Night life || Ahkmenrah

Ten

When Damien woke up the next night, he knew that something was off. All the exhibits had an internal clock, probably due to the magic of the tablet, that was startlingly accurate. It's how they knew when dawn was approaching and to get back to their places before the sun rose. So when Damien became conscious he knew that it was wrong. They had woken up late. Sun down and the time when they usually came to life had been fifteen minutes ago. This had never happened before. Something was wrong.

Damien looked around as he stepped out of his frame but nothing was amiss. The Egyptian exhibit was quiet as usual, apart from Ahkmanrah yelling. He quickly crossed over to the sarcophagus and began rummaging around the case. He had hid the two silver keys he had stolen in there yesterday and he prayed that they had not been discovered and moved durning the day. He might loose hope if that was the case.

"Something is unusual", He commented to Ahkmanrah as he searched. There was a tap of agreement from inside the coffin. Damien smiled slightly then let out a joyful cry as he found the two silver keys. They were pushed out of sight under a small gap between the sarcophagus and the case. "Yes! They're still here". He held them up triumphantly, beaming widely. It was then his eyes found the place where the tablet was hung. The now empty space. Dread filled his stomach.

"You do come to life!" A excited voice made Damien turn. A boy, probably about eleven or twelve with curly brown hair, was stood in the entrance to the corridor. He was staring at Damien with a wide eyed wonder. "You're Damien Jean!" The boy squeaked. "I did a paper about you and the pharaoh in school!"

Damien was looking at the tablet in the boy's hand. Small fingers clasped around the gold. "Come here!" He called, waving. The boy hurried over, excitement fading. Damien leaned down and spoke with a fast urgency. "Why do you have this?"

"There some old men trying to steal it!" The kid began rambling. "I had to bring it back. My dad is the night guard here and it's his job to keep this all safe". Damien blinked, processing the information fast. The boy was Larry's son, and old men must be referring to Cecil and the other two ex-night guards. Didn't they say that they were planning on stealing the tablet that one time?

"What's your name?" Damien asked.

"Nicky", the boy replied quickly.

"Nicky. I need you to go and hide in the tent over there", Damien pointed to his frame. His tent visible through the doorway. "Give me the tablet and hide in there okay. It's just like stepping through a door". Nicky gave the frame a worried look but nodded. He held out the tablet and Damien took it gently. The gold was heavy and solid in his hands.

Nicky scurried over to the frame, peering inside eagerly. "Wow!" He exclaimed as he stepped inside. "It's so warm in here! This is so cool!"

Damien ignored him. He bent down to the sarcophagus again, one hand resting on the lid. "Did you hear that?" He said in a hushed voice. One tap. Damien sighed in relief that was short lived. Outside he could hear three pairs of boots thundering against the marble as the thieves approached. He stood up as Cecil, Gus and Reginald came to a stop at the entrance of the exhibit.

"Give us the tablet Mr Jean", Cecil stated as he approached.

"I knew that kid was hiding something", Gus grunted at Cecil's side.

Reginald huffed, a amused smile tugging at the corner of his lips. "He can leave his portrait after all. We had suspicions about that".

"It's Dr Jean", Damien ground out. He took a step back as the three men advanced sinisterly. His heels hit the case and he stopped, trapped with the sarcophagus behind him and the three night guards infront. He tightened his grip on the tablet, clutching it close to his chest.

"Give us the tablet mr, sorry, dr Jean", Cecil sighed. He turned to his two friends with a roll of his eyes. "Kids. The same whatever the era. Think they know it all".

"Give us the tablet sonny or you're going to regret it", Gus growled.

"No".

Cecil lashed out, arm grabbing for the tablet. Damien ducked under it but Gus was waiting. The small man punched him in the face. Damien staggered back with a cry. The surprise left him open and Reginald grabbed him by the shoulders. He threw Damien heavily over the sarcophagus and it's case. The force sending him colliding with the marble floor with a painful crack. Damien gasped, all the air knocked out of him. His ribs pulsed with pain as he struggled to inhale. "You sons of bitches", he croaked as Cecil walked leisurely around the coffin. Inside Ahkmanrah was screaming and hammering on the lid. The pounding a throb in Damien's brain.

Cecil bent down and wrestled the tablet from Damien's grip. He tried to cling on but Cecil knocked him back with a kick to the ribs. Damien curled up reflexively, coughing. "Nice try Dr Jean", Cecil smiled. "Better luck next time". Gus cackled as the three men walked away. Damien left groaning on the floor.

"Nicky!" A panicked voice alerted him to Larry's arrival. The man ran in and was promptly flipped over onto the floor, Cecil swiping his keys as he passed.

"Nice to see you Larry", he smiled as he pulled closed the metal gates. "We were just locking up". The metal gates locked with an audible click as Larry groaned.

"Let's grab everything we can sell", Reginald's voice echoed down the hall as the three men walked away. "I don't know about you but I'm looking forward to a easy retirement".

Damien pushed himself slowly to his feet, groaning. It seems like he could still bruise. He wished he was made of wax like the other exhibits, maybe he wouldn't hurt so much. "Dad!" Nicky called. The boy hopped from the frame and ran over to where Larry was picking himself up.

"You okay Nick?" Larry grunted as he got to his feet.

"I'm fine dad. But the guards don't look happy".

In the corridor, the massive Jackal headed guards were stirring. Their eyeless gaze fixed threateningly on the two of them. "Damien!" Larry called. "Can you make them stop?"

Damien heaved himself up and staggered over. The jackals were advancing on Larry and Nicky, golden spears raised threateningly. "They think you're the ones who stole the tablet", Damien called. "They won't listen to me. I don't hold any authority!".

Larry pulled Nicky to the side, both of the dodging as the spears came down. They ducked under the shafts and hurried to where Damien was standing. "I don't have my keys!" Larry shouted and the guards followed. Damien leaned his back against the wall, one hand pressed to his bruised ribs as he breathed.

"Catch". Two silver keys flew through the air and Larry caught them. "I stole them off your key ring yesterday", Damien grinned.

Larry pointed a finger at him. "So you helped Dexter escape! If this wasn't special circumstances I would be so annoyed at you right now".

"Dad!" Nicky cried as the guards reached their hands through the door. Larry grabbed his son and pulled him towards Damien.

"Nicky stay here". Nicky nodded as Larry ran towards the sarcophagus. Ahkmanrah was screaming inside as Larry scrabbled with the keys. The first didn't fit so he tried the second. Damien sighed in relief as the key turned. He hurried over to give Larry a hand and together they pushed off the massive stone lid of the case. It crashed to the floor with a loud thud.

Unedited