Chapter 4: Journey to Hamunaptra

 

 

A day had passed since the O’Connells, along with Jonathan, and Ardeth, had left for Hamunaptra.  As night fell, everyone but Evelyn agreed that they needed to set up camp for rest, and to make plans for the rescue of Alex.  As tents were put up, and a fire was started, Evelyn stood away from the camp looking over the darkening sands of the desert.  She hardly moved as she felt a hand on her shoulder, and took in a deep breath as Rick pulled her against him.

 

“What if Imhotep has taken over him?”  Evelyn asked, voicing Rick’s own fears.  She turned to look at her husband needing an answer.  That thought had been racing through Rick’s head for most of the day.  What Ardeth had implied, was that if that had happened the only way to save Alex and the world was death, and that thought sent chills down his spine.

 

“We just have to hope that he doesn’t have the strength to carry through with that,”  Rick said as he kissed the top of her head.  She sighed, and he felt her slump against him.

 

“Now why don’t we get a bite to eat, and see what Ardeth has planned,”  Rick said as he pulled away from her, and took her hand.  Once they were at the fire, Ardeth began.

 

“My men have been keeping watch over Hamunaptra, and they say nothing has changed, visibly.  The haunting winds have started again, and that can only mean that the creature has risen.  I fear that by the time we arrive the city will have risen,”  Ardeth said.  Everyone listened intently as he spoke, and once he finished it was Rick who came up with a plan.

 

“I would assume since he is back he will have his priests and those warriors to protect him,”  Rick stated.  Ardeth nodded, and he continued.

 

“A group of us needs to distract them, and I once that happens Evie, Jonathan and I will go to the sacrificial chamber to find Alex,”  Rick said.  Everyone agreed to that, and once the plans were fine tuned the fire was doused, and while Jonathan, Rick, and Evie went to their tents, Ardeth took the first watch.

 

 

 

 

 

It had been a long time since Evelyn had dreamed of Imhotep and Hamunaptra, and this dream was particularly disturbing.  Alone she walked the corridors of the city hearing her son’s cries.  She began to run, and when she entered the Sacrificial chamber, she found Alex laying on an alter chained to it much the way that she had been chained all those years ago.  As she began to approach, she was stopped short, and found that she couldn’t move.  Suddenly he appeared standing over her baby holding a dagger.

 

“With his death I shall have life,”  Imhotep said in ancient Egyptian.  In horror, Evelyn watched the blade of his knife stabbed into Alex’s chest.  His cries stopped, and her own cries echoed through the chamber.  She felt arms around her and began to struggle.  It was the restless movement beside him which woke Rick, and it didn’t take long for him to find that his wife was having a dream.  He pulled her against him, and she began to scream.

 

“Evelyn,”  he said kissing her cheek.  When she didn’t respond, he sat them up, shaking her and in a moment she came awake.  Her screams brought both Jonathan and Ardeth to their tent, and when they saw that all was safe, they left.

 

“I dreamed that Imhotep killed him,”  Evelyn sobbed.  Rick pulled her tighter into his arms.

 

“We won’t let that happen,”  Rick said, though he wasn’t sure how they would stop that.

 

“I want to hold him in my arms,”  she sobbed.  Rick lay down bringing her to lay with him.

 

“I know baby, I want that too,”  Rick said.  It took time, but finally both of them managed to go back to sleep.

 

 

 

 

 

It didn’t seem that much later, when Jonathan called out their names, and the tone of his voice drew both of them to wakefulness in a hurry.

 

“What is it Jonathan?”  Evelyn asked.

 

“The city is back,”  he said.  Both of them got up, and very quickly their camp was packed up and just as the sun began to rise they were on their way.   Not long into their Journey their group was met by to younger Med-jai, and Ardeth didn’t seem all that pleased to see them.

 

“You were exciled,”  he said to both of the young men.  Both Asim and Dakarai knew they had risked alot to confront their leader, but both of them had been responsible for the events at Hamunaptra, and both wanted the chance for redemption.

 

“We have come to help,”  Asim said. 

 

“Your help is not needed,”  Ardeth said coldly.  Knowing he should keep his mouth shut, yet also knowing they needed all the help they could get, Rick spoke up.

 

“Look I don’t know what happened with these to buddy, but we need all the help we can get,”  Rick voiced.  Ardeth starred at him for long silent moments then his features softened.  He knew that the two young warriors were sorry, and that the words his friend spoke were true.

 

“You may help then.  We need all the warriors present.  Take this,”  Ardeth said removing his necklace made of leather that was braided.  On the middle was a jewel of some sort.  Asim took it and knew with that, the other warriors would listen to them.

 

“Go now,”  Ardeth said.  Once they were gone, the group road on.

 

 

 

 

Another day passed and by nightfall they arrived at the newly risen city.  As Ardeth had hoped, his men awaited him, and more plans were made.  All of his warriors knew that they would likely not survive this battle, and each was prepared for that.

 

 

“Once my men have started the fight, we will ride in and seek entry,”  Ardeth said to Rick and Evelyn.  Jonathan was also ready to do battle.  He was terrified, but his love of Alex was holding strong, and like the rest of the Med-jai, he would fight to the death to save him if need be.

 

 

 

 

 

Deep in the city a chanting resounded through the many corridors and chambers.  A little boys cry also filled the inner city, and on an alter Alex lay strapped down.  Only a few times had he been take away to be fed and tended to, this time however the ritual was ready to be completed, and his cries did not change the dark priests plans.  Imhotep held in his hand an ancient urn, and after dipping his fingers in water he dipped them into a gray substance.  The water made it a past, and that he wiped over Alex’s face which caused more cries.

 

“MUMMY,”  Alex screamed, struggling against the bonds which held him.  His voice was hoarse from screaming so much, and his wrists and ankles were raw from where he had struggled to be free.  Once the ash was rubbed on Alex’s face, Imhotep took in his hands The book of the Dead and began to read from it.  The ritual was far from being complete, and as he spoke Alex’s cries stopped once again, and a un-natural sleep fell over him.

 

 

 

 

The fight was on, and as the Med-jai warriors faught the mummified warriors from the past, Rick, Evelyn, Jonathan, and Ardeth made their way into the city.  Just as they began to enter the city two men appeared.

 

“Beni,”  Rick hissed.  The other man was not someone they knew.

 

“Hello my friend,”  Beni said.  He was fully regenerated, and there was a dark glow to his eyes.

 

“I wouldn’t say that,”  Rick said.  He took his gun ready to shoot, but Benny lifted his hand, and the gun was pulled away from Rick’s by some sort of dark magic.  Beni smashed it against a wall, then without warning jumped on Rick.

 

“RICK,”  Evelyn screamed.

 

“Go Evie,”  He yelled.  Knowing his sister wasn’t one to listen, and also knowing that they didn’t have time to wait, Jonathan grabbed her and pulled her with him.  Ardeth stayed behind to help Rick, and was fighting the other man.  Adom did not have any power, and it didn’t take long for Ardeth to end his life.  Once he had done that he turned to help Rick, but saw that wasn’t nessary.  Rick had obtained a sword from a near by corpse, and made quick work of disposing of Beni.  Once he had done that, the two of them ran ahead to catch up with Jonathan and Evelyn.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Evelyn had no trouble leading herself, and Jonathan to The Chamber of Life and Death, and as they approached they heard the eerie chanting.

 

“Stay here and wait for Rick,”  Evelyn instructed.

 

“I don’t think so. If I wait and you get hurt he will kill me,”  Jonathan said, certain of his fate.

 

“Jonathan there is not time to argue go,”  she said pushing him away.  Reluctantly he turned and left her, and Evelyn proceeded alone.

 

 

 

 

Despite performing the ritual of Transformation, Imhotep was fully aware of what was happening around him, and when Evelyn entered the chamber he stopped what he was doing and looked up at her.

 

“You will watch him die, both of you,”  Imhotep said.  His words did not stop her approach.

 

“I won’t let you take his life,”  she replied speaking in the ancient tongue.

 

“You don’t have that choice,”  Imhotep said.  Suddenly, Evelyn felt herself grabbed, and by the smell of things, she knew it was one if Imhoteps men.  The smell was enough to make her nauseated, because it was the smell of rotting flesh.  The rotting priest led her to the alter, and Evelyn wanted to cry.  Alex lay lifeless before her, and that scarred her.

 

“You have killed him?”  she asked.

 

“I am waiting,”  Imhotep replied.  With the ritual at a stand still, Alex began to awaken from the spell.  When he opened his eyes he saw his mummy.

 

“Hold,”  he said.  Imhotep looked down at the little boy.

 

“Do not be afraid,”  he said.  Alex looked from his mother to Imhotep and started to cry again.  His cries made Evelyn begin to struggle against the priest and suddenly she pulled away, taking his arms off in the process.  Imhotep began to chant again using his remaining magic to hold Evelyn into place.

 

“Alex mummy loves you stay awake baby,”  Evie said knowing the incantation wouldn’t work if he stayed awake.

 

“Seepen,”  Alex said.

 

“No baby don’t you go to sleep,”  Evelyn said.  The need to be held by his mother gave Alex the strength to fight, and he started to scream.

 

 

 

 

 

Once Rick had taken care of Beni and a few rotting priests he and Ardeth made their way into the core of the city.  Not long into the city they met up with Jonathan.

 

“Where is my wife?”  Rick said suddenly worried.

 

“She insisted I lead you to the main chamber,”  Jonathan defended.  Rick knew getting mad at him wouldn’t help, and letting him take the lead, both men followed him.  The chanting indicated that they were getting close, as well as Alex’s cries.  Before they could get there, they heard foot fall.  Ardeth drew his scimitar, and just about cut down Asim as he came with the Golden Book of Amun-RA.

 

“Hey I thought that was lost in the waters,”  Jonathan said, remembering how Evie had scolded him for weeks after that, for losing it.

 

“It was with one of the priests,”  Dakarai explained as they moved on.

 

 

 

 

When Alex didn’t sleep, Imhotep had Evelyn led away.  Her screams mixed with that of the boys, but once she was gone he did go to sleep, and that was what the priest needed.  Now as he chanted he took out the dagger, and raised it over Alex’s body.

 

“Prepare this body for my entry,”  Imhotep chanted as he moved the Dagger over the boys chest.  As he was about to cut into him he heard familiar words, ones he didn’t want to hear, and looked up in horror as a blue vortex appeared.  From it road a chariot, and as it passed through him the remaining power he had was taken from him.  Now completely mortal he knew he would have to fight for his life.   When he saw Rick he grabbed up another sword and left the alter charging for him.  With Imhoteps powers gone, Evelyn was free to move.  She ran for the Alter and was glad Jonathan had come with her.  Alex had begun to stir, but she shushed him not wanting to draw attention.  Since her brother was not as strong, it took time to get Alex’s chains broken.  Once that was done, Evelyn held her baby in her arms and as she turned she was met by another mummy.

 

“My Imhotep will have life,”  Anck-su-nahmun said.

 

“Not by way of my child,”  Evelyn said back, as she gave him to Jonathan.  She grabbed the sword he had, and sent him away. Then the two of them began to fight  At first Evelyn was horrible at sword fighting, then as if by instinct, or a long lost memory, she was able to hold her own, matching the blows of the sword Anck-su-nahmun gave to her.

 

 

 

 

From his place in the chamber, Rick fought Imhotep letting his anger guide him.  His strength exceeded that of the priests, and it wasn’t long before he drove Imhotep into the dark waters.  Once he was there, his skin began to fall off, and the scarabs began to eat what was left.  Imhotep began to sink as he had done before, and as he did his words left Rick in chills. 

 

“Death is only the beginning,”  he said.  Once he was gone Rick looked around the chamber.  He saw Evelyn fighting the mummy form of Imhoteps lover, and from what he saw he didn’t need to help.  Upon a second scan of the room he saw Jonathan with Alex wiping something off of his face.  Ardeth appeared shortly after he defeated Imhotep, and just as Evelyn finished off Anck-sun-nahmun

 

“My friends we must leave now,”  he yelled.  Everyone ran out of the chamber, Alex in Jonathan’s arms.  They left the city quickly, and as they reached safe ground and turned, they heard explosions.

 

“Mummy,”  Alex cried.  Evelyn quickly went to her baby, and held him close watching as once again the city fell.

 

“You blew it up?”  Rick asked his friend.

 

“Yes.  There must never be a way to get back there, and explosives, while they are hard to come by, were the only way we could assure to keep anyone from finding a way in,”  Ardeth explained. 

 

“I hungry,”  Alex said as he pulled away from his mother.  His voice made Rick turn.

 

“Hey big guy,”  Rick said.  Alex let his daddy hug him but didn’t want to be away from Evie.  Once everything was in order, they began the long trip back to Cairo.