Ninety Nine
Ash
As the heat of the day wore on, we followed Ava through the desert to a patch of land next to a different pyramid. The place was teeming with security guards.
“Miss Ava, they will not allow us to dig here. We must have a permit from the government,” Musad advised. Their tools were concealed in a long black bag.
“Why didn’t you mention that before?” Ava gritted her teeth. Her rage was palpable.
“I thought you might have arranged a way we could.” Musad winked at her.
Rolling her eyes, Ava then turned away from them. “We are close, but we can’t do it during the daylight. We’ll have to come back tonight.”
Being out here in the desert during the day was daunting enough, I couldn’t imagine how it would be at night. It was difficult to comprehend for those who hadn’t visited Egypt, but the desert seemed so vast it would swallow you and no one would ever know. It was an eerie feeling one that made me anxious. All I could see for miles around was sand and endless blue sky above. The bright sun beat down upon us roasting me alive inside of my clothes. My head was so hot yet very little perspiration dampened my skin. My eyes burned from the brightness even beneath the protection of my sunglasses. I wanted to get back to the hotel as soon as possible.
“The area where we need to dig is close,” Ava whispered to me.
“How close?”
“See the shadow of this pyramid. It’s within the shadow.” Ava pointed at the pyramid before us.
Sure enough, a long shadow was cast from the pyramid onto the sand. We stepped into the shadow relishing the relief from the sun’s rays.
“Here?” Ayden asked pointing to the ground below our feet.
“Within this area. I’ll know better when we come back tonight when the blood moon is out.”
Blood moon. How could I forget that? Feeling more doubtful than ever, I followed Ava and the rest of our group across the scorching sand back to the van. I couldn’t wait to get to the hotel and have a drink. I had a feeling this was going to be a long night.
My heart thundered heavily in my chest. It was so loud I could hear it. I was sure Amber standing next to me could hear it, too. I tightened the grip on the shovel. Nighttime in the desert isn’t a place anyone wants to be. It was eerie and desolate even with the faint lights emanating from the city a few miles away. The shadows came alive and danced in the moonlight. I heard all kinds of animal calls and the scampering of small feet.
“Ash, are you okay?” Amber whispered as we walked along following Ava.
“As good as anyone could be walking out here at night,” I murmured dragging the shovel behind me.
“Quiet!” Ava hissed stopping to glare at us.
My lungs strained for air as I felt panic surrounding me.
Ava was clearly in control, but the rest of us were hesitant. “Look, we’re close. Just hang in there with me,” she whispered.
As we came around the corner of the pyramid, we came face to face with a sour-faced security guard. “Who are you? What are you doing here so late at night?” The tall, well-built guard asked in heavily accented English. He stared at our shovels which Ayden and I tried to conceal behind our backs. “What is this? Shovels? You cannot dig out here! I will call the police!” His voice rose as he pulled a phone from his pocket.
Quickly, Ava smiled throwing her hair back. “Sir, we have no intention of digging on this sacred ground without permission. Our grandparents visited this place a few years ago and my grandmother lost her wedding ring. I know it’s a long shot and we’ll never find it, but I promised her I would try.” She grinned as she motioned to Amber and Reese behind her back.
So this is what she meant when she said she needed Amber.
“Your grandmother’s ring, you say? How do you expect to find it in the dark in a huge area like this? It’s long gone I’m sure.” The guard slipped his phone back into his pocket.
“I know. It’s just…she was so sad when she lost it. I…I don’t know what to do.” Ava quickly produced some tears.
“I’m sorry to hear that, but I can’t allow you to just dig on this site. Its government protected. Only certain people are allowed to.”
Ava nodded. “I understand. Do you mind if we just look around then with our flashlights? I just feel like I have to at least say I tried for her.”
The guard shrugged and nodded. “If it makes you feel better, that’s fine. You’ll have to leave your shovels over here though.” He gestured to an area near the pyramid entrance.
“Thank you.” Ava slipped something into Amber’s hand before motioning for us to follow her. We walked about 100 yards away from the guard as Amber stayed behind.
“Your party went that way.” The guard motioned to her.
She smiled and slid closer to him. “I know, but I just can’t walk any further. My shoes are difficult to walk in.” She gestured to her boots.
“Those are hiking boots. You should be fine in them.”
Amber batted her eyes at him. She’d managed to pop a few buttons from her blouse pushing her tits against the fabric. He stared down at her. “I just can’t walk anymore today.” As if on cue, Amber collapsed against the guard.
He caught her before she fell to the ground. “Miss, are you okay?”
Her eyes fluttered as she tried to gaze up at him. “I don’t know. I just felt faint for a moment. We’ve been traipsing around here all day.”
“You’re probably not used to this heat. It’s very intense for some people.” The guard helped Amber to her feet.
“I’m okay.” Amber clung to his neck as she tried to steady herself.
“Here, just sit down. I’ll bring you some water.” The guard rushed to his vehicle parked several hundred yards away.
Ava motioned to Amber to follow him.
As I stood watch, Ayden plunged his shovel into the sand.
Ava stood bathed in moonlight as she looked up at the stars.
Sand began to fly as I observed Amber talking with the guard.
“Stop! Not here!” Ava hissed at us.
He stopped shoveling to await her instructions.
“What’s wrong?” I asked feeling annoyed. I thought she said she knew right where to dig.
“This isn’t right. It’s not time yet.”
“How do you know?”
“I just do.” She motioned for us to wrap it up.
Ava, Reese, and Ayden slipped through the darkness back to the van.
I waved at Amber.
She caught my eye and immediately stopped flirting with the guard. She rushed back to us. “What did I do wrong? I was distracting him like you said!” Amber raged at Ava.
“That’s not the issue. It’s not the right time,” Ava replied ominously.
Amber started to argue with her, but I settled her.
We drove back to the hotel in silence. As soon as we got back to the hotel, Ava shut herself into her suite. She didn’t even notice Ayden and Reese as they disappeared into Ayden’s suite.
I was too tired to argue with them as Amber and I left them to go to bed.