the chair in front of her desk. Thanking Ahmed when he brought her cheese, flat bread, and dates. The tea was refreshing as well. She then ate as she began deciphering the hieroglyphs.

Noon had passed and night had fallen allowing the weary to rest from the heat. She barely noticed as she finished translating. When she was done she noticed the plate of rabbit and wild rice laid out for her. She ate as she pulled her field journal to her and pushed back the other papers.

'Monday ,September 14 1906 : valley of the Kings Egypt.

We have finally managed to clear the last of the ruble away from the entrance. The hieroglyphs are all copied and the door is ready to be opened. I don't know what awaits us inside this Bastet themed tomb. A temple a mummy? I don't know. The words I've translated so far are not at all positive.

People came here during a time when there was only one God. Worshiping other gods was considered punishable by whippings imprisonment and slavery. What caused this tomb to be over looked by Akhenaten? A temple blessed and protected by the priests of Amun who at the time were banished. None of this makes sense to me. All of it seems strange and out of place. What caused this tomb to be overlooked by the king?

Some of the translations talk of riddles involving a type of prophecy or a passing down of some great object. What it speaks of specifically it doesn't say. Though there is a mention of Anubis's bane. It will take time to read through and re check my translations. The opening of the door waits until tomorrow. My excitement has no bounds.

-Lillian Darcy Carnahan'

After replacing the field journal and her translations in the satchel she always wore about she leaned back. Rubbing the ache thriving between her eyes. She needed sleep. Something made her glance about. Some tingle of awareness caused her to stand and look out her tent entrance. There beyond the glow of the fire were riders sitting tall upon their horses. Black and robes absorbing all light.

These weren't bedouins, or thieves. Medjai a tribe only whispered about by others. A Tribe even history dared not talk of. She knew of them having seen them gazing at the camp in the late afternoon and early morning. She steadied her nerves knowing one wrong move could cause all of her team to be killed. The guns and scimitars weren't for looks.

"There is no need for guns " she called in Arabic. "Or any violence here"

One dark rider stepped forward his only eyes glimmering in the fire light. Not even the soft wind dared go near him.

"This place is sacred. You shouldn't be here. " he replied.

"We aren't treasure seekers or thieves. We are simply here to gather the knowledge and artifacts to take them to a museum so that they can be protected and studied. " she explained.

His horses threw its head and pranced in response to his masters ire. "Some things don't need to be studied they are far too dangerous. Leave this place. Take nothing but what you own with you!" He said

Her diggers and assistants had found their way out of their tents at the disturbance. Ahmed and his grandson came to stand just a few feet in front of her.

"We aren't here to steal. As I have said before. Misunderstood things are dangerous. " she countered.

"Leave this place or die you have one day!" He called

Ahmed's grandson always so impulsive pulled a gun. That's when the shooting began. She rushed forward when she saw a gun being aimed and threw herself before the trio just as a gun was fired.

The pain blinded her as she slumped into the ground. Ahmed was wrestling with his grandson for the gun and managed to get it and throw it into the sand. The little girl Fatima knelt beside her tears in her eyes.

"No fighting" she admonished to the little girl as she had always done. This time though the weight of her words was like a mountain. She tried to smile but the world began to blacken. "Run" she said amidst the gunfire.

"Run" she yelled to her two arguing male friends.

That was all she could remember as she faded.  Laying there as the fire burned out and the red dawn rose. The abandoned camp filled with dead bodies and the cry of a lonesome unmanageable camel echoed across the stillness.