Egypt


Chapter One
Kaylee looked over a note, and smiled. Pushing back her long black hair, her purple eyes darted over the note again and again. Well, her natural eye color was blue, she was currently wearing her purple contacts. She and her friend Jennifer had been caught passing notes, bad notes, in school, so now they used their own little set of ‘hieroglyphics’, so even if the teacher caught the note, she wouldn’t know what it said. Only Jenn and Kaylee knew the translations.
Kaylee smiled, and took the note upstairs. She, her mother and her brother lived in a two story apartment, which was kind of rare, but it wasn’t all that big. Her brother shared a room with her. They had a huge room divider to separate the rooms, though they only used it when changing, or when getting out something that was supposed to be hidden. Her brother Josh didn’t really stay to his side much, he was a bit unstable, and hung out with Kaylee and her friends quite a bit. Which was ok, given that he was only eight years younger then her at ten. He didn’t really bug her friends, only when they were going to see a movie he didn’t like did he ever speak up.
Her mother worked so many shifts at the grocery store, she rarely ever saw her, so she normally took care of her brother, as well as herself and her cat.
Kaylee opened an Egyptian box which she had bought a few years ago. It was one of the oldest and most treasured of her possessions, it was sealed with a key. She took the key out from under her incense burner, and pulled out the translations, and started on the note. Since her brother wouldn’t be home for another two hours, and she didn’t have to worry about her mom being home any time soon, Kaylee didn’t worry about leaving the location to the key in the open.
Slowly, letter by letter she un-coded the message. It read:
Hi! How are you Kaylee? My dad just got back from the
hospital, and my mom says things will be back to normal in no time! How are you and Joshy doing? I heard about your dad... I'm sorry, hope you feel good enough to go to the mall later!

Signed,
Jennifer

Kaylee smiled, Jenn always knew how to make her smile. She put the note away, and told herself she had to write back, she wasn’t very good with keeping up with letters and such. Besides, she just had to check out the new antique store! She heard it carried lots of Egyptian artifacts.
Kaylee adored Egypt, she always had, since she was six. Her brother Josh was just sort of ‘whatever’ about the whole thing, but Kaylee would babble for hours to get him to seem interested. He never really cared until she started talking about the Gods and mummification. Then he was very, very interested. He seemed to take a particular liking to Pharaoh Ramesses the first, and Horus, the god of the sun and the moon.
Luckily it was a Friday, so Kaylee didn’t have to worry about work tomorrow. She reached under her bed, and pulled out yet another Egyptian box, only this one had more detail to it. On the sides, gods such as Anubis and Horus were carved, at their feet lay cats and an occasional bird. The top was inscribed with real hieroglyphics, but sealed like her other box. She opened the triangle box with a push upon the Goddess Nefertiti, and slid the key into Anubis’s eye, the box slowly clicked open. Kaylee took out some cash she’d saved for a while. Allowance, baby sitting money, saved lunch money, just about any kind of money.
She counted it up, and frowned, a little shorter then her last count last month. But that was of course, before she bought the Anubis statue…..
Her mother hated it, no, she cursed it. It was about eight feet tall, and just barely missed not fitting into the doorway. Anubis was standing up, a man with the mask of Anubis. All around his base were Egyptian curses and chants. Kaylee knew almost all of them by heart. In his hand he held a snake and a vulture. He glared down at Kaylee with stone blue eyes that demanded to know what she wanted. His black stone had been pounded by the fists of time, and he was scratched up here and there. A few hieroglyphics were unreadable, but Kaylee could figure out the sentence with the other words. She stood up, and smiled up at him. His nose was missing it’s color, but none the less, Kaylee loved him. She ran her hand down his arm, and smiled. Picking up her key and shoving it harshly into her pocket, she turned into the bathroom. Brushing back her jet black hair, she decided to braid it, she’d found a picture of Bastet the Egyptian cat goddess, and the goddess had her hair braided in three braids; one on the right
, one on the left and one in the back that started at the bangs and dug back like a snake. It made the Goddess look intelligent, as all Goddesses do. Kaylee had to resist putting on her golden lipstick, though she still had on her white eye shadow. It took Kaylee only a few minutes to perfect her braids, and she left the apartment, locking the door behind her.
As she headed down the stairs, she ran into Mrs. Helmgulee tending to her small garden.
The lady was in her mid sixties, but had the temper of a two year old. She was very opinionated, and no one wanted to pick fights with her.
"Hello Mrs.Helmgulee," Kaylee smiled, woman looked up at Kaylee, and smiled.
"Where are you headed Ms. Kaylee?" The woman said, standing up, and brushing off her knees.
"Down to a knew antique shop. I heard they have some nice things." She smiled a bit mischievously.
"Nothing like that giant… uh.. dog thing right?" Kaylee smiled as she took off down the street.
"Anubis!" She shouted over her shoulder.
"Right right, Anubis," Mrs. Helmgulee muttered as she struggled to her knees and waved at hand in Kaylee’s direction, returning to her plants.

Kaylee dashed off down the street, and skidded to a halt.
"Why you sorry excuse for a cat," Kaylee said, looking down. There in front of her lay her Siamese cat, Bastet. The cat looked up at her with an innocent ‘mew?’
"Yeah yeah." Kaylee said, and kept walking. Bastet looked a bit confused, but turned, and headed towards home, she’d wait there, by the door, until Kaylee got home. Then give her the pitiful, ‘oh how could you’, look. It worked every time.
Kaylee smiled, knowing that her cat would be incredibly angry that the door was locked, and her grin widened as she turned the corner.
There it was. It was a bit smaller then Kaylee had imagined, but the store she bought Anubis from could have been a closet. A sign above the door read ‘Trinkets and Antiques’. The door was a bit dusty, but she opened it anyway, and a pleasant ring filled the shop.
There was a counter with the cash register and a glass display, many tables littered the small area, each with a certain ‘theme’ to them. One was Rome, one was Greek, some were just pottery. As far as she could tell, the owner of the store was in the back room. A door swung back and forth on it’s hinges, like a blade of grass dancing in the wind. Kaylee smiled, in the far back corner of the store was just what she was looking for, an entire three tables of Egyptian antiques.
She walked back there as quickly as she could without running. She looked over artifact over artifact. She wanted so many things! Then, something caught her eye, it was a small, rectangular, bronze amulet. A few hieroglyphics were carved into it, and it hung delicately on a silver chain. She picked it up carefully, and ran her fingers over the hieroglyphics. She felt a tingling sensation, almost as if some magic was locked behind the amulet. She frowned slightly as the tingling increased, and put the amulet down. But as she turned to look at something else, a small, and unusual hieroglyphic caught her eye, as the amulet had. She picked it back up, and slowly turned it sideways…
"May I help you?" Kaylee started, then turned around. A grizzly looking man in about his forties stood behind her. He looked pleasant, though a bit rough, like sand paper. He had his hands in his pocket, and a shirt that said ‘Trinkets and Antiques’, he obviously worked here. His hair was a silvery gray, and his eyes were an ice blue that almost seemed gray. He had a scar running from his left eye to his left ear. Kaylee smiled.
"Where did you manage to find these things?" The man smiled, and picked up a small statute of Horus.
"Oh, here and there. I take it you like Egypt?" He smiled and pointed to the amulet.
"Yeah, its one of my hobbies. Where did you find this amulet? I’ve never heard of such a thing, well, not exactly like that. I have a few others, but they’re all triangle."
The man smiled, and walked towards the front of the store, talking on his way, Kaylee put the amulet down and followed him. "Well, no one really knows where it really came from. Some people say it was inside the statue of Horus in some tomb. Others say it was found in Anubis’s mask." The man turned around, and lowered his voice to an eerie and scratchy whisper. "But, there are a few who say it came from Hamanaptra." His voice was quivering, almost like it hurt his throat to talk so low.
"Hamanaptra!?" Kaylee said, a bit surprised. "The city of the dead?" She looked at the man, wondering if he was just pulling her leg, but he looked serious. He bent over the counter on one elbow, leaning his gruff face towards her.
"Yeah, the city of the dead. You heard of the place?"
"Heard of the place! Of course I’ve heard of the place! That’s where Seti the first was supposed to have hidden the wealth of Egypt!" The man nodded, and started to walk back towards the Egypt section. Kaylee picked up the amulet again, running her fingers over the smooth bronze. Taking in the ancient hieroglyphics.
She felt the sting of anxiousness. "How much are you charging for it?" She asked, a bit uncertain. It was a precious artifact from Egypt, and if she didn’t have enough money, she’d earn it. Something about that odd hieroglyph, and the strange tingling beckoned her to buy it. No, it commanded her.
"Well," The man said, scratching the back of his neck with a stubby arm. "Since it is an artifact, and it appears to be bronze, I was going for about $105.50." He smiled slight, a rough smile like tree bark. "But nothing’s carved in stone yet." He smiled, Kaylee looked back at the amulet, she had just enough to get precious part of Egypt, she might have to borrow a penny or two from her mother, but she had to have it. Suddenly she realized she didn’t have her money with her, she frowned, then smiled, and rubbed the hieroglyphics with her thumb.
"Well, how about I sleep on it, and I’ll drop by tomorrow? I’ve got to go anyway, my brother’s home. You will be open tomorrow right?" The gruff old man smiled, and nodded.
"Yeah, we’re open ‘till twelve most nights. Only time we plan on closing is new years day." Kaylee smiled, and nicely set the amulet on the table.
"By the way, would you mind keeping an eye on it? In case I would like it?"
The man, who was already walking into the back of the store waved his hand. "Sure sure, I’ll keep it for you unless someone takes it for the original price." He turned, and smiled a seemingly devilish smile. Kaylee thanked him, and walked home.
When she walked up the stairs, her brother was sitting down, his back to the door, Bastet on his lap. As the cat looked up, Josh followed her gaze. His deep blue eyes were frowning, as were his chapped lips. His dark brown hair was slicked back behind his ears, he frowned, and stood up.
She signed to him that she was sorry. He held up a hand to stop her. He signed back that he knew where she was, at that antique shop. She cared more about Egypt then him, just like mom. Kaylee frowned, and stepped forwards to give him a hug, he just indicated to the door.
Josh was born with little hearing, and as he got older, he lost his voice completely, and the doctor’s declared him deaf and mute.
Kaylee opened the door, and Josh rushed to his room. Bastet took her sweet old time. Once inside the house, the prissy house cat looked up at Kaylee as if too say, ‘well now look what you’ve gone and done. I’m going to cheer him up you evil person you..’ The cat stormed off, and disappeared into the bedroom.
Kaylee frowned, and sat down in the living room. She unknowingly fell asleep.
When Kaylee woke up, Josh was wondering around the house. She sat up and rubbed her head. Josh pointed to the clock in the kitchen, an hour until he had to be at school. Kaylee nodded, and sauntered into the bathroom to take a quick shower. She put on some jeans, and a shirt with a sphinx and pyramid on it. She yawned, and brushed her teeth, then taking her key headed for the door.
"OH!" She said, and signed to Josh that she would be right back. She ran towards her room, and got her money out, she almost forgot. She just had to buy that amulet.
She finally took Josh down towards school, but stopped at the store. He frowned, and began signing as many cuss words as he could. Kaylee frowned, and walked towards the store, her brother, sorely, at her heals. Surprisingly enough, the store was closed. Kaylee frowned, and turned to her brother, he gave her a sore shrug.
Kaylee took Josh to school, and began to wonder the streets, she had nothing better to do during the time he was at school. She wondered from a café, to music store. From Wendy’s to a high class Chinese shop.
After what seemed like days, Kaylee looked at her watch, and finished her ice-cream, then went to pick up Josh.
She sat outside the school for about thirty minutes, then, at 4:00 exactly, the bell rang and millions of children poured out of the school. Kaylee was amazed at the horrendous number of children that streamed out of the school. She watched as millions of kids ran past her, trying to reach the busses before they were stampeded over by the other kids.
Josh was one of the last kids out, he ran towards the buss signing things to a friend, and stopped when he saw Kaylee. She smiled and waved, he told his friend that he forgot about his sister, and he couldn’t go over to his house, he was a slave and couldn’t leave without permission. His friend cast a glance at Kaylee, who frowned and shook her head, then smiled at Josh, and waved as he climbed onto his buss.
Still mad about yesterday? Kaylee asked. Josh frowned, and nodded. Before we go home today, she continued taking her time so her brother could read her signs more easily, I’d like to stop at the antique shop to see if they have the thing that I wanted. Josh nodded, and said that he sometimes just couldn’t begin to understand his sister.
As Kaylee and Josh were walking, then were stopped suddenly when Kaylee heard a sound. It was a deep, raspy sound, like sandpaper on wood. She turned to her left towards an alley way, only to see a dark figure. She gasped, and put her hands on Josh’s shoulders, moving him behind her.
"P-p-p-please m-m-m-miss-s-s-s-s… jus-t-t-t-t-t take I-I-I-I-it…" The figure said as he staggered forwards. Kaylee gasped. It was the man from the antique shop, but, he .. he was sick.. very sick. His eyes were sunken in and his skin was literally dripping off his tightly boned face. His thin, bonny hand held out the amulet that Kaylee had admired, he tossed it to Josh and fell into the cement. Then, with one last gasping breath, fell silent.
Kaylee turned to Josh, who was quivering she took the amulet, and they ran forward. The two didn’t stop until they had reached the apartments. They didn’t even bother to say ‘excuse me’ before barreling into people. They didn’t stop even when they ran up the stairs to the room.
"HIIIISSSSSKKKKKKKKK!" Kaylee screamed, and jumped a foot, almost hitting Josh back down the stairs.
"BASTET!" Kaylee screamed at her cat, the queen was laying on the door mat, and Kaylee had stepped on her tail. "You.. you move before I throw you down the stairs!"
Kaylee and Josh ran into the house, Bastet following slowly, taking her time, sensing that the two were upset about something. Kaylee fell onto the couch, and Josh sat down on the floor beside her. He looked up at her, and asked her what that was all about.
I don’t know, she said simply. I… I saw him yesterday, and he looked fine… I’ve never seen anyone look like that before… he looked so….. so…
Creepy. Josh replied. Like someone from a horror film. The undead. Kaylee frowned, and looked at the clock on the wall.
It’s time for bed, do you want me to read a story to you or something?
No. Josh said, standing up and puffing out his chest. I’m not a baby, I can sleep… Josh wondered off, secretly taking the amulet as Kaylee yawned. He took off down the hall to his room.
Kaylee turned on the TV and watched a show about mimes out of pure tiredness.
All of the sudden, just as Kaylee was about to doze off, Bastet started to hiss madly. The cat arched her back and stood on the tips of her feet, pinning her ears flat on her scull. Spit darted out of the cat’s wide open mouth as she growled deep in her chest and curled her tail.
"Bastet? What’s wrong?" Kaylee said standing up as the cat dashed towards Josh’s room. "Josh?" Kaylee said as she opened the door, Josh was curled up in the corner of his bed. His knees were up at his chest, and his arms were wrapped around them. He was staring, horrified, at something on the floor. Kaylee stepped into the bed room and saw the amulet on the floor. But, the amulet seem hot, it was burning almost in an orange color. Then, it started to shake, and rock violently. Kaylee gasped as a light yellow light streamed upwards towards the ceiling forming the shape of an all to recognizable Egyptian God… Anubis.
Kaylee screamed, the form of Anubis turned his pointed muzzle in her direction, then, in the blink of an eye, lunged forward, wrapped his arms around Josh, and disappeared.

Ummm,.... where'd Josh go?

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