Kyah ran through sandstone streets her breath panting in uneven gasps. Next to her was Bayak, her closest friend and ally. His breathing was a little more even. His size might be considerably greater than her, but she had to admit he handled short bursts of speed far better than her. Being almost half his size her abilities lay in more cross country running or mounted getaways - none of this caught red handed and fleeing for her life type business.
Behind the two modest athletes were Medjay shouting for them to stop. Luckily, their heavy weapons and armour caused them to lag a safe distance from Kyah and Bayak. Though, their long bronze khopesh did well at making up that distance.
'What have you done to make them so mad, Penu?'
Kyah sucked in a laugh, a stitch forming mercilessly under her ribs. 'Me? Why I can't think of anything, Mahes.' She replied with her most convincing innocent act, shrugging her shoulders as they rounded a corner into another busy street.
Bayak's answering laugh rumbled so deeply, Kyah swore she could feel it in the ground as her feet met the stones. 'You can't think of any reason why the palace guards are chasing us - even through these Gods forsaken streets?'
Kyah adjusted the Hedjet crown that sat too big on her head with a dubious smile. 'Off the top of my head?' She paused, glancing down at the scrappy garments she had worn through and patched up over and over again. 'I cannot think of a thing!'
Bayak's thunderous laugh was even louder this time, the frustratingly contagious kind that leaves everyone around him laughing along. 'Let us hope they do not catch you, Penu. Or they will cut off your head my friend!'
Kyah grinned, picking up what reserves of speed she had. Soon they would reach the river and they could disappear among the watery reeds, so long as no crocodiles were waiting there hungry for flesh of thief. Then they'd be in real trouble.
Bayak and Kyah raced through the city, making impressive time as they reached the outer edge. Past the walls were fields of barley and figs, various vines lined the dirt road and local peasants were working hard as it was still Shemu and the harvest was good this year. The backs of young boys were bent low as they repaired canals ready for Akhet when the Nile would rise and flood the fields. Bayak turned to Kyah grinning devilishly at her before disappearing among the fig trees. The hired Nubian police shouted curses at them from behind and with fingers pressing under her ribs to loosen her breath she followed suit.
Peasants all turned in alarm as a tiny filthy girl wearing a Hedjet dashed past them. Some shook fists in the air, others spat curses, one woman hailed the Goddess Hapi for a sign the Nile would flood early this year. But Kyah did not stop. The Medjay were formidable warriors, everyone knew that. They were more feared to be met in battle than even Sekhmet herself. An arrow zoomed past her, hitting the ground where Kyah was just about to put her foot. Worse than Sekhmet, the Medjay were furious archers, the best in the world. Now she was in trouble.
Filled with exhilaration Kyah made for the river, certain that Bayak had done the same, twisting in and out of fig trees to better prevent being shot. Their meeting point was only a short distance away, the Medjay voices sounded muffled, a single voice louder than the rest shouting orders to return the Hedjet. Fig trees grew sparser as Kyah neared her destination. Papyrus came into view; she breathed a sigh of relief as she could now smell the river water ahead. Still no sign of Bayak but she also had not heard echoes of capture either. Kyah's feet met softer tread as the earth became less dry and hardened by the sun and more soaked in refreshing river water.
The river is here.
Kyah pushed past a fig branch, stepping into ankle deep sun warmed water, she had finally reached the river and allowed herself another breath of relief. Her boat waited tied to a fallen tree a few feet away from where she emerged. As she spotted it, Kyah paused, her breath left her once more as she began to run every possible prayer through her mind, looking at the figure standing next to the Papyrus boat. Though she could hear the Medjay chasing closer, her body would not move.
Like some kind of Hatayw, night spirits, five figures clad entirely in black armour stood as unmoving and menacing as the pyramids themselves. Their faces were indistinguishable behind featureless helmets, heavy items hung on their belts or sat in the hands, which could only be some kind of weapons; though what they could be, Kyah did not know. Her racing heart filled her ears. Even though Kyah could not see their faces she could still feel all five figures' eyes on her.
Heavy feet thumped through the water, spraying droplets up the back of her legs as the Medjay finally caught up to her. She did not turn around and heard the Nubian warriors come to a halt as they too gained sight of the dark figures before her. Kyah's breath was tense and short. There was an air of death around them, as if Anubis lurked beneath the water, waiting to escort her to her next life. She was in real trouble now.
'Who are you there? What are you doing here?' A voice demanded behind her. Low murmurs spread through the Medjay, a mixture of fear and confusion. They had never seen such creatures before either. For the greatest warriors in all of Egypt to be worried it meant these strangers were definitely something to be feared. Kyah felt the hands of Anubis reaching out to her like a friend ready to take her someplace safe. She wondered whether to reach back. This life had been disappointing, hard on her, perhaps the next would be better. No one would miss her - except Bayak... Bayak. Where was her friend? Had he seen these strange Hatayw and fled? Had Anubis already taken him?
The Hatayw-like figures made no response to the Medjay, their faceless masks still seemingly trained on Kyah. The one in front held out a hand beckoning, speaking in an unknown language that was as alien to hear as they were to behold. They wanted her to go with them? Kyah instinctively stepped back toward the Medjay, stolen Hedjet forgotten. The Medjay might have been her enemy moments before, but they were now her best chance against this new nightmare.
An arrow flew past Kyah's head and splintered against one of the Hatayw's black armoured chests. The one who had extended its hand to Kyah now turned its head to look at the broken arrow that sank slowly beneath the river's surface. Kyah held her breath as the air shifted in that one moment. The lead Hatayw extended its hand out once more, only this time not in invitation, this time one of its fingers extended, pointing at the Medjay behind her. In the time it took for Kyah to release her breath the four Hatayw raised various weapons and the sound of thunder pierced her ears. Purple fire poured from the weapons like flying snakes, striking the Medjay with frightening speed. The Medjay shouted and let loose their arrows showering the Hatayw in violent rain. Kyah crouched down raising her hands to her ears and tried to block out the thunder around her. The Hedjet slipped from her too small head and into the water. Her eyes fell on the headdress floating in the water, one side of the white material beginning to stain red as Medjay blood flowed between her ankles.
A Medjay warrior kicked though the water past her, swirling the red through the clear river water, toward the Hatayw. Kyah lifted her eyes in time to see the Medjay bring down his bronze axe upon one of the night spirits, severing its hands from its wrists. The Hatayw cried out in an inhuman growl as it stumbled back, green oozing from its wounds where red blood should have been. Kyah's breathing came in shorter, harder bursts as her eyes watched the green blood fall into the river. They are not men. They cannot be. They truly are Hatayw come to kill us all.
'No!' she screamed, finding some strength to flee, tearing away from the battle scene hoping to flee as far away as possible.
Shouts echoed behind her and peasants cried out as they notice the fight with the strange creatures, leaving their work and tools to seek safety in the stone walls of the city. Kyah screamed as her legs were suddenly pulled from under her, her face hit the dirt with an unpleasant crunch. Whirling around she kicked at the Hatayw that had followed her, the apparent leader from before. But it was much bigger than her and she struggled to break her legs free.
'Bayak!' She screamed, begging, pleading that he would hear and come for her. Praying that someone would save her.
But no one came. The Hatayw pulled her toward him by her ankles and she clawed at the dirt uselessly, tears clouding her vision. The creature pinned her down by her waist and Kyah knew she only had one trick left to make her escape. Drawing the tiny blade from her belt she struck the creature in its neck. But when Kyah's vision cleared she saw her blade had no effect; the creature appeared as though it hadn't even noticed she stabbed him. She drew the blade away, looking at it with wild eyes. It had crumpled like paper against its armour. But what had she expected, the blade was made of tin, the only metal she could afford. Of course it would be useless against a nightmare with green blood.
'Bayak!' She tried again. But the Hatayw pressed his hand over her mouth, a foul-smelling poison spraying from somewhere at its wrist. She tried one last time to struggle free, but it was no use, the creature had her and in the next moment her eyes felt unnaturally heavy. Her body fell limp and darkness took her.
This was the part where Anubis would hold her hand and take her to her next life. The darkness was unending. The silence was unbearable. She waited and waited for Anubis to come, but...
Where are you my friend?