Chapter 11: Hanging by A Thread

• 𓎬 ☼ 𓋹⋅☾𓂀 ☽⋅𓋹 ☼ 𓎬 •

Larry XXXI

2014 - London

Some say there are about thirty seconds in which a person would experience their entire life flashing through their mind before they would be blinded by the white light at the end of the tunnel. Often from those who experienced life-death situations that they could imagine and reminisce their achievements, their love ones and their passions before they could move onto the unknown. They would see the faces of their parents, their mothers, their fathers, their siblings, their wives or husbands or friends.

He never experienced seeing death like this, not after the death of Grandpa Robert. He was just a little boy then and probably didn't remember it as well as he hoped.

However, seeing someone die was different to actually dying himself.

Larry was in a paradox, swirling in a void that he wasn't sure if it was his mind or what he truly believed to be those last thirty seconds. And if so, where were the memories? The faces of his love ones. Nick, Rebecca, his parents, Aunt Carol, the Exhibits and Rowen? He was just floating somewhere, clueless and unknown in the dark depths of the cold abyss. He couldn't feel anything, only assuming that it was cold by how empty it was around him. He couldn't hear anything as well. Was this all it was? Had they lied to him?

Firstly, Larry Daley wasn't a philosophical man. He never delved into the trivial of how the mind worked or what happened beyond death. Yes, he believed to find himself to enter heaven, where God would accept him in open arms and find himself in a realm of light and clouds and angels with his family and friends. But Larry wasn't like that all the time. He didn't think about it, knowing it was best to think of the present or the nearby future. It was all he thought about. His life. Not the unknown once his heart stops beating.

It was why it frustrated to no end when he tried to reach out, trying to sense his body running towards whatever direction he picked. But nothing. Nothing happened.

Until there was a flicker of light. A light so small and yet so blindly bright in his eyes.

Larry began to somehow go towards it, scrambling to find some solace from the darkness until the light enveloped him whole. He scrunched his eyelids tightly, before sensing the heat soar around his body.

He then felt something coarse underneath his feet. Stone. Dust.

When he pried his eyes open, Larry looked around and saw his surroundings.

What appeared to be garden had yet to let him comprehend the figure that sat on the bench within the flora and fauna. With all the beauty and wonder around him, nothing could compare the light that glowed around the woman in front of him.

She had the darkest skin, with brown hair in braids, long as they carried down behind her back. She wore a dark green dress lined with jewels and gold that hugged her slim figure, matched with the simple gold band over her head. As her face lifted upwards, he saw the orange eyes glimmering under the light. They weren't red like Set's. Whilst Set's eyes were like flames burning hot and violently; this woman's eyes were warm and calm like a gentle fireplace.

Something about her made him think twice to approach, never letting go oh his eyes aimed at hers. It was there, her eyes flashed in surprise and rose from her perch.

"W-where am I? Who are you?" Larry asked, nervous as she stepped closer to him.

The garden seemed to follow around her, the branches of the bushes rustling as her dress flowed around her.

The woman said, "You ask many questions, guardian. And yet you do not act upon them."

He wryly replied, "Well, you're not exactly helping me."

The woman looked at him with a solemn gaze and revealed herself. "I am Nephthys, and you are dying Lawrence Daley."

"What?" He spoke. "I thought this was...you know-" He gestured his hands, trying to imply whilst being at awe at the goddess now in his presence. 

Nephthys cracked up a small smile and answered: "Not yet. I was able to pull you out before you can be guided by Anubis." Her lips curled to a frown and she stared sternly back. "An action I will have to deal with the consequences with."

Guilt began to seep through and he almost felt bad for the goddess in front of her. Even if she looked put together as the most beautiful person he had ever seen, her eyes told more of a deeper - and fractured - history. They hold a secret no one could ever know, showing a dimmed light like a small flame in a large room. He had seen it in people's eyes already. Like the exhibits and Rowena; even Cecil wore those tired eyes.

But seeing her wondered why. Why did she do it? He couldn't help but blurt out, almost begging by the tone of his voice.

"Then help me!" Larry pleaded, the emotions now rolling over him as he began to feel an aching pain grow in him. "I can't leave them! Not when they're after them. Not my son...Rebecca, Rowen."

The Egyptian goddess only stared at him with pity, close to feel her scent linger yet so far to grasp her and plead her. For something. Some miracle to save him.

He begged, "Please, you've got to tell me what to do."

"I cannot give you what you want," Nephthys replied. She firmly spoke, "You must wake up yourself, guardian. Only you can come back to the mortal world before you're pulled into the Halls of Truth."

Larry stuttered, "But...I don't know...how-"

The throbbing pain already grew every second Nephthys looked at him with a pondering gaze. Did she expect him to know what to do? Hell, he had never even expected to meet her let alone understand what she was trying to imply. Larry hadn't even heard of her name ever since the Smithsonian, which Khafre mentioned her and he didn't have a clue what the wax dickwad was talking about.

Now the goddess was trying to keep him alive. He's never needed her help for years and she expected him to trust her?

"You must now trust the power you were bestowed," Nephthys began, her hands clasped over his. She looked forward, eyes boring right into his with compassion and command. "Trust your instincts. Protect the guardians. Follow her."

Larry whispered, "Follow who?"

"A familiar face," Nephthys answered, removing her hand off his. "The same face that has led you to me all this time." The moment she let go, her body began to move further away - almost gliding out of his grasp.

He reached out with his hand, aiming to grab the goddess' arm, to bring her back and answer his dire questions. But when he went to take her palm, his hand went through her. A translucent shimmer enveloped Nephthys body until all he spotted was those glowing eyes.

Once Nephthys blended into the surroundings, Larry was met with silence. What was he going to do now? He felt so utterly lost, even more than the beginning of this whole ordeal. The pain in his stomach didn't stop, only worsen as he stood in the middle of the garden.

Suddenly, there was an instant pull.

It only took several seconds until Larry began hobbling down the path and into the building that surrounded the forest around him. Columns lining each side of the entrance as he leaned against one to take a breath. Larry body was screaming to stop, to slump on the floor and to give into death. But his mind was screaming in defiance. Is confused him how even in this dream state, it felt so real. He could sense everything. The taste of blood in his mouth, the coarse dust that lined the surface of the floor. 

He should be dead. But instead, Larry saw something appear around the corner.

"Hetepheres." He breathed in, and he realised who the goddess had mentioned.

Standing several feet away was the Egyptian woman herself.

The years passing was evident. Now the same height at him, Hetepheres was a sight to behold. With jet black hair that flowed down her back, a plain face and golden eyes that still glimmered under the light. Despite loving Rebecca and admiring her beauty, this woman was an entirely different level. If Larry could say it freely, he had to admit that she could match Nephthys any day.

However, his mind was snapped back to the present when she said loudly.

"You again...how did you get in here?" She demanded, hostility on her expression and tense body. She warily got closer, unsure if he would try to harm her.

"Not sure," Larry admitted, but then changed the subject. "Look, I'm...I didn't mean to intrude. Wherever we are but-"

"How do I know if I can trust you, Larry Daley?" His name felt odd with her accent, and it couldn't help but feel slightly surprised. She still remembered his name, after so many years.

Larry sighed, raking fingers through his hair in frustration. "Hetepheres, look." He assured her. "You just have to trust me." Flinching, he gazed down and removed his hand off his front, his palm covered in blood. Once he turned to her, he immediately saw the colour draining out of her cheeks.

Her eyes widened, startled, and she quickly went up to him. "You're bleeding. I will take you to a healer."

Waving his free hand, he gestured to her. "No! It's not going to work! I-" He shut his mouth, clenching his jaw when another cramp surged up to him.

She gave him a look and question aloud. "Why?"

"You're dreaming this. This isn't real." He told her, only to receive a scoff.

"Of course, this is real." Hetepheres refused to believe what he spoke of.

"No." He firmly repeated. "Every moment we've met. It's all a dream."

She still didn't seem convinced.

So he explained further: "Nephthys stopped me from going to Anubis? Yeah him." Larry backtracked slightly, before nodding. "Yes, Anubis. She said I needed to see you. She said you can help me to find something...which can I ask: where are we?" When he finished, he was met with mouth agape in front of him.

Hetepheres pursed her lips quickly, deciphering by how her eyes pierced his and almost tried to shoot an arrow into his mind. And even if he was still bleeding to death, she too focused on thinking hard if this was all real.

Well: if he wasn't dying, he would probably be taking the whole time debating if this was just all a simulation and all. Maybe he shouldn't have watched the Matrix with Nicky two weeks ago.

Though it wasn't long before he sensed an arm wrap around his arm. He blinked several times, surprised the words coming out of her mouth.  "The Royal Gardens. Where do you wish to go?" Hetepheres confirmed and then questioned him.

It was his turn to be in disbelief. As much as he knew everything about Hetepheres since he's practically watched her entire life in his dreams up to this date, he would think interacting with the woman was going to be awkward. They didn't know each other and they've never been able to talk through these dream states. Heck, Larry still couldn't control what this entire power the Gods (he still can't believe there are actual gods) gave him.

God. Thinking about this made his head spin.

And it wasn't because of the blood loss.

Larry responded with one simple question and gawking expression ."Why do you follow me now?"

"I'm not sure." She answered quietly, glancing quickly to the side before turning back to him. "But if this is a dream, and that Nephthys has saught me to help you, I will do my best to make sure you complete whatever there is you need."

He raised an eyebrow. "What if she didn't? And I'm lying?" He questioned back. 

Larry wanted to test her. He wasn't sure why it came out slightly rude, but it was the only way to see some truth from her. Not that he didn't trust her. It should be the other way. She didn't know that he knows her entire life. And with the weird time travelling shit going on, Larry knew they would never be able to meet in real life.

Hetepheres answered, "This is my dream as much as yours." She paused before adding. "And if you truly are...dying: I want to help you in any way if I can."

He gave her a silent stare, still confounded by how she accepted what was happening to him. Maybe it was the fact that after all these years, he still felt unsure of getting help from time to time. The first time that he was given aid at the lowest point in his life was by Rowen herself. Now it was Hetepheres. Two women that had taken him under their wing to pull him out of the dark pit even if they didn't know him or saw his past. Rowen and Hetepheres were there when nobody was.

"I think we need to go this way." Larry shook his head, and then tightened his grip over his stomach, ignoring the red stains littering on his shirt. He noticed that some blood already went over onto Hetepheres dress, though she didn't bat it an eye as she grasped his hold tightly. "You just got to support that- yes."

It took several times to adjust, though the longer they moved into the building, Larry got used to staggering with Hetepheres with her help who kept him upright.

The entire place was empty, no person in sight as they went past each closed curtain doors. And despite being the only two, there was no sense of loneliness for Larry. No matter how large and spacious the place was, the palace which he had seen in his dreams was always bustling with people. Now it felt like it was in the modern-day, empty and stuck in the past.

As they turned around the corner, entering a smaller yet more decorated corridor, Hetepheres and Larry were already exhausted.  Hetepheres voice was rather breathless, questioning him carefully. "Who hurt you, if I may ask?"

Larry took a step too far, finding himself tripping over his shoes. Sucking in a breath, he winced in pain, feeling her fingers clench his body so he wouldn't fall. As he balanced again, he heaved out an answer.

"Agh...someone who tried to steal something. He...he was going to give it to someone who wanted to use it. And I was an idiot and chased after him. With no weapon or back up and tried to take him down." Larry sighed quickly and groaned. "God, I just feel stupid."

She looked ahead, but in the corner of his eye, he could see her lips twitch. "That sounds rather familiar," Hetepheres said.

He flicked his head to her. "Really?"

"Yes. My brother-in-law." She stated, "He is...is somewhat reckless despite being so clever in mind. He once left his family because he needed to figure out a secret and travelled down the Nile on his own, at such an age and dangerous time as well." There was fondness in her tone, making Larry warm-up at hearing her speak of her family.

"Huh...I guess we don't change a bit." He mused tiredly.

She asked him another question. "Why did you do it?"

"Because...because I felt that I needed to. Not just because it's my job to protect the Tablet during the day but you know, it seems like second nature now." Larry joked even if he could tell that the Egyptian woman would probably take it seriously.

Hetepheres piped back with a smile that never left her face. "I shouldn't be surprised now. That you're a Guardian of Nephthys, that is."

"Do you know about them now?" He questioned. He wondered if she remembered their encounter in detail when she was still young. He had blurted out that she was a guardian but she didn't clearly know what the title entailed.

So when Hetepheres grew quiet, pursing her lips. "I...I heard of things. Stories." Her brows furrowed. "But how? The person who knows of it is-"

He cut her off with a sharp hiss. "Let's just not talk about it." Larry took another breath. "If this is all real, I don't want to destroy the future or some shit."

She nodded quietly, and they continued down the hallway until Larry stopped in his tracks and forced her to a halt. His head rotated to the left, finding himself looking at a door and he nudged them towards it until Hetepheres clung back around his side and entered the room.

Where they arrived appeared to be some sort of bedroom to an extent. There was a bed and several wooden chairs. Potted plants littered the place whilst the walls were lined with golden paint. Instead of a window, there was an open patio towards a private garden, the waters of the fountains glimmering under the sun through the translucent curtains.

"Why are we here?" She muttered, curiosity in her expression.

Larry asked instead, "Where is here exactly?"

She hesitated for a moment before she spoke. "These...these are the family quarters." Hetepheres stared at the empty bed before glancing at him. "Mine and my husbands." 

"Who is your husband?" He blurted out, regretting to pry into her personal life.

"Kahmunrah the First." 

Suddenly, Larry's heart skipped a beat. 

"Kah- You're his wife!" He spluttered and yelped when he felt another pain thrust up his spine. 

Hetepheres was still staring at him.

"I know...I know him." He explained. "Well, I know since I met his family. Well-in the future. My present; your future I guess but-"

He then stopped rumbling after he suddenly couldn't breathe. Seconds later, he felt himself staggering down to the floor, letting go of Hetepheres grasp the moment his back hit the cold stone floor. The world began to spin, hearing a whizzing noise of sirens, screams and engines.

"Larry! What's happening?" He could barely hear Hetepheres from the rest let alone see the blurry image of her staring down at him.

He slurred out, "The voice...in... my head."

It was becoming difficult to comprehend what he truly was seeing. When he blinked, he could see yellow, dark figures in green as he heard more sirens going off. Was this reality? Did the ambulance come in time? 

Something was strapped onto him. A needle, perhaps? And an object covering the lower part of his mouth, a see-through mask. Larry didn't know any of the vague faces he saw, flickering his eyes back up and seeing someone else in his mind.

It was Nephthys again. Though what surprised him was where he was.

He could feel the grass under his toes the moment he stood in Central Park. And right in front of him was the goddess herself, wearing the same billowing clothes and those dangerous eyes. He wanted to go to her, to shout and question. But before he could do, he heard another voice speak around him and inside his own head.

"Larry...come on Larry...do it for your son." An unknown voice told him and he suddenly felt pulled back by an invisible force.

When he widened his eyes back, he found Hetepheres still gazing down at him - worried to the bone. "My son..." He gasped, eager to bring back the air inside him. "Nicky...he's waiting for me."

"Where shall I find him?" She asked, anxious to aid him.

He could only be thankful for the gods that he chose someone like her right now. "No, no. It's fine, Heteph." Larry's eyes watered, tear threatening to fall. "I think...you can't help me...not when I'm dying..."

A finger brushed away the tear. "You are not alone, Larry Daley. I'll be here." Hetepheres promised him. "I shall try to keep you awake."

"Dad!"

His vision blurred again and he internally pleaded for this all stop. 

The last words he heard from Hetepheres was her calling his name. "Larry? Larry. What is happening..."

• 𓎬 ☼ 𓋹⋅☾𓂀 ☽⋅𓋹 ☼ 𓎬 •

"Wake up, Lawrence Daley. You must wake up." Nephthys commanded.

His vision gone white, blinded by what seemed to be a light. Mumbling and orders were being barked about. 'Okay, this is really getting out of hand.' Larry groaned. 'Am I dreaming or is this real?'

The last thing he saw was a man wearing blue before everything went white again.

"Larry?"  He heard Rebecca soft pleas echoing around him. "Honey...please don't leave me. Don't leave Nick. He...He needs you. I-I need you!"

Rebecca's voice faded, and he tried his best to run towards the voice.

"Dad, please. You can do this. Only someone like you can pull through!" Nick's desperate tone resonated around him this time and forced himself to continue through the blank void.

However, no matter how much he could get closer, the minute he grasped onto the voice it faded again. Stuck in an endless blank unknown, Larry could feel nothing but his own heartbeat. The thumping against his chest as the swirling of his surroundings tugged him out of the void and back what seemed to be the same room.

But this time, it felt different to the room he had been with Hetepheres.

Larry walked around the column, only to find two figures standing by the bed. One was Hetepheres - he could clearly identify - who was kneeling. However, this Hetepheres was several years older, not much by looks though by how tired her eyes were. The Hetepheres that helped him move to this room had more life and happiness in her face. 

But this one, it showed raw uncertainty...and fear.

What was happening? What happened?

Larry glanced outside, finding the moon shining brightly in the open night. He could hear the sounds of screams and cries, and every bang he heard it followed the patterns of his heartbeat. Something definitely was wrong. This vision was somewhere in Hetepheres future, what appeared to what was a siege.

The palace was under attack.

Another crashing sound followed by a high pitch scream sent Larry flicking head to the noise - only to stare at a child beside Hetepheres. By how he appeared, he could see the similarities between Hetepheres and the boy. Though instead of gold eyes, he had brown ones. Brown eyes filled with fear and innocence that Larry felt his heart clench in horror.

"Mama, I'm scared." The child said to Hetepheres. "Where's Djedefre, Mama?"

His jaw dropped the moment he realised who it was. He almost felt his heart shatter seeing the pain and sorrow in her eyes.

"I don't know, my son." Hetepheres smoothened her hand over her son's shoulder and gave him a reassuring smile. "He's keeping the enemies out of our home."

Her son nodded, biting his lip. "I miss him." He spoke. "I don't want to go."

It was as if all confidence and bravery fell in one phrase in Hetepheres face the moment her son spoke. He saw the Egyptian woman on the verge of tears but trying every inch of her mind and body to not break. All for her son.

More tears began to slip her cheeks, and she whispered to him. "It's okay, sa ek. We will see him again."

Him? Larry wondered who they were talking about.

"We'll see Papa?" The child questioned, hope now sparkling in his eyes.

However, the sadness never left Hetepheres. "Yes, Ramses." She answered honestly. "We will see him again."

Watching the two hug sent a wave of emotion to him. He wasn't sure why he was seeing this. What did it mean? 

Then out of nowhere, Larry turned around to find a large crash echoing near him. Shards of wood flew towards him, Hetepheres and Ramses - letting the youngest scream as figures flooded into the room.

The next moment was so hasty. Soldiers, spears, swords.

Red. So much red.

And a dagger aimed at Ramses'.

He screamed at them, fighting back. But as he tried to push a soldier away, his arm went through their body. Larry was only a ghost. And this, this was not what he was expecting. And before he could see Hetepheres enter the fold with a dagger of her own, a force tugged him out of the scene.

Inhaling a gulp of air, he fluttered his eyes to find him staring back at Nephthys again. This time, he was standing in Central Park. It was a sunny day in the summer, standing on top of the more open fields overlooking the lakes and the bridge. 

However, just like the gardens - there was no one in sight but him and the goddess.

The first thing he spat out was a question. "What was that?"

"You are dying, Larry Daley," Nephthys stated. "You are seeing the last moments of your previous life."

"My...what?" He creased his eyebrows, still confused as ever.

He thanked her for being patient, simply answering back. "You ask why Hetepheres. Out of all the guardians, the Ennead has tasked to dream of her."

"...Rowen said something about guardians reincarnating." He remembered and then eyed her. "But Rowen's Isis' Goddess. And Hetepheres...she's yours?"

Nephthys twitched her lips and she shook her head. "As much as I am fond of the young mortal, I would never choose her as the Guardian of Heka." She looked away for a second to think before returning to him. "Her destiny lies somewhere else, sadly too sooner than I hoped."

"So who is it? Who was it before me?" Larry asked, a little bit worried to know what the truth was.

Nephthys gazed at him with a blank expression, answering back. "Remember her life."

He focused on the vision again. Of Hetepheres and Ramses, wondering why Larry got a vision of him. Usually, if he dreamt of people, they would stick to them. Though this time, he had lost Hetepheres point of view the moment the soldier killed her son-

Larry stopped.

A single word escaped his mouth. "Him."

He saw Nephthys nod solemnly.

'No. No, it can't be...' He thought, knees buckling beneath him. He felt sick. This. This was his fate. A child.

"The future has been set in stone. Nothing can be changed." She spoke.

He inhaled, his heart beginning to speed faster as he looked at her with seething teeth. "So they're bound to die," Larry questioned. "How- How could you? How could you do this to them?"

When Nephthys heard those words, she was unfazed by the horrific statement he just spoke. She said softly, "The Fates must do what they can to set it right. For the greater good."

Larry snapped, "For the greater good my ass!" He stomped closer, fist clenched on either side before he gestured his hands about. "You're going to make a mother and a child kill themselves! You will make a child suffer for what? A sacrifice? Because they need to die so we could live instead to finish off what they did?"

"You have yet to understand. If he never died, you never have ceased to exist." Nephthys reasoned. "Your entire bloodline would never flow into this path."

"It doesn't matter!" He shouted. "You've ripped so many away. I've seen it! Rowen with her daughter and...Ahkmenrah and his family! You don't understand what you've done to them! You ripped their family apart!"

The tone of the goddess' voice changed, a warning look aimed at him. "You, mortals, believe we do not understand your pain. But we've watched our family rip ourselves apart. Because of power." She shook her head. "I do not want that. But this was the only choice we give. Not after what...what Set had done."

The name sent him staring back at her in shock. He reminded himself of who Set meant to Nephthys. 'Her husband...or was.' He thought. The stories he's read online; listening to Rowen and Ahkmenrah how Nephthys gave in to Set when they were trying to protect Osiris. What did she truly want to do? Was this her punishment? To have to choose a guardian for the Ennead to keep her in line? To stop her from going back to Set?

Larry's voice lowered, pleading. "You can change this. You can fake their death."

"What Hetepheres will do is something that would save the one family that has maintained the good and light in your world. It will be her choice that would not only change the tides but bring her own desires." Nephthys only replied.

He glared and asked, "And how would you know?"

"Because my sister chose the best," Nephthys revealed, a fraction of a second showing the pain and regret written on her face. "And she treasures her guardians too much."

Larry doubted that. Not when all those years for Rowen. And after meeting Nephthys, he wondered if they truly understood what they felt like. For him, it seemed that they all thought of the guardians as pieces of a game. They were just players for their war. Like Ahkmenrah. Like Rowen. Like Hetepheres, Ramses.

Like him.

"What about you?" He questioned her, hopeful to see reasoning with the goddess.

"I have yet to see, Lawrence Daley," Nephthys answered, earning her a small nod.

"But I know you can pull through." The woman encouraged. "You must. Or else, the entire world will fall."

Those last few words sent dread down his body, a tingling feeling at the edge of her fingertips that he almost wanted to scream back. Forty-three years of his life he had met so many people. With so little that believed in him, and rare to tell him how significant he was to their lives. So to hear an Egyptian Goddess tell him, he could change the outcome of the future of billions of lives: the weight of it call caused it to crush Larry himself. 

At the end of it all: he was simply a night guard.

"I'm nothing." Larry glanced down, ashamed to even look at her in the eye. "I...I'm only mortal."

"You are more than what you think, Guardian. I have watched your entire life pass. The past, the present and what is yet to come." Nephthys encouraged. "Now wake up Lawrence Daley. Think of the people you love. The memories and the voices of them."

There it took all of his energy and might to focus on the names. The people he loved. His friends, his family. He mumbled the names in his head, his memories of them at the museum. His childhood, and his desires of the future.

He imagined his life with Rebecca and Nick - now a family. With a homely house. And in the house contained a special room with a cradle and bright blue painted walls.

He then saw himself, gazing down in wonder and such love at the bundle of blankets which Rebecca carried. Larry's heart swelled as the tears began to fall.

But before he could savour more of the scene, he looked to Nephthys back in Central Park. She must have given him that vision.

A vision of hope.

"Will I see you again?" He asked her.

Nephthys stared at him with tenderness, like a mother looking at their child. "We won't need to." A few seconds later, the surroundings faded once more as Larry felt something cold against his back.

• 𓎬 ☼ 𓋹⋅☾𓂀 ☽⋅𓋹 ☼ 𓎬 •

Fluttering his eyes back, he found himself staring up towards Hetepheres. He was back at the room where he last been.

A worried tone echoed into his ear. "Larry?"

It was still difficult to register who he was talking to. 'Oh Hetepheres...' He shook his head mentally. 'You don't know what's yet to happen.' He glanced down slightly, before going back up to her and rasping out,  "Tell me? You're...you're expecting, aren't you?"

Her shocked expression answered his question perfectly.

"I...how do you know of this?" She breathed.

Larry inhaled, trying to force back the tears. "Dreams. I've watched you grow up. Your whole life. Past and future." He choked out. "You're gonna have a son."

"Why do you tell me this?"

"Because you're going to love him very much." Larry sadly answered.

"Will I?"

"You will." He clenched his eyelids shut and told himself. "Come on! Wake up, Daley!" 

"Tell me, please." Hetepheres pleaded. "Tell me his name."

"You're going to be a good mother. And...he'll love you so much as well. He is going to be... a brave, brave kid." He croakily spoke, every word making his heart thrum.

He could feel his body beginning to fade. A force almost pulling him away from this reality to the next. When he tried to take her hand on his, it felt different. It felt solid and yet not. 

He was fighting it. Hearing a mix of machines and the murmurs of voices.

Larry could have just left her there and then, but he didn't. She had to know.

'I'm so sorry...'

"...You're my son, aren't you?" She slowly spoke.

"No! God no!" He spluttered out. "I mean not like that but, I was- yanno...Reincarnation and all that."

She said, unsure to him if she was talking to him or herself. "Nephthys chose him, didn't she?"

"I...Argh!" He gritted his teeth, feeling another thrust of pain. He needed to focus to stop the pain.

"This is the future I will have." Hetepheres' face fell in disappointment, shutting her eyes.

Larry sighed. "I'm sorry, Hetepheres. I really am." He continued, rubbing her palm with his hand. "That this. All of this. Your future. I tried to convince her but-" He scrunched his eyes again, feeling another pang - but this time it felt less as bad as before.

Could this mean-

He looked up, finding Hetepheres crying. 

"Don't cry. It's okay. You're going to see them again." He murmured to her, seeing tears spilling down her cheeks. "Even when in your deepest darkest moments, you're going to be there with him no matter what. When he has nightmares, you'll stay beside him and sing him lullabies. When he cuts himself or grazes his knee, you'll be by his side. Every damn time. "

Hetepheres choked back a cry, wiping her cheeks. "Gods." She smiled through her tears. "You sound like you're talking about a different person."

"No." He shook his head and answered weakly. "I'm talking about the person right in front of me."

"Larry Daley..." She breathed, cup a hand over his cheek. "I hope you wake up. See your son."

Larry smiled back at the Egyptian woman before him. He saw the love and natural talent she bore. He could hope how much of a mother she would be. 'You're going to be great, Heteph.' He silently thought.

One name then left his lips.

"Ramses," Larry revealed, earning hiccup from her.

So many emotions swirled and exploded out of her. Happiness, agony and disbelief - all wrapped up in a pinata that had burst by a stick. There was a part of him which he felt sorry for having to tell her. She didn't deserve this; to know a future that could never change. Because in the end, Larry would take her son's place no matter how she stopped his death.

And instead, here she was: staring at him as if he was Ramses himself. Like a mother to her child again. The same expression he had seen in Nephthys. And with Rowen as well. 

Hetepheres smiled. A true happy smile - filled with the hope he wanted to see in her. "Thank you, Larry Daley. For everything. " She softly spoke.

Her face began to blur, fading before him as his last words to her echoed back. "No. Thank you."

Closing his eyes, he could feel himself drift away towards the bright light.

• 𓎬 ☼ 𓋹⋅☾𓂀 ☽⋅𓋹 ☼ 𓎬 •

Noises. A whole lot of noises began to enter his ear. A lot of annoying noises as well. So noisy that the first thing Larry felt was his nose twitch in discomfort. Beeping noises and groaning of machines moving as he twitched his fingers to sense something made of cloth.

When he flickered his eyes opened, he sighed in relief to see something modern.

Then the realisation hit him like a sack of bricks.

He was alive.

'Holy moly I...' He mentally paused. 'I actually lived. I did it.'

Larry tilted his head to the side, surprised to discover his fiancee sitting beside him. Focused on a book, her head was supported by her hand as she leaned on the armrest. She looked exhausted, with rugged clothes and messy hair.

How long was he out for?

"Becca...Nicky..." He choked out, mouth too dry to say anything fully.

But it was enough to get Rebecca's attention, who rushed to his side and went to cup his face. Her cheeks were flushed, with red-rimmed eyes that indicated she had cried. For how long, he didn't know. Larry began to worry how long they've been here, considering how their clothes were still the same, with red stains on her shirt.

"Oh my god...Larry." She whispered, shutting her eyes and pressing her lips on his.

When she pulled back, he gave her a tired smile. "Hey..." He murmured back.

"You're awake...you're alive," Rebecca said, relief in her voice as she kept her hands brushing his cheeks - afraid to let go.

Larry reassured her, reaching his hand to her own face and brushing the strand of hair to the back of her ear. "It's okay, Becca." He soothed her. "I'm here...I'm here sweetheart."

They stayed there for god knows how long. But he didn't dare to move and neither did Rebecca. They were together again, and that was what mattered. He missed her presence. 

He was not going to leave them ever again. Not when he now knew something about himself. Larry needed to find time to tell them all what he discovered.

And speaking of his family, he wandered his eyes around the room. In the corner, sitting in a plastic chair, was his son.

"Nick is asleep, want me to wake him up?" She asked him.

Larry answered, "Let him sleep." He then remembered another person who had been there. "Where's...where's Rowen?"

What he had not expected to wake up to was Rebecca's hour-long explanation whilst he was unconscious. 

• 𓎬 ☼ 𓋹⋅☾𓂀 ☽⋅𓋹 ☼ 𓎬 •

Rowena XXXIV

2014 - London

Rowena said in deep breaths, calling out to him. "Larry! Larry, can you hear me?" She cried, "Larry, you've got to stay awake!"

He shook his head and cried, "I'm awake...I'm awake!"

She couldn't lose him.

She would die first before Larry Daley could.

Then, she was hearing sirens, feeling a shadow fall next to her. When she found him scream his father's name, her heart plummeted. Nick had followed her from the museum, his face going white as a sheet the moment his eyes looked at the blood pooled over the pavement.

Larry had stopped groaning, gritting his teeth as he peered up to her. "I...Ro...Nicky...where's Nicky."

Next to him, holding his hand, Nick called out to him. "Dad, they're coming. They'll be here." He said, "Please, stay awake Dad."

Rowena did her best to slow the bleeding, propping Larry's head upon her lap as she tried to compress as much of the wound as possible. But with Larry grasping to her arm tightly, it

"Apply more pressure, Nick! Larry keep talking."

"Argh! Getting shot is a pain in the ass!" He roared and swore, "Where the fuck is Khafre when you need him to knock you off your fucking feet?"

Rowen choked out a laugh. Out of everyone, he would try to amuse himself. 

"Unfortunately not this time, Daley." She spoke.

"LARRY!"

Looking up, she saw the horror plastered on her friend's face.

"Rebecca...honey." Larry rasped, his hands hurrying to caress Rebecca's cheek.

"Please. Please stay awake." The desperation in Rebecca's voice caught Rowena almost choking out tears. "I'm here, I'm here...Nicky is here...Rowen is here..."

She was then caught off guard hearing a familiar voice.

"Where is he...Garret...Garret!"

Standing up, she searched for the incoming voice and found herself dreading to find the one person she did not want to find here.

"Leslie..."

However, Rowena was too late.

Terror slowly morphed into Leslie's expression as she stared down at Garret's body. His eyes staring back, unmoving. Leslie fell to her knees. With shaking hands, she touched his hand and began to mutter his name - only to get no response.

She called to her, trying to grasp for her hand. "Leslie."

"Please, he's not dead. He's not dead." She repeated, shaking her head in disbelief. She stumbled away, blinking profusely as she tried to forget.

Rowena tried to calm her down. "Leslie, listen-"

"You...you're with them." She turned to her, horror and anger coursing over her face. Leslie pointed, "You killed him too..."

It was another shot in the heart as she heard those words escape Leslie's mouth. And in an instant, she found her friend jumping and tackling towards Larry. Just in time, Rowena captured her into her arms - stopping her from approaching.

She pulled her back, struggling and surprised at Leslie's strength. "You are in shock, Leslie. Please, don't-"

Suddenly, sirens roared. And more people in black and yellow jackets filled the scene. She let go of Leslie immediately and hoped she stopped.

Leslie Carted breathed heavily, hands clenched to her sides as she screamed the words no one wanted to hear.

"You shot my husband!"

"Miss Bates?"

She snapped her head up and relaxed, only to find a middle-aged man stand in front of her. 

Standing upright, she dusted her clothes with her free hand, putting her phone away in her pocket as she spoke. "Yes?" She inquired.

He held his hand out to which she shook it firmly with a tight grip. "Inspector Williamson. I am with Scotland Yard." The policeman introduced himself. "How is Mr Daley if I may ask?"

She had just got the call ten minutes ago, hearing Rebecca's tears of joy when she told her that he had pulled through during the surgery. Her heart felt lighter when she heard those words, slumping back on the chair she sat on at the police station.

And despite hearing the good news, there was still a lot of issues at hand. 

Like this.

"He's pulled through." She answered.

"That's good news, good." The Inspector nodded and added, "If you're not in a hurry. We would like to ask you some questions before you may return to the Museum and oversee your work."

Rowena didn't complain and obliged. "Of course, lead the way."

"This is a very difficult situation, Ms Bates. Due to the fact that Mr Trench is known as a consultant for the Saqqara Historical Agency. But of course, he had tried to steal a prized possession from the British Museum and has killed five civilians today."

Rowena mentally sucked in her breath, a cold shiver down her spine as she remembered what happened just several hours ago. 

"However, Mr Daley was not the one who has shot him." 

She shot him back a look.

"Pardon me?" Rowena adjusted her seat, raising a brow. "I...I thought Mr Daley-"

Humming, the Inspector pried open the plastic wallet and removed the small object. "We thought so too. With the gun that was on the floor, there wasn't any indication of Mr Daley touching it at all." He placed the object down in front of them on the cloth. "The bullet which hit Mr Trench was a different make."

"This. This is military made." She muttered to herself. "Sniper rifle..."

This was the many advantages in living through the second world war. Even if the weapons were old fashioned, she took herself to update her information - including the things she loathed. Guns were still artefacts, but they were artefacts of destruction to which she's dealt with. And also been killed with.

So she expected the Inspector to look at her with intrigue, hoping to hear the question come out of his mouth.

"You know your guns, Ms Bates?" He asked.

Rowena answered partially truthfully "I am a historian, I've dealt with historical weapons before."

The bullet was not from the gun Garret Trench held. It was larger. And only someone with great skill and practice could aim well. She pursed her lips and thought carefully. Someone knew about the theft and they were prepared to kill Garret. And a shot that far was a chance worth only for one kill. And when Larry was placed into the fold, she questioned why they shot Garret and not him.

Rowena could tell the Inspector was on the same page as her, giving her an eye of understanding before taking the bullet back into its bag. 'Someone knew Garret would go to the bridge. But how? Why?'

"It would seem there is a third party somewhere. But for now, I suggest you could return to the British Museum. " He closed the folder on the desk and passed it to the man beside him. "I know that what you carry is worth millions. Something priceless like that shouldn't be exposed. Not that I am an expert, of course."

Rowena asked, trying not to be a bit too suspicious. But this was her friend. If the British police held custody of an American citizen, all hell will break loose. "What are you going to do with him? My friend only wanted to catch the thief."

The Inspector studied her, before answering simply. "He'll be let off the charges." He continued, "As for Mr Trench, we will look into his background to see if there is any indication of reason to his theft."

Rowena nodded before following to stand up and shaking the Inspector's hand. Before long, she exited the interrogation room was escorted to the main reception of Scotland Yard.

She didn't realise how much she clenched the Tablet so hard during that time that she could sense how slippery the Tablet was. She needed to head back the museum, and make sure the Tablet was secure.

'Oh gods, if the others found out what happened...' Rowena was dreading the moment they would have to tell them what happened. 'Especially Teddy and Sac when they hear what happened to Larry.'

She knew her friends are going to have questions. And a very long conversation about Larry's recklessness.

• 𓎬 ☼ 𓋹⋅☾𓂀 ☽⋅𓋹 ☼ 𓎬 •

As she exited Scotland Yard and went to search for a cab, she was shocked to find her Italian friend pacing towards her.  "Antonio." She called back, questioning him. "What are you doing here? The Museum-"

"Is fine. I've had Dr Lyons sort it out but I needed to make sure you're okay. " He finished her sentence, taking a breath. "I came as soon as I heard. I'm sorry amica."

She was unsure whether to feel comforted by his words after what occurred. Instead, she was awkwardly responding with a stiff nod. "He's fine. He's awake. Alive." Rowena scoffed. "I'm not sure to be happy that he's awake or impressed how stubborn that bastard is."

Antonio caught the sarcasm in her tone and cracked up a grin. "Your friend's a tough one I see." His eyes wander over to the artefact in her arms. "You've got it with you."

She inhaled sharply, hissing back, "If you believe one second I would hand it to you..."

"I know." Antonio exhaled. "That's why I'm asking you to come back with me. To the museum to store it safely back into Ahkmenrah's sarcophagus."

"I still do not trust you. Not even after what happened." She stated, still wary of her friend's true allegiance. Especially what happened today, and Larry getting shot: she felt incredibly hostile at every interaction and person she met.

"...I swore under the gods themselves. An oath like this is taken seriously." Antonio's voice lowered, with honesty that Rowena was almost persuaded to believe him.

"I hope one day you will explain to me what you mean by all of this." She relaxed her shoulders, loosening her tight grasp on the Tablet. Rowena spoke, "You're a good friend, Antonio. But the Tablet. You don't understand how important this is. It's...it's my responsibility."

It seemed her Italian friend understood, nodding slowly back before flicking his eyes away before returning to her. "What about your friends?" Antonio asked.

Rowena answered, "I'll let them know. Rebecca's staying with Nick at the hospital until Larry's stable enough, but I made sure they'll go back to sleep."

"What about the other?" He wondered.

She glanced back at him before quickly looking at Scotland Yard's entrance. When they first got here, they were both separated. The police wanted to gather information from the young Carter whilst she was told to wait for another person. That had been hours ago, and she hadn't left the building since, hoping to spot the redhead woman exit the building before she left. Unfortunately, the evening had already come and sunset was coming. 

She could only hope the police treated Leslie well.

"They've been interrogating her for hours. Once she's out, I think she needs someone to go to first." She commented, checking her phone to find several texts from Rebecca and nothing back from Leslie. There was a miscall from Yara, probably preparing to have a shouting match at her for running into a dangerous place without any protection.

"She didn't know?" Antonio raised an eyebrow.

Rowena was surprised as well, and perhaps more relieved. She didn't want her friend involved at with the Order. And finding the tattoo plastered on the back of Garret's neck had shaken her up. What did it mean to them, then? Was it a coincidence that Leslie married someone from the Order?

Or did Garret Trench plan this all along?

"No. Which makes this much worse. For her definitely." She could feel a headache coming as she groaned in exasperation. "Gods, this is messed up."

Her friend sadly smiled, patting her shoulder. "I know, amica. Don't blame yourself for this."

"But I do, Antonio." She shook her head, arguing: "Look, I hate others risking themselves for what I was supposed to keep safe. What happened with Larry, if I kept my eyes on the Tablet it would never have been taken."

"Rowen. Hey, breathe amica." He assured her, a frown on his lips. "You can't be everywhere at the same time. You can't keep everyone safe like this. You're only human."

She wanted to laugh at that statement.

'You don't understand, amico.' Rowena thought sadly. "Let's go return this."

____

Special Cameo

• 𓎬 ☼ 𓋹⋅☾𓂀 ☽⋅𓋹 ☼ 𓎬 •

Laura Harrier as Nephthys

____

A/N: Finally I am back. It's been a rough few weeks and I hadn't had time to even get on here and write. But don't worry this chapter is done and I'm quite impressed with how it turned out.

At first, I wanted to start the chapter with Rowen but I thought it would be better to have Larry's view first considering how I left him. But yes: I didn't kill another character this time. And Larry is not done yet.

Writing Hetepheres' and Larry's conversation was tough. I wanted to convey the tragedy which Hetepheres' life but also show the innocence and bittersweet love she had of her family. Larry's pretty much annoyed at his own Goddess for letting Hetepheres accept her death and that's pretty much something anyone could think about. And to reveal that Ramses, a child, would die so Larry becomes the guardian is quite haunting and kinda doubts his purpose.

As for Rowena's view, I think I could have done better but I had to compact a lot of information to make it all add up and make sense. Especially having to deal with adding Leslie and Antonio and the Tablet within the timescale. SO much to think about! 

But I am enjoying this a lot. Next chapter seems more of my sort of chapter to write since I do love a bit of drama and background.

Hope you guys enjoyed it. Much love.

____

Written: 09/12/2020

Edited: 09/12/2020