Attack on the boat

Night has slowly fallen over Egypt. The bright stars surround the full moon and give the dark blue sky a magical look .As the boat continues to glide through the crystal-clear blue water, its passengers get louder, drunker, and more annoying. With a sigh, Ashley looks at some drunken idiots who apparently prefer to spend their time fighting instead of checking out the beautiful scenery. "Ash" calls to Rick and beckons his finger as she looks at him. "I don't want you around those drunk bastards," says Rick, sighing when he sees Jonathan playing cards with some Americans.

"Oh O'Connell, we could use another player" shouts Jonathan. "Hey, Darling" greets the American and blinks at Ashley. He fast looks away after getting a dirty look from Rick.

"Yeah, well I only gamble with my life, never with my money" answers Rick after which Ashley pats him. "Never" answers Daniels. "What If I say that I bet for 500 dollars that we can get to Hamunaptra before you"Rick answers Daniels cocky look. "Yer on," says Rick soft." You're looking for Hamunaptra?" "Damn straight we are" answers the cowboy. "Who says we are?" Rick looks angry at Jonathan while everyone points at him. Jonathan sighs nervously. "Well" laughs Jonathan and looks at Ashley. "Feel free to help me out darling," he says. "No, and I'm not your darling" grunts Ashley. The Americans and Rick laugh out loud. "You are a spicy one hey" yells Daniels. "Handful to have" blinks Burns. Before Rick can answer him, Ashley rolls her eyes and walks away from the gambling boys. "Idiots "she sighs and walks over to the camels. A camel knocks his nose against her forearm." Would you like some attention dear "she whispers and strokes his nose." You're friendlier than those hillbillies, "she jokes." Gentle creatures "claims the caretaker." Ashley smiles. And cute too. " She looks back through the sound of a loud thud, shaking her head again, paying attention to the camel.

"Are we going into battle," she hears Evelyn ask. Gently she turns her head, anxiously waiting for Rick's answer. Rick never tells her anything. This might just be her chance to hear what they are looking for. Or rather, where exactly they are going. Hamunaptra, or the city of the dead, always seemed like a fairy tale to Ashley. A ghost story, as it were. But now with Rick's strange behavior, the stress she sees in his eyes, and all the Americans looking for the same thing. She begins to question her beliefs ... What if the stories are true? What if it's like they say ... Cursed? Don't be stupid, Ashley, she sighs and strokes the camel's neck. Curses aren't real. There is no such thing as cursed lands or ghosts ... right? She sighs and walks to her rooms, haunted by her own thoughts.

As time ticks away, and night only gets darker, the ship continues on its way to the cursed city. While some passengers are too curious about the secrets of the desert, others fall asleep softly. Peace returns across the river and the only sound is that of the calling owls and singing crickets. But no matter how peaceful the night is, Ashley cannot fall asleep. She turns in her bed, but in her head, her thoughts are too haunted to sleep. She keeps thinking about Evelyn's question. "Do I miss something?" What if she's not the only one missing something? What isn't Rick telling her? What really happened in that desert ... What did he see? What is he not saying? With a deep sigh, she clicks the light back on and brushes a long wavy hair from her face. Maybe it wasn't a good idea to go after all. Listening to the sounds of the creaking ship and the exotic nature slowly calms them. Just when she thinks she can finally get some sleep, a loud scream echoes in her ears. Startled, she sits up. What the hell was that? The Americans? There is a loud thud in the hallway. "Evelyn" she hears Rick screaming. Definitely not the Americans! She grabs a denim jacket and pulls it over her black tank top. She freezes in shock when the sound of gunfire echoes. "Rick" she whispers softly and opens the door. Ashley watches the passengers run across the deck in panic. Some abandon hope and jump overboard, while others defend themselves against heavily armed men dressed in black robes. She has no idea what's going on, and she doesn't know who these people are, but one thing's for sure ... They're not laughing about it. "Ashley" shouts Rick. "To the deck!" he shouts. "Ashley" shouts Rick and grabs her arm. "Who are those people? What's going on" Ashley asks frightened. "I have no idea" Rick sighs and gives her his bag. Frightened, Evelyn hides behind Rick as if he were a protective shield. She takes Ashley's hand and looks around. Her eyes betray her fear. And yet Ashley takes care of like a friend or a sister would. The idea warms Ashley inside. She never had a friend. All she ever had was Rick.

Her attention is abruptly withdrawn to the fight when a shower of bullets pierces the wood above her head after Rick opens the door to the deck. Flames hungrily lick the wood of the riverboat. The air is thick with smoke and the only sound is that of cries of death and breaking glass. Rick is surprisingly calm, Ashley notes. Evelyn looks up nervously at Rick, who calmly loads his weapon as he ducks from the bullets. Every bullet that burrows into the wood above them makes Evelyn jump more and more. In a panic, she grabs Rick's shoulder strap. Rick looks ahead in shock and swallows. He beckons Ashley, then takes both of his pistols and shoots as he jumps around the corner. Nervously, Evelyn follows and grabs Ashley's hand again. Ashley hastily dives under a hail of bullets and falls to the ground with a loud thud. "Ashley" Evelyn shouts worriedly. Ashley looks at Rick's bag, which has been pushed further away by her fall. "Go, I'm right behind you" Ashley shouts and crawls over to the pistol bag. Rick looks at her intently and shoots at the man sneaking up on Ashley. "Damn it," he swears and shoots as you walk on. Ashley hurries over to the bag and pulls the leather handle. "Agghh" roars an attacker and attacks Ashley with a scimitar. She rolls away quickly and looks at the bag he accidentally kicks away. "Come on" she swears with a sigh and ducks for a second attack from the man. As fast as she can, she crawls on all fours to the bag, but the attacker grabs her ankle and drags her back down onto the warm wood. The heat of the approaching flames scorches her forearm. "Agh" she curses and stamps on the attacker's nose bone. She punches his throat and pounds in the stomach, rattling the man to the floor. Groaning, she sits up and runs to the bag. "Rick" she calls out and looks scared for her brother. Now she knows for sure, she should not have come. She loves Rick, and she would do anything for him ... but this? This is a bridge too far. Literally! "Rick" she shouts again and runs across the deck, dodging the bullets. "Ashley" shouts Rick and takes the bag from her. He puts the bag on the floor and hugs her. "Ash" he whispers. "Rick, what the hell" Ashley shouts. "No time to be mad," he says, taking Ashley in his arms and throwing Ashley into the cold water without warning.

The cold water surrounds Ashley and stings her nose. She quickly swims to the surface and takes a deep breath. Panting, she looks at the burning ship and takes another deep breath. "Rick you jerk" she roars. She dives back screaming when a cold hand takes her arm. "Calm" is Evelyn's voice. "This way" she shouts and swims away from the ship. "Rick" shouts Ashley again. She quickly turns her head to the loud splash. Panting, Rick lifts his head above water. Ashley calls out again; Jerk and splashes water at him. Rick grins in amusement. "At your service" Ashley glares at him and hits him with water. "Hey, I told you I would protect you," he laughs. Ashley shakes her head and swims after Evelyn. "What did I say," Rick asks loudly before shaking his head and swimming after her. Panting, Ashley steps onto the riverbank and accepts Evelyn her hand as help. "Thanks" she mumbles and coughs again. Evelyn sighs as Ashley stares at the sinking wreckage. Everything she had is gone ... and not just that ... God knows where they are! Cairo could be miles away ... "We've lost everything, all of our clothes, tools, all the stuff, all my clothes," Evelyn shouts. "O Connell" sounds loud. Rick and Ashley slowly turn to the hoarse voice. "Looks to me like I have all the horses", Benni shouts loudly. Rick grins. "Hey Benni, looks to me like you are on the wrong side of the river" Rick replies loudly. Ashley smiles and turns back. Jonathan sighs and pats Ashley on the shoulder. Ashley slowly looks at him before following Rick. She notices again how calm he stays under all this. Why? It almost seems like this is not strange for him .. "Who were those guys? And why did they attack us?" "Good question ma'am," says Jonathan. Rick looks at Ashley. "Look Ash, I have no idea. I don't know them. I've never seen them before. They were looking for the map. That's all I know. It must mean that this map ... can lead to more than We think. More than we want, "he adds softly before walking on. Ashley sighs and looks at the full moon. Maybe they shouldn't follow the map ... All Ashley's intuitions warn her against ... Map ... This place ... Whatever is at the bottom of the map ... It can never be right.