Blood and Sand (18 page)

41

“Dammit, we need to bail and get out of here!”

Ahmed looked to the man who just spoke, watching him shake with fright. He then glanced at his remaining men, all three of them.

Twelve is now four,
he thought shaking his head in disbelief. Four were severely injured by the Claymore mine and subsequently put out of their misery by his sidearm and four more by something else…something alive.

He and his team ducked around a large fallen stone tree, the biggest they’d seen so far. As of now they had outsmarted the monster that attacked them and double backed through the thickest part of the maze.

“What do you think, Viper?” Asked one of the men.

He, like the rest of his surviving men, was bleeding from various wounds suffered at the hands of the big man, Kane, and by whatever else stalked them out in the confusing tangle of petrified tree limbs.

Regardless of what had happened, Ahmed knew that going back without finishing this wasn’t an option. He knew Wolf would hunt them down and kill them himself. The man was a psycho.

He stood, checking his surroundings, answering in a whisper, “We continue on as planned. And if any of you leave, I will personally put a bullet in your head. Is that clear?”

Nods all around.

“Good,” he continued. “Now, did anyone get a look at the thing that attacked us?”

Everyone shook their head in the negative. The attack had come so quickly and so violently. Whatever it was, was truly savage in nature. The first thing Ahmed saw was a blur of motion the size of a garbage truck. The second thing was the carnage it left behind.

“Raptor, what about you?” Ahmed asked.

The man named Raptor, the one who was twitching in fear, and the man who was closest to the onslaught, turned quickly, gun raised, eyes wide in fright.

“Shit!” Ahmed yelled, grabbing the man’s gun hand. During the struggle a single round went off, harmlessly pinging off the ceiling above, barely audible. But, he knew it was enough. The side arm’s discharge rang through the cavern like a bullhorn, giving away their hiding spot to their attacker.

ROAR!

The beast had heard gunshot. It knew where they were. It could probably smell their blood anyways.

Ahmed and his team did the only thing they could do. They ran for their lives. 

Ω Ω Ω

I wake with alarm, like the feeling of falling you sometimes get while sleeping. My labored breathing must be pretty obvious because I have twin beams of L.E.D produced light shining in my face. I lift a hand to block them and through the brightness see worried looks on my friend’s faces.

“I’m fine,” I say and then stand, flex and crack my lower back in a few spots. Then my neck. These stone floor naps are going to give my sciatic fits sooner or later. I rub out the tightness and flex one more time.

“So, who’s Rahji-itza?” Kane asks rolling his own neck. Apparently the extra firm bedding is having an effect on him too.

All I manage to get out is a, “Huh?”

“You were talking in your sleep, Hank,” Nicole adds, also stretching her back.

“Right…” I give them the short version of what happened and who we are dealing with. I tell of the city’s beauty, the families who lived here and of our new…friends. I also relay to them that the visions I’ve been having are because of the priests and the fallen one, Nannot.

“So these warrior priests are the keepers and guardians of this place? Kane surmises. “Why haven’t we seen them?”

I actually never thought to ask. If they are still here, then where are they? Why have I only seen and heard from them in my dreams? What I’ve learned from our ancient acquaintances is that the mind is at its least defendable during sleep. The subconscious has a harder time fighting off thoughts often turning them into dreams or nightmares or at least that’s what they believe.

“I’m not quite sure why they haven’t shown themselves, but I’m pretty sure we are going to find out shortly.”

I get raised eyebrows from both parties.

I continue, “The one consistent thing from the dreams is an underground cave. I have a sneaking suspicion that that’s exactly where we’re headed.”

“You mean another cave under that cave?” Kane asks pointing up towards the massive cavern we were in only a short time ago.

“Probably not directly under us,” I reply. “I don’t think another cavern could survive beneath one the size we were just in. It would just collapse without the support of a solid foundation.”

I throw on my pack, shove an energy bar in my mouth and wash it down with some of my water supply. The others are already standing, waiting for me. Kane looks miserable and Nicole most likely feels the same, though she doesn’t show it. Her eyes give away her exhaustion though. Not to mention the large yawn and stretch she just did, like a cat waking from a long nap.

That’s when I notice her shirt lift, just for a second. I get a sneak peak at her mid-section, specifically the six-pack abs she carries on her strong, lean frame. My eyes must have lingered a little too long because, I get an
ahem
and a cough from someone.

I look up and see Kane staring at me, his eyes glancing over to his left. I take a glimpse to his left and see Nicole staring me down. I blush and try to stutter out a response. After two or three tries and just stop and turn.

“Let’s go,” I squeak and start off, but no one follows. I look back and see Nicole standing there arms crossed, waiting for what I’m sure is an apology. Kane is still standing there because I’m pretty sure he’s trying to stay in her good graces. Plus, I’m pretty sure he just wants to see me squirm. Jerk.

I turn fully around, take a breath and walk back over to Nicole. I get to within an arms distance of her and stop, hoping she doesn’t reach out and choke me to death. But luckily, she doesn’t blink or budge an inch. She just stares. I contemplate what to say and get nothing. I’m a little scared myself, primarily because I think I like her…a lot.

She’s perfect. She’s strong and independent, but she has a scarred past and is vulnerable. She’s complex, yet simple. My thought process gets interrupted.

“See something you like?”

That’s when I notice that I’m staring straight at her. Great, now I’m gonna get shot. What do I say now? The only thing I can think of.

“Yep.”

That’s when the greatest thing on planet Earth happens—no check that—the greatest thing in all the known universe. The corner of her mouth turns up in an honest-to-God smile! Just a little one—basically a smirk—but it’s something. As she takes a step around me, she gives my face a pat and keeps on going.

Did that just happen?
Not only can this women run-and-gun with the boys—actually, she’s probably better than most—but she has a sense of humor too. Oh, and I guess it doesn’t hurt that she’s drop-dead gorgeous and likes searching for dead people’s stuff like I do. I suppose it doesn’t hurt to have some things in common.

“Ok, Mr. Boyd, now what?” She asks.

I shrug, “We still need to find Dad and Omar, and I’m pretty sure they went this way. So I say we continue on our quest.” I turn to Kane. “Mr. Watson? Onward please.”

This gets a smile and laugh out of her. But, not out of Kane, “I ain’t your Watson, Sherlock,” he says in an annoyed tone.

“Okay. How ‘bout Robin?” I add.

He just grabs his forehead and sighs, rubbing out a Boyd induced migraine.

“Alright, you two lovebirds, can we just move out, please? Your flirting is going to be the death of me.”

Now it’s mine and Nicole’s turn to look uncomfortable, both of us blushing in the dim light.

He continues, “Oh, and by the way, mating season isn’t until spring. So, cool it. I really don’t want to have to shoot the both of you.”

42

After a few more light hearted ribbings, we do indeed continue toward our destination. The problem is, I really don’t want to go there. The others may not fully understand what we are going to find, but I do. Him.

We follow our downward spiral until we finally reach level ground. We follow through a short tunnel, only about twenty feet long and step into another cave, but this one isn’t as ominous as the last.

It’s exactly how I remember it in my first dream, the encounter with the frozen black fire. The smokeless torches are lit, floating in the air, and the
bonfire of doom
sits in the middle of the room. We enter guns up, ready for whatever decides to pop out at us.

Kane heads straight for the center of the cave, in the lead, Nicole and I following close behind. Right when we get to the half way point, I see something that
wasn’t
in my dream. Three large rectangular shaped objects surround the fire, perfectly laid out.

My brain is firing on all cylinders and I head straight for the closest one. What could they be? I flick on my glasses’ night vision mode. The view comes into focus to the point that I know what we are looking at.

“They’re…sarcophagi—coffins. What could they be doing down here?” I stop ten feet from the one I was about to inspect, dumbfounded.

These things are huge, maybe four feet tall by another ten long.

Nicole strides up next to me, equally perplexed.

“There are three of them too. You don’t think…” Kane queries trailing off into thought.

Then, it’s quiet. My head pulsates with information and…

“I was thinking,” I continue my thought aloud. “You don’t suppose one of those Nightmares could have made it down—”

Click.

I get cut off by the sound of a hammer being cocked on a rogue pistol.

“Ahh, shit,” Kane mutters in displeasure.

We simultaneously put our hands up, assuming the position. It never occurred to me that there could be members of Zero down here, but that doesn’t make sense. The only people that could possibly be in here besides us are—

“Harrison?”             

A man holding a gun steps out from behind the sarcophagus then lowers it.

My night vision specs pick up his features and then I’m off in a sprint, grabbing him by his shoulders, embracing him.

“Dad, you’re safe!” I squeeze the man with all my strength, not wanting to let go.

“William!” Nicole throws herself on to the both of us. We just stand there lost in the bliss of it all. That is until someone-who-will-remain-nameless interrupts the happy moment.

“Oh…Omar…you’re still alive.”

Omar gives Kane a venomous look after just stepping out from where Dad was hiding, gun also drawn.

“Sorry to disappoint you,” he says with annoyance.

After we finish our reunion, we regroup and go over the last few hours events.

Apparently, Omar did indeed flee immediately after the first explosion back in the pyramid chamber. He said he was scared and just reacted and then realized he left everyone behind, but by then it was too late. He eventually encountered something that looked like a cross between a tortoise and a man.

“Really? You got a turtle? Wow, you got off easy, man,” Kane says. “We got a rhino and a cobra. What got you next a fluffy kitten-lady?”

“For your information, you big ox, he didn’t move like a desert tortoise. He ran like a man, but had tortoise shell armor,” Omar retorts, clearly antagonized.

“Seriously man, it was a freaking stone-age ninja turtle!” Kane says almost laughing.

“Gentlemen, please!” Dad steps in between the two men, separating them. He knows as well as I do that all Kane would have to do is sneeze hard enough and Omar would lose a few teeth.

After a few more less-than-family friendly exclamations are thrown, the tension in the cavern quiets down and we get down to business.

“So, that’s him?” Dad asks.

I look over and see him staring at the solid black piece of rock…thinking.

“Dad?”

“Huh, what?” He answers snapping out of daze.

“You, good?”

“Yeah, I’m okay. I was thinking if we packed any C-4 or something.”

This gets a laugh out of everyone.

“I like the way you’re thinking!” Kane exclaims.

“Hank?”

Nicole is back over by the orichalcum forged casket. We all join her, encircling it. This thing has got to be one of the biggest Egyptian-style sarcophagi ever found. It’s beautifully designed, very sleek and almost…modern, like the body of a brand new sports car.

“Who are they?” Kane asks pointing to the three caskets.

“My guess…it’s the Atlantean priests.”

Everyone looks up at me like I just called Mother Teresa a bad name, but I’m serious about my assumption.

“They said that they are still here and so his
he
,” I say gesturing to where Nannot is being held. “Kane, you asked me earlier where they were. Plus, they’ve only used their mental gifts to contact me. I’m guessing their physical forms died, or they’re in a form of stasis or hibernation.”

“So you think their minds are still active and that’s how they contacted you?” Nicole asks.

“Yes, I do.”

Kane walks up to the crypt and brings up his flashlight. He then begins to examine it.

“Not a single tool mark or seam anywhere. It’s one solid piece of the orich-stuff.”

“Amazing,” Dad whispers.

I walk up to the massive coffin and rest my hand on it. It may be just my imagination, but I could have sworn I felt a slight tremor underneath my hand.

Then the answer comes to me. I’m not sure from where though, “I think I know what they did…” I close my eyes now seeing another vision. I describe what I see while it happens.

“They sacrificed their immortal bodies, using the power in them to contain their brother longer, hoping for a chosen individual to come and aid them. They knew one day that Nannot would be set free and that this chosen one would be all that could save the world from his wrath.”

“How?” Asks a distant voice. “How was he to be freed?”

“All he needs is a human host. The more willing the person is, the stronger his power would be,” I answer, eyes still closed.

Kneel.
A soothing voice resonates through my mind, coaxing me to listen. I do. I know who speaks to me.

“Rahji-itza, is that you?” I ask mentally.

Yes, it is I. You have been chosen by Lord Thoth himself to defend the world against his fallen son. Do you accept the burden of saving all of mankind?

“So I have a choice?” I ask honestly a little surprised.

You always have a choice. You chose to fight against our brother. You chose to let us into to your mind. And you have a choice to accept or deny us now.

“The will of the chosen to deny…so it’s not just a prophecy against your brother, it’s for you too.”

Yes, you are correct. If someone with darkness in his heart wanted to free our brother then they would be able to. Like I said, you always have a choice.

You always have a choice,
I think to myself.

I choose…to kneel.