Shingal Springs, Missouri, U.S.A, Present Day

A SHRILL SOUND echoed through the desolate halls of Sedona High School. Eldwin busted through the entrance door and bit his lip as he zipped by the tall gray lockers. He couldn't get caught in a tardy sweep. Not again.

Sweat began beading his brow as he sprinted through the halls. Thirty seconds after the bell rang, the doors locked automatically for the students' protection—a knot formed in his stomach, and his heartbeat rapidly against his ribcage. Please, I can't be late, not again.

Turning a corner, his shoes squeaked as he skidded to his left to avoid a locker that sprang in his way. Racing another hallway, he reached a room with 'B12-History' marked over the door.

He reached out his hand, flung open the door, and stepped inside the room, but his shoe caught on the door sill. Eldwin threw his hands out as he fell forward and hit the floor with a smack. Moaning, he sat back on his knees and rubbed his hands.

"Mr. Carmichael!" He tipped his head towards a man with a tall, lanky figure wearing a black suit standing to the left of a blackboard. "Do you have to barge into my classroom like a savage beast?" Mr. Alfred Del Mastro snapped.

Eldwin's eyes met his teacher's. Those golden irises with slanted pupils made him shudder. Everyone hated how they looked, and their teacher was always the top gossip because his reptilian eyes made him appear demonic. "Please try to be on time from here on out."

"Sorry, Mr. Del Mastro." Eldwin tried avoiding the teacher's gaze.

"Take your seat, Mr. Carmichael." Mr. Del Mastro motioned to an empty desk.

Eldwin rose from the floor and walked towards his seat. His cheeks flushed with embarrassment as he caught several eyes staring in his direction. Arriving at his desk, he lifted his backpack's strap and dropped it beside him as he slid in. Several books fall out of his bag from the impact. Reaching over, he put the books back in place and put his history book on his desk. 

A soft object hit him in the back of the head, sending chills down his spine. He turned to the right to find Kirk Anderson holding a wadded-up piece of paper in his hand, tossing it upwards and catching it. At the same time, he is holding a rod in his other hand under the table. Eldwin turned back towards the teacher. They had shared a friend who moved away after a childish argument about seven years ago, and he had been the center of Kirk's bullying ever since. 

A tapping sound came from the front of the classroom. He spun around and watched as Mr. Del Mastro turned his back to the class. He wrote '323 B.C.' on the blackboard.

"Now, class," he began as he faced the students, "based on what we learned yesterday, who remembers what was said about this date?"

Eldwin scanned the room. He knew Mr. Del Mastro was looking for an explanation of King Tutankhamun's life. As he glanced around the students, he noticed several looking down at their books or gazing at the teacher with blank stares.

"Believe it or not, I know when you're not paying attention." Mr. Del Mastro moved around the room, weaving through the desks.

Elwin looked down as the teacher walked to the second to back row — where he was. He twirled a pencil as a shadow loomed over his desk. He turned his head around as someone cleared their throat.

Mr. Del Mastro stood behind him with his arms crossed. "Mr. Carmichael, will you please tell the class what's so special about this date?"

Swallowing a lump in his throat, he rose to his feet. Mr. Del Mastro stepped back to the front of the class. "King Tut, the most famous and talked about Pharaoh, died of unknown circumstances that day. However, many historians believe he went to war against another kingdom and got into a fight with one of their soldiers. The soldier crippled the young king, who then fell off his chariot and died before help could arrive."

Mr. Del Mastro gave an approving nod. "Uh-huh, and what made him famous, to begin with?" He leaned against his desk with his arms still crossed.

Eldwin drew in a shaky breath. "He became Pharaoh at the age of nine and died at the age of seventeen, but his body wasn't discovered until nineteen twenty-two in the Valley of the Kings."

A smile pulled at the teacher's lips. "Very good. I'm pleased that someone has been paying attention. You may be seated."

Grinning, Eldwin slid back into his seat. He glanced around the room and noticed every eye was on him. His smile quickly faded from the uncomfortable glares.

Mr. Del Mastro stood straight and moved to the other side of his desk toward his blackboard before turning back toward the students. "Now, as a reminder, the Shingal Springs Museum is holding an exhibition on King Tut, and today is the last day to hand in your permission slips, or you won't be allowed on the bus." 

Eldwin watched as the teacher spun around and wrote 'Pharaoh Ammon VII' on the board. "Now today," Mr. Del Mastro stated, "I want to bring up Pharaoh Ammon the Seventh. Pharaoh Ammon was born in three hundred and twenty B.C. to Alexander the Great of Rome during his conquest of Egypt. Alexander the Great wanted nothing to do with his young son and left his brother, Pharaoh Arridaeus the Third, to see his upbringing. Unfortunately for Pharaoh Ammon, his uncle was feeble-minded and did not know how to raise children, so he left the young boy to an Egyptian named Abraxas. Through his teaching, Ammon grew to be the most excellent Pharaoh Egypt had ever seen. After Pharaoh Arridaeus passed and Ammon became the new regent, a man from Regina came to the palace. That was when Egypt went downhill.

A war broke out. Anarchy destroyed hundreds of structures that Pharaoh Ammon had built. Men, women, and children were taken from their homes. Men were forced to fight against each other while women involuntarily served the Pharaoh against their wills."

Images of the events played out in Eldwin's mind as Mr. Del Mastro continued. "Then, in the year three hundred B.C., everything ended. Pharaoh Ammon vanished when the desert froze over, and a man from Regina destroyed the kingdom overnight, bringing the reign of Pharaohs to an end."

Murmurs rose from the class. Eldwin glanced around as several students spoke about the Pharaoh Mr. Del Mastro had brought before them. He gazed down at his book, pondering everything his teacher had said.

"Quite down, class." The teacher clapped his hand, drawing attention to himself at the head of the class. Eldwin turned his head and watched as the teacher sat at his desk and held up a book with a bright yellow cover. 

"All right, students, you have twenty minutes remaining. If I were you, I would get caught up on your homework, reading chapters eight through twelve."

A collective groaning echoed throughout the room, and Mr. Del Mastro's chest puffed as he heaved a sigh.

Eldwin reached into his bag and pulled out the book with bright black letters. 'Lineage of the Ancient Kings: Book 5 Pharaohs of Egypt by Joey Richards.' He chuckled as he flipped the book over. Miss Richards honestly had a brilliant mind regarding the knowledge of the Pharaohs of Egypt's past.

Low grumbling came from behind, and he twisted his head. Kirk and his cronies were laughing at something, and he wanted to know what it was. He cocked his head and curved his back slightly to see what the bully was up to. Kirk held up his copy and lowered it between his desk and the one in front.

His friend laughed. Kirk had drawn a mustache over the author's face, just under her nose, with the words 'Lame. ' Loser.n the back. The mustache Liar.' etched o covered the summary, making it hard to read any words.

Kirk's purple irises met Eldwin's blue ones, and he swung around, facing the teacher again. Eldwin pried open his book with his fingers at the top where his bookmark stuck out and opened it to chapter twenty-two.

He chuckled under his breath. Of course, he had read several chapters ahead. He yearned to know more about the Pharaohs found in the Valley of the Kings. He placed his elbow on his desk and rested his cheek against his closed knuckles before opening his book and scanning the words on the pages.

As he read the word, visions played in his mind. He closed his eyes, allowing himself to daydream about the Great Pyramids, grand palaces, and even the seventh wonder, the Great Sphinx. A smile curled on his lips. He would give anything to see these locations for himself. 

However, he knew that his dream would never come to pass. Girls with darkened skin and white flowing silk dresses with golden bracelets and anklets danced in his thoughts, and music filled the air with such a sweet melody. His dream transported him to a time long ago when there was a great party in the palace from years ago. Chuckling, he imagined one of the dancers as a young Cleopatra and another as a young Queen Nefertiti.

The bell rang, causing him to jump slightly in his seat as his mind wrapped him back to reality. The door unlocked, signaling the start of a new period. "Let's get out of here," came Kirk's voice. Eldwin reached down for his backpack when a toe from a black sneaker stepped on his finger. He winced as he felt the sole crush it against the tile floor.

"Now, students!" Mr. Del Mastro called from his desk.

Eldwin turned his head sideways to glance the teacher's way. He stood with his arms behind his back, and his golden eyes locked on Kirk. "If you have already finished your assignment, please turn it in. For those who are visiting the museum, I will pick you up at your house. Please pick up your schedule from my desk so you will know when to expect me. You're dismissed." 

Students shuffled past Eldwin as Kirk hiked the strap of his backpack higher onto his shoulders before heading out the door. Eldwin maneuvered his stinging finger as he reached down, picked up his bag, and stood to leave. His knuckle throbbed. He rubbed at it with the opposite thumb, trying to dampen the pain, yet nothing helped.

"Is everything alright, Mr. Carmichael?"

Eldwin's head shot up. He looked over at Mr. Del Mastro, who reviewed a few papers at his desk. He wandered to his desk and started picking up a piece of paper. "Yes, Professor. Everything is fine. Nothing to worry about." He forced a smile, threw a strap to his backpack around his neck, and rested it on the opposite shoulder. The teacher nodded before returning his attention to his paperwork. Eldwin exited the classroom and traversed through the hallway as students pushed past him, either running to their next class or rushing to their locker. He arrived at his and spun the wheel until it hit its combination and popped open. 

"Hey! Carmichael!"

Eldwin whirled around just as a hand grabbed his shoulder and slammed him into his locker. He winced as the combination lock dug into his back. Kirk always tried to bully him despite the other fresh flesh around for him to pick on. One of these days, he would pick on the wrong person, and they would give him a taste of his own medicine. "What do you want, Kirk?" he hissed through gritted teeth.

"Why can't you keep that trap of yours shut?" Spittle flew out of Kirk's mouth as he spoke. Eldwin straightened his back, causing the lock to dig deeper between his shoulder blades. He balled his hands into fists from the pain but dared not move again.

"You made me and my friends look like idiots!" His friends, Zephaniah Orlando and Otis Magnus, snickered.

"That's because you are," Eldwin spat. Anger boiled in his veins. Kirk had plenty of time to answer the question before he did. Besides, he couldn't help if Mr. Del Mastro put him on the spot. Kirk furrowed his brow, and his lips pulled into a thin line. A lump formed in Eldwin's throat as his heart began to quicken. Kirk took a swift step back, raising his fist in the process. Before Eldwin could duck, pain exploded throughout his skull as the back of his head slammed into the locker door behind him. Tears welled in his eyes, and stars danced in his vision.

Eldwin raised his free hand and placed it against his nose. Blood oozed between his fingers and dripped down the back of his hand. Anger boiled within him. He wanted to yell, to fight back. He balled his hand into a fist and stared into Kirk's eyes, gleaming with pleasure. Kirk had crossed a line that they both knew. Pictures of water gushing up from their homes underground flooded his mind. All he wanted to do was move his arms with the flow and push him back. 

A hand pushed into his shoulder once more. He gritted his teeth as he watched Kirk rear his arm back for another hit. "You'll never learn, will you? I outmatch you in every way." Eldwin glared at him as a nearby water fountain began shaking violently. All four boys turned to watch. The water fountain stopped shaking as Eldwin fought the urge to fight him. No matter how much Kirk deserved it, all it would get him was sent home.

"Mr. Anderson, " came the teacher's voice. I wouldn't advise a second hit. As it is, I will have to contact your parents. Would you like to add expulsion to your punishment as well?" Eldwin whirled around and watched Kirk turn his head toward the teacher, who held Kirk's fist in his own. From the strain on his bully's arm, he could tell he was trying to remove his arm from the teacher's grasp.

A weary smile graced Eldwin's lips; unlike other teachers, Mr. Del Mastro was not afraid to step in when needed most. Eldwin watched as Kirk spun toward the teacher. Mr. Del Mastro released his hand and stepped out of the way, allowing the teen's momentum to carry him to the floor with a hard smack. Kirk growled as he stood and faced Eldwin, to which the teacher promptly set himself between the two boys. "Let's go," he heard Kirk hiss before watching him storm off toward the cafeteria.

A smile pulled at Eldwin's lips as the teacher turned to face him. The teen was grateful the teacher helped him out of his sticky situation. Yet, he couldn't help but feel disappointed it wasn't him who had put Kirk in his place. He opened his mouth to speak to the teacher when he watched him hold up his hand to silence him like during class. The teacher reached into his jacket pocket and pulled out a handkerchief with his other hand. "Here's this, Mr. Carmichael." He spoke as he handed it to him. "If I were you, I would tip my head forward to avoid blood from running down my throat." Eldwin looked into the teacher's playful gleam and placed it against his nose.

"Yes, Sir. Thank you."

Eldwin watched the teacher glance down the hall toward the cafeteria. "No worries," he said at last, "but you might want to clean up before going to the first period." Eldwin looked down at his shirt and noticed blood had dripped down the front. His cheeks burned as he backed away. There was no telling how bad his face looked, not to mention the sore pulsing of his nose to add to how he felt.

 "Don't be late for your next class, " the teacher said as he turned and wandered toward the cafeteria. Turning to his locker, he shoved his backpack into the small prison and raced into the nearest bathroom. He emerged several minutes later with his face clean and his shirt wet from where he had tried cleaning it minutes earlier, yet it didn't work. Sighing, he headed toward the cafeteria. 

 Eldwin grabbed a tray once inside and joined the food line. He grimaced as he looked at the day's special - meatloaf. When he reached the lunch lady, he put on a fake smile as she put a tray of nearly half a loaf on his tray. His stomach turned at the sight of what appeared to be uncooked meat. "Thank you." He smiled as he grabbed a few other options and scurried away. The rancid smell reached his nose, causing him to gulp. He had to admit, the lunch lady could cook anything you wanted. Meatloaf, however, was not her strong suit. She somehow always had a way of making it taste like sawdust.

Arriving at the end of the line, he used his school credits to pay for his meal and stepped out of line. He glanced around the lunchroom, taking in the sights. In the far left corner sat a group of boys, laughing. Their black leather jackets, ripped jeans, and spiky hair set them apart from the rest of the crowd. He noticed Kirk sitting between his two cronies, laughing with the other boys. On the other side was his best friend Charles, sitting by himself and picking at his piece of meatloaf half-heartedly.

A smile appeared on his face as he progressed toward his friend. As he passed the table with the rough-looking boys, one of them stuck their foot out. Eldwin hit it hard and fell forward, getting a face full of meat. "Remember, Branson's pier at ten o'clock tomorrow." Eldwin heard the closet boy say to the group. Eldwin rolled over to glower at him but noticed the boy's threatening look.

"Fine, I'll be there." Eldwin gritted his teeth and watched as the teen returned to his group. He picked up his tray and traipsed to the table where his friend resided. "Hey, Charles." He groaned and sat across from him. His friend raised his head and grinned before frowning. He felt his friend's green eyes roam around his meat-covered face to his blood-stained shirt.

"What happened to you?" Charles asked at last

"What do you think?" Eldwin sighed. Charles went silent and picked up his fork again.

"Close, it was Terrence." Eldwin watched as Charles glanced over at the table before sighing. "I wish they would just leave us alone. So, what do you think about the field trip tomorrow? I'm getting picked up at seven-fifteen. That should be outlawed." Eldwin laughed at his friend's remark. He wasn't wrong.

"Lucky, I got seventy, and I'm excited. I've loved Egyptian culture since I was little and plan to be an archaeologist." Eldwin began nibbling on what food was left on his tray, avoiding the meatloaf.

"Does your Mom know? Didn't she have a bad experience with one?"

Eldwin shrugged. "True, my father was one and disappeared several years ago, but that's why I'm not telling here." He watched as Charles took a bite of his food. His eyes opened wide before the fork even left his mouth. Before pushing his tray off, he quickly spewed the meat onto his plate until it was time to return to college. He guzzled down some water before continuing.

"I heard they were bringing King Tut's sarcophagus to the Museum. It would be cool if his mummy were still inside!" Eldwin laughed at Charles' failed attempt to heat the meatloaf. His friend gave him a quizzical look as he pushed his food aside, deciding it wasn't worth taking a second bite.

"You know a coffin they buried Pharaohs in?" Eldwin corrected. "And I doubt it would still have the mummy in it anywho. There's a good chance scientists ran off with the body, but I can't wait to see if hieroglyphs are etched into the siding that tells his real story." Charles laughed as the bell rang, singling to the boys it was time to move on to their next class, mathematics.