🐫The mummy 1999

🐫The book

Accompanied with a huge yawn, Ashley follows her brother down the labyrinth. Searching for the sarcophagus they found yesterday, they try to avoid the warden his dead body.
"Everything okay miss" asks Jonathan. Ashley nods. She watches patiently as Evelyn searches for the key. "Now or never" she says ominously. "I think I prefer never" whispers Ashley. "Me too" gulps Jonathan. Rick, Jonathan, and Evelyn look very hungover. Ashley on the other hand just looks tired. With a giant hiss, the coffin opens. Jonathan and Rick slide the lid open while Ashley and Evelyn take a big step backwards. "Don't panic, but it is a mummy" whispers Evelyn. "You don't say" jokes Ashley. "I know mummies can look a bit scary. That's why I give a heads-up." Ashley nods understanding. "Thanks. " With groaning noises, Rick and Jonathan shove and push the top of the coffin. It budges inch by inch. "I can't believe by the way you two fed me drunk yesterday." "Don't blame me, I don't even remember being there" blows Jonathan. "Well neither do I, thank you" grumbles Evelyn. Rick gives her a hurt look. "You don't?" "No" she answers hesitantly. "Why should I", "Ah it's nothing," says Rick. Ashley subtle strokes his fingers aware of his hurt feelings. "Gee well you told me it was the best time you ever had," says Rick with a big cheesy smile. Evelyn's face drops embarrassed.
Surprised Ashley jumps up from the loud bounce, coming of the dropping lid. Hesitantly all three of them grab their heads and moan. "Suckers" laughs Ashley and peeks inside the box. Laughing she jumps away for Rick his poking finger.
A wooden coffin drops to the ground, right next to the stone sarcophagus.
Highly excited Evelyn jumps up and down. "Oh my god, I dreamed about this since I was a little girl." "You have weird dreams' lady" sighs Jonathan. "You dream about dead guys," asks Rick. Ashley and Evelyn laugh as they walk towards the beautiful decorated coffin. "My god, look," says Ashley. "All the secret spells have been chiseled off," gasps Evelyn. "Doesn't that mean something" asks Jonathan. "It sure does" answers Evelyn. The hieratic and hieroglyphics to protect the deceased on his journey to the afterlife. They've been removed. This man was cursed. Doomed." "The curse" sounds soft in Ashley her ears. "Tough break" mutters Rick. "Yes I am all tears, now let's see who is inside shall we," says, Jonathan. "The curse" hears Ashley again. As if somebody whispers it in her ears. "Should we do this? I don't know.." stammers Ashley. "Ash relax, there is no curse okay," says Rick. Ashley nods. Jonathan inserts the key in the lid and slowly turns. The sound of cracking metal resounds in the dark underground hall. Rick grabs the lid. It is stuck. He pulls it with all his might. Jonathan helps him. Slowly it starts to give away. The lid cracks open and a foul stench comes out. "Oh" curses Ashley while the others grunt and groan louder. The most hideous maggot-infested rotten corpse jumps out. "Ah" screams Ashley and jumps back. "Oh god" yells Evelyn startled. Scared to death even the boys jump back. All four their hearts bounce in their troths.
Slowly the four creep forward again and look at this deformed corpse. "Is he supposed to like this" begins Jonathan. "Juicy" finishes Rick. "No" answers Ashley. "No indeed, I have never seen a mummy look like this," says Evelyn. "He is more than four thousand years old and still decomposing."  "Evelyn," says Ashley and points at scratches inside the lid. "Oh my god" whispers Jonathan. "This man was buried alive" Evelyn gasps. "And he left a message," she says and lends in closer. "Death is only the beginning." Jonathan shivers. "Where is my gun," asks Rick as Ashley looks round. "What are you going to do? Shoot him" asks Jonathan. "If he decides to wake up. Yes!" "Come on" laughs Ashley. "I need some air," she says and pats his back. Jonathan and Evelyn follow the O' Connels. Above the ground they notice that the two camps merged into one. "Well, well," says Rick and looks at Benni. "It was not my idea my friend," he speaks sorrowful and looks at Ashley. "Although I love to spend more time with your sister." Rick pats his head. "Hey," says Ashley. Rick looks surprised to her after which Ashley pats Benni his head. Rick grins amused and walks towards the campfire.
It doesn't take long before the night falls over the dessert. Jonathan comes to sit next to Ashley. He pulls his nose up for an unpleasant smell. "What is that," he says and looks at Rick and Benni who are rusting big chunks of hairy meat above the fire. "It smells like our late friend, the warden." Benni and Rick look at each other for a split second. Amused they grin. "Oh my god" sighs Ashley. "You have not" yells Jonathan. "We are not?!"
"Rat gizzards" laughs Rick. "You are such an ass" curses Ashley. Evelyn groans. "They smell horrible, they taste horrible, but it is the best thing that the dessert has to offer." The gloating Americans sit down and show their new findings proudly. "What you say O'Connell" laughs Daniels and hangs a blanket over Ashley. "Thanks," she says smiling. "What do you think these will fetch back home" laughs Henderson. He shows a little figurine in his hand. "We hear you guys found yourself a nice gooey mummy. Congrats" laughs Burns. "You know if you dry him out you can sell him for stick wood" laughs Daniels. The Americans laugh loudly. Evelyn smirks and drops a big pile of bug skeletons on the ground. "What the hell is that," asks Ashley while Jonathan and Rick stare in disgusted at the bug collection. "Famished," she says. "Are you saying that somebody trow these in with our guy, and they slowly ate him alive?" asks Rick. "Very slowly" grins Evelyn.  "He certainly was not a popular fellow when they planted him," says Jonathan. "Must have gotten a little too frisky with the pharaoh's daughter" teases Rick and pokes Ashley. Ashley laughs amused. "According to my readings our friend suffered the home dai" Evelyn says. "The worst and most evil ancient curse. One reserved for only the vilest blasphemers. In all of my research, I never read of this curse actually being performed." "That bad huh" asks Ashley. "Yes they never used it because they feared it so. It is written that if a victim of the hom dai should ever arise he would bring with him the ten plagues of Egypt." "You mean the biblical stuff," asks Ashley. "Like what that Moses guy did to that pharaoh guy," asks Benni. "That's one way of putting it" teaches Evelyn. "Let's see. There were frogs, flies, locusts" says Jonathan. "Bees also right" asks Ashley. "Hail and fire" whispers burns. "The sun turning red" says Henderson. "Water turning to blood," says Daniels. "No bees" smiles Ashley. "No but my personal favorite, people covered in boils and sores," says Jonathan. All the men look nervous at each other. "You guys believe in this stuff," asks Ashley. Evelyn shares an amused look with Jonathan. Like he knows what she is thinking he suddenly starts tickling Ashley while screaming; "watch out for the plagues." Screaming she jumps up. "You don't joke with the plague my friend" whispers Benni and walks off. " "Pff" sighs Rick and shakes his head. "It is just a myth" laughs Evelyn and pulls a meat stick out of the fire. "Fried gizzard someone," she asks.  Ashley pulls her nose up for the horrible stench and shakes her head. "I don't care what you guys want, but I am going to bed" she sighs. Rick gives her an intense look. "You'll be alright," he asks. Ashley nods and kisses his jaw. If she has to be honest, the story spooked her a bit.  What if it is not a myth like Evelyn said. What if the men were right? Before this 'adventure' Ashley never even thought about the possibility of an afterlife. But now, with the crazy warriors who attacked the boat, Benni his superstitious fear, the disgusting looking mummy, the book, the men... Just everything. Everything that happened since she left her home... It made her wonder. Why would those guys go through all this trouble for a key. A key that doesn't lead to a treasure! No, a key and a map leading to... to a mummy.  And not a famous nor wealthy mummy, like Cleopatra or Tutankhamen. No, just a nobody, mummified alive. They wouldn't do so much effort if they didn't believe the stories. The plagues of Egypt...
Sighing, with a head full of worry she looks to the stars. But they don't seem to provide her an answer either. "Silly girl" she whispers to herself and turns herself back to the camp.
She wants to walk slowly back to the campsite but a strange sound draws her attention. She looks back at the dark desert. Not a single movement is to be seen. So what made that sound? What was it that called for her attention? Once again the same sounds
A familiar sound catches her attention. Slowly she turns around. The dark desert is quiet. Not a single movement to be seen. So what was that sound? What is it that calls for her attention. Once more the sound is heard. She did not imagine it! Slowly she steps forward, in an attempt to see what makes this strange noice. She can feel that something is lurking in the darkness.  Or someone. Maybe she should call for aid. "Don't be a hero stupid girl" Ashley whispers and turns around again. But before she can take one step forward a strong arm slides over her stomach. A hand provides her from screaming. Her attacker drags her back, in the dark shadows of the desert, where he pushes her down on the warm sand.
Groaning she crawls up. Her eyes meet with a pair of dark brown ones. Scared she crawls backwards.
The rider with the facial tattoos."You must not shout," he says with a strong voice. "I will not hurt you. But you must not call for aid." Once again Ashley looks up. Ready to shout Rick his name. "I only desire the book. I give you my word." Ashley shakes her head. The man holds out his hand. Doubting if she can trust him she looks at him. "I don't know about the book. I only know that the American doctor found it." The man waits till she takes his hand. Sighing Ashley takes his hand, knowing that he won't give up anyway. He pulls her back on her feet and nods. "Can you get the book for me? I promise that when I have the book, you will never see me again." Ashley sighs. "Why don't you get it yourself?" A playful smile appears on his lips. She realizes now that her answer might be a bit rude. Possibly no one dares to speak to him like she just did. In the end, he doesn't seem an ordinary man. Perhaps he is a soldier?
"I would if I knew for sure that It wouldn't end up in another bloodbath. Enough blood is spilled on these grounds." "Ashley nods. "I'll see what I can do" she sighs. "But you promise that you and your friends won't come back right? Cause no offence, your friends are complete assholes. And I am pretty sure that I am tired of you as well." Again the man smirks amused. "I promise" he answers and nods. Ashley looks into his deep brown eyes and nods. "Thank you," he says before she walks back up again. "Stupid soldier whatever he might be asshole" she curses as she walks back to the camp.
"NO!!!!!!!!!" she hears the doctor yelling. "YOU MUST NOT READ FROM THE BOOK!! He hastily runs through the camp, knocking Ashley over on his way. "Hey!" she yells. "What the actual fuck man" she groans and crawls back up. Ashley skids to a stop as a strange, piercing, and whining sound is heard. Rick leaps to her feet. The Americans run out of their tents. "What the hell" whispers Ashley and looks to the dark sky. The sound gets louder and closer. Then from out of the darkness, a huge wall of locust appears, that swirls into the camp and envelops everyone.
Rick grabs Ashley hastily. Jonathan follows his example with Evelyn. As fast as their legs can, they race for the crevice, trying to fend off the horrid vermin while they go. Beni and the Americans run for the temple.
"Come on" Rick yells as he races down the labyrinth. "He slaps a locust from his shoulder and grabs one out of Ashley her hair. "Did you see that" yells Jonathan. "Locusts" he screams. "Locusts Evie!!! The first plague!" "Oh shut up" yells Evelyn. "Serious, locusts, loads of locusts!" "This is not a plague, this is generational. Every so many year the locusts of Egypt have a population explosion and they all take flight." "I hate to say it but I think that Jon may be right" shivers Ashley. "Why thank you, someone, who takes this seriously," says Jonathan. Evelyn steps forward. Something squishes under her feet. Rick lowers his torch and shows a whole passageway filled with frogs. "Frogs," asks Jonathan. "Okay, what about frogs," asks Rick. "The second plague" shivers Ashley. Rick looks at her. "Ash, look. I.." His sentence is interrupted by the trembling ground under them. Suddenly right in front of them, hundreds of chittering scarabs bottle up from out of the ground. They start scurrying towards them. "Back" yells Rick and pushes Ashley hastily away. Evelyn and Jonathan scream as they start running through the tunnels.
They race through the dark alleys, hoping to find a way out.
"Daniels" somebody shouts through the tunnels. Ashley looks up. "Rick" she yells but he cannot hear her. He is too caught up in the moment. Abruptly she stops and peers in the dark. "Daniels" she hears once more, this time with more fear in the trembling voice. "Oh fuck it" Ashley whispers and runs into the small tunnel. "Hey" she asks. She spots Burns, sitting on hands and knees. He is searching the sandy floor. "Please help" burns begs. "I.. I can't see. I lost my glasses. Help!" Ashley looks back. "Sorry Rick" she mutters. Hastily she searches the floor for his glasses. "I found it, but somebody broke it. Sorry," she says and takes his arm. "But don't be afraid. I will help you." "Thank you...You are the little one right? Miss O'Connell. Thank you" he whispers. Ashley smiles and hooks her arm in his. "Trust me alright" she whispers and turns around.