#The Mummy 2017 | Explore Tumblr posts and blogs

lucifer-is-a-bag-of-dicks · 1 year ago

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I have a really weird hyperfixation on The Mummy, but not the Boris Karloff or the Brendan Fraser versions, those would be completely acceptable movies to enjoy (and I do so enjoy them)

but I cannot stop thinking about The Mummy 2017 starring Tom Cruise and it's a problem

I love bad movies, I love them so much, I own so many b-grade horror flicks, old classic films with terrible acting and awful special effects, I love absolutely shit tier cgi, I love Ed Wood disasters, I love cult classic bad movies, I love really weird niche bad movies

but this one is like, such a special kind of bad movie, I can't really put my finger on exactly why though?? but I am damn well going to try, in this essay I will-

they fucked up from the get go by casting Tom Cruise, like this movie is sometimes deliberately goofy, but a lot of the time it takes itself very seriously, SO seriously, and I cannot physically take Tom Cruise seriously, he turns every single scene he is in into a joke by virtue of his mere presence

but when they have actual jokes, they are so not funny they cycle back around to being really fucking funny

I am watching this movie fucking whiff every god damn beat it tries to hit and it does it so beautifully it's a god damn marvel

Russel Crowe as Jekyll and Hyde??? I actually somehow missed the part where he introduced himself as Jekyll on my first watch, so the Hyde reveal was a true surprise to me and I was very genuinely disappointed on my second watch when I realised it was not supposed to be a surprise, because that was a really fun reveal

and Russel Crowe seemed to be having an absolute fucking whale of a time as Hyde, I loved every moment he was on screen with his stupid cockney accent, I would watch his movie, I know it would be bad, that's why I want it, because there is nothing quite like a bad movie with an actor still giving 110%

and the mummy character herself? she was supposed to be pharaoh and then her dad had a son with someone else and now this baby is jumping all up in her place like, okay baby murder might not be the coolest thing in the world but like, she's got ambition, she's getting shit done, she's hustlin' like go get it girl I'm rooting for you babe

also when she sucked the life out of some dude and turned him into a shrivelled husk my roommate said 'she could do that to me and I'd thank her' so she's got that going for her, like girl's a half rotten corpse wrapped in decaying bandages and she still slays

and then we have the completely ridiculous female rivalry??? like this mummy could kill this woman SO MANY TIMES and just doesn't???? for reasons?????? like she could literally kill her in an instant at any moment but no they gotta girl fight for a bit because Tom Cruise is at stake and why wouldn't two hot women fight over Tom Cruise right?? right????

nevermind the fact that he has been practically nothing but ✨The WooOOOOooorst✨ to her the WHOLE first act of the movie, oh and uh let's not forget the 'duh huh guy bad at sex' jokes that they just could not put down for a good chunk there (but wait! uh he's good at sex actually she's just being mean because he hurt her feewings)

like, this movie hits every fucking branch of the bad trope tree, this movie is playing bad trope bingo, it is collecting bad tropes like pokemon, it has to have them all

also a really bizarre ongoing American Werewolf in London reference?? it was not unwelcome, it was some of the best comedy in the movie (that is an easy bar to jump btw), the actor had some great wry line delivery, I enjoyed it

I think the biggest issue, and the reason I can't stop chewing on this magnum opus of garbage, is that it reminds me of the League of Extraordinary Gentlemen, in several different ways

The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen also happens to be another of my favourite bad movies, but it falls into the particular genre of bad movies, a fucking cool as shit concept, and some really cool as shit visuals, and some very cool as shit characters, but an absolute swing and a miss on the delivery

The Mummy 2017 starring Tom Cruise has That Vibe to me, there is some cool shit here, we know this because the previous version utilised that cool shit very very well, but this one was the only one who made the villain a woman pursuing a man, and not just any man, the ✨worst✨ man, you did not feel very sorry for this guy, honestly watching him go through the constant torment of being stalked by a bodacious supernatural babe who put a sexy little curse kiss on him was fun, he's a sopping wet little meow meow and I wanna see him thrown at a wall, and I get to see that several times, and it is a delight every time

in the previous movie the mummy went after really likeable characters, people who were just generally nice, a roguish scamp with a heart of gold, or just really hot, seriously that cast was beyond smoking what the fu

I did not like Tom Cruise as a character, and to be fair that was the point, he was supposed to have a redemption arc, the story and his sacrifice at the end were supposed to be about him becoming a better person

but he fucking doesn't??? it's like 'oh boo hoo I have made this great sacrifice and now I am a monster and I did it to save my lady love's life even though we had zero chemistry and I was just ✨The Worst✨ to her' and then he fucks off to go and do the exact same shit he was doing at the start of the movie, fucking around in the desert looking for boy adventures

it was a great ending and I loved it because it was so dumb and also he abandoned the woman he brought back to life to go fuck around with his bro who he also brought back to life, I love that for them, go have some boy adventures you madlads you sure didn't earn it but don't let that stop you, just heterosexually ride off into the sunset together it's fine, she is literally better off without you in every way you made the Correct Decision

and then there's these moments, moments that are treated like big moments, and could be really cool moments, but just don't fucking land

there's a part where Tom Cruise starts talking to the mummy in her own language (they got a psychic bond and shit which is it's own cool little thing we'll get back to that) and everyone is watching like 😮 oooh didn't know he could do that wow there really IS magic bond between them oooh, and it's like a Big Deal and Very Cool

but Tom Cruise just sounds like he's speaking gibberish with a mouth full of novocain???? it doesn't sound cool at all??? it sounds really goofy???? I half expected him to start drooling on himself

then there is the ending, leading lady dies, he completes the ritual to invite the god of death into his body (a fucking baller move honestly), he fights it for control as the mummy attempts to sway the beast inside him to her side, but when he sees his beloved laying dead he fights her off, using his newfound powers to defeat her, and then weeps over his lady love begging for her to wake up

and then as he lets the god inside him loose, a terrible monstrous visage takes him over as he bloodcurdlingly screams in her face WAKE UP!!! and the power within him that he doesn't understand and can barely control listens

she wakes, and sees him hiding in the shadows, unable to face her now that he has become something terrifying

at least that's what I think they thought the scene would be like, it was a little more like, some crappy flashback and speed up effects as he becomes the god of death, a really pathetic and uneventful 1 minute of him fighting for control, after which he has a really pathetic and uneventful 1 minute of fighting the mummy, and then as he screams for his lady love to wake up, we get a shot of some absolutely fucking god awful cgi and the most uninspired monster face I've ever seen

I mean, half seen, it was a very dark shot, in fact most of the movie is shot in the dark, a very blatant attempt to obscure the shithouse cgi

except in one scene where it kinda fucking slapped, where the mummy sucks the life out of some guys, and then reanimates their husky corpses as thralls, the way they stand like jerky unstable puppets being dragged to their feet by unseen strings was actually pretty fuckin' dope and the dark scene obscured the details in just the right amount to make their uncannily decrepit silhouettes appear super creepy

this is the only time that trick works, every other time I just want someone to turn on a fucking torch so I can actually see what the hell's going on

okay now let's get back to that psychic bond thing

our main character was chosen not because he was a descendant, or a reincarnation, or just Looked Real Pretty (although I think she did have the hots for him a leeetle bit which is like, girl raise your standards, it's Tom Cruise, he's about as sexually appealing as a wet potato, you can do better), he had absolutely zero in common with the mummy's original choice for this ritual, in fact that guy was not significant to the story at all, I think he was just some dude who was down for some ritual shenanigans 'cause a hot lady asked him (also he was hotter than Tom Cruise so this is a significant downgrade, I feel like if she had the opportunity to shop around a little she might have picked better)

so Tom Cruise wasn't chosen for any reason other than that he's the one who released her, and she sees this as her way of saying thank you, and I love that, it's real sweet, would love if I opened a door for someone and they repaid me by summoning a god of death into my body, that really shows they care you know?

she gives him a little hallucinatory kissy kiss and then manages to follow him everywhere, while also compelling him to follow her without him really knowing it, there is a very cool part where he's trying to drive away from her, but somehow ends up driving in a circle and falling right back into her clutches, that was cool, that had the potential to even be super fucking creepy, she can manipulate him without him even realising, it doesn't matter where he goes or what he does, he will always somehow find his way back to her, that's so good, I love that

and then back to the League of Extraordinary Gentlemen comparisons

The Mummy 2017 starring Tom Cruise established a concept of an organisation who hunt down, collect, and research supernatural phenomena, with a leader (Jekyll) who also has ulterior motives and is actually not really the good guy, this movie was also supposed to be part of a monster movie cinematic universe, so this really could have become like, the Universal Monster Movie equivalent of the League of Extraordinary Gentlemen, and I would have watched the hell out of that, and I am crushed that this movie bombed so bad and ruined the whole plan

like could you imagine a whole series as bad as this movie? all culminating together as the most god awful Avengers style team up? fuuuck I want to live in that universe so bad

I think my fascination comes from this ungodly mix of real pure potential, those fleeting super fucking cool moments and concepts that, if given to literally any other actor, could have really been something, and the just pure insane failure to make literally anything in this plot successfully land a hit

somehow this movie felt like the completely dead and soulless corpse of a cheap party clown, while the ghost of something incredible flickered in its eyes

#the mummy 2017 #movie breakdown #I have Things To Say

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angel-0f-verdun · 2 months ago

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18 Between Darkness & Light

Previous Chapter

A surge of energy hit me as my perspective immediately changed. I was looking through my own eyes in my body again. I smiled as I heard Ahmanet let out a scream of despair that rang through my brain. I watched Evy’s face contort into confusion as she looked at me, she abruptly brushed off the confusion distracted by the plane in the pale blue sky. It had taken a steep dive as a sand wall took them out of the air. She then took action grabbing Imhotep’s face and pulling him to her in a harsh kiss, she turned his body around to remove his eyeline from the plane. I understood the sentiment and applauded her inwardly for distracting him, hopefully, the plane would be able to recover. I thought through my plan of action, deciding not to give away the fact that I was back in control to Imhotep. It would make things easier in the long run. I watched frozen to where I stood as the plane’s engine sputtered and the cloud of sand dissipated into nothing. The plane disappeared behind a dune, an explosion following, my heart dropped as I realized who might be on that plane. Imhotep pushed forward into the City of the Dead, my legs following without instruction. At that moment I realized I wasn’t completely in control of my actions. Ahmanet still had some sort of control, how much though, I wasn’t sure.

“I loved the whole sand wall trick, it was beautiful… ” Beni uttered trying to please Imhotep, we just continued past him, a guttural growl settling in my throat.

“Bastard.” I heard him say under his breath. We walked through another entrance that we hadn’t previously known about into Hamunaptra. I wasn’t surprised though this area was massive, so much left unexplored.

“Keep moving,” Beni said as he pushed Evy with his pistol. My anger for him flared up instantly and Ahmanet loosened her control not caring what happened to Imhotep's slave. I seamlessly retrieved my dagger from my boot as I stalked up to him. Grabbing his shoulder to hold him in place, I pushed him against the wall with a strength that cracked the wall behind him. I drug my blade across his throat, warm blood bursting from the wound, landing on my clothes and face. Ahmanet moved my head to look at Imhotep, he shrugged, continuing down the stairs. I could feel Ahmanet reveling in the easy kill. I let go of Beni’s now lifeless body watching as it fell to the ground. Evy was stunned into silence unsure of what to do or say. I went to wipe the blood from my face, but Ahmanet stopped me, smiling at Evy instead causing her eyes to widen in fear. I could tell she was conflicted by this turn of events.

I heard a gunshot and I knew that Rick, Ardeth, and Jonathan were not too far behind us now… Alive.

“O’Connell” Evy breathed out. Imhotep cleared his throat waiting for me to stand beside him. When in position he blew a handful of sand at the hieroglyphics covering the wall.

“Shatay wapay ku ra eck” He mumbled the spell as I watched as the priests that had been chiseled into the wall started to move and crack their way out of their places.

“Bembridge scholars never wrote about this.” Evy interrupted my thoughts as she started to back away from the wall, the priests moving to kneel before Imhotep.

“Kill them, and wake the others,” Imhotep said to the now fully-bodied priests that stood before us. They hobbled off immediately to fulfill their master’s wish.

“Why don’t you go with them Ahmanet? Terrorize the tourists.” Imhotep ordered, I felt my face twist into a wicked smile as she nodded and we walked away from the scene before us leaving Imhotep and Evy alone. I easily traversed the passageways, my eyes adjusting to the darkness surrounding me. Ahmanet used her skills to keep me light on my feet toward my brother and the others. I climbed up to a ledge watching the three traverse through the treasure room, crouching down waiting for the opportune moment to strike as I watched the three shoot the mummies that Imhotep had sent popping out of the sand below them. I followed them down the corridor that my family had retreated through, on the path to the Horus statue.

“Hello, Horus old boy!” Jonathan greeted the statue with reverence. I watched closely, my head cocked to the side curiously as Rick lit a match on Ardeth’s coarse facial hair.

“Time to close the door,” Rick said as he lit the wick of the dynamite throwing it into the passageway destroying their way into the treasure room. I settled easily at the top of the statue crouching down. I felt the bloodlust creep up suddenly as Ahmanet plotted. I watched as the carnage slowed and wondered why she hadn’t made her attack just yet.

“Patience and you will be rewarded. It’ll feel better in front of an audience.” Ahmanet spoke to me almost purring with excitement, knowing exactly what I was thinking.

“Damn, these guys just don’t quit, do they?” Rick said to the other two as he attempted to help Jon get the Book of the Living out from the bottom of the statue.

“Keep digging,” Ardeth told them as he racked the shotgun heading toward the opposite passageway that the groaning was coming from, I watched as he ran out of ammunition after just a few shots, the click of the gun echoing through the small room.

“The Book of Amun-Ra” Jonathan uttered out as he unwrapped the cloth from the golden book.

“Save the girl. Kill the creature.” Ardeth ordered them as he ran forward into the passageway that was littered with Imhoteps priests. Rick lit another match on his own face and then another stick of dynamite. “What are you waiting for? Get out! Get out!” Ardeth yelled. I watched as Rick threw the dynamite into the adjacent area next to the tunnel to blast the remnants of the wall onto the mummies that plagued Ardeth’s escape. I watched with bated breath as I tried to push the thoughts of my husband being dead out of my mind. There was still work to be done. Immediately, a wave of contentment washed over me as I was pushed back from my present thoughts back to the window of watching my movements. Ahmanet took over as she heard the emotions running through me, she moved us swiftly through the cracks and hidden passageways back to Imhotep and Evy.

“I found it Evy, I found it!” Jonathan yelled, distracting Imhotep from stabbing Evy with an ornate-looking knife. This gave me the opportunity to move towards Rick who was stealthily grabbing a sword from a statue.

“The Book of Amun Ra” Imhotep uttered as I rapidly scaled down to the ground from the ledge where I had been watching the whole scene unfold.

“Shut up and get me off here Jonathan,” Evy begged him as he started down the stairs toward her. "Open the book, Jonathan. It's the only way to kill him. You have to open the book and find the inscription." She continued to instruct him. "Well, l can't open it! It’s locked or something... We need the key, Evy!" Jonathan realized almost immediately. "It's inside his robes,” Evy said, answering his question as I watched Rick free one of Evy’s wrists from the shackles that bound her to the table near Anck-su-naum. Ahmanet walked me forward with a flick of her wrist, the mummies that were surrounding the table disintegrated into nothing, leaving just her and Rick. I watched as his face switched to confusion, looking towards me.

“Eris?” He asked curiously, seeing the blood that riddled my body. I advanced on him with the dagger of Set in my hand. He blocked efficiently as I made a swift jab toward him. I was proud of him for deflecting the move since swords were not his chosen weapon.

“There are worse fates than death.” Ahmanet growled out, as my body stalked toward him, my eyes now doubled and golden. I lunge my knife low towards Rick’s abdomen, he blocked it with the hilt of his sword, pressing it against my forearm in an attempt to disarm me. I moved fast, jabbing the knife toward his face, he abruptly defended by swatting my arm out of the way. I bring my unarmed hand up to deflect his swing at my face, switching the knife to my left hand, keeping my eyes on him as I go. His instant reaction was surprise that I had switched hands that fast, I felt his hand grip my right wrist. I twirled backward away from him and stopped mid spin coming back toward him, slashing at his chest with the dagger in my non-dominant hand. He moved away fast, easily deflecting the move as I went in for another downward stab at his face, he blocked with his sword and twirled my dagger out of the way once again, moving the blades downward away from us so as not to cause any real harm. I could feel the anger seething from Ahmanet as she grabbed the hilt of his sword moving to disarm him. I took another downward jab at my brother, only to be surprised by another quick parry, stopping me with his forearm. We locked eyes, my hand moving to his chest, pushing him away from me with a supernatural force toward a wall where he fell, coughing up a bit of blood, attempting to catch his breath. I closed the difference between us easily, as I grabbed ahold of his shoulder holsters, throwing him on the ground and rapidly moving on top of him.

I reared up holding the dagger, I knew this was the time to fight back. With a great effort, I pushed forward into the forefront of my brain. Ahmanet did not expect the sudden switch as I hastily took over, stronger this time. While I kept her at bay I watched Rick’s eyes filled with distress. It was either me or him and I knew exactly what I would rather the outcome be. Me. As I struggled against Ahmanets hold on me, I felt the jagged edge of the dagger of Set enter my stomach, a gasp leaving my mouth as Ahmanet started to realize what had happened.

“No! You fool, you have no idea what you have now unleashed.” She spoke in my head, her power and voice fading away into nothing.

“Eris!” Rick yelled out catching my shoulders as I fell toward him. He moved me to the side, slipping out from underneath me. He held my head watching my flickering eyes, I could see the betrayal flashing through him as he debated what to do, looking at the dagger of Set and back to my face. I could tell Rick was fighting with his emotions, knowing he needed to go to Evy. I nodded urging him to go to her instead. He moved away from me slowly, laying me on the sand as he went to Evy releasing her from the table. My breathing slowed as my vision started to blacken at the edges. The darkness was pulling me away and I welcomed it, I yearned for it now, it didn’t matter that I was leaving my brother and husband behind. I knew that it would protect me.

I could sense a being with me, as my family faded from view. I knew exactly who it was this time though, Set. I watched as he materialized in front of me in his jackal form.

“This is not what I expected from you, Eris.” I could hear his voice projecting from the ether.

“Well, I’ve been known to keep the supernatural community on its toes.” I brushed off the awkward comment with an awkward reply.

“I meant that it was a selfless act that not many people would have made especially with the burden that is Ahmanet.” Set explained.

“Would you have preferred a different outcome?” I asked suspiciously.

“No I wouldn’t because I know how much losing your brother would completely destroy you. But I have a proposition for you.” He started as he walked up to me in the dark room. I groaned, not really willing to hear it, but met his eyes anyway asking him to continue.

“And that is?” I asked him giving him what he wanted, taking the bait he had laid so easily.

“You let me be a constant in your mind, not controlling like Ahmanet. But a sort of conscience.” I listened to his words that were swirling around in my head. I couldn’t imagine another Ahmanet experience.

“And who’s to say that you’ll keep your word?” I asked him skeptically.

“My brother,” he started before I saw a large falcon appear and land on Set’s shoulder. I could feel my breath leave my lungs.

“Horus?” I immediately knew my answer as I watched the falcon twitch its head toward me in a nod.

“It’s no surprise that we have had our troubles in the past…” Set started as the falcon screeched agreeing with him.

“Since then we have made amends. Horus has always been the lighter side of our brotherly rivalry, if you do not trust me then he would be the one to trust.” I slowly nodded,

“And if I refuse?” I asked curiously, knowing the answer wouldn’t be what I wanted.

“You will die, and I would hate to see that. You have so much more life to live and without your family and new husband…” He confirmed what I was thinking. It was a difficult decision to make, and I just wanted to die. Sensing that I wasn’t going to agree he let me view what was happening now in the room. "Keep him busy," Evy yelled to Rick as Imhotep threw him away toward a wall.

"No problem," Rick uttered, his face in the sand, catching his breath. As Rick got up, Imhotep smacked him across the room again, where Rick fell with a grunt. Imhotep strode up to him, closing the distance between them, lifting Rick into the air a hand around his throat.

“Now it’s your turn,” He says to Rick, his intentions to kill him clear.

"Hurry, Evy! Hurry!" Jon exclaimed as he watched Rick turn blue from Imhotep choking him. "You're not helping," Evy said in a singsong voice as she flipped the heavy pages of the book of Amun Ra in Jonathan’s hands. "Oh! I’ve got it." Evy yelled out in relief and then proceeded to chant "Kadeesh mal. Kadeesh mal. Pared oos. Pared oos." A transparent blue carriage materialized out of thin air, carrying Imhotep's immortal soul back to the underworld, he released Rick from his grip running after the carriage up the steps as it disappeared. Rick stood back up picking up his sword after rolling over a stone back toward Evy and Jon. "l thought you said it was gonna kill him!" Rick said annoyed as he pointed his sword at Imhotep's stomach. Imhotep advanced on him, running himself through the blade.

"He's mortal," Evy explained as Imhotep reached down to touch the blood, looking at it curiously. He brought his fingers up to view the crimson liquid, stumbling backward into the pool of skeletal remains holding his wound and muttering as he decomposed in front of their eyes.

“Death is only the beginning,” Evy translated what Imhotep said for the others.

“Better make a decision quickly,” Set said to me as if he knew what would be coming next. I huffed as I knew the outcome all too well, I was fucked either way. My brain worked fast as I continued to debate the decision. I knew one thing, I wasn’t ready to die.

“Alright, fine. Yes, just no possession.” I uttered as I reached my hand toward him in agreement, feeling as if I’d made a deal with the devil.

“Deal.” He said as he shook my hand, I gasped awake from my position on the ground immediately attracting the attention of Evy, Rick, and Jon.

“Eris?!” Rick gasped out as he slid up on his knees next to me. I sat up pulling the dagger from my stomach, the ruby turned black disintegrating into dust. I clutched onto the dagger putting it in my pack before looking down at my arms to see the Sumerian-translated Book of the Dead markings that had graced my arms for so long were now gone. My original Set tattoo with the pyramid only remained.

“Yeah… It’s me.” I sighed out in relief as I looked over to Evy and Jon who were astounded that I was alive. I looked back to Rick, our eyes meeting as he watched me carefully.

“Are you sure?” He asked as I looked at him confused.

“Yes, why?” I asked.

“You’re eyes… They’re different colors.” He said slowly, not wanting to alarm me. “One’s brown like normal, the other is green…” He continued. I watched him knowing exactly what that meant but didn’t want to break the news or alarm them in any way just yet.

“How’re you feeling?” Evy asked as she sat down gingerly next to me, taking the attention off of my eyes.

“I’m alright, surprisingly…” I said as Jonathan walked closer to me, he was still clutching the Book of the Living as Rick helped me to my feet, not pushing me further for answers for once in his life.

“Are you okay?” I asked Rick as he looked me over for injuries. I looked at him before he pulled me into a crushing hug.

“I thought I lost you,” Rick uttered his voice cracking with emotion, I had never seen this version of him before and it was almost unnerving to see now.

“I’m here, you didn’t,” I reply, my own emotions breaking through. It was as if the floodgate had burst and I was finally feeling everything since the possession besides anger. Immediately my thoughts went to Ardeth.

“Is he??” I asked, before I could get it out Rick squeezed me tight.

“I’m not sure.” He replied softly, pulling away to look at me. I nodded pushing down the raw emotions that were threatening to boil over.

“Let’s get out of here shall we?” Jon’s voice rang out trying to lighten the mood, I cleared my throat pulling away from Rick as Evy led us through the treasure room.

“Can we just?” Jon asked softly as he eyed everything in the room glancing to Evy for permission to take a few things. She laughed a bit as she nodded not seeing the need to rush. Jon whooped, as he took some pieces of gold, stuffing them in a saddle bag he had. I threw him my bag to fill as I went to sit on the stairs next to Evy. We sat for a moment in silence as the room was filled with the sound of Jon throwing some artifacts behind him, being careful to only pocket the perfect pieces.

Once he was satisfied we made our way up the stairs to a corridor, where there was some sort of lever sticking out of the wall. Jon put his bag weighed down with treasure on it. An ominous sound filled the room as it creaked down.

“What’d you do?!” Rick asked, alarmed as the walls started to move and sand began to seep through the cracks of the city of Hamunaptra. “Time to go!” He yelled as he grabbed the saddlebag off the switch, hoisting it onto his shoulder as we took off in a run through the passageway. I ran behind Jon watching the struggle of him holding onto my bag around his shoulder. I watched the Book of Amun Ra fall out of his grasp and down into a crevasse. Evy stopped and looked down at where the book had gone incredulously.

“You lost the book! Jonathan, I can’t beli–” She started to say as Rick and Jon grabbed an arm and drug her away from the area and out into the sunlight. I ran behind them as we made it out into the daylight, the pillars around the city collapsing narrowly missing us. We ran until we were out of the vicinity of the chaos. I took a second to breathe as we reached the camels that had herded themselves. My body tensed up immediately as I felt a hand on my shoulder. I reached out immediately and grabbed the person's wrist pulling it with me as I stepped to turn around, my eyes immediately locking with Ardeth’s who was now on the sand instead of on his camel. Evy and Jon jumped from the scare. I heard the familiar click of Rick’s guns being cocked.

“Thank you, thank you very much,” Jon yelled as Ardeth reached out a hand touching my cheek gingerly.

“You’re alright,” He breathed out relieved as he quickly closed the distance between us, his lips crashing into my own. I smiled as I kissed him back easily, my fingers finding their way into his hair. He pulled away to address my family, “You’ve earned the respect and gratitude of my people.” He said to them glancing away from me, meeting Jon, Rick, and Evy’s eyes.

“Oh well, it was nothing,” Jon said as he clutched his heart.

“May Allah smile upon you always,” Ardeth said as he kissed his fingers, touching his forehead, and gesturing to them.

“And yourself,” Jon said as he tried to reciprocate the gesture. I laughed a bit watching the awkward encounter. “Yes anytime.” He continued not knowing where to stop.

“Let’s go home.” Rick broke the silence that had settled over us as he bent forward to capture Evy’s lips in a kiss. I smiled at the two as Ardeth mounted his camel reaching a hand out toward me to help me up onto it as well. I took his hand, and he easily lifted me onto the animal, settling me in front of him. I watched as Jon mounted his own, my bag securely on his back. Rick and Evy finally pulled away from each other and mounted their own camel, the saddlebag glinting with the treasure Jon had picked out in the sunlight. We started the long trek back toward our home, trotting off over the dunes of sand that covered this area of the world.

Between darkness and light, good or evil whatever human part of her remains she’ll search the world over for a way to break the curse, to find a cure. Yet evil never rests and it will call to her, always… Perhaps sometimes it does take a monster to fight another monster.

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