9 CHAPTER EIGHT

"It's not funny. Show yourself!" Her eyes look around. "Ardeth is that you? If it was you thank you for watching me. If Jonathan? Please, get yourself home".

She said. Slowly she take a step back. Arms ready to punch someone if something pounced on her suddenly. She must get ready for that.

"I - I'll fight you!"

Corner of her eyes, she saw darkness figures around the corner. The view is blurred. She barely seen clearly. It was night of course. Was that a man or a woman?

Or an big animal.

What it want from her? Thought her was right. Kidnappers. Robbery? Murdered? NO. She swallowed hard. Her mind are messy now.

Please someone protect me. God's protect me.

She back away again. "I don't care who you are. I see you there. I - I shout for help if you get near me or trying to hurt me".

She sigh. "I report you as harassment towards woman like me. Of course beautiful woman like me".

She laugh herself. "I'm innocent. You can't hurt me! Show yourself and why you following me".

Nothing.

"What do you want?"

Behind that darkness figures, blurring. It was Imhotep himself. His jaw drop and confusing. He cannot believe in his eyes that she a talkative woman he just know now. Nefertiri ever talk like that to him.

Ever.

That's different between her and Nefertiri. He loves both of his women. No matter what - Evelyn is Nefertiri and Nefertiri is Evelyn.

The past and the future.

He trying to get closer to her but he can't. He must not trying to scare her. He know the eyes of Medjai are everywhere to protecting her, he feel them around him.

Snarling. He hates the Medjai.

"I'm being serious okay!"

This is ridiculous! Who's that? Owh bugger!

She ran fast as she can without looked at her back. Doesn't care what she saw or what the heck is that. She doesn't care of anything, all she want is her feet ran back to house.

Without her know. Imhotep followed her behind. She scream like a bloody hell. Her throat hurt. Sadly. No one hear her scream.

What time is it? Why people can't hear me scream? just HELP me here!

How many time she almost stumbled, hurting her feet and knee. She close her eyes hoping she arrived at home sooner. An sudden she hear Jonathan voice around hers. She open her eyes.

Finally. She arrive at home.

Heavily breathing. Sweating all over her face and body. She patted her chest, panting. Then she turn her back.

Nothing.

She wiped her sweat on forehead. Her face are red and hot like chillies. She feel it and about to painted. She slowly enter the house.

Her feet is hurt.

Middle of the room. There Jonathan and Ardeth arguing about something that she doesn't care. As long she safe and sound that - Oh my God!

"I'm warning you, Ardeth. You keep your bloody bird away from me!"

She gasp for air. "What do you expect, Jonathan. It's nature. You were lucky I didn't brought an cow or camel into this house for fun show for you. Just a bird".

"Nature?" She smile. "This is your last warning or I ask Evy cook that bird".

"Don't be such a dramatic man. It won't bite if you don't". Ardeth kiss the bird head. "Beside. He's like you. He'll think your the most pure heart man he ever meet beside me and the rest of Medjai".

He let the bird fly inside the house. "Shocking it didn't bite you".

"Owh you two sweet couples fighting over the bird". She said tiredly. "Interesting".

Both men shocked as Evelyn interfere the scene. Ardeth smile. "I didn't see you there".

"A humanizing touch, that—you have a pet bird". said Jonathan.

"Horus is no pet. He is my best friend, my most clever friend". He smile again. "This is Horus".

Horus was the pet of Ardeth that the Medjai warrior himself considered to be a dear friend, and was given the honour and duty of acting as messenger to other Medjai warriors.

"Falcon actually. Just feed the bird and he will go away". He'd suggest. He look at Evelyn. "Are you alright?"

She shrugged. Still sweating. "Did you run from the museum? Jogging. Middle of the night".

"Can I ask you something, Ardeth?" He nod. "Did you ask your warriors looking after me tonight?"

He shake his head no. Curious. If wasn't them but who?

"My warriors wasn't here. They back to duties. Sahara desert. My others contact send the letter there's more explorer come to Hamunaptra".

Evelyn and Jonathan suddenly bow their head down. "They never learn. Hamunaptra wasn't a place people could visit. It's ancient".

"I don't like them ended up like Mr. Burns and others explorer". said Evelyn. "Will they stop them?"

"Nah!" Ardeth call Horus. The falcon land on top of his shoulder. "Let the desert kill them!"

Sound like cruel. But they deserve it. "What can we do to stop them. We tried. As we tried, more and more explorer came".

Evelyn run toward the kitchen. Ardeth let his pet flew out from the house. His eyes then back to Evelyn whom she look unsettling. Something is happen as she ask him.

"You though someone is stalking you tonight". He smile. "Who? Imhotep".

"Oh. Stop mentioning his name in front of me, Ardeth. Believe me or not. I maybe saw him today".

Jonathan took a sit beside her. Ardeth listening. "Keep talking".

"He wear black garment like I saw it before. He were there in library where I too busy rowing the book on shelves. And this man came up to me, his just smiling at me. I thought it was Dr. Bey send one of them to helping me. No, he wasn't".

She breathe, continue. "Then he's gone when Dr. Bey show up. And he thought me crazy".

"Where the last time you saw him again?"

"Lunch. At Market. I went to my friend restaurant".

"Ah, Khalid's. His daughter is an american. I've been there once. I searched his daughter background".

She blink her eyes. How much he know about Anita's. "That long story I shouldn't told you that". He said.

"That I preferred. She innocent".

"I know. But she come here illegal. She suppose not to be here. But -?"

He silent for a moment. After that he spoke back. "Let's skip that part. You will found out when she open her mouth. Back to Imhotep". His eyes on hers.

She breathe again. "Like I'd said. I thought you and other warriors stalking me tonight. But here you are with your Falcon bird. I confused. I thought he's gonna get me and do something inappropriate while I was alone".

"She will coming for you, Evelyn. He's not gonna hurt you but he want you to be with him on his side no matter what. Do I warned you about him if his awake from his death".

She nod. "Now you have to paid for it". Her eyes now at Ardeth. "I'm not trying to scared you. This is your faith for now".

He walk out the house.

"That man never try to comfort you, Sister". said Jonathan. "This is bad. If he'd get you I'm sure we must to safe you. If Imhotep bring you back to Hamunaptra. Where all it begins".

"Oh, Jonathan. Don't said that. I'll be fine. Imhotep won't do anything beyond our thought".

He smirking. "Yes. He did kiss you".

"I can't see his face clearly. Was him or not, no one knowns. It was night. My room is completely dark".

Jonathan then walk toward the door, he saw nothing or no one outside the house. Believing Ardeth are gone along side with his pet. He shut the door and lock it.

He'll do afraid if Imhotep come here for no reason. Enough, he had followed his sister in here. He won't let him.

"Before you sleep, Sister. Please take your shower. You smell like dead mummies".

"I was running to safe my life tonight. Oh, you don't know how fast I ran".

She's up. Walking upstairs take her shower then sleep until morning without someone bothered her.

Same night. Babu put his arm on chest, shaking his head slowly. Imhotep back from stalking Evelyn. He told Babu what he done to her. And he proud of.

"You follow her?"

"I thought she gonna like it or miss me after see me".

"You scared her away. Stalking her was a bad thing, Imhotep. Did you know how to be a romantic man or something?"

Imhotep shake his head no. He doesn't know anything about being romantic man. He loves his Nefertiri that all he knew. Being romantic?

"Look. If you love someone, you must approached her gently. Introduce yourself so then she know who you are. If I were her? I scared too".

"So, stalking is bad?" Imhotep ask Babu.

"Yes".

"So, you can teach me how to be a romantic man. So, then she could fall for me".

Silent. He spoke back. "I want her because she remind me of hers. I had no chance to said that I love her dearly. My life were short that day. I've got the sentence".

"What kind of sentence?"

Imhotep look down to him. Clearly he see Babu eyes are tired. Of course. The time almost midnight. And he wakes him of his story. The way he stalked her. That stupid ideas he do tonight.

He doesn't know how to approach Evelyn. She's different than Nefertiri. He said again.

"You sleepy, Babu. Sleep. We'll continue this tomorrow or not. You need rest than me".

Of course he don't need that. He been sleep for 3,000 years. Greetings from the Pharaoh.

"Sleep". He smile.