Page 11 of Escape to Egypt

“Shh!” a voice hissed near my ear, and my scream died in my throat. I tried to pull away, but the grip tightened. Panic surged through me, my thoughts a whirl of fear.

“Let me go!” I demanded, struggling against the unseen assailant.

“Stay away,” the voice warned, low and menacing. “Forget you ever heard about the Path of the Gods if you know what’s good for you.” The grip on my arm loosened, and before I could react, the figure shoved me away and bolted into the shadows.

I stumbled back, trying to catch my breath, my heart racing. I barely caught a glimpse of the figure disappearing into the darkness, completely covered from head to toe in dark clothing. I couldn’t even tell if it was a man or a woman.

“Charlotte!” Jack’s voice cut through the night, filled with urgency. He appeared at the end of the passage, his eyes wide with concern.

“Someone was here,” I said, my voice shaky. “They grabbed me and told me to stay away from the Path of the Gods.”

Jack cursed under his breath, scanning the shadows. “Did you see where they went?”

I shook my head. “No. They were gone before I could see anything. They were completely covered, even their face.”

Jack’s jaw tightened, and he glanced around, the tension in his body evident. “This isn’t good. Zayed was right. Whoever these people are, they’re not above resorting to violence if they have to, in order to get what they’re after. We should head back. It’s getting too dark to search now. We can come back tomorrow.”

I nodded, still shaken. The encounter had rattled me more than I wanted to admit. “Where will we stay tonight?”

Jack looked at me, his expression softening. “My place isn’t far from here. You can stay with me unless you’ve made other arrangements?”

I shook my head. “No, I was just planning on hostels, so I’d really appreciate that. Thank you.”

“Good,” Jack said, relief evident in his voice. “Come on, let’s get out of here.” He took my hand, leading me through the maze of stones and shadows. The contact was comforting, grounding me in the reality of the moment. Snickers was sitting on a rock, staring anxiously in our direction.

“It’s okay, little guy,” said Jack, lifting the monkey into his arms. “Charlotte’s safe and we’re going home now.”

Snickers visibly relaxed and placed his head on Jack’s shoulder. His eyelids began to droop as we walked out of the site and back towards town.

Jack’s place turned out to be a small, cozy house nestled at the edge of the desert, a short drive from the ruins. He led me inside, the cool air a welcome relief from the heat outside. The decor was simple but inviting, with colorful rugs and cushions scattered about, and a few artifacts and trinkets, probably collected during his travels, adorning the shelves.

Jack showed me to a small bedroom with an adjacent bathroom. “This is your room,” he said, opening the door. “There’s a bed and a bath. Make yourself at home.”

I peeked inside, noting the comfortable bed and the small but functional bathroom. “Where will you be sleeping?” I asked, turning back to him.

Jack grinned, leaning against the doorframe. “There, in the bed,” he said, his tone casual.

I blinked, taken aback. “You mean…the same one as me?”

He nodded, his eyes twinkling with amusement. “Yeah, Snickers gets the guest room. Unless you’d prefer to be serenaded by his snoring all night.”

From somewhere in the house, I heard Snickers giggle, as if in agreement. I rolled my eyes, suppressing a smile. “Fine,” I said, trying to sound annoyed but failing. “We’ll put pillows down the middle or something.”

Jack shrugged, his grin widening. “Whatever works for you.”

I shook my head, exasperated but amused. There was something about Jack that made it hard to stay mad. He had a way of making even the most awkward situations seem light and easy. “I’ll just freshen up if you don’t mind. Then maybe you can show me a good place where to get dinner?”

“Sounds like a plan,” Jack said, straightening up. “I’ll just grab a change of clothes and use the guest bath. Take your time.”

I watched him go, then closed the door behind me. The room was small but comfortable, and I felt a wave of exhaustion wash over me. The day had been long and filled with more excitement than I was used to. I lay down on the bed, staring at the ceiling, letting the events of the day replay in my mind. Who was that person who’d grabbed me? Did they have the artifacts? I didn’t have any answers, but one thing was clear: this adventure was more dangerous than I’d anticipated.

After a short rest, I took a quick shower, letting the cool water wash away the dust and stress. By the time I emerged, I felt somewhat refreshed. I dressed in a light, rose-colored sundress and slipped on a pair of wedge sandals. Deciding to keep my makeup simple, I dabbed some color on my cheeks and added a bit of lip gloss, then headed out to find Jack.

I found him in the living room, looking nothing like the dusty rogue I’d met at the airport. He was clean-shaven, his wavy hair still damp from the shower, wearing a simple linen shirt and pants. The transformation was striking. He smelled faintly of sandalwood and something else that was undeniably masculine, and I felt my breath hitch.

“You look…different,” I said, trying to sound casual but failing miserably.

Jack smiled, his blue eyes twinkling. “So do you. I like what you’re wearing. Got Snickers settled in, by the way. Read him a bedtime story. He’s out like a light.”

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