Chapter 7: Quite Nice

"To be hanged! Apparently, he had a very good time?"

Me, Evelyn and Jonathan, who was still holding on to his nose from Rick's punch earlier, were being led by Hassan towards a viewing area to witness Rick's execution.

There were quite a lot of people here that were cheering, kind of shocking no? But I guess this could be counted as entertainment for people who don't really have much to do.

We saw Rick being pushed towards a raised platform on where he would be hung as we were being seated.

Front row seats, fascinating.

As they were getting ready to tie the rope around Rick's neck, Evelyn, looking worried as hell, quickly told Hassan "I will give you £100 to save this man's life!"

Hassan scoffed and replied "Madame, I would pay £100 just to see him hang."

Evelyn, looking back to see that the hanging was about to commence, quickly responded with "£200!"

Hassan, not paying her any mind simply stated towards the executioner, "Proceed!"

Evelyn kept on raising the amount even more, "£300!"

They finally tied and tightened the rope around Rick's neck.

I whispered to myself "Ouch" as I saw that the method of tightening the rope around his neck was with a yank.

-RICK'S POV-

"Any last requests, pig?" said the man who tied the rope.

"Yeah? Loosen the knot and let me go."

The man, looking stupefied, just simply turned his head towards Hassan and asked him something in Arabic.

Is he asking him if he can grant my request? Seriously?

There, where the man was looking at Hassan, I saw the people I had met earlier.

They were all seated and I guess were gonna witness my soon to be death.

Hassan replied to the man in Arabic and said "Of course we don't let him go!"

The man looked back at me and slapped the back of my head. Ow.

-DEIMOS' POV-

"£500!" Was Evelyn's offer this time.

That's quite a sum by their standards.

I mean, I could help them out with how much money I have and try to bail him out, but I think it would be better to let the plot take its course.

Hassan, signaled the executioner to stop for a second with his hand and looked at Evelyn.

"And what else? I'm a very lonely man." he said as he touched Evelyn's thigh.

Or he would've if not for me slapping the back of his head.

"For God's sake, you too?"

Evelyn looked at me and mouthed a thank you with a slight blush.

We started to hear laughter all around us since they witnessed me slapping his head.

Hassan, not having any of it, signaled for the man to pull the lever.

The lever was pushed and Rick fell.

With how far he fell, it was a surprise that his neck didn't break at all.

Hassan, looking amused, laughed "Haha! His neck did not break!"

He looked back at Evelyn and said "Oh, I'm so sorry. Now, we must watch him strangle to death."

Evelyn, looking immensely worried for the well-being of Rick and also because she wants to find Hamunaptra, decides to give an ultimate offer.

"He knows the location of Hamunaptra."

Hassan immediately looked back at her, with pure shock on his face, "You lie!"

"I would never!" Evelyn stated with utter dismay.

"Are you telling me this filthy, godless son of a pig, knows where to find the City of the Dead?" Hasan asked.

"Yes."

Truly?!"

"YES!"

Evelyn, looking quite excited due to Hassan finally showing an interest, sweetened the deal even more.

"A-and if you cut him down, we will give you…"

She trailed as she looked back at Rick just dangling from the rope, struggling for some air.

"10%!"

Hassan squinted at her and replied with his own percentage, "50%!"

"20" Evelyn replied quickly.

"40" Hassan said.

"30" Evelyn replied even quicker.

"25" said Hassan, not realizing what he just said.

"Ha! Deal!" Evelyn said with pure joy.

Hassan looked flabbergasted, and realized what he just said.

He winced his face and wrinkled his nose, and finally called for Rick to be cut down.

"Clever girl, Evy" I said, stifling a laugh.

Immediately after Hassan's command, Rick's rope was cut down.

-A DAY LATER IN GIZA PORT, CAIRO-

"Do you really think he'll show up, Deimos?" Evelyn asked me, to which Jonathan responded.

"Yes, undoubtedly, knowing my luck."

We were walking towards the boarding area for the ferry that we were supposed to take along with some luggage that they decided to bring.

I would say that all of us were carrying the cases, but it's really just me carrying most of the bags because of my strength and Evelyn carrying a small handbag.

I knew if I wasn't here, Jonathan wouldn't be carrying anything and would leave it all to Evelyn here to carry them.

"He may be a cowboy, but I know the breed. His word is his word." Jonathan said.

Evelyn responded with her own take on Rick's character, "Well, personally, I think he's filthy, rude, a complete scoundrel. I don't like him one bit."

"Sure." I said which got me a smile from Evelyn.

"Anyone I know?" said Rick as he walked up from behind us.

We all looked at him and were honestly pretty shocked. More so them, than I.

Gone was the wild man looking like Tarzan and here stood a distinguished gentleman.

"Wow, would you look at that? You look nearly as good as me." I said as I smirked.

"Pshh, yeah maybe." said Rick.

We all know that I'm better looking, but I have to give credit where credit's due. Rick cleans up nicely.

Evelyn looked at Rick with a huge red blush on her face.

"Umm, hello." she said, eyeing Rick up and down.

'What the hell, she wasn't this love stricken with me as she is with Rick'

{Deimos, of course you're much better, to the point that even I, myself, find wanting. It's just that they are destined to be together so the plot makes Evelyn perceive that Rick is better.}

'Aww thanks for that Eve. A damn shame though. Oh well, it was fun while it lasted.'

Jonathan broke the silence that befell as I spoke with Eve and Evelyn just looking smitten at Rick.

"Smashing day for the start of an adventure, eh, O'Connell?" He tapped at Rick's chest and shook his hand.

"Yeah. Yeah, smashing." Rick said as he checked for his wallet in his jacket, thinking that Jonathan took it when he tapped his chest.

Jonathan realizing what Rick was doing said "Oh, no, no, I'd never steal from a partner, partner" as he tapped his chest again.

I asked Rick "Did you know Jonathan for you to throw a sucker punch to his face?"

"Nope, he just stole something from me a while back so I kinda got angry when I finally remembered who he was back at the prison." Rick said.

Rick also with an apologetic look said "Oh yeah that reminds me. No hard feelings about the uh" he balled a fist and motioned a punch.

"Oh, no, no. Happens all the time." Jonathan said with a fearful smile.

Evelyn getting out of her daze, asked Rick, "Mr. O'Connell? Can you look me in the eye and guarantee me that this isn't all some kind of…sort of flimflam. Because if it is, I am warning you…"

Rick looked at her and said "You're warning me? Lady, let me put it this way, my whole damn garrison believed in this so much that without orders, they marched halfway across Libya and into Egypt to find that city. And when we finally got there, all we found was sand and blood."

He noticed that I was carrying all the bags and offered to lessen the load.

I mean, I didn't really feel the weight, but he's being courteous so I obliged.

Evelyn was looking a little regretful with her earlier remark while Rick and I walked into the ship to drop off the luggage.

-JONATHAN AND EVELYN-

They both saw Rick and Deimos walk into the ship with their belongings while Evelyn stared at Rick's back.

Jonathan came up to her and as if to mark her earlier judge of Rick, said "Yes, yes you're right. Filthy, rude, a complete scoundrel. Nothing to like there at all."

Evelyn just looked back at Jonathan, pondering what he reminded of what she had earlier said.

Hassan finally appeared from behind them with a fez on his head.

"Bright good morning to all." he said with a smirk.

"Oh, no. What are you doing here?" said Evelyn with disgust.

"I'm here to protect my investment, thank you very much." he replied as he took his suitcase and walked up to board the ship.

-BACK WITH DEIMOS AT NIGHT-

I had almost forgotten to do my daily task and really didn't want to deal with those centipedes again.

So before I left with Evelyn and Jonathan towards the ferry, I did my running first. Which was really no surprise at all that it went up in distance and wanted to do the rest of my exercises on the boat.

[Quests

Daily Quest: 175 push-ups, 175 squats, 175 sit-ups, 17.5 kilometre run. (COMPLETE)

Rewards: +2 in all stats except intelligence. {RECEIVE?}]

I mentally tapped on the prompt and felt a little stronger.

[HOST: Deimos Yusha

RACE: Human

STR: 19 (7)

VIT: 19 (7)

SPE: 19 (7)

DEX: 19 (7)

INT: 20 (7) ]

With the little increase in strength, I felt pretty energetic. I'm just getting stronger.

-MEANWHILE-

While Deimos was finishing up his quest, two small rowboats were quietly making their way towards his unsuspecting ferry in the calm of the night.

-BACK WITH DEIMOS & RICK-

Me and Rick walked towards the recreation area of the boat. There we saw Jonathan already up to his antics gambling away.

I saw that he was playing with the American group that was in the movie.

"Quit playing with your glasses and cut the deck, Burns."

"Without my glasses, I can't see the deck to cut it, can I Dave?"

Jonathan, noticing us, waved us down. "Ah Deimos and O'Connell, sit down. We could use some more players."

"Sounds like fun, I'm in." I said and found a seat.

"I only gamble with my life, never my money."

"Never?" Said Dave as he was handing out the cards. "What if I was to bet you $500 we get to Hamunaptra before you?"

Rick, looking a little surprised, said, "You're looking for Hamunaptra?"

"Damn straight we are." said, who I could safely say was Henderson.

"And who says we are?" Rick asked.

"He does." They all said pointing at Jonathan.

I chuckled but Rick looked at Jonathan with anger.

Dave asked again, "Well, how about it? Is it a bet?"

Rick smiled and said "Alright you're on."

"What makes you so confident, sir?" said a man with a fez. I think he was Allen.

"What makes you?" asked Rick.

Henderson responded, "We got us a man who's actually been there."

Jonathan butted in and said "Oh, what a coincidence, because O'Connell-"

I flicked a penny that was on the betting table and hit Jonathan's head to stop his blabbering mouth.

Jonathan recoiled and quickly understood why I did what I did.

"Oh uh. Whose play is it? Is, is it my play? I thought I just uh…" said Jonathan trying to play it safe.

"Gentlemen, we got us a wager. Good evening, Jonathan." Rick said as he squeezed Jonathan's shoulder.

I stayed at the table while Rick left to go talk to Evelyn.

I really don't want to be there when they start getting all lovey-dovey with each other so I stayed back.

Me, Jonathan and the American group started playing blackjack.

Although, for some reason, I've been been only getting aces and face cards and so have only been winning.

'Eve, do I have some absurd luck or something?'

{There's no such thing as luck Deimos. It just happens that you are winning.}

'Hmm, I see. Thanks.'

BANG BANG BANG

We all stood up from our seats as soon as we heard those gunshots.

So it's started?

Perfect.

Me and Jonathan rushed to Evelyn's room since Jonathan wanted to check up on her.

As Jonathan was worried for his dear sister's safety, he ran up ahead and without looking, bumped into one of Imhotep's followers, knocking him onto a sofa in Evelyn's room that had caught fire.

The fire quickly spread onto the follower and he started writhing around.

Seeing the key for Hamunaptra on the floor, Jonathan tried to grab it, only to be grabbed by the follower who, on fire and having a knife as one of his hands, tried to escape.

Jonathan ran for his life and I just stood idly by watching everything unfold.

Honestly I should be helping, but then again, if I do, the plot wouldn't really progress.

The entire boat was set ablaze from the fire in Evelyn's room and people started to abandon ship.

I quickly studied my surroundings and saw that we were nearing the area of where I told those vendors to drop off my supplies.

I saw Rick throw Evelyn into the water and as he was about to follow her, he was quickly knocked back by a couple followers.

I quickly rushed to his side without a thought.

"Need some help, Rick?" I said with a slight smile, in my Niko Style's Adamantine stance.

"Yeah thanks!" Rick yelled and quickly rushed off the boat.

He just left me? Dick move man.

Right after, all the followers tried to gang up on me. To which I simply dodged each one of them.

One follower had a knife at hand and had quickly rushed to stab me. I tightened all my muscles as my Adamantine Kata was in full effect.

Because I wanted to see what would happen and also since I was an idiot, I stood still and welcomed him.

Expecting pain, I was met with a small prick on my chest.

I looked down at where I was supposed to see a knife wound, only to see the knife puncture through my shirt and stop at my skin.

Well, now, isn't that quite nice.

END CHAPTER 7