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* * * HIEROGLYPHS * * *

Hieroglyphics: the written language of the ancient Egyptians. When most people think of hieroglyphics, they think of the pyramids and the mummified pharaohs laid to rest inside. Indeed, those hieroglyphs were carved into the walls that surrounded the mummy, so that if a curious soul ventured inside, he or she could learn about the life the pharaoh lived.

But, not all that were enshrined were of royal blood. For in the pyramids of Egypt, the rules of hierarchy aren't always followed. They have a mind of their own, and when they wanted someone, nothing, nothing at all, was going to stop them. Each and every last mummy was chosen by the hands of fate to inhabit their tombs. As outlandish as it may sound a modern-day archaeologist from Chicago was chosen to be one of those mummies. I was that ill-fated archaeologist.

Sceptics may scoff, but the proof is on the walls that surrounded me. The hieroglyphs don't lie. For those able to decipher them, they'll learn that my name was Christa Marianne Wilder--a name rather unusual compared to the other mummies. They'll learn that my upbringings were as common as they got: I was just a girl from a blue-collar family in Glen Ellyn--the suburbs. They'll also learn how my intelligence set me above multitudes. Not everyone gets to be valedictorian...

Everything I knew, the hieroglyphs knew as well. My thirst for knowledge and my insatiable curiosity was well documented on those walls. I knew that ever since I was a kit, I wanted to become an archaeologist. The very thought of delving into long-forgotten dungeons and discovering the secrets that lied inside made my blood boil with excitement. And I was willing to lay everything on the line to make those dreams of mine come true.

Once I blossomed into a lovely, young vixen, my tenacity was rewarded with an internship under one of Chicago's greatest history professors: Dr. Jacob Lyons. That in turn opened the door for me to be part of The Field Museum of Natural History's staff. Although the majority of career was spent adding scraps to existing academia, I held out hope that one day, I would make a discovery worthy of my childhood dreams.

My one true love was my work. Many tried, but anyone who tried to woo me quickly learned that I had no time for anything as insignificant and trivial as a significant other. But, that all changed the moment I was introduced a new colleague: a fellow vulpine by the name of Alexander Foxworthy

I was taught that people form their opinions on other people within the first few seconds of knowing them. So when I introduced myself to my new colleague, I made sure that my greeting was warm and cordial, with a smile to boot. That made all the difference in the world. From that very moment, he knew that I was the right vixen for him.

I remember one day, overhearing Alex practicing in the men's room to ask a special girl out--as if I didn't already know whom he had in mind. So, I decided to wait outside for him. A few minutes later, the lovestruck fox figured that he was ready to ask the girl of his dreams out. When he exited to the hallway and saw me standing right outside, he nearly fainted with embarrassment.

"Oh! Christa!" he exclaimed worriedly. "What are you doing here!?"

"Oh, nothing." I replied. "Just passing by. By the way, you have quite the way with words."

"You heard me in there, didn't you?"

"I'm afraid so..."

"Urgh... Well, now that it's already out there, would you, uh, be willing to eat out or catch a movie with me?"

With all of the work that I had to do, I wasn't too keen on the idea of dating. Yet, I didn't have the heart to break his. Those damn puppy-dog eyes were impossible to resist. So, without knowing the ramifications, I found myself saying,

"Uh, sure. Why not? But, no guarantees, alright?"

"Sure! Thank you so much, Christa!"

"You're welcome. But, remember: no guarantees!"

"Roger!"

That weekend, we had our first date. We went out to eat at a cozy, yet pretentious restaurant, not too far from The Loop. I didn't know what to expect going in, but it was the most enjoyable night I had for quite a long time. It was rather nice to slow down for a change. And as our relationship turned intimate, I soon learned how much different and better life could be when you shared a soul with someone. The fox with the puppy-dog eyes... I never would've guessed...

Alex worshipped me. Instead of furthering his own career, he would give most, if not all of his time assisting me with my research projects and papers. It was almost like having a pet. A very overbearing pet. If I didn't care about him as much as I did, there wouldn't be the slightest chance that I would've let him get away with that. But, I did appreciate his help. Marginally.

Alex would also consistently remind me of how he was worried about my welfare. He would say, at least 3 or 4 times per week, "You should really consider taking a break. I wouldn't want you to burn yourself out". At first, I shrugged off any suggestion of taking time off. But, I eventually realized that he was right. Would one vacation be so bad? So, one day, he and I decided to take a week or so off and head out east--to the ocean.

Cape May, New Jersey was our destination. I wasn't much of a swimmer, but it didn't matter. The smell of salt in the air... The warm sun... And the hypnotic sound of the incoming tide... That was more than good enough for me. I spread a towel on the beach and lied down, taking in warm rays of the sun.

"Hey, Christa!" shouted Alex. "What are you doing?"

"Huh? What do you mean?" I replied.

"I mean... If you wanted to take a nap, you could've just stayed home."

"I'm basking in the sun."

"Aw, c'mon! Go for a swim with me!"

"No thank you. I'm fine."

"What. Are you afraid of getting your big, floofy tail wet?"

"Uh, yes, actually. Do you even know much time I put into making my fur nice and soft? Saltwater and sand can't be good for it."

"Nothing wrong with letting your hair down for just one day, is there?"

"I guess not... But, I swear to God, I'll kill you if you try anything funny."

Alex led me to the water. But, I didn't follow him in. Sensing this, he turned around and called out,

"C'mon! You don't know what you're missing!"

I apprehensively dipped my right toe in the water and immediately pulled it out when I felt how frigid the water was. Alex sighed and rolled his eyes. I didn't have to be a stick in the sand! I could be just as fun as anyone. So, without thinking it through, I yelled,

"Innnnncoming!"

And I dove for him, knocking both of us underwater. Once we surfaced, Alex caught his breath and then said,

"Jesus! Have you lost your mind!? I could've drown!"

"Aww... Is the silly foxxo afraid of a little water?" I teased.

Angry, he splashed some water at me. I returned fire. Now smirking, he splashed some more water at me, beginning a duel of epic proportions. Alex was right! It was fun to cut loose! Well... In moderation, that is.

After we had our fun, we decided to dry out on the beach. Together, we watched the waves roll in and out, the seagulls foraging for discarded food and children playing various games both in and out of the water. I soon noticed how Alex was holding my hand and leaning against my body. Although Alex could be pushy and bothersome sometimes, in that moment, I was sincerely thankful that he loved me so. I wouldn't have left his side for the world.

That vacation was truly what the doctor ordered. Because of it, I was able to approach my work with a fresh mind, allowing me to make a particularly stunning breakthrough. I was on the verge of discovering a secondary burial chamber in one of Egypt's pyramids! This was definitely a longshot, but I knew inside that my childhood dreams were about to become tangible.

The museum initially believed that my conjectures was nothing but a big, fat, red herring; that spending even a dime would be money thrown away. But, Alex stood by me and stood firm against the voices of dissent. Dr. Lyons soon chose to support us, and the rest of my team quickly followed. With a respected, and tenured professor backing me, the museum's board of directors had no choice but to fund us.

We were officially greenlighted! All that remained was to set a date for the dig. And then something happened that put these big plans on ice, perhaps indefinitely.

With my stomach now showing a visible bulge, I found myself doing my work at a hurried pace. I knew that in a few more months, my life would be forever changed. I was going to be a mother... I already loved my child more than the world itself, but... What was going to happen to life as I knew it? My mood was rather melancholy in recent days.

While I was typing away at my computer, I heard someone approach me. Based on the cologne he was wearing, I knew right away that it was Alex. I sighed and then asked,

"What is it, Alex?"

"Well... Could you come to the break room for a minute? It's important."

"And, how important is "important?"

"Super duper important! C'mon!!!"

"Alright, alright. I'll go see what's going on."

He led me into the break room. As soon as we walked through the threshold, I could see that there was an unusually large amount of people in there. Before I could ask any questions, Alex got down on one knee and offered me a small, felt box. Inside was a beautiful diamond ring.

"Christa Wilder?" he asked. "Will you marry me?"

Flustered, I had absolutely no idea what to say. I could only think of what he must've sacrificed to make this moment possible. Still staring at the diamond, I uttered,

"Alex... You shouldn't have..."

"Heh... This may sound cliche, but your love means much more to me than material possessions. Don't worry about what I had to do to buy this ring."

I took the ring out of the little box and put it on my finger. I looked into Alex's eyes and finally told him,

"Yes. I will marry you, Alex."

His ice-blue eyes glistened as he desperately tried to hold back tears. I realized then that I had just completed his life--that I had made his dreams come true. For a moment, I thought that my huge, extravagant dreams might've been preventing me from enjoying the simpler joys of life. Even if I was correct about the pyramid, would that in itself complete my life?

At last, I got a reply from Alex. Wiping the tears from his eyes, he whispered to me,

"Thank you..."

A few months later, I found myself looking into a similar set of beautiful eyes; this time in a rich shade of amber-gold. These were eyes of a newly created life: my newborn son. I don't think I ever saw anything as beautiful. And I doubted that anything else could compare. Alex and I decided that he should be named Jamison Oliver Foxworthy, Jamison and Oliver both being the names of close, yet deceased relatives of ours. I don't think I ever felt as happy as I did in that moment...

But, I also knew that my future was uncertain now. Not only did my newfound responsibilities of motherhood jeopardize my career, I knew that if I happened to be wrong about my big theory, I would be finished. My career as an archaeologist and an academic would be over. So, I figured that I was going out with a bang. That our rescheduled dig was going to be my last hurrah.

Whether I liked it or not, time kept marching forward at its usual maddening pace. Each day that passed brought me closer and closer to my big day of excitement and discovery... Or disappointment and stagnation. On the outside, I looked like my usual confident self. But, on the inside, I was completely falling apart. By the time that fateful day finally arrived, I felt rather numb. But, I couldn't get distracted now... I had a job to do.

I approached the mirror in my tent, so I could check my outfit for any flaws. Let's see... Belt... Socks... Collar... Looking good! All that was left was to do now was to clip my ID badge to my shirt pocket. With the fresh lamination gleaming, it read, "C. WILDER, FIELD MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY". I brushed my short, ginger-colored hair out of my face and smiled at my reflection. If only my childhood self could see me now...

I then collected my gear and exited the tent. I worked my way through the camp and approached a battered, old pickup truck--which was unfortunately my chariot to my date with destiny. When I saw that our handyman, Beau Heffner, fiddling with the engine, my heart sank. I asked,

"Something wrong with the truck?"

After a few more twists of a socket wrench, he replied,

"Just fixing 'er up. No biggy."

"Oh, good."

A few moments later, he let out a gasp and shouted,

"Aw, crud! Not good!"

"What's wrong!?"

"The cylinder head's warped! This baby's goin' nowhere!"

"What!? No!"

He then removed his head from the engine bay, smirking.

"Just pullin' your leg." he replied. "Nothin' worse than a dead battery. Would you be a dear and get me some jumper cables?"

"Sure..."

As I was searching for the jumper cables, I bumped into the professor.

"Hello, Christa. Are you feeling nervous?" he asked.

"Nope." I replied. "I'm 90% sure that the secondary burial chamber's there. Vulpines have good instincts..."

"But, what about the other 10%? If you're wrong about this..."

"Please! Now's not the time for doubt. By the way, where's the jumper cables?"

"Uh... Try looking in the RV. I think I have a set of jumper cables stored in there somewhere..."

"Thanks!"

As I was about to leave, he stopped me and said,

"I hope that today's the day your dreams come true."

"Me too..."

A few minutes later, I returned to Beau with the jumper cables.

"Thanks, sweetheart!" he said.

Once got the cables hooked up to the engine, he asked me,

"Hey, sweetheart? Want to turn 'er over for me."

"Uh, sure, I guess."

I got in the truck, which smelled old and musty inside. Left foot on the clutch... Right hand on the ignition... And voila! The truck wheezed and growled to life! I got out, and he said,

"Thanks ma'am."

I nodded in return. I had no idea how such a redneck of a cow came to work with intellectuals like us... But, thinking about that would be a waste of time.

Once I finished the tedious task of loading the truck, I bumped into Alex. He was excited, yet nervous at the same time, for he knew that the pivotal moment of my career was just a few moments away. Playing it cool, he said,

"So, this is it."

"Yup." I replied.

"You nervous?"

"A little. But, the word "failure" isn't in my vocabulary."

"Do I detect a hint of arrogance?"

"Arrogance...? Hmph... I'll tell you, though. An archaeologist must be faithful in her work. For if she doesn't believe in herself, who can?"

"Point taken."

Just then, Alex's walkie-talkie went off.

"Yeah? Hello...? Roger!"

He then turned to me, face beaming, and shouted,

"We're cleared for takeoff! It's showtime, baby!"

As he reached for the driver side's door handle, I asked,

"Wait. Can I drive?"

"Drive? Do you even know how to drive a stick?"

"Are you kidding? I learned how to drive with a stick! I can drive one in my sleep!"

He let go of the door handle and reluctantly replied,

"Alright..."

We got in, and I fired up the engine again. As I was about to put the truck in gear, he warned,

"Just take it easy, ok?"

I slammed the petal to the floor and left the camp behind in a cloud of dust.

"Christa!!!" he screamed.

"Better buckle up, loverboy!" I replied.

I cut through the route to the pyramid like a knife through butter. We were the first ones to arrive at the pyramid entrance. Feeling queasy from my driving, Alex literally fell out of the truck and didn't have the stamina to get back to his feet. I went around to the other side of the truck to help him up. As I was lifting him from the ground he complained,

"You know, these pyramids are thousands of years old! It's not like they were going anywhere! Besides, I think you might've wrecked the truck."

Noticing a plume of steam rising from the truck's grille, I stated,

"It was a piece of junk, anyway."

A few minutes later, the rest of the expedition team arrived at the pyramid's entrance. There were three teams of five: one from Nevada, one from the British Isles, and one from Chicago--my own team. Clearly, I didn't know everyone there, but they were all scientists--and I would trust each and every one of them with my life.

Before we went inside, the professor gave us this warning:

"Now, this isn't a new site; most of the dangers have already been identified by past explorers. But, be careful, especially if that hidden tomb happens to be found. Places that are saturated with an atmosphere of death could have dark magic afoot. Never, and I mean never, go off anywhere on your own. Have I made myself clear?"

The group chanted,

"Yes!"

"Good, now let us make discoveries to be eternally proud of! Let us march!"

As we were heading inside, the professor stopped me and said,

"I specifically directed my warning towards you, Christa. I know that today's an exciting day for you, but please don't do anything rash. Remember what I said about dark magic..."

"Dark magic?" I replied. "You're joking, right?"

The professor then reached down his shirt and pulled out a necklace, revealing a golden cross.

"There is only so much that science can explain, Christa. What do you think causes the sun to rise each and every morning? What do you think blessed us all with the gift of life?"

"I don't know... God?"

"You're missing the point. What I'm trying to say is that things that completely defy all sense of logic--and reason--can happen. If you see something that doesn't look right, don't investigate. Come find me immediately. Have I made myself clear?"

"With all due respect, sir, I'm not a little girl. I can take care of myself. And, what, might I ask, could even happen to me in there?"

"Oh, Christa..."

"No hard, feelings, sir. Let's go inside."

For the next few hours, nothing new was found by me nor my colleagues. After searching these dark corridors from stem to stern, we had to regroup and think outside of the box. I figured that inconsistencies in the walls might divulge the location of the secondary, unused tomb. While I was going over the walls with a microscope, figuratively speaking, I heard Alex ask,

"How do you know this isn't a waste of time?"

"A waste of time?" I replied. "There's no such thing, especially when someone else is paying for it."

"But, that's my point. What if you don't find anything?"

"That's impossible. The pharaoh that had this pyramid was notoriously fickle and choosy. There's no chance that his underlings thought he would've been satisfied by the first burial chamber."

"But..."

"Enough. I can't concentrate on my work and make conversation at the same time."

"Fine. I'm sorry..."

Thankfully, I only had to endure a few more minutes of awkward silence until something caught my eye.

"Hey, Alex!" I shouted. "Come look at this!"

He stopped in his tracks and came closer to me. Not knowing what I wanted him to see, he asked,

"What. What is it?"

"Something about this wall looks fishy. Look how it doesn't quite match up with the rest of the tomb's corridors."

"Yeah? So?"

"The burial chamber... I think it's behind this wall."

"Are you certain?"

"I'm not certain! I'm positive!"

"Wait... Doesn't that mean exactly the same thing?"

I then removed a pickaxe from my supply bag.

"Christa! Wait! Don't damage the..."

"Relax! I know what I'm doing."

I swung the pickaxe at the wall as hard as I could. To both of our amazement, it left a gaping hole, filled with inky darkness. There was definitely something beyond there. Excitement coursing through my veins, I shouted,

"Help me break the rest of the wall!"

Alex grabbed his pickaxe, and we swung away at the false wall until a corridor revealed itself to us. I stared at the dark hallway all starry-eyed. The moment I've dreamed of since kindergarten was finally about to happen! Once I collected myself, I excitedly shouted,

"C'mon! Let's go!"

"I don't know..." he responded. "Maybe there was a reason why the chamber was sealed."

"Last chance, Alex I'm going in with or without you."

"Are you crazy!? The professor told us to not go off anywhere on our own, especially to an unexplored area of the crypt. Look. I'll go get the professor, and then we can all see what's on the other end of the hallway. You can hang on for just a few minutes, right?"

"Sure, why not?"

Alex walked off. Noticing how I wasn't following him, he stopped and asked,

"Aren't you coming?"

"Nah. I'll be fine right here. Go get Dr. Lyons. It won't be a moment too soon!"

"Alright, then. And, whatever you do, don't go inside that hallway. I'll be right back."

At first, I did as I was told, and waited for Alex to return with Dr. Lyons. But, seeing that long, dark hallway made me feel itchy all over. Something big, no huge, had to be down there, waiting to be discovered! I impatiently glanced at my walkie-talkie, which only gave me a display of the selected channel. Wanting to know where Alex was, I pushed the button on the side of the device and asked,

"Hello? Alex? This is Christa. Have you found Dr. Lyons yet?"

Dead air.

"Hello??? Alex??? Please respond!"

More dead air.

"For crying out loud! Respond already!!!"

Three strikes, and I was out of patience. Frustrated, I forcefully clipped my walkie-talkie back to my belt, and the clip snapped right off. The walkie-talkie hit the ground and all of the circuitry popped out of its case.

"Cheap piece of shit..." I muttered.

Now without the means to communicate with my team, the minutes really started to drag on. After spending what felt like a few hours staring longingly down that hallway, I gave into my temptation and decided to investigate the new area of the tomb. What was the worst that could happen?

I illuminated my flashlight and slowly disappeared down that long, dark hallway. I felt a little guilty for breaking my promise to Alex, but I knew that he'd still be there when I was done exploring the lost tomb. He'd get over it quickly.

Once I reached the end of the long hallway, I gave the room a quick look-around. I grinned when I found some lantern oil in an old vase and poured it into hanging altars around the room. I used one of my emergency flares to light the altars, and within seconds, the tomb was filled with a dim, scarlet-colored light.

When I saw that the walls were completely blank, I was puzzled. The lack of hieroglyphs weren't surprising to me, since this area was abandoned before construction finished. But there were absolutely no hieroglyphs at all in what appeared to be a completed tomb. At the same time. Strange...

Then, I noticed how the sarcophagus was closed. I had no idea why, since nothing was buried here. Curious, I took my pickaxe and pried the stone lid from the sarcophagus, and it landed on the ground with a loud, stony clack.

I peered inside, and once again, I was mystified. The sarcophagus was empty, save for some sort of black, rubber sheet lining the bottom. I began to run through ideas of this strange setup of this room, blissfully unaware of its sinister, malevolent meaning. One moment, I was queen of the world, and the next...

My thoughts scattered as I felt something wind tightly around my left leg. Startled, I turned around. I gasped when I saw that some sort string was wrapped around my leg, all the way up my thigh. With my leg immobilized, mummies' bandages burst out of the ground and completely wrapped that leg.

Realizing that my right hand being restrained by the same sort of strings as my leg, I thought,

"What the hell is going on!?"

And the bandages got my right hand, encasing my entire arm up to the shoulder.

"How!? How is this possible!?" I thought.

There wasn't time to think! I had to get out of there! But, before I could limp away from the sarcophagus, I felt something yanking on my left arm. The strings got my other hand! It was as though I was some insignificant little insect being slowly restrained by a ravenous and sadistic spider--one that wanted to give its victim the illusion that it could escape.

Noticing how the bandages were attached to the inside of the sarcophagus, I tried, in vain, to pull myself away. Although I used every last ounce of power that I could muster, I just wasn't strong enough to break free of the binds and the invisible menace that was trying to get me.

I then panicked when I realized that my right leg--my last free appendage--was swiftly wrapped by strings, and then the bandages. With all four of my limbs rendered useless, I was forcefully pulled inside the sarcophagus. And there was nothing I could do about it except utter a weak scream.

As soon as my body landed inside the sarcophagus, the bandages went right back to work. In seconds, my entire torso was covered by the off-white pallor of the bandages. My legs were then bound together, and my arms to my chest. Looking more and more like a proper mummy, I now realized that my life was in mortal danger. Crying from the sheer terror I felt, I wailed,

"Help!!!"

It was about then when I noticed the walls glowing with a soft, golden light. It was a magnificent sight to behold--one that I wasn't quite able to enjoy due to the peril I faced.

The bandages were almost done. With my muzzle now tied shut, I could do absolutely nothing as the bandages descended over my face, masking my terrified expression. With only my right eye left exposed, I saw how the golden light faded, leaving a complete set of hieroglyphs on the wall. And then that last scrap of my bare flesh was covered, completing the mummy.

With my entire body covered from head to toe by the bandages, I squirmed violently, hoping it would do something--anything. Clearly, additional measures had to be taken to protect the pyramid's valuable treasure.

I felt a tightening sensation at my feet that gradually spread upward throughout my body. At first, I didn't know what could've been happening in addition to everything else. But then it hit me: it was that rubber skin--the one lining the sarcophagus! Feeling the tightness of the rubber, and the tying of the seams closing in, I broke out into a cold sweat. I was rapidly running out of options--and hope. And once I felt final seams around my muzzle tie themselves, I realized that my only option was to await the hands of death--a truly horrible thing to have to accept.

I was alone and terrified, and enveloped in an inescapable darkness. There's a popular notion that right before someone dies, their entire life "flashes before the eyes". But, I could only think about my vacation to Cape May and how Alex and I got drunk off of the sights and sounds of the ocean... And the deep love we felt for each other. And my beautiful son... Now he was forced to grow up without the love that only a mother can give. I now had an eternity to reflect on my folly... But, I already knew that I never going to be able to forgive myself for ruining the lives of those closest to me...

Once Alex finally returned to the tomb entrance with the professor, his stomach turned into a ball of ice. Knowing exactly where I was, Alex ran as fast as his legs could carry him down that long, dark hallway. He arrived to an empty room, filled with a chilly, ominous silence. Panicked, he called out,

"Christa!"

Silence.

"Christa! Now's no time for jokes! Please show yourself!"

Still no reply. As the professor finally caught up to him, Alex looked around the room for any sign of my presence. He saw my supply bag and pickaxe, resting against a pillar. He then found my ID badge, which broke off of my shirt during my futile struggle. Alex looked at that glossy piece of plastic as if it was a ghost--something must've gone terribly wrong.

While Alex searched for my belongings, Dr. Lyons had a chance to make a rough decipher of the hieroglyphs on the walls. As Alex was about to approach my coffin, the professor grimly called,

"Alexander..."

He stopped and turned around. He asked,

"What is it?"

"These hieroglyphs... They talk of a young vixen from a faraway land, with an unquenchable thirst for knowledge... And how the pyramid gave her this tomb as a reward for discovering it."

Alex turned back to the sarcophagus and looked inside. The mummy was an adult female, judging by the shape of its body, and by the length of its snout, a canine. But, it couldn't be Christa lying underneath that rubber cocoon. Not her! Anyone but her!

Arms trembling, he removed his pocket knife and clipped the seams around the mummy's face and then sliced the bandages open. Once the vixen's face was revealed, a feeling of intense, unalloyed anguish swept over Alex, only to worsen when the bandages masked her face once again and the rubber re-sealed itself. And when Alex noticed the coffin lid closing, he quickly moved his hands out of the way to prevent harm to himself.

No amount of prying got the lid to open again; the love of Alexander Foxworthy's life would forever be out of his reach. And the thought of never hearing her joyful, sincere laugh or seeing her deep, mahogany-colored eyes burn with excitement ever again was just too much for him to bear. He simply couldn't imagine life without her now...

While Dr. Lyons was saddened by my fate, he knew that there was nothing that he could've done to stop it. He knew that there was no way that a mere mortal could've interfered with the plans of a higher power. Looking at how Alex was gently cradling the lifeless husk that used to be his lover, the professor found himself uttering,

"The pyramids cannot exist without a mummy... And an archaeologist cannot exist without the pyramids."

No words were truer. For, without me, this tomb would be without a mummy. And how would I have been lured to my fate, had the pyramids not existed? Indeed, if one wished to learn how destinies intertwined, they need look no further than the hieroglyphs on these walls--the very hieroglyphs that proved how a passionate archaeologist named Christa Wilder once walked this earth, unaware that her dreams had already come true...

* * * THE END * * *