Khonshu Temple II
Arthur opened the back door of the cab and entered, when he heard the taxi driver snort he said impatiently:
- I will hear you from here too! It is you who are rather short-tempered, and from here I feel less in awe of your temper.
- Of course, like a child throwing a tantrum.
- Yes! It wouldn't change anything to say otherwise. Where are we going? I have to go back to the hotel.
- Where we are going is not important, you just have to let go.
The man turned impetuously against Arthur, who was hugging the bag tightly, and was pierced by something; when the man moved his hand away, he saw that he was holding a syringe, still holding the bag firmly to his chest, he made to approach, but he felt groggy.
- What did he do? What was in that syringe? You are out of... you're crazy.
- Oh no Arthur, but you had to be held down, you need help and that's why I'm here.
Arthur slid sideways in the seat, felt his body numb and inactive, his vision swung and he began to see the taxi driver's own face rather ambiguously, the tone of his voice slurred. His eyes crossed and he could not keep his eyes open.
- You are in no danger with me, Arthur, in fact, if truth be told, I am rather good at protecting those with me. Who I choose is the result of a long search, but this good fortune to find you, who know me so well...I couldn't ask for better.
Arthur closed his eyes stunned, his head growing lighter, and gave a snort of laughter:
- Khonshu... is that you? Are you kidnapping me, you stupid bird?
- I'll leave you alone just because you're drugged and helpless, but that won't be for long.
Arthur tried to counter, but he did not have enough energy, and dropping even the bag he still held tightly to his chest he fell asleep.
The cab came to a stop in the desert, and the driver turned to look at the person in the back seat who had been asleep the entire trip; he had probably overdosed on the dose he had given him. After all, he had little time to spare, and Arthur had been his target from the beginning, from the dig. He had potential, he knew the cult better than anyone else, he was smart and shrewd. Perhaps he was shy and insecure about some things and lacked initiative, but nothing that he could not improve in him. It would help him bring out those potentials he had inherent in him but did not know he had, a positive collaboration for both sides. He put his hand on Arthur's and it was a matter of moments before they vanished into thin air.
Arthur awoke with a weighed down head, he felt that whatever that madman had injected him with had drugged him and this time nothing would take away from the complaint he would file, but when he opened his eyes he found himself inside what must have been a pyramid.
- Hey, where are you? Where are you, you bastard?
- It's about time you woke up, Arthur! You thought I was dead, probably from an overdose, but luckily you're alive.
- As soon as I get back to town I'm going to report you. I don't need your name, I'll still find you with the company you work for.
- Do you really think you will find me? Or do you think it's not so strange that you can see or hear me anywhere?
Arthur sat on the sand and thought back to the questions she had asked him and to her voice, the same one he had heard at the hotel and at the university. Deep, powerful, and this time it seemed to widen even more where he was.
< p> - Hey you, can you hear me?
He paused when he heard the laughter spreading through the walls and tunnels like an echo; did he think perhaps it was ironic? He turned all over, but there was no one there, it was completely empty around him except for something placed at the end of the long corridor, probably a statue.
- More than good, I would say. You are essential to me...Arthur, your intelligence and knowledge
- Now that's enough! I want to know where I am and I want to go back, and you...you will take me back.
- Oh, what courage you're pulling out. Very interesting indeed, but here I make the rules Arthur, since with me you will receive only benefits. It seems to me quite fair that you understand who decides here how things are going to be. Where do you plan to go?
Arthur walked down the corridor where he could see the feet of a statue, but it seemed that the more he walked, the more that figure receded from his sight. He stopped unintentionally as if he did not want it to and felt a presence behind him, when he turned around two huge, hollow black hollows stared back at him. He let out a scream that reverberated everywhere and heard dragging at full speed toward the statue room.
He fell face down on the ground, when he raised his head he saw the feet of the statue, and looking up he saw the statue of Khonshu. That's why the place was familiar to him, but between the drugs and the poor lighting he had been unable to focus on the temple.
- It can't be real, I'm just imagining it. He drugged me, it's not real. The drugs are what is making me experience this.
He stood up not completely stable, thinking about how he had been dragged so easily and now that he thought about it how on earth had he gotten there? It had been a long journey and even just carrying him from place to place had to wake him up at times, but if what he had injected him with was too powerful he might not even remember what really happened.
- Can we talk now?
- You get me out of here and we can talk, but I have to be outside the temple and possibly in the company of another person.
- Are you willing to help me Arthur? I will make you a different person, more powerful, stronger, someone others will fear.
- I don't need that, where are you? Get out!
- I am in front of you Arthur.
He looked at the statue and saw at his side what looked like a leg, very long and wrapped in bandages, and when he looked up he saw a long, white beak pointed at him. He looked over his shoulder and stared back at the figure in front of him, pointed his finger at it and said:
- Khonshu...
- Join me Arthur, you will be my trusted knight, together we can protect the unprotected and make the wrong doers pay. You remember that old rogue as tried to get in the way and denigrate your pseudo girlfriend. I was there with you, every time Arthur but now I can help you. You will be my fist of vengeance and you will have everything a knight can have.
Arthur put his hands in his hair bringing them back, his imagination was mocking him. The laughter his colleagues would have gotten if something like this had come up would have been no small amount, this time they would have really taken him for a moron.
He thought back to the words said by the hypothetical Khonshu and about his colleague, how did he know about those events? He had to be maneuvering the whole thing himself, all those details. Fist of vengeance?
- Do you have to think about that for a long time?
- How about we make a deal?
- Again with phony proposals, do you know how many deals I've heard? They used to tell me that I was a child and that because of my age I shouldn't take initiative, the fact remains that each time they were surprised at how right I was. How could a child have all that potential, why do you think I died? Do you really think it was an untimely and accidental death? No, Arthur, it was all by design, which is why I started recruiting my knights and then when the task was over let them go. That was the deal, I would empower them and make sure that evil would not return against those who were not at fault and I need you Arthur. The deal is your freedom Arthur, but I must warn you. There are several possibilities that in fighting evil you will be attracted to it, that it will try to conquer you in every way but you you will have to resist. Whenever you perceive it tell me, there must be no secrets between me you.
- So it is completely real? Me seeing and talking to you.
He saw the long stick with a moon on the tip stretch out and said:
- Tell me that you accept and I will show you what you and I can do together, all that I Khonshu god of the moon can give you.
- My freedom? Promise me that once my task is done I will be free.
- I will give you even better, but you must trust me.