Once In A Lifetime Adventure - Part 4

 

            Annie slowly crept down the passage that flickered with the light from her torch. Prickles ran up her spine, screaming for her to run away, but she kept moving forward. Her friends were counting on her to rescue them from the mummy.

            When she reached the place where she’d last seen them, she stopped and looked around. The only things she saw were the ornate golden door and the stone walls that were the same throughout the pyramid. A confusion of footprints filled the floor, but they didn’t seem to go anywhere. Furrowing her brow, she thought about what she was going to do next.

            Carefully, she put her hand against the door and pushed. To her great surprise, it opened, and she peered inside. Only darkness greeted her.

            Shining her torch inside, she saw a narrow passageway, stretching out in front of her. Taking a deep breath, she started down it as quietly as she could. She tried not to think about the mummy wrapping its hands around her throat as she searched for her friends.

            Reaching a point where the passage split into three different directions, she focused on the faces of Cody, Justin, Daniel, Evie, and Megan. The center way lit up, and she started down it without hesitation. She could feel that she was going the right way. She also felt the malice of this place getting stronger.

            Equal parts of hope and terror poured into her as she spied another door ahead of her. This one was made out of gold as well, but it was also inlaid with countless precious gems. If the mummy’s resting place was anywhere in this pyramid, it had to be behind this door. That thought nearly made Annie turn around and run the other way, but she also felt her friends’ hopes resting on her.

            Gripping her torch tightly, she pushed on the door, and it slowly creaked open. This room was already brightly lit, and the sight of her friends sitting unconscious against the wall made her run over to them. She didn’t notice the mummy standing behind her until the door slammed shut.

            Whipping around, she watched the mummy let out a gravelly growl as he reached for her. The menace pouring off of him hit her like a physical blow.

            Narrowly escaping his grasp, Annie thought of Justin’s gun and how she wished she had it now.

            She suddenly felt cold steel in her hand and was amazed to see the gun in it. Without any further thought, she gripped it tightly and pointed it at the monster, who was still lurching toward her. When the gun fired and bucked in her hand, the recoil pushed her backward and she nearly fell. Recovering quickly, she fired again, but the mummy was still advancing.

            Trying hard not to completely panic, she threw her thoughts toward her friends, willing them to wake up.

            Moans and groans issued from her previously unconscious friends as, one by one, they stood up, dazed and confused.

            Annie shot the gun once more before it gave a hollow click, out of ammunition. Throwing the gun down in frustration, she leaned down and picked up the torch that she had dropped. With concentrated intention, she willed its flame toward the ancient hands wrapped in discolored gauze and cloth.

            A terrible scream sounded from the mummy as he clawed at the flames that had enveloped his head.

            Annie turned to her companions, who were all standing now, gaping at the growing inferno. “Let’s get out of here!” She pointed her torch toward the exit, and flames jumped out of her hand to light the way.

            Glancing back at her in wonder, Cody led them out.

            Annie made sure everyone else had left before she followed them, closing the door on the still-screaming mummy. Without even thinking, she sent flames behind her to burn and guard the door. She did not want to see that mummy again.

            Catching up with the others who were breathing heavily, she looked back into their inquiring faces and said with a triumphant grin, “I know where the treasure is! Let’s get it and get out of here!” She helped Evie, who had sat down against the wall, to her feet. Evie was gingerly holding a hand to a lump on her head.

            With trembling hands, Cody congratulated her. “Well done, Annie. Which way do we go?” His reassuring smile made Annie relax a little as she led them back to the treasure room.

            Not really interested in the treasure, she stood at the entrance while the others stuffed their packs. Daniel noticed her disinterest.

            “Don’t you want to enjoy the fruits of your efforts?” He held up a ruby the size of an egg. “You deserve a share of this.” He tossed the ruby over to Annie, who caught it, surprised by its weight.

            “This isn’t real. I’ve had my adventure, and now I just want to go home.”

            Evie looked inquiringly over at Annie. “Who said this isn’t real?”

            A cold shiver ran down Annie’s spine at the thought of the danger they would all have been in if this hadn’t really been pretend. But, of course, it was just an act, right? She pushed the thought away and put the ruby in her pocket. At least she would have some kind of souvenir from this adventure.

            With their packs bulging with gold and treasure, they were all finally ready to head back out into the sunshine. The only treasure Annie was carrying in her pockets was the ruby and a handful of gold coins that Megan had handed to her as they were leaving. “You might want this for later,” Megan said with a wink.

            The trip back through the pyramid didn’t take long at all. When they reached the entrance, it was no longer blocked, and they stepped out into the searing desert heat. To her relief, Annie saw the door that she’d first come through standing at the top of a sand dune.

            She quickly shook hands with the others as she thanked them for the once-in-a-lifetime adventure. Each of her friends wore a mysterious smile as they told her what a good job she had done with the mummy.

            Finally, she said goodbye and walked up the sand dune toward the door. It opened easily, and she found herself back on the stage she had left, her mother gazing anxiously at her.

            “Well, how did it go?” her mother asked nervously.

            Annie stared at her mother. “That was a very different adventure than I was led to believe it was going to be.”

            “But you defeated the mummy?”

            Annie pulled the ruby from her pocket. “Yep, and I brought back a souvenir.”

            Her mother’s eyes bulged as she saw the size of the ruby. “So, did you use your magic, then?”

            “My magic?”

            “Yes. Our family line is one of the most magic-infused in the world. I’m sorry I had to put you through that experience, but it was the only way for you to discover how to use your magic.”

            Annie’s jaw dropped in shock. Was this really happening?

            Her mother hugged her. “It looks like you’ve done really well for yourself.”

            For the next hour, Annie listened as she learned who she really was. She thought back on her not-so-pretend adventure. A whole new world was opening up before her. She had actually beaten a cursed mummy in a haunted pyramid.

            A smile spread over her face. Maybe this wasn’t so bad. She felt the ruby in her pocket. That was quite the souvenir she’d brought back. Apparently, she was going to have a lot more adventures now. That thought might have terrified her before, but things were different now. She could use magic!