Curse Of The Desert Sun ⚜ Ch. 4
Royal Academy Diaries II
Nights were so often torment. Either the curse or the dreams plagued him.
Aten lay in bed, tossing and turning as he felt another dream coming on, but was unable to wake himself.
No, not again...
He walked across the burning desert sand, approaching a mound of stone rising up from the ground.
No, stop.
A guide led him to a dark entrance, a hole in the ground that so many had talked about. Down, down, down along ancient steps.
Stop, idiot! Go back!
He went forward, unwillingly forced along the same path he'd taken before. The light of the sun was cut off as he entered the tomb.
It's too late...
He followed the guide back to where the pharaoh's treasures lie. Scientists removed them, piece by careful piece.
No, stop! Stop taking them out! Leave them! He wants us to leave them!
Laying a hand on Tut's golden throne, a pang struck him, all the way to his heart. The guide asked if he was alright.
No! I'm not alright! Look what happened to me!
He said yes, and they went back to the tomb itself. The golden sarcophagus laid out on the stone was ominous and pulsing.
No! Go back! Leave the king alone!
He was inexplicably drawn to it. The eyes, those ancient eyes of a king whose slumber had been disturbed.
NO! Run!
Stupidly, he reached out a hand, unable to draw it back as he touched it.
He screamed. The mask exploded into golden shards, revealing the mummy. The dead king opened his mouth, his empty eyes black with rage and torment.
"For the Prince, the greatest price of thieves," Tut rasped.
Suddenly Aten was thrust out of the tomb system, out into the sun. It burned! It burned, oh it burned...!
He woke with a start, sitting up in a cold sweat. His roommates hardly stirred. Aten's hands were trembling, the now familiar dry burn in his throat aching.
Carefully, he slipped out of bed, changing into dark clothes. He had to eat. Now. He was afraid of hurting his roommates.
Going to the window, he opened it, climbing out and down to the ground. Checking for guards, he headed out to the forest to kill something - before he killed someone.