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Bloody Beetle | Part Ten

Summary: buckle up folks, it's the final showdown

Pairing: Steven x reader, Marc x reader, Harrow x reader, Layla x reader

Word Count: 5.6k

Warnings: fighting, deaths...

A/N: as always spelling and grammar are not my strongest skills so please be kind :)

Part Nine | Series Masterlist

- - - - -

Layla’s POV

She wants to stop you from surrendering yourself, she knows it’s dangerous.

But she also knows neither of you have time to think of another plan.

As soon as you step out from behind the wall she wastes no time in sneaking over to where Osiris’ avatar is and pulls him to safety.

“Hey! hey, hey…” She says as she tries to keep him upright and conscious. “How do we stop Ammit?!”

“This chamber is our most powerful place.” He wheezes. “From here we need to imprision Ammit in a mortal form.”

“A body instead of a statue. She’d be vulnerable… okay, how do we do it?”

“We need more avatars than we have left…” he says before collapsing to the ground.

“No, no no!” Layla tries to wake him, but when she checks his pulse she realises he’s gone. She thinks for a moment, pondering her options. Reluctantly she summons Taweret and agrees to be her temporary avatar.

“I am so thrilled! We are gonna have so much fun together.” Taweret says excitedly. “I have a fabulous costume in mind.”

The sound of Harrow’s shout bounces off the walls, getting Layla’s attention. She peers around to watch.

Harrow is stood in front of you protectively, talking to Ammit. Almost pleading with her.

“What could she possibly do in the future that is so bad that she deserves this?”

“She will be the one to kill you.”

Ammit’s reply sends the room silent. A few disciples spare glances at each other but no one dares make a sound. Layla notices the heartbreak on Harrow’s face.

She watches as you try to stand, try to reason with Harrow, convince him Ammit is lying.

She watches as Harrow turns to you, and reaches out to help you up from the floor.

She watches as he drives a dagger deep into your stomach and she has to fight with herself not to run over and kill Harrow herself. She knows with Ammit behind him he is too powerful for her to fight alone.

She watches as everyone just steps over you, leaving you to die. Not a single one of them even pausing for a moment to consider helping you.

As soon as they’re out she runs to you, calling your name. You manage to roll over and look at her and she sees the moment the last bit of life leaves you. Your body going still, eyes glassing over as you lay limp on the ground. She crouches next to you, checking and double checking for a pulse. Begging you to wake up, to not leave her alone.

But that’s what she is now… Alone…

Marc is dead. You are dead. Without anyone to help her, she’s sure she will be next.

— — — —

Y/N’s POV

“Where am I?” You ask aloud, glancing at the bright white nothingness around you. “Steven? Marc? Anyone?”

“Y/N Y/L/N.” A voice calls from everywhere at once.

“Hello?” You respond.

“I am Osiris, god of the underworld.”

“…okay…”

“I have granted you resurrection but I ask something of you in return… Become my avatar.”

“Uh, look I don't think I'm really the person to be asking. I don't know how to be an avatar, I don't even really know what it means… I just know that Marc said it’s bad. Like being a slave? And I really don't want that-”

“You won’t be a slave, you will be powerful.”

“I’m sorry, but my answer is no. And if that means you have to send me back to the Duat then… I accept my fate.”

“I admire your honesty and bravery Y/N. But we need more avatars than we have left if we are to defeat Ammit.” Osiris speaks calm but firm. “Take the powers that come with being my avatar, use them to defeat Ammit and when the job is done I will take them back from you. I will expect nothing more from you. You may continue to live your life free from any burden.”

“So just like, a temporary deal? Right?”

“Yes.”

“And once Ammit is dealt with, I can just be normal again?”

“Yes.” Osiris pauses. “Do you accept?”

“I do.”

— — — —

You gasp as you sit bolt upright on the cold stone floor of the pyramid, making Layla jump.

“Y/N?!” She says, grabbing your arms to ground you as you flail around in a panic. “I got, I got you.”

You take deep breaths, clutching your hands to your stomach. You lift your shirt and watch in shock as the wound from the dagger closes itself, leaving you fully healed. Any weakness left from Harrow’s staff is gone too. You feel amazing.

“What… what just happened?” Layla says, wiping tears from her face and staring at your stomach. She helps you up off the floor. “You were dead!”

“Osiris healed me.” You say, in shock yourself. Then you notice Layla’s outfit. Her mundane clothes from before gone, replaced with a gold and white Egyptian armour. “What are you wearing?”

“Taweret chose it.” She says before explaining how she agreed to be her temporary avatar. You in turn explained the deal Osiris offered you.

“Well, you look badass.” You say and she laughs. “Wait, if I’m an avatar too now, does that mean I get a costume too?”

A bright light swirls around you and when it disappears you’ve changed. No more blood soaked clothes. Instead you're wearing green armour, similar to Layla’s, with white and gold fabric wrapped around your body. Attached to your back is a long golden staff with a hooked end.

You look down at your clothes in amazement, then up at Layla. The two of you look at each other for a moment before bursting into laughter. You don't really know why you're laughing, but after the stress of the last few days it feels like a welcome break.

“So, what do we do now?” You says once you composed yourself. Layla sighs, shaking her head.

“I guess, we try to save the world.”

— — — —

The two of you head outside. To your surprise the sky is as dark as night, even though you're pretty sure it’s still daytime. The sky is filled with purple lights, flying up from across the city and towards the other side of the pyramid where Ammit is.

“She’s consuming souls.” Layla says as you watch horrified. The more lights she swallows the bigger she grows. She’s already almost the same size as the pyramid.

“How are we supposed to stop her?!” You ask, looking around frantically. You look up at the top of the pyramid. Harrow is up there, a purple glowing light surrounds him as he chants in a language you don't recognise.

Before you can say anything, someone flies up to the pyramid and begins to fight Harrow. You recognise the person to be the same as the action figure you found in the museum, dressed head toe in white.

“Who is that?” You ask Layla, turning her attention to the scene on the pyramid.

“Marc?” She gasps before turning to you. “Did Osiris resurrect him too?”

“I- I don't know. Maybe? I didn’t see him after we made it through the gates-”

You stop talking suddenly when you notice Khonshu appear next to Ammit. He goes to hit her with his staff but she reaches out a scaly hand and stops him. They begin to fight as Harrow and Marc fly though the air toward the town, still fighting each other. Khonshu manages to knock Ammit over and she comes crashing down near near you. The force of her slamming into the pyramid sends a cloud of dust and sand over you and Layla.

“Little bugs.” Khonshu says when he notices he almost flattened the two of you. “Go! Help Marc.”

Layla rolls her eyes at him as she wipes dust from her clothes before turning to you and nodding. You run away from the pyramid in the direction that Marc and Harrow had gone.

The streets are chaos. Everywhere you look Ammit’s disciples are grabbing people, judging their scales. You watch as Bobbi grabs someone. They begin to shake then fall to the floor as a purple light emerges from them and flies up into the sky. Those who aren’t distracted staring at the dark sky are running, screaming, from the disciples. As you begin fighting off disciples you notice Marc laying on the ground on the other side of the town square, Harrow stood over him with his cane pointed down at him. It starts to glow purple.

Layla swoops in just in time and knocks Harrow away. He fires purple light from his cane at Layla, but she reflects it with the golden armoured wings attached to her arms and it bounces back at Harrow. It sends him flying backwards into a crowd of people.

You knock out the guy you're fighting and run over to Marc. His face now uncovered and he spots you over Layla’s shoulder as he’s hugging her. As you get closer his clothes change to a white three piece suit.

“Y/N!” Steven’s voice calls happily as he hugs you tightly. His hand finds the crook attached to your back. “Oh my God, that- that’s Osiris’ crook! Oh that’s bloody brilliant that! Wow!”

“Steven I know this is a massive deal for you but we have to stop Harrow.” You say, smiling at him.

“Right yeah, sorry you just- you look amazing!” He smiles, turning to Layla. “You both do.”

You hear a scream and turn to see a woman with two young children being cornered by a group of disciples.

“I’ll go. You two get Harrow.” You say and Steven places a kiss on your cheek before he and Layla run into the crowd and begin fighting.

You run the other way, grabbing the crook and using it to pull the first bad guy away. You swing him round and send him crashing into the side of a nearby building. The others turn on you, but you effortlessly manage to dodge their attacks and one by one knock them all out. You help the mother and her children find somewhere safe to hide before turning your attention back to the others just in time to see Harrow fighting Marc.

“You need only remove one weed from the garden. You!” He says, purple light blasting from his cane at Marc.

Marc grabs one of his crescent moon shaped blades but Harrow uses the power from his cane to control Marc’s hand. Layla runs toward them but Harrow sends the blade flying at her and it pins her arm to the side of the truck, before sending a huge blast of power at Marc, forcing him down on his back. On a building above them you see Ammit has also overpowered Khonshu, pinning him down with his own staff.

Harrow advances towards Marc and you run, throwing yourself in between them.

“STOP!” You shout and Harrow looks at you like he’s just seen a ghost.

“Y/N..?” He says breathlessly. “You’re-”

“Alive? Yeah, I was surprised too.” You say sarcastically. “Why are you doing this? You told me you wanted to stop her!”

“That was before…”

“Before what?”

“Before I knew you would betray me!” He shouts, hitting you with a flash of power from his cane. It knocks you flying out of the way, rolling across the dusty ground. You feel like the wind has been knocked from you as you lay on the ground trying to get your breath back. Harrow advances on Marc again, raising his cane and slamming it into his chest. Purple light streams up through the cane, killing him slowly.

“NO!” You scream, scrambling to try to get up but a heavy boot comes down on your back. Bobbi stands over you, keeping you down, forcing you to watch. You look over at Layla, she’s surrounded by disciples, using her golden armoured wings to deflect the bullets being fired at her.

Marc turns his head to look at you before his eyes turn white.

You can’t really describe what happened next. Something takes over Marc and sends him into a killing frenzy. He’s unstoppable as he takes on multiple disciples at once, slaughtering each one without breaking a sweat. He turns to you and you feel Bobbi remove her foot from your back. She backs away but Marc throws a blade at her and it lodges itself in her forehead, killing her instantly. He locks eyes with you and you don't recognise him at all. That’s not Marc anymore, and it definitely isn’t Steven. He winks at you before taking on Harrow. It doesn’t take long for him to overpower him. Its only as he’s about to kill him that he freezes, his posture changing. He drops Harrow’s unconscious body and looks around in horror at the war zone around him.

“That wasn’t you, was it Steven?” He says and his suit changes. “Not a chance mate.”

He looks at you and you get up, dusting yourself down as you make your way over to him.

“Are you alright?” He asks, placing his hands on your face and checking you over.

“I’m fine, I’m more worried about you.” You reply.

“Marc?” Layla calls, freeing herself from where Harrow had trapped her. Steven changes back to Marc. “What the hell was that?”

“I blacked out.” He says. He looks genuinely worried.

A rumbling from the building next to you draws your attention to Ammit dragging Khonshu away.

“Get Harrow!” Layla says “I know how to stop Ammit.”

— — — —

Marc carries Harrow and you both follow Layla back to the tomb in the pyramid. Once inside Marc throws Harrow down on one of the stones.

“The power of the room will help us bind Ammit to Harrow’s body.” Layla explains. “Quick grab my hand so we can start the spell.”

Marc takes Layla’s hand and you take Marc’s. The three of you start chanting the spell in an ancient language, the words must be given to you by the gods because you have no idea what you're actually saying. A circle of light fills the tomb, surrounding the three of you and Harrow. Purple light descends down into Harrow’s body as the spell works. Harrow gasps awake, his wild eyes looking at the three of you.

“You can never contain me!” Ammit speaks through him. “I’ll never stop!”

“Do the honours, little bug.” Khonshu appears next to you and hands you the same dagger Harrow had earlier used to kill you. “Finish it! Leave neither of them alive.”

You look at the dagger, still stained with your own blood and feel anger boil inside you. You step up to Harrow, grabbing him by his collar and pulling him up to face you. His bright blue eyes stare into your own.

“Do it.” He croaks. He looks utterly defeated, ready to accept his fate.

You lift the dagger high, ready to plunge. Then you hear Ammit’s words from earlier.

‘She will be the one to kill you.’

You hesitate, thinking over those words. If you kill him now that means she was right about you.

“While he lives, so does she.” Khonshu’s words ring in your ears.

While Harrow lives, so does Ammit. Trapped in a mortal body.

“I said I wouldn’t kill you and I meant it.” You drop Harrow back down on the stone and throw the dagger to the floor. “There are worse fates than death.”

You turn your back and walk away.

“Weak little bug.” Khonshu mocks but you ignore him.

Layla takes your hand, giving it a reassuring squeeze.

“I have to finish this.” Marc says suddenly, taking one of his blades and readying himself to stab Harrow. “If not I’ll never be free.”

“Marc!” Layla shouts. “You have a choice. You are free!”

“The choice is vengeance! We cannot take the chance that Ammit finds a way out. She will kill again.”

“Now you sound just like her.” Marc says, throwing his blade away. “You want them dead, do it yourself. Now release us!”

“As you wish.” Khonshu says before disappearing.

Marc’s suit starts to disappear, a bright white light shines out of his chest and fills the room. For a moment you’re blinded, and when the light fades you find Marc on his knees. His normal clothes have returned. You and Layla go to him, crouching beside him.

“Marc? Are you okay?” Layla asks, full of concern. He looks at her and nods.

“He’s gone.” He smiles. “Thank you for stopping me.”

“What do we with him?” You ask, looking over at Harrow still laying on the stone.

“Lock him up.” Marc replies. “He’s killed so many people there’s no chance he’ll never ever be released. He’ll be locked away until the day he dies. And then Ammit will be gone too.”

You can hear Harrow incoherently babbling away to himself, and you feel a sort of sadness creep in.

“You did the right thing Y/N.” Layla says, noticing the frown on your face.

“Then why do I feel so… weird?”

“Love…” Steven’s voice instantly makes you feel a bit calmer and he places his hands gently on your face, forcing you to look away from Harrow. “Hey, look at me… You died today. And then you came back. And then you helped save the world from a giant crocodile lady.” He says making you laugh. “That’s a lot to take in. You're allowed to feel weird. In fact I’d be worried if you felt normal after all that.”

“I know he did some really awful things but I- I almost kind of feel sorry for him. Is that wrong?” You admit and Steven smiles lovingly.

“That just proves even more that Ammit’s scales were wrong about you. You are a good person with a kind heart. It’s one of the many things I love about you.”

He moves his hands to hold yours and you give him a small smile.

“Thank you.” You share a kiss, before remembering Layla is currently watching you kiss her ex husband. You pull away, giving her an awkward smile. “We should probably get going.”

“Yeah…” Steven laughs, picking up on the awkwardness of the situation. “Back to good old London town. Get this guy put away… behind bars… where he belongs…”

“Guys it’s fine.” Layla says, laughing at Steven’s awkward rambling. “I’m really happy for you.”

“Are you sure?” Marc’s voice again. He walks closer to her, putting his hands on her shoulders. “I know I wasn’t the best husband. You deserved so much more.”

“It’s okay Marc, honestly. We’re better as friends.” She smiles a genuine smile at him. “Besides, I’ve decided I’m staying here in Egypt.”

“What?” You say, moving to join them. “You’re not coming with us?”

“While we were fighting out there, a young girl asked me if I was an Egyptian superhero and it made me realise, we didn’t have anything like that. But now we do. I’m going to stay here and work with Taweret to give more young Egyptian girls someone to look up to.” She smiles. “Plus, England is too cold anyway.”

“You got that right.” You laugh as you give her a tight hug. “you are gonna be the most badass superhero ever. But I’m gonna miss you.”

“You too.” She says and turns to Marc. “Look after her, or you’ll have me to deal with.”

“Yes ma’am.”

— — — —

Some Time Later

You headed back to England with Marc and Steven taking turns to take the body. Though you knew Steven best, the more time you spent with Marc the more you enjoyed his company too.

Ammit’s presence in Harrow’s body meant he became more and more mentally unstable. He spent a lot of time rambling incoherently and occasionally Ammit would takeover, shouting about how she would escape and make everyone pay. Because of this, Harrow was admitted to Sienkiewicz Psychiatric Hospital in London.

A few days after Harrow was committed, you went to visit him. You don't know why, you just felt like you needed to be sure he was safely locked away. When the nurses first brought you to him, you almost didn’t recognise him. He was sat in a wheelchair, his ankles restrained to it. He looked lost, vulnerable. It made a part of you feel quite sad.

“Hi Arthur.” You say quietly. He looks up at you blankly.

“He’s on quite strong medication, so he may not talk very much.” The nurse explains and you nod. “I’ll just be on the other side of the room, shout if you need me.”

“Thanks.” You reply, watching her as she goes to sit with another patient on the far side of the room. You sit down at the table opposite Arthur. “How are you doing? Have you settled in here?” You ask but get no response. You start to feel awkward. You look around the room, trying to think of something to say. You glance down at the table and see paper with some lines painted randomly on it. “Did you paint that?” Harrow looks down at it and nods. “You enjoy painting?” He nods again. “How about we do some together.”

You grab two more pieces of paper, putting one in front go Harrow and the other in front of yourself, and you start to paint. Harrow joins in and the two of you sit quietly together making your own little pictures.

When your picture is done you show Harrow and he smiles at the simple flower you have painted. He shows you his, just a triangle.

“It’s good.” You smile.

“It’s a pyramid. Like the ones they have in Egypt.” He says, slowly sounding more like himself. “Have you ever been?”

“To Egypt?” You ask and he nods. “Yeah I’ve been, with you. You took me there, remember?”

He stares at you for a long moment, a flicker of something like hurt flashes on his face, and then he goes blank again. You try to make more conversation, but he doesn’t say much after that.

Not long after the nurse comes back and tells you visiting time is over. You slide your flower painting across the table to Harrow.

“You can keep this.” You say smiling. “Goodbye Arthur.”

You get up and start to walk away.

“Y/N!” He calls, making you stop and turn back. “I’m really sorry I killed you.��

You didn’t say anything back, you just nod at him as the nurse leads you out.

As you sign yourself out the nurse speaks to you.

“That is the most alert and talkative we’ve seen him since he arrived. You must be someone important to him.”

Her words replayed through your head for the rest of the day and that night as you sat down to eat dinner with Steven you told him about it.

“I’ve been thinking, I might go back and see him again.”

“Really?” Steven asks. “Are you sure that’s a good idea?”

“You didn’t see him today Steven, he’s different. The dangerous man that we knew is gone. Now he just seems so… lost. I guess a part of me feels responsible for that.”

“Love…” Steven sighs, putting down his food to fully concentrate on you. “Harrow is where he is now because of the things HE did. The choices HE made. You gave him plenty of chances, even after he murdered you!” He reaches across the table to hold your hands. “Listen, Marc wants me to tell you not to go but I know that will make you want to do it even more.” He says and you laugh, nodding. “If this is something you really want to do, if it makes you feel better, then I think you should do it. Just, please be careful.”

“I will.”

The following week you head back to the hospital and do some more painting with Arthur. It soon became a regular thing. The more you visited the more chatty he became. He started to tell you about life in hospital, sharing stories about the other patients and in turn you told him about your life. Although he initially looked hurt to find out you and Steven were now dating, ultimately he said he was happy to see you happy.

If you hadn’t known him before, you wouldn’t guess this was once the leader of a cult intent on releasing a dangerous Egyptian goddess into the world. You’d never guess how much damage he had caused just weeks ago. And you’d certainly never guess that dangerous Egyptian goddess was now trapped inside him. There were hints occasionally that Ammit was trying to take over, to shout abuse at you, but Harrow always made sure she couldn’t hurt you.

You didn’t talk about what happened in Egypt, you didn’t want to drag it all up again. He wasn’t the same person now anyway. And at least he’d apologised to you. Instead you chose to give him a fresh start, and just enjoy your weekly visits talking and painting with Arthur Harrow.

—

Epilogue

One morning you woke up to a voice in your head.

Osiris’ voice.

“The deal is done. I release you from your duty.”

“What?”

“Ammit had been defeated.”

“Yeah, but that was weeks ago.” You say, not understanding why he’s waited till now to talk to you. “We imprisoned her in Arthur Harrow’s body and they’re both locked up.”

“I release you from your duty.” He repeats and you feel a strange sensation move through your body. Then nothing.

“Osiris?” You call out, but no reply. “Well that was weird…”

“You alright love?” Steven asks as he comes into the bedroom and hands you a cup of coffee.

“Osiris just released me.” You say confused as Steven sits on the bed next to you.

“Well that’s a good thing innit?” He replies with a smile.

“Yeah, definitely. It’s just… why now? Why this exact moment instead of when we bound Ammit or when her and Harrow were first locked away? What’s so special about this morning?”

“Osiris is a busy guy, maybe he didn’t have time until now. Or maybe you're just thinking into it too much…”

“I just think it’s a bit odd that’s all.”

“That’s the gods for ya, all a bit odd. I don't think us humans are supposed to understand ‘em.”

“You’re probably right.” You say before taking a sip of your coffee. “Anyway, where did you disappear to this morning?”

“What do you mean?” Steven asks blankly.

“I woke up in the early hours and you were gone.”

“I don't remember going anywhere… Marc?” He shifts and Marc speaks “Don't look at me. I thought we were sleeping all night.”

“Do you need the restraints back on the bed?”

“Only if you want them back” Marc says flirtatiously, flashing you a mischievous grin. He shifts again and Steven comes back. “Oy, back off you.” He says to Marc before focusing on you. "I probably just went to get water and don't remember. Don't worry about it.” He kisses you on the forehead. “Right, I’ve gotta get to work, laters gators.”

“Laters.” You laugh, and blow him a kiss. He mimes catching it and putting it in his pocket before leaving.

You decide to put the Osiris thing out of your head. Steven’s right, there’s no point trying to understand the mind of a god. You finish your coffee before you get out of bed and get ready for the day.

In the afternoon you head to the hospital as usual, and are surprised to see police cars parked outside the building. As soon as you step inside the nurse you’ve become used to seeing comes over to you.

“Y/N, please come with me.” She says, leading you into a small side room with a police officer inside.

“Is everything alright?”

“Please take a seat.” The officer says and gestures to the chairs. You sit down in one, the nurse sits next to you.

“What’s going on?” You ask, getting nervous.

“Miss Y/L/N, earlier this morning someone came into the hospital, murdered three members of staff and left with Arthur Harrow.”

“What?! Who?”

“We don't know yet. The CCTV cameras were damaged. All we have is a few eye witnesses who say they saw a smartly dressed man wearing a flat cap wheeling Harrow out of the building.” The officer explains, and you feel your heart start to race. If Harrow is out then Ammit could escape. The nurse notices your breathing has picked up and reached over to hold your hand. “I’m sorry, I understand this must be distressing. Harrow is your friend, correct?”

“Uh… yeah…” you reply, trying to focus on what the officer is saying and not the panic running around your head.

“According to the sign in sheets you’re the only regular visitor he has. Do you have any idea of who could have done this? Or why they would have done this?”

You search your brain for any options. The only people who really know who he is are yourself, Marc, Steven and Layla. You definitely didn’t do it. Marc and Steven wouldn’t have done it, and you can’t imagine Layla would have. You realise the officer is still looking at you for an answer.

“No, no sorry. I- I don't think he has anyone else.”

“Here, take my card. If you think of anything give me a call.” The officer hands you a small business card and the nurse leads you back out the room.

“Are you going to be okay? I know you’re quite close to him.” She asks, noticing how shook up you are she places a gentle hand on your arm. “Do you want me to call someone to pick you up?”

“I’ll be fine, thank you though.” You smile at her as you reach the door out the building. “You have my number, will you please let me know if there’s any news?”

“Of course. Take care Y/N.”

You head outside, and cross the street to where there’s a small park. You find an empty bench and sit for a moment to process the news and what that could mean. Who could have known Harrow was there? Who could have wanted him out? Maybe there’s another Ammit fanatic out there who wants her released?

A shudder goes down your spine at the thought of her getting out.

You take your phone from your pocket and phone Steven. It rings out. You roll your eyes and try Marc’s number instead, incase he’s got the body right now. They have separate phones and refuse to answer each other’s if it rings. His goes straight to voicemail. That’s unusual. You check the time, 4pm. Steven will probably be getting ready to leave work.

Needing to talk to someone you FaceTime Layla, she picks up almost straight away.

“Y/N! Hey!” She says happily, her smile drops when she see’s your face. “What’s wrong?”

“Hey, uh… sorry to call I just, I need to talk to someone and Steven and Marc aren’t answering and no one else will understand-”

“Y/N, you don't need to apologise. What’s happened?”

“Harrow’s gone.” You blurt out and she stares through the phone at you. “Someone took him from the hospital this morning, they don't know who did it and they have no idea where he is. I’m scared, Layla.”

“Hey, alright, it’s going to be alright.” She says, though her voice has a hint of panic. “And you can’t get through to Marc?”

“His phone is off. I think Steven will be leaving work soon.”

“Okay, you head over to find him. I’ll keep trying his phone.” She says and you nod. “Y/N?”

“Yeah.”

“It’s gonna be okay.” She says and you get the feeling she’s trying reassure herself as much as she is you. You nod and she hangs up the phone before you start walking toward the road, looking for a taxi.

In the distance you see a white limo heading towards you. Usually you’d think nothing of it. You see a lot of different vehicles in London. But something about this one got your attention. The personalised number plate.

‘SPKTR’

You can’t help but stare at it as it gets closer to you. Something in your gut telling you to run.

The car slows down as it gets closer to you and you can just about make out though the windows that the driver is wearing a flat cap. The limo pulls over and stops next to you. The driver gets out and you stare at him confused.

“Marc…?” It’s definitely Marc’s body, but the expression isn’t Marc or Steven. It’s the same one you recognise from Egypt. The one who so easily fought and killed all Harrow’s disciples. Another alter?

“Hola, mi amor.”

He winks at you as he walks around the front of the car, past you and opens the door at the back of the limo for you. He gestures for you to get in. You hesitantly walk to where the door is and peer in. You have to slam your hand over your mouth to stop a scream from escaping.

There on the back seat is Harrow, a bullet hole in his forehead.

You back away but the driver pushes you inside and slams the door closed. You scramble to get out, to get away from the corpse, but the door is locked. You bang against the door, screaming for someone to let you out and then you hear a voice from inside the limo.

“Hello little bug.”

A/N: Thank you so so so much for reading!! I really hope you enjoyed this series as much as I loved writing it. please feel free to comment or send me an ask, I would love to hear your thoughts :)

Taglist : @sleepylunarwolf / @ahookedheroespureheart / @sleepyamaya / @spicydonut25 / @kult6 / @uncle-eggy / @malaanii/ @toracainz / @pinkiestwinkie / @galacticstxrdust / @mateihavenoidea / @xmariakx / @oscarissac2099 / @whycantwebefriendz / @parkeepingparker / @scoliobean

#moon knight #Steven Grant x reader #Marc Spector x reader #moon knight x reader #layla el faouly x reader #layla el faouly #Steven grant #marc spector #khonshu x reader #osiris #Arthur Harrow #arthur harrow x reader #ammit

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worldserasingandcreatinginmymind · 6 days

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first draft of the final chapter of Bloody Beetle is done! needs editing and then will be posted in the next couple of days...

can't believe this story is coming to an end 🥺 Im gonna miss writing about creepy harrow & the moon boys

#bloody beetle #update

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worldserasingandcreatinginmymind · 14 days

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Bloody Beetle | Part Nine

Summary: the afterlife is quite what you expected it to be

Pairing: Taweret x reader (platonic)

Word Count: 3.3k

Warnings: it's the afterlife y'all... you dead...

A/N: please note as much as I did some research into identity disorders, it may not he 100% factual and is supposed to be taken in context of the story... as always spelling and grammar are not my strongest skills so please be kind :)

Part Eight | Series Masterlist

- - - - -

Floating.

You're floating in dark nothingness.

Your body weightless.

Your mind empty.

Just… nothing…

Then you hear something in the distance.

A voice.

A name being called.

Your name.

Closer.

The voice gets louder, angrier, as it gets closer…

“Y/N!”

— — — —

Your head slips from your hand as you jump awake from your position, leaning against your work desk. Donna, your boss, stands on the other side of the desk, looking down at you disapprovingly.

“Is this what we pay you for? Sleeping on the job?” She tuts before continuing to rant at you. You ignore her, looking around the familiar museum inventory room as you try to shake away your sleep. Broken remnants of a realistic feeling dream flash in your mind, like a puzzle missing half the pieces.

You had been in Egypt, that much is clear. But what were you doing there? Lots of people, unknown faces looking at you with hatred. Scales. A glowing purple light. A crocodile?

You’ll have to tell Steven about this dream when you see him. Maybe he’ll understand it more than you do. Then you realise, he’s not here.

“Is Steven not in today?” You ask suddenly, not really caring that you’ve interrupted whatever rant Donna was on.

“Who’s that?” she looks at you blankly and you laugh.

“Ste-ven.” You repeat clearly, emphasising each syllable. “Steven Grant? You know, the Egypt guy. Works with me down here like, all the time.”

“I don't know who you're talking about.”

“Steven!” You shout, getting frustrated now.

“Don't matter how many times you say it!” Donna is getting more annoyed by the second. “There is no Steven that works here.”

“Is this some sort of joke?! I know you don't like him very much but even by your standards this is cruel!”

“Okay, you need to calm down or soon you won’t be working here either!”.

“I’ll show you, look!” You grab your mobile and open the photos app. To your horror there’s not a single one of Steven to be found. “No! Where is it?! I took one just the other day… he was wearing one of those stupid pharaoh headdress things we sell to the kids. It was right here-”

“Y/N!” Donna snaps, snatching your phone and putting it down on the desk. “I don't know want to hear any more about your imaginary friend, alright? You’re wasting my time as well as your own! So unless you wanna be looking for a new job I suggest you drop it.”

You're about to argue back, but think better of it. Arguing with Donna is like hitting your head against a brick wall.

“You’re right, sorry..." You say sheepishly, playing along. “I just got confused. I think I might be coming down with something.”

“It’s alright.” Donna looks at you unconvinced but accepts it anyway. “Forget about it and get back to work.”

“Yes boss.” You say and she walks away, glancing back at you suspiciously before she leaves.

As soon as she’s gone you pick your mobile back up off the desk to message Steven, but when you search your messages all the ones from him are gone. So you head to the contacts and scroll down to ’S’. Sarah, Shaun, Simon, Stuart… where’s Steven? You scroll up, thinking maybe he’s saved under ‘G’ for Grant. Nothing.

You consider for a moment calling the police. But what would you say? ‘My friend has disappeared, but no one remembers him and I have no evidence he ever existed?’ They’d either laugh at you or lock you up. Maybe you are going crazy…

No. Steven was real! You remember him. The sound of his laugh as he would tell you a really crap joke he'd heard. The way his eyes would light up when someone asked him a question about Egyptian history. The smell of cologne whenever he bumped into you, which was more often than you’d think. He really was quite clumsy. That was one of the things you loved about him. And one of the things you had in common.

You decide to go find J.B. Surely he’ll must remember Steven, even if he does always called him ‘Scotty’. If all else fails, you could at least get him to check security cameras.

But as you step out from behind the desk, you don't notice the large box on the floor and trip over it. You manage to stop yourself falling by clinging on to the desk, but you send the box flying across the room, the contents spilling out everywhere. It's filled with action figures that you sell in the gift shop. You pick one up.

At first glance you think it’s a mummy but then you notice, it’s a man. A man dressed all in white and wearing a white cape. You take another figure out, almost the same but this one wearing a white suit.

You dig deeper into the box. It’s full of figures. Some the same as the two you’ve already got. Some with the skull of a bird and holding a crescent moon staff. A lady with dark curly hair. A crocodile... Then you find one that makes your blood run cold. A man, wearing a reddish brown outfit and sandals. He has shoulder length dirty blonde hair, and he’s holding a glowing purple cane.

“Harrow?” You whisper, the name coming to you out of nowhere.

An image fills your mind; Harrow stood in front of you, plunging a dagger into your stomach.

You look down and realise your clothes are stained red with blood. Your heart and mind starts to race. Something isn’t right. You need to get out of here.

You run to the door, swing them open and crash straight into someone. You look up and to your surprise see a tall hippopotamus stood smiling wildly down at you.

You freeze as the two of you stare at each other for a moment. The hippo raises its hand in a waving gesture.

“Hi!” A female voice. She sounds friendly enough.

“Uh… h-hi?” you stutter, trying to remain calm.

“You're not screaming.” She says. You're unsure if this is a statement or a question.

“Am I supposed to be..?”

“No, not at all. I’m just used to people screaming when they first see me. To be fair death can be quite traumatic as it is so I suppose to then come face to face with, well, me… must be quite startling.” She laughs. “You're handling this amazingly. Well done you.”

“Death?” You ask and her face drops.

“You didn’t know?” She says and you shake your head.

“I thought it was just a bad dream.”

“Oh dear. I am very sorry, but I am afraid you are quite dead. Oh hang on! I have a thing I’m supposed to read…” She pulls a scroll out from her robe and unravels it before beginning to read. “Welcome gentle traveller to the realm of the Duat. I am Tawaret, goddess of women and children and I am here to guide you through your journey to the afterlife.”

“Wait wait wait, if I’m dead then why am I at the museum? Shouldn’t I be, like, in heaven or something?”

“Because the Duat’s true nature is impossible for the human mind to comprehend, you may perceive this realm as something more easily recognisable to you. Was this place special to you?”

You think back through all the happy memories you have here, in this room laughing with Steven.

“Yeah, I suppose it is.” You say with a smile. “But hang on, Donna was here. My boss. She was here earlier having a go at me as usual. How is that possible? Is she dead too?”

“This place can appear as real as you want it to. Whatever would normally be here will be here, that includes people. But rest assured, she is very much still alive.”

“Then where’s Steven? He was always here with me, but Donna didn’t even know who he was!”

“Steven? Steven Grant?” She asks.

“You know him?”

“I do. Goodness, how do I explain this?” She says, mostly to herself. “Steven Grant isn’t real.”

“Of course he is!”

“No dear, uh…” she pauses, thinking over her words. “Do you know a Marc Spector?”

“Kind of. Not very well, but we’ve met.”

“Right! So… Steven is Marc.”

“I don't understand.”

“Marc created Steven when he was young to help him escape the trauma he was going through. He may not have even realised that that’s what he did, but whenever life got too much for Marc he would become Steven instead.”

“No hang on, Steven told me that this Marc lives inside him. Are you saying it’s the other way around?”

“Steven really believed he was who he was. He had no idea the truth.” She watches you for a moment. Watches as your brain ticks over everything and sadly the truth sets in. “I think deep down, somewhere, subconsciously a part of you knew. That’s why he’s not here. The Duat picked up on it.”

She was right. Ever since that night when Marc first spoke to you, a small part of you had wondered. Harrow had tried to tell you, in his own manipulative way. You just didn’t want to believe it; Steven wasn’t real.

“I wish he was here.” You say sadly. Taweret puts a caring hand on your shoulder.

“I know dear, this is a lot to take in. But as I said, you are handling this exceedingly well.” She smiles at you, holding out her hand. “Come, let me show you around.”

— — — —

You follow Tawaret through the doors and to your surprise you're no longer in the museum. Instead you find yourself on a magnificent wooden boat sailing through sand.

“Where are we going?” You ask, staring out at the the amazing blend of purple, blue and gold that makes up the sky. It would take your breath away, if you weren’t already dead.

“Hopefully to the Field of Reeds.”

“Hopefully?”

“Yes, there’s just something I have to do…” she places her hand on your chest and pushes, reaching inside you and when she pulls her hand back out she’s holding your heart. You watch in shock as she away from you and places the heart on a scale. She takes a feather and places it on the other side of the scale. The scales swing a few times before settling in a balanced position.

“Oh goody.” Taweret smiles. “I would have hated to have to throw you overboard.”

“Excuse me what?”

“If they scales hadn’t balanced, you would not be permitted entry to the Field of Reeds. The dead would have dragged you down into the Duat where you would have remained forever frozen in sand.” She explains and you stare at her in horror. “But the scales are balanced, so no need to dwell on that.”

You walk to the edge of the boat and look over at the sand below you. You can just about make out the shapes of human figures half buried in the sands, hands desperately reaching for something to grab onto. It sends a shiver down your spine. Taweret moves to stand beside you.

“All these people had unbalanced scales?” You ask sadly.

“I’m afraid so.”

“Do the scales ever get it wrong?”

“That’s not possible.” Taweret says looking at you, she notices you look troubled. “Are you alright?”

“When Harrow judged me with Ammit’s scales, they were unbalanced.”

“Ammit is wrong. She judges based on things that might happen, what someone might do. We judge on what you have done." She turns to face you completely, putting her hands on your shoulder so you have to face her. She looks you in the face. "Believe me when I say, you are a good person Y/N Y/L/N.”

“Thank you.” You say with teary eyes as the boat continues its journey.

— — — —

Eventually you arrive at the most beautiful place you have ever seen.

“Welcome to the Field of Reeds.”

It’s indescribable. An endless view of golden warmth. Peace like you’ve never felt before.

“It’s… I don't have the words…”

“Enjoy it. You belong here.”

You smile up at her.

The peace doesn’t last long however, when suddenly you hear a familiar voice calling from a distance behind you.

“Hey! Hey, hippo lady! You gotta take me back!”

You turn to where the voice is coming from.

“Not this again.” Taweret sighs.

“Marc?!” You interrupt as you realise who is running toward you. He stops when he notices you.

“Y/N? What- what are you doing here?”

“Same as you.” You respond bluntly. “Harrow killed me.”

A range of emotions flash across Marc’s face. Anger and sadness being the mains ones.

“I’m sorry.” He says simply, before turning his attention back to the hippopotamus next to you.

“There’s nothing I can do Marc.” Taweret says before he can even ask. “Steven is gone.”

“What?” You look between Taweret and Marc in a panic, but Marc turns away from you. “What do you mean he’s gone?”

“The Duat has him.” Taweret explains. “When Marc died, the Duat split him and Steven into their own separate bodies in order to fairly judge their lives.”

“So Steven is one of those bodies in the sand?” You say in horror and she nods. “We can go back for him though? Right?!”

“It doesn’t work like that. If you leave here you can’t return.” She looks at Marc. “Please, enjoy your peace.”

Marc turns around angrily.

“Peace?! There is no peace without Steven!”

“You don’t need him anymore Marc. You created Steven when you needed to cope with the worst parts of your life, but that’s over now.” She says, her voice gentle.

“So I get to go on to eternal peace, and he just…” Marc pauses. “Stays lost in the sand forever?”

A tear escapes down your cheek at the thought of Steven being one of those desperate figures you saw in the sand on the way here. Even though you now understand that Steven was only ever a personality created by Marc, he still felt real to you. You only really knew Steven. Your goofy, lovable, Egypt obsessed friend.

“No.” Marc says suddenly. “I’m not good with that.”

“Wait!” Taweret calls as Marc begins to walk off. “Think about this!”

You watch him for a moment before turning to Taweret. She shakes her head at you, warning you. But you ignore her and run to catch up with him.

“What are you gonna do?” You ask.

“I’m gonna get Steven back.”

“Then I’m coming too.”

“Are you sure?” He stops and turns to you. It’s still so weird seeing Steven’s face but hearing Marc’s voice. “I can’t guarantee this will go well.”

“He’d do it for it me.” You say and Marc nods.

The world around you starts to swirl. The golden sky turns dark and the reeds change to sand. Just ahead of you you spot him. Steven. Now one of the figures stuck in the sand. The two of you run over to him. His frozen hand is reaching out in front of him, a look of pain on his face. Marc crouches in front of him.

“Steven. Looking pretty rough man.” He cries. “I don't know if you can hear me… From the moment you arrived, way back then, we were so young… You saved me. I survived because I knew I wasn’t alone. You were always there, alive, full of hope. I tried to protect that, and I failed. I couldn’t protect you.”

You feel a strange sensation in your feet and look down to see they’ve started to turn to ice, like Steven. Then you notice Marc’s hands have also started to change.

“You didn’t abandon me.” He looks down at his frozen hand. “You didn’t abandon me. And although that field back there was looking pretty good, there’s no way in hell I’m gonna abandon you.”

He tried to reach his hand up to hold Steven’s but his arm goes stiff. He looks at you and nods his head to gesture for you to come over. You crouch down beside him, looking into Steven’s terrified eyes.

“Hey Stevo. It’s Y/N. You know, Marc is right. You would never abandon the people you care about. How many times you stayed later than you needed to at work, just so I didn’t have to do inventory on my own.” You laugh as tears stream down your cheeks. “And I know you wouldn’t have left me with Harrow unless you had no choice. Because you are the best person I’ve ever met. You don't believe it, but you are. I should have told you that when we were alive. I should have told you how much you mean to me.” The feeling of your body quickly changing to ice spreading up your legs and arms. You manage to lift your hand to hold Steven’s.

Your body has completely changed now, only your head remains. You look at Marc. He reaches his hand up and places it over yours and Steven’s.

“You are the only real superpower I ever had.” He says to Steven as the ice takes over, freezing his head completely.

You feel it creeping up the sides of your face. You fix your eyes on Steven and manage to whisper three little words as the last part of you becomes frozen in the sand.

“I love you.”

— — — —

The worst thing about being frozen in the Duat wasn’t actually the being frozen, but rather the fact that you were conscious the whole time. Forced to stare into the frozen eyes of the man you love, but unable to move or speak to him.

All concept of time goes out the window. You have no idea how long you’ve been stuck like this, when suddenly you're aware of a rumbling sound and bright light shining to the side of you. As the light hits the side of your face its like warmth is being restored to your body. The ice melts away and you take a deep breath as life is restored to your body.

You look over to see the giant ornate gates have opened, light pouring through them. You turn back to look at Steven, the ice is starting to melt from him.

“Steven…” you whisper and he looks at you, taking a big breath of air into his thawed body.

“Y/N…” he smiles and hugs you before turning to a now unfrozen Marc. “Marc!”

“Steven!” He says happily.

“You came back? What the hell’s wrong with you?!” Steven says, smiling as he helps Marc stand.

“Well I did a whole little speech there.”

“It wasn’t that little.” Steven laughs, pulling Marc in for a hug. He turns to you, holding out his hand to help you stand. “I heard yours too.”

“I meant every word.” You say sincerely, looking into his eyes and he smiles as he gently places a hand on your cheek.

“I love you too.” He whispers.

“Uh, guys.” Marc says from beside you. “As lovely as this moment is… we have a problem.”

You both turn to see what Marc is looking at. A giant sandstorm wave heading straight towards you.

“Oh bollocks!” Steven shouts. “Come on, lets go!”

The three of you start to run, Marc struggling as his leg seems to be injured. Steven hooks one of Marc’s arms over his shoulder and you do the same on the other side.

“I’m slowing us down, just go!” Marc shouts.

“We’re not leaving you!” You reply, almost dragging him now.

“Coming through!” You hear and turn around to see Taweret on her ship sailing towards you. “Osiris you old softie!” She calls as she crashes through the wave, slowing it down to give you time. “Now run!!” She shouts.

“Hippo!!” Steven shouts, waving his hands in the air before Marc grabs him and pulls you all towards the gates. You run with all the strength you can muster and finally make it through the gates.

— — — —

“Where am I?” You ask aloud, glancing at the bright white nothingness around you. “Steven? Marc? Anyone?”

“Y/N Y/L/N.” A voice calls from everywhere at once.

“Hello?” You respond.

“I am Osiris, god of the underworld.”

Part Ten

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#moon knight x reader #moon knight #moon knight fanfic #moon knight fic #steven grant x reader #marc spector #marc spector x reader #steven grant #taweret #Taweret x reader

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worldserasingandcreatinginmymind · 16 days

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Bloody Beetle | Part Eight

Summary: you and Layla race to free Khonshu, before Harrow frees Ammit

Pairing: none really

Word Count: 1.8k

Warnings: Ammit being manipulative, Harrow being Harrow, death...

A/N: can't lie, I barely proof read this because I just wanted to get it posted. im sorry it took so long!! as always spelling and grammar are not my strongest skills so please be kind :)

Part Seven | Series Masterlist

- - - - -

“Layla?” Your voice sounds as weak as you feel as you look up at Layla. Her face full of concern as she moves the blanket that Harrow used to cover you.

“Oh thank God” she breathes a sigh of relief, helping you to get up out of the car. “What did he do to you?”

“I’ll explain later. We have to stop him!”

Layla explains her plan to you as the two of you make your way up the side of the pyramid to the opening created by Harrow. Get inside, find and realise Khonsu. Hope that he can somehow bring Marc back. The weakness in your body caused by his staff makes you stumble on the bricks a few times, but Layla helps you and eventually you make it inside the pyramid. Avoiding Harrow and his disciples you find the place where Khonshu’s ushabti is kept. You peer around the wall to see Harrow smash Ammit’s ushabti on the ground. Bright purple smoke swirls through the tomb as the giant crocodile goddess appears. Harrow and his disciples kneel before her. She is terrifying.

“Got it!” Layla say as she grabs Khonshu’s ushabti, places it on the ground and stamps on it. Smoke pours out of it and forms a tall figure with a bird skull for a head, holding a large crescent moon staff. He looks down at the two of you.

“I do not sense Marc Spector in this world. He died fighting no doubt.”

“Fighting your war!” Layla replies angrily.

“Can you bring him back?” You ask.

“I don't know. If Marc is truly gone, I am in need of an avatar. Would you Layla El-Faouly protect the travellers of the night…”

“Are you joking?!” She hisses. “You turned Marc’s life into a waking nightmare. Why would I ever sign up for that?”

“Because you won’t win against Harrow and Ammit alone.”

“I’ll take my chances.”

Khonshu looks at you and you just shake your head. He sighs.

“Marc was in crisis over you two. His lack of focus got him killed. You need a plan, little bugs. What I offer…”

“I don't care what you can offer. Marc didn’t trust you. We don't trust you.” Layla takes a step closer to him now. “We will work together without you enslaving us.”

“We must rebind Ammit. Only an avatar can do it.”

“We said no.”

Khonshu sighs before disappearing in a swirl of smoke. You peer back around the wall again in time to see Khonshu appear in front of Ammit, blocking her and her disciples from leaving. Harrow looks around.

“There’s someone else here. Find who released him.” Harrow orders and his disciples split off to start searching.

“Khonshu’s just given us away. We don't have much time before they find us.” You whisper to Layla as you move back behind the stone wall. “We need a plan.”

Layla takes a look around the wall before turning back to you. “Osiris’ avatar is still alive. If I could get to him he may be able to help.” You move closer to her, peering around to see the injured man struggling to drag himself across the ground. Looking around you see two of Ammit’s disciples getting closer.

“They’re getting closer.”

“We need a distraction.” Layla thinks out loud and you get an idea. You don't like it and you're not totally sure it will work but it’s all you’ve got right now.

“Okay.” Is all you say before you move to step out from behind the wall.

"What are you doing?” Layla grabs your arm. “They will kill you.”

“He won’t.” You look her in the eyes. “Harrow won’t hurt me.”

“He already has, I mean, look at you. You can barely stand.”

“What other choice do we have? If they get to that man they will kill him. If they find you they will kill you too. But Harrow…” you pause, not wanting to admit what you're about to say “Harrow has feelings for me. He admitted it. He won’t let them hurt me.”

“Are you sure about this?” Layla asks after a moment.

“What other choice do we have?” You repeat, sadder this time and Layla just stares back at you. She knows you're right. “Do what you can to save them.”

Layla nods and gives you a hug before you pull away and step out. You take a few short painful steps before the two disciples spot you and come running over, harshly grabbing your arms and dragging you away. You glance over your shoulder just in time to see Layla pulling the injured avatar to safety. At least the distraction worked.

— — — —

“We found her.”

“Y/N?” Harrow looks at you in horror. “How are you here?”

“Guess I’m stronger than you think.”

“And who do we have here?” Ammit clicks and the disciples holding you push you to the ground, forcing you to kneel. You wince as your knees hit the cold stone floor and you keep your head down, not wanting anyone to see the pain on your face. You feel a clawed hand stroke the back of your head. “Look at me, little weakling.” When you don't do as she says, her fingers grip your hair and pull you head back so your forced to look up at her scaly green face. Her yellow eyes piercing into yours. “I recognise you. I’ve seen your scales before. And yet here you are, still breathing… Why is that?”

She whips her head to the side to face Harrow, but her grip remains firm on you.

“My goddess, forgive me.” Harrow says. You glance at him, he looks visibly shaken.

“You kept this one alive?” Ammit asks and Harrow nods. “ Despite my orders. Explain yourself.”

“He kept her alive cause he fancies her.” A voice in the crowd calls out before Arthur has chance to speak, one of the disciples steps forward. “I’d have happily done it for him, but he told us anyone who hurt her would be dead.” You understand now why everyone avoided you at meal times and around the camp. Harrow had threatened them.

“It’s true, I do have feelings for her.” Harrow says. “My heart cares for her more than anyone I have encountered before. And that has stopped me from carrying out my duty to you, my goddess. I understand if you decide that I am unfit to be your avatar and choose someone else to carry out what lies ahead.”

“Hmmmm” a low, almost growl like hum comes from Ammit as she loosens her grip slightly, caressing your hair as she thinks. “You are only human.” She moves her hand around to stroke your face “All humans have weakness, and she is yours.” She lets go of you and you slump down slightly, your body aching still kneeling on the ground as she walks toward Harrow. “Up until now you have proved yourself to be loyal, you have judged a great many unbalanced souls in my name. Therefore you won’t be punished.”

“Thank you goddess-” Harrow starts but Ammit places one of her large fingers on his lips.

“But there is something you must do before we continue.” She leans down close to him and whispers something, causing Harrow to widen his eyes as he stares at you. She holds out her hand. A small ornate dagger appears in it.

“I can’t.” Harrow is shaking.

“You must.” Is all she says as she hands him the dagger and steps back to watch. He looks at you and you know what she has told him to do.

He has to kill you.

“You don't have to do this.” You say quietly as he begins to slowly walk towards you, gripping the dagger tightly in his trembling hands. “Remember what you said to me in the car, what you told me. Why you kept me alive.”

“She doesn’t deserve this, she hasn’t done anything wrong.” Harrow says, turning his back on you to face Ammit.

“But she will.” Ammit replies.

“Spare her. Please.” He stands in front of you now, almost shielding you from her view as you cower on the floor behind him. “I beg you goddess, spare her life like you spared mine and I will never question you again.”

“She has to die.”

“WHY?!” Harrow shouts now. “What could she possibly do in the future that is so bad that she deserves this?!”

“She will be the one to kill you.”

An eery silence falls on the room.

“No” you say quietly as you try to stand, your legs wobbling under you “no, no, I- I wouldn’t do that. I wouldn’t kill anyone. I couldn’t, Arthur I would never-”

He turns to face you, the shock making you stumble backwards, you trip over yourself and fall back down.

“You love her, but she doesn’t love you.” Ammit says. “I’ve seen in her heart. She doesn’t even like you. She pretends to tolerate you so that you’ll keep her alive. But in the end, she will betray you. And it will be your undoing.”

“She’s lying.” You stare up at him as he stands over you. There’s pain and betrayal in his face. He believes her. “She’s manipulating you Arthur!”

“How long have you known me? How long have you known her?” Ammit purrs as she comes to stand behind Harrow. “When have I ever lied to you?”

He continues to look at you without speaking.

“I’m not going to kill you.” You say, shaking your head. “Please… Arthur…”

He holds his empty hand out for you to take. You let out a small sigh, placing your hand in his. He gently pulls you up so you're almost standing face to face with him, and you give him a small smile.

“I’m sorry.” He whispers, a quick flash of purple light in his eyes.

Suddenly the wind is knocked from you as the dagger plunges into your stomach. You place your hands where the pain is, looking down to see them coated in red.

“Arthur…” you look back at him again in shock, Ammit’s face smiling over his shoulder as you drop back down to the ground, curling up on yourself into a ball.

“Now you have proven your loyalty to me, we can begin to cleanse the world.” Ammit says, turning her back on you and walking towards the exit. Harrow continues to look down coldly at you for a moment before turning away and following Ammit out of the tomb, leaving you to die.

You hear your name and roll over just in time to see Layla running towards you before you can no longer keep your eyes open and you finally slip away into darkness.

the end

...just kidding... Part Nine :)

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#moon knight #moon knight fanfic #moon knight imagine #moon knight x reader #moon knight fanfiction #Arthur harrow x reader #layla el faouly x reader #ammit x reader #Khonshu x reader

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worldserasingandcreatinginmymind · 21 days

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Fanfic writers are like crows. If you give them treats (comments) they will bring you shiny things (fanfic)

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worldserasingandcreatinginmymind · 23 days

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☝️

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worldserasingandcreatinginmymind · 1 month

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the sun is shining in my new fave writing spot ☀️

finally getting the final part of Bloody Beetle out of my head and onto the page

#bloody beetle #update

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worldserasingandcreatinginmymind · 2 months

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had a guy try and get in the back of my car tonight outside the gym after dance class. thankfully my car doors were locked but damn, that was scary. please be careful people and always lock your doors! there's some right weirdos out there.

#personal

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worldserasingandcreatinginmymind · 2 months

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Monday was the 6 month anniversary of my best friend's death. Tuesday was the 6 year anniversary of my nans death. Wednesday my cat died.

I don't think I wanna do Thursday...

In other news, I'm working on Bloody Beetle but I'm finding it HARD! I think because it's gonna be the last part I feel pressured (by myself) to make it perfect which in turn is making it impossible to actually write 😩

#personal

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worldserasingandcreatinginmymind · 3 months

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Bloody Beetle | Part Seven

Summary: Layla's version of events

Pairing: none for this part

Word Count: 1.3k

Warnings: none really for this one

A/N: as always spelling and grammar are not my strongest skills so please be kind :)

Part Six | Series Masterlist

- - - - -

Layla’s POV

She felt her heart break when she heard that gunshot ring through the tomb, followed by the sound of your muffled screams. Then the second gunshot and she knew.

Marc was dead.

It took every drop of willpower not to run out and kill Harrow on the spot. But she knew she had to stay hidden. She crept around the edge of the tomb, staying hidden behind the stone pillars, to get a glimpse of what was happening. Tears fell from her eyes as she watched you break free from the person holding her and throw herself down at Marc’s side. She felt proud as she watched you argue with Harrow.

“You’re not in your right mind.” Harrow patronised.

“Oh my mind is perfectly right!” You quipped back, standing your ground.

‘You go girl’ she thought to herself.

She thought about stepping in to help when they restrained you, but she couldn’t give herself away. It's clear Harrow wanted you alive for something, but he wouldn’t think twice about shooting her. Her best bet was to stay hidden while she comes up with a plan to help you.

‘Get your hands off my husband’ she thought as she watched them search through Marc’s pockets. Even though they weren't together anymore, she still felt something for him. Protective of him. She hopes Marc was smart enough to hide the ushabti, but they find it.

Aware that someone is snooping around close to her, Layla holds her breath, and as soon as they're within reach she strikes. She knocks the guy out and slowly drops his body to the ground. Careful not to make any noise.

What happens next surprises everyone.

The girl from the tent, she thinks she heard you call her Maya, runs in frantically apologising to Harrow. He’s unnecessarily cold to her, which Layla thinks is an overreaction. But then he shoots her and Layla is reminded just how unhinged Harrow is. When he finally leaves the tomb, she sneaks out over to where Marc’s body is lying in the water.

“Marc? Marc!” She whispers, shaking him gently and cradling his face. She looks down his body at the two bleeding bullet holes in his chest. Between them lies the scarab beetle that started all this. Harrow must have left it there. Her breathing starts to get shaky. A part of her had hoped that Marc was just pretending. Or that Khonsu would somehow be able to save him. But he’s dead. Her husband is dead. What is she supposed to do now?

She allows herself a few moments to grieve, crying as she hugs Marc’s lifeless body.

An idea hits her. She gives Marc a goodbye kiss on the forehead and takes the scarab before heading over to the body off the disciple she had knocked out. She changes into his clothes, pulling the hood over her head and scarf right up to just under her eyes then she heads out of the tomb to catch up with the rest of Harrow’s followers. As she takes the opportunity to mix herself in and get lost within the crowd, she sees you up ahead, still being dragged by some of the followers with Harrow right by your side. She keeps her head down. She can’t risk you recognising her and giving her away. If Harrow didn’t hesitate to kill Maya, one of his own followers, she hates to think what he’s do to her.

— — — —

Outside the tomb, Harrow and his followers went straight to work getting things ready and before long everyone was in vehicles heading out across the desert. Layla had managed to go undetected and snuck her way into the last of the line of cars. No one seemed interested in her at all, but still she kept her hood up just to be safe. Thankfully a lot of the other followers also had hoods up and scarves on their faces to keep the sand out so Layla didn’t look out of place.

She didn’t know how long they’d been traveling for before they were stopped by the Egyptian patrol officers, and chaos ensued. Taking the ushabti seemed to make Harrow more powerful and he was able to simultaneously judge all the officers at once, killing most of them. If he’s this powerful now, what will he be able to do if he releases Ammit?

The followers got straight to work moving the bodies while Harrow stood and watched. ‘This is my chance’ she thought. She jumped out the back of the vehicle, eyes set on Harrow as she pulled the knife from her belt. Slowly she started walking towards him, like a predator stalking prey. She kept close to the cars, carefully stepping over bodies of officers as she walked.

“Don’t do it” she heard a voice and looked down. To her surprise one of the dead male officers was talking to her, but with the voice of a British woman? “Layla, wait! I am the goddess Taweret.”

She shook it off, continuing to walk.

“Layla!” she heard again, looking over to see a different officer laying on the ground. “It’s Marc who’s telling you to stop.”

“What the hell is this?” She says quietly as the officer struggles to sit up “He’s dead!”

“And I am talking to you through dead people right now. So what? Listen, Harrow is too powerful for you to stop him alone. If Marc… if he can return to life…”

“What do you mean return to life?”

“He is going to need Khonshu. Break his ushabti. It’s in the chamber of the gods... And you can be my avatar! Marc says wonderful things about you.”

“No, no, no. I’ll fight him on my own.”

Layla turns back to look at Harrow, but is distracted when she sees something move in the back of the car that he’s leaning against. It’s you. She sees you wave, mouthing something. You're asking her to help. She nods, gesturing for you to be quiet. She can’t risk you alerting Harrow. She takes a few more steps before she hears a follower shout “it's time to go!” and realises she’s out of time.

“I’ll find you.” She mouths before quickly making her way back to the vehicle at the back, putting the knife back in her belt and letting out a sigh. Maybe Taweret is right. She does need help.

— — — —

Some time later the cars pull up at the base of the great pyramid of Giza and the disciples jump out the cars to begin climbing up the side of pyramid. Layla jumps out too but stops when she notices Harrow and you haven’t got out the car you’re in yet. She sees the driver get out and go to join the others, but Harrow doesn’t move.

Layla gets into the back of the car that is directly behind the one you’re in and gets down low so no one can see her. She watches you through the rear window. Watches the two of you talk. She can’t see your face very well, but she can tell from body language this is an tense and emotional discussion. She sees you reach out to hold his hand. Then she see him lift his hand up and place it on your head.

‘what is going on in there?’ She thinks to herself. Then she sees you collapse into Harrow and her heart sinks. Has he just killed you too?

She watches as he gets out the car and bends down to kiss you before covering you with a blanket. He says something, then closes the door. He takes a moment and a deep breath as he shakes off whatever effect that conversation has just had, then goes to join the others. Layla waits till he’s far enough away before getting out the car and sneaking over to yours. She carefully opens the door, and if she hasn’t just watched Harrow she wouldn’t have known you were there. He’s hidden you well with the blanket. She pulls it back to reveal your face.

“Please be alive” she whispers as she checks for a pulse, and is relieved when she finds one. Its weak, but its there. She shakes you gently. “Y/N, please wake up. Come on, Y/n!”

You begin to stir.

“Layla?”

Part Eight

(If you want to be added/removed on the tag list please let me know, but note that I can’t reply to comments from this blog)

#moon knight #moon knight fic #layla el faouly x reader #layla el faouly #Arthur harrow #Arthur Harrow x reader #Ethan hawke #may calamawy

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worldserasingandcreatinginmymind · 3 months

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Bloody Beetle | Part Six

Summary: in an intense car ride with Harrow you make one final attempt to change his mind, and truths are revealed.

Pairing: Harrow x reader

Word Count: 2k

Warnings: Harrow being Harrow (he's like, bordering on yandere)

A/N: I am SO sorry this took so long. Grief is a bitch. But part seven coming tomorrow!! then I think part eight will be the final part... I researched a LOT into the Staff of Ammit and what powers Harrow had but definitely made shit up so apologies haha 🙈 as always spelling and grammar are not my strongest skills so please be kind :)

Part Five | Series Masterlist

- - - - -

The journey across the Egyptian desert is uncomfortable. Not just because its a long time to be sat in a hot car on a ridiculously bumpy track, but because you're forced to sit in the back with Harrow right by your side. He tries to converse with you, telling you how excited you should be about going to Giza and how privileged you are to witness the birth of the new world. But all you can do is stare out the window, simultaneously trying to block Harrow's voice and the image burnt into your mind of Steven and Maya’s lifeless bodies in the tomb.

When you finally reach a main road, you're almost relieved to see the Egyptian patrol vehicles blocking the road, forcing the cars to stop. Officers approach the cars, banging on the hoods as they say something in a language you don't understand.

“Stay in the car.” Harrow tells you calm but firm as he opens the door and gets out. Officers raise their guns and shout at him and some disciples immediately jump out the cars to defend him. Harrow just calmly raises his hands, telling everyone it’s all right.

“Show me your papers!” The officer near to him says.

“I don't need to show you my papers.” Harrow replies. “You need to show us your soul.”

He raises his cane and as he bangs it to the ground a purple light sweeps through the officers. You gasp, watching as almost all of them fall to the ground. All except the one who had been talking to Harrow. His body shakes and when it stops he looks at Harrow, dazed and confused.

“This is the face of a good man.” Harrow says, reaching out to place his hand on the officer’s shoulder. He removes the walkie talkie from the officers vest and shuts it off. “You don't need this anymore.” He throws it to the ground and moves away from the officer.

“Move the bodies out of the way.” You hear Bobbi call and see disciples start to jump out from the cars. “Lets go! Clear a path.”

The driver in your car gets out to help and you see your opportunity. You open the door, but before you can even move Harrow is there slamming it shut again. He locks eyes with you through the car window and holds out his hand. The driver hands him the key and he instantly locks the car, before turning and leaning against the door. You shuffle across the seat to the other side of the car and try that door instead, but it stays locked. You let out a sigh, turning to look out the back window. You watch the disciples working, moving the officers bodies like they’re just bags of sand, not caring at all that these are real people who had lives and families.

Movement behind one of the vehicles a few cars away grabs your attention. Every other person out there is helping clear a path, but not this one. This person has their hood up. Like they’re hiding, sneaking behind he back of the cars. The sun catches something metal shining in their hand. A knife! As they get close enough you realise its Layla! Her eyes remain fixed on Harrow as she steadies her grip on the knife in her hand. She must be here to kill Harrow!

You spare a quick glance at Harrow, he’s still leaning against the car door watching his disciples do his dirty work. You look back at Layla and you're surprised to see she’s no longer focused. Instead she’s looking down at the ground, talking to someone. You shuffle as far over as you can to try and get a better view but all you can see is someones legs. It looks like she’s talking to one of the dead officers…

Suddenly she looks back up again, startling you. Your movement catches her eye and she looks directly at you through the rear window. You wave, mouthing at her to “help”. She nods, bringing her finger up to her mouth to tell you to stay quiet as she refocuses on Harrow. She takes a couple of short steps but when Bobbi shouts “it’s time to go” she stops retreating back a few steps.

“I’ll find you.” She mouths to you before running to the back of the cars and disappearing from your view. A sadness hits you as you remember Steven saying those same words back in London. When was that? Days? Weeks? You’d lost count of how long you’d been with Harrow in the middle of all this madness.

You jump at the sound of Harrow getting back in the car, turning around to sit back down in your seat.

“What were you looking at?” He asks, glancing out the rear window.

“Nothing.” You say shakily, hoping Harrow doesn’t realise you're lying. “Just.. there’s a lot of bodies out there.”

Sensing your sadness he reaches over, placing his hand on yours and giving it a reassuring squeeze. “I know it’s hard. It will be over soon.” You pull your hand away and move as far away from him as is possible when trapped in a car. You hear him sigh before he says “Not far to go now.”

— — — —

You see it in the distance. The great pyramid of Giza standing tall in the desert. Your heart starts to race as you realise this really is it. Time is running out.

“Are you alright?” Harrow asks, hearing your shaky breaths as you try to calm yourself.

“Please don't do this.” You say in a sudden moment of bravery.

“What?”

“Don't do this.” You say, firmer this time as you look at him. “You can turn these cars around, stop anyone else from dying… You don't have to go through with this.”

You look him at him for a moment, silently pleading with him as he looks back at you. There’s a sadness in his eyes.

“I have to.”

“No- no you don’t”

“I do Y/N.”

“Says who?” You argue. “Who? Ammit? She’s lying to you Arthur-”

“Don’t-”

“She’ll say whatever she has to to convince you to free her. But there must be a reason that the other gods imprisoned her. She is dangerous-”

“ENOUGH!” Harrow shouts and slams his cane into floor, startling you and clearly the driver too from the way the car swerves. “My apologies.” He says to the driver, composing himself before looking at you. You haven’t seen him this angry, especially not with you. “I understand that you are frightened, and you are grieving your friend…” he tries to hide his anger by softening his voice “but you talk of things of things you do not understand.”

“Then help me.” You say quietly. He looks confused. “Help me to understand.”

“I’ve already told you-” Harrow starts but you interrupt.

“You told me why Ammit takes lives. But what about you? You killed Steven, Arthur, YOU did that!”

“He was complicated. He had unbalanced scales.”

“What about Maya? She didn’t have ‘unbalanced scales’. She was on your side, she worshipped you! And you murdered her!”

“No! She failed to stop Marc Spector from getting to the tomb and in turn we almost lost the ushabti. She jeopardised our chance of freeing Ammit.”

"Then what about me? Why am I still alive Arthur? I have been very open about how much I disagree with Ammit, and you. I helped Steven to get the ushabti. I have tried at every opportunity to stop you, but I’m still here. Help me understand that.” You pause, giving him a chance to speak but he closes his eyes. “Why haven’t you killed me, like you have with everyone else who got in your way?” He still remains silent. “Arthur?!”

“Because I can’t!” He finally replies, looking at you with teary eyes. “I know I’m supposed to, she wants me to, but I can’t do that to you, I just can’t… not to you…”

“What are you saying?”

The car comes to a stop at the base of the pyramid and the driver gets out. But Harrow doesn’t move. The cult leader/avatar of Ammit persona he’s always worn has dropped, leaving a very different person in front of you. For the first time, he looks vulnerable.

“I have feelings for you Y/N. Feelings I’m not supposed to have. Feelings that have stopped me from carrying out Ammit's orders.��

“I- I don’t understand.. You said Ammit changed her mind, that she saw something special about me-” a realisation hits you “It was all a lie. But the daily healings? If that wasn’t Ammit, then what the hell was it? Please, just tell me the truth.”

He looks conflicted, releasing a sigh before speaking.

“Keeping you alive was an accident. When I first met you in the museum, I would have gone through with killing you if Marc hadn’t stopped me. I made up the deal that Ammit would spare you if he gave me the scarab but I had every intention of killing you anyway. When I came to you, when you were almost dead, I was going to finish it.” He must see the horror on your face because he quickly tries to reassure you “But then I listened to you speak and for the first time I questioned Ammit’s judgement. No one has ever made me do that. I knew you must be special, so I restored your life back to you.”

“So why convince me I was still dying?”

“I needed a reason to keep you near me. I hoped you would be grateful and stay with me. But you didn’t, so I said Marc had left you behind and when you still wanted to leave I panicked and made up a reason to keep you around.”

“But if you weren’t actually healing me, what were you doing?”

"Simply making you sleep. I always believed the Staff of Ammit simply judged and drained a life force completely. It was only after Marc interrupted me draining your life at the museum that I realised that wasn't the case. It can kill, it can leave a person on the edge of death, or it can send someone into a deep sleep. So that's what I did.” He looks down at the cane that is resting against his leg.

“Is there anything you haven’t lied to me about?!”

“There is something special in you Y/N, that wasn’t a lie. I can see it. And when Ammit is released I will make sure she sees it too-”

“She wants me DEAD Arthur!! Why aren’t you getting that? She wants me dead, and when she sees you haven’t done it she’ll just do it herself.”

“I won’t let that happen.”

“If you think you can stop her you're even more delusional than I thought.” You say, and from Harrow’s face you see he knows you have a point. “The simple truth is, if you go in there and release Ammit you won’t just be condemning a whole lot of innocent people to death… you’ll be killing me too.” You watch him as he thinks. He looks conflicted. You reach out and take his hand, causing him to fully concentrate on you. “Arthur, you said that you questioned Ammit’s judgement. If there is any doubt in you at all, any part of you that thinks she wrong then you have to stop this.”

He looks past you, out the car window to the disciples that have started to climb up the side of the pyramid, studying them for a moment. Then back to you.

“You're right. I have to stop this.” He says and you smile at him in relief, nodding your head. “I have to stop her from killing you.”

“What, no that’s not what I mean-” you start to argue but he cuts you off, placing his hand on your head. You see the cane glow and instantly feel sleep coming over you. “No Arth- please…”

“It all right my love, you’ll be okay.” He lays you down across the car seat, sliding back to open the car door behind him and lets himself out. “You’ll be safe in here.” He pulls a blanket from the floor and drapes it over you, covering you so that you are hidden but leaving a small gap for you to breathe. You look up at him stood in the door frame, he's looking at you full of sadness and fear.

"Please..." you manage and as you drift off you hear him speak.

“I hope I'm here when you wake to join you in the new world.”

Part Seven

(If you want to be added/removed on the tag list please let me know, but note that I can’t reply to comments from this blog)

#Arthur harrow #moon knight #Arthur Harrow x reader #Ethan Hawke x reader #moon knight fic #Arthur Harrow fic #arthur harrow x you #yandere Arthur harrow #yandere Ethan hawke

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worldserasingandcreatinginmymind · 3 months

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started writing part 6 and realised I missed a small bit out of this so I've changed the end slightly 😬

Bloody Beetle | Part Five

Summary: you journey into the tomb with Steven and Layla, but will you get to Ammit before Harrow gets to you...

Pairing: Steven/Marc x Reader, Layla x Reader, Harrow x Reader

Word Count: 3.3k

Warnings: Heka priests, deaths (I’m sorry 😭), Harrow being Harrow

A/N: as always spelling and grammar are not my strongest skills so please be kind :)

Part Four | Series Masterlist

- - - - -

“Y/N!” the British voice you didn’t realise you’d missed so much. “Y/N, oh thank God!”

You crawl out from under the bed and you just about have time to get to your feet before he’s pulling you in for the tightest hug you’ve ever received. You let yourself sink into his embrace for just a second before pulling away.

“Are you alright?” He starts to anxiously ramble “I thought you were dead-”

“You can drop the act. I know who you really are, Marc Spector. Harrow explained it all to me. He told me you were a mercenary and that everything the police said in the car that night, about how you killed people… It’s all true. And that’s why you pretended to be Steven. Pretended to be my friend-

"I AM your friend..."

"A friend wouldn't have just given Harrow the scarab and left me behind."

“No no no, Y/N, that’s not what happened at all. I lost the scarab while being chased out of there by a jackal that he summoned! I tried to get to you, so did Layla. I would never just leave you." He reaches out for you but you back away. “Please, you have to believe me!”

“I don't know what to believe anymore.” You say sadly.

“Y/N…” he stops talking, his eyes rolling back and when he looks at you again he’s completely different. “Y/N, I don't have time right now but I promise I will tell you the truth.”

“Marc..? What just happened?”

“We need to stop Harrow first and then I will explain everything. I promise.” Marc is interrupted by Maya running back into the tent, her gun aimed at him.

“You need to leave!” She says, trying to sound threatening but you can see pure panic in her eyes.

"Maya, its okay." You try to calm her. "Just put the gun away."

"I can't. Harrow- he'll be so mad at me. This isn't supposed to be happening-" Maya rambles, but when Marc moves slightly she refocuses on him. "You have to leave!"

“No, I think you should leave.” Layla says as she sneaks in behind Maya and yanks the gun straight out her hand. Maya runs and Layla sees you. She looks just as surprised as Steven had. “Y/N! You look good for someone who's supposed to be dead.”

“What are you talking about? Why would you think I was dead?"

"Because that's what Harrow is telling people." Marc says.

"Bu why would lie about that?"

“Because that's just what he does. He lies and manipulates people. which is one of the reasons we have to get to Ammit’s ushabti before he does.”

— — — —

The three of you make your way outside just in time to see Maya disappear down into the tomb.

“Shit, she’ll warn Harrow that we’re here.” Layla says as you run to the dig site. “Ah.” She says once you get to there.

“What's the problem?” Marc asks.

“I wasn’t expecting Y/N to be with us, I only have two harnesses. I can go find another?”

“No, it’s alright. That will take too long. Harness me up and I’ll carry her down with me.”

“Are you sure?” You say, anxiety rippling through you.

“Yeah, it’s not that far down. We’ll be fine.”

Layla gets her harness on then helps Marc get into his. As she's tightening his straps you see his eyes roll like they did before and notice his whole posture change again.

“I have to say, I feel like I’ve been waiting for this my whole life.” Steven's voice says as Layla helps him tighten the straps on his harness, completely unfazed by his changed accent. “The adventure, I mean.”

“We want what we’ve never had.” She finishes preparing his harness and gets ready. “I’m gonna go down first. Before I belay.”

“Right, yeah… what’s belay?” Steven asks, and Layla laughs.

“I still can’t tell when you're joking or not.” She says before clipping rope to the front of her harness and disappearing down the shaft. Steven looks at you.

“Belay?” He says, and you shrug.

“I have no idea.” You half laugh. “Are you sure you can do this?”

“It’ll be fine.” He says, not at all convincingly. He copies Layla, attaching the rope to the front of his harness then gestures for you to come over. You awkwardly put your arms around his neck and he lifts you. Its surprises you how strong he is. He cradles you to him and takes a breath before taking a step. But as he reaches the edge, his foot slips and you both tumble down into the darkness. Steven’s body acts as an air bag as he hits the ground, still holding you tightly. You land with a thud in a cloud of dust and sand. It takes you a moment to realise your lying on top of Steven, your face less than an inch away from his.

“Are you okay?” Layla asks, rushing over and helping you up.

“Yeah, I think so.” You reply, turning to give Steven a hand. “Steven?”

“I’m aces.” He says, grunting as he gets to his feet. “I wish you hadn’t seen that… oh wow, look at you.”

You look at him and realise he’s looking past you. You turn to see the huge ancient sculptures behind you, similar to the ones you used to see every day in the museum. Only these ones weren’t made out of polystyrene just to decorate an exhibition. This is the real deal.

“Oh yeah, they’re gorgeous.” Layla agrees. “Just standing guard for centuries!”

“Right! Look I can’t even…” Steven looks like all his Christmas came at once, he’s so excited. You can’t help but feel happy for him, and wonder if what Harrow said could be true. Could he really fake being this excited. “If they just sprang to life right now and asked me a riddle for passage I’d be thrilled! I’d shit myself, but id be thrilled.”

You and Layla exchange a look, silently laughing at the adorable dork in the room.

Once Steven finished fangirling over the reality of where you were right now, the three of you started to make your way further into the tomb.

“Strange.” Steven says quietly as you follow the winding corridors.

“It’s a maze.” Layla says.

“It’s a-maze-ing.” Steven jokes and you roll your eyes, but secretly want to laugh at his little pun. He is fully loving life right now.

“No, like there are six paths.” Layla explains. She bends down, picking up bullets left on the ground. “What would they be shooting at?”

“Six points.” Steven mumbles to himself, ignoring Layla's question about the bullets as he starts to draw something in the sand. “This whole structure is a symbol.”

You and Layla join Steven and look at what he’s drawn. You recognise it from one of the books in the museum.

“That’s the eye of Horus, right?” You ask.

“The royal symbol of protection in the afterlife.” Steven agrees.

“I mean, the resources needed to build this thing!” Layla realises, “Her final avatar was a pharaoh.”

“Woah!” Steven breathes “A bloody pharaoh!”

“You think it’s a map?” You ask.

“Yeah well… the eye of Horus is also the eye of mind yeah? Representing the six senses, six points. So you got the eyebrow that denotes thoughts. Pupil, sight, obviously. This point here is hearing. Smell. Touch. And this long line ending in a spiral is the tongue.”

“The avatar would be Ammit’s voice.” Layla suggests, and Steven nods.

“That’s right.”

You follow them further into the tomb, to a dark room with a sort of stone table in the middle. Layla shines her torch around the walls, revealing ancient drawings on them.

“Heka priests! Judging by their masks and ceremonial stance. They would have been entombed in here to protect the pharaoh. Sorcerers of their time. They’ve been down here for centuries.” She moves her torch to shine on mummified figures in the wall. “These must be some of the unlucky souls who crossed their path.”

You shine your torch at the stone table.

“Oh my God.” Steven gags. “Oh God, is that fresh blood? Little chunks of meaty bits?”

Layla crouches down to examine blood covered jars and tools before saying “Let’s keep moving.”

You start walking towards the exit but when Steven puts his arm out to stop you, you notice the blood trail leading to a pile of bones.

“Just a minute.” Steven says, any excitement he previously had now replaced by fear. “Im just stating what I see, and I see lots of bones and blood going that way. So I’m just thinking like, what if there’s another…” he shines his torch around the room, stopping and pointing up. “There’s an opening up there. You see that? Should we check it out?”

“Alright, you go.” Layla says and Steven starts climbing up to the platform. “Go with him? So he doesn’t fall again.” She asks you with a smirk and you nod. The floorboards creak as you pull yourself up, following Steven.

“So according to ancient text, Ammit should be bound to an ushabti, those statue thingies.” He says as you look around. Steven starts rambling again about all the amazing ancient things he’s seeing, but Layla reminds him he’s supposed to be looking for an exit. “Oh yeah, yeah we can go this way.”

The sound of guns firing makes you all jump.

“Harrow.” You whisper.

“What are they shooting at?” Steven asks.

“I don't know.” Layla starts, but stops when she hears a clicking sound.

“Hide, hide!” Steven frantically whispers as he helps you find somewhere to shelter. You peer over the side and see Layla duck down behind the stone table as a figure enters the room, dragging a body behind it. The thing lifts the body up onto the table and you realise it’s one of Harrow’s people, the male police officer. He’s half awake and groaning as the thing that dragged him in reaches over and picks up one of the sharp tools from the side. It lifts it in the air and plunges it down into the mans body with a squelch. You cover your mouth and look away, over at Steven who looks just as horrified. You look down at Layla, who is still crouched hiding by the table. Right by the jars that the creature has started putting the man’s organs into. She slowly starts to move around to the other side, away from them but she knocks into a jar, alerting the creature to her presence. Steven leans forward, closer to the edge to get a better look but the floorboard creaks under him. He freezes as the thing jumps up onto the table and then up to cling to the underside of the platform you are on. Steven starts to full panic as you look around for a way out, just as Layla launches a jar at the wall. It smashes, grabbing the creatures attention.

“Run! I’ll find you!” Steven yells down to Layla, who makes an escape out the room. “Help me.” He calls over to you and you help him push a table off the platform. It lands on the creature. “We squished it. We squished it!” He gasps, turning and hugging you in relief.

“Yeah we squished it, what exactly was it?” You say breathlessly.

“Heka priest. We should go before any more of them turn up.”

“There’s more of them?!”

Steven grabs your hand and pulls you through the exit. He leads you through more corridors, occasionally stopping to admire a sculpture or ancient drawing. Eventually you find yourselves in a large, magnificent room.

“Oh my days!” Steven gasps. “First ones here. Tomb fit for a pharoah. Its gotta be one of the bigguns.”

You just smile at him as he continues rambling in amazement at everything in the room. You have to admit, it is pretty impressive. But Steven is the real expert on all this stuff. You cross the stepping stones through the water to the middle of the room where the sarcophagus lies.

“Oh wow, look at that! Look at all these relics. Macedonian? No, what?” He crouches down to look at the inscriptions on the side of the sarcophagus. “No way. That can’t be right.”

“What is it?”

“That's Macedonian. But the only pharaoh…but he insisted on calling him self Egyptian.”

“Steven you're not making any sense. What are you saying?”

“I think were looking at the long lost tomb of Alexander the Great.”

“You're kidding?” You ask and he looks at you in amazement. You don't know why but you both start laughing. “Let's get it open.”

You both place your hands on the top, getting ready to push. Steven takes a few breaths then stops.

“Everything inside me is screaming not to open this thing.” He says.

“I know, but Harrow-”

“Alright, alright, alright.” He places his hands back on the top and takes a deep breath. You count to three then push with all your strength. The lid slides open to reveal a mummified corpse lying inside. Even though thats exactly what you expected to see, it still startled you that that is an actual dead person. The actual Alexander the Great.

“Right so, what are we looking for?” you ask.

“If you're gonna hide it for all eternity, you’d probably put it in a place where the average looter wouldn’t think to look.” He thinks. “Alexander was the voice of Ammit...”

You both look at the head, completely wrapped in cloth.

“You don't think…” you start, really hoping Steven isn’t about to suggest what you think he’s going to suggest. You really don't want to see what the body looks like underneath that cloth.

“I'm gonna try something.” He starts to remove the cloth from the head. “Sorry. Oh God, so sorry. Sorry Mr Great.”

The fabric rips revealing the Alexander’s skull, which Steven apologises to again before prying open its mouth and reaching inside. He searches deep inside the skull, gagging a few times before slowly pulling out the a small statue that looks like Ammit.

“Is that it? You got it?” You ask, hope rising that Harrow might not succeed.

“Yeah, yeah we got it.” Steven says with a smile. You smile back before you pull each other in for a hug. You pull apart when you hear footsteps and look to see Layla enter. “Layla look. We won!” He holds the ushabti in the air, a hug grin on his face. But Layla doesn’t smile. She looks likes she’s been crying.

“Are you okay?” You ask.

“Can he hear me?” She asks Steven, ignoring you completely. Now that she’s closer you can see she looks angry.

“Alexander? I don't think so.” Steven chuckles. “God, I hope not.”

“What happened to my father?” She says, getting closer to him. He looks baffled. “I’m talking to you... I’m talking to Marc!” She shoves him and he pauses, his eyes rolling back.

“Come on.” He says, his deep American voice is serious and he tries to pull Layla with him. “We need to go right now.”

“No!” Layla shakes him off. “What happened to my father?”

“Listen to me. We have to leave right now. I will explain everything, I swear. But we have to go!”

“Did you kill Abdullah El Faouly?” Layla asks and Marc pauses. A tense silence fills the air.

“I’m just gonna- I’ll give you a minute.” You say awkwardly as you back away towards the entrance Layla came in through.

“Stay close!” Marc calls to you and you nod before stepping just outside into the corridor. You can still hear their raised voices but at least you don't feel like a spectator to their private conversation now.

As you stand in the dark corridor, trying not to listen to the argument happening just a few feet away, you're suddenly aware that you're not alone. You spin around to see Harrow stood looking at you. He doesn’t look shocked to see you, but he does look disappointed. Like a parent that has just caught their child doing something wrong. You freeze, like a deer caught in headlights as his disciples start charging past you into the tomb, leaving you and Harrow alone. He doesn’t take his eyes off you.

“As disappointed as I am that you disobeyed my order, I am glad you are here to see me take my victory.”

He starts to move towards you and you bolt, trying to run past him to warn Layla and Marc. But he catches you, grabbing you by the arm and pulling you into the room himself. You’re surprised to find Marc left stood on his own, holding an axe, ready to fight. He falters slightly when he realises Harrow has hold of you. Harrow looks at Marc and smiles, before handing you over to Bobbi.

“Just you. The rest is silence.” He says as he takes a few slow steps towards Marc. “I remember the first morning I woke up knowing that Khonshu was gone. The quiet was liberating. You're a free man.” He walks closer to Marc. “And of course with that freedom comes choice. And right now you have a very important decision to make.”

“Okay.” Marc responds.

“No Marc, don’t!” You shout, causing Bobbi to tighten her grip on you and put her hand over your mouth.

Harrow glances at the disciples to the side of him, who start advancing on Marc, guns aimed at him. Marc just stands completely still until they get close enough then he starts his attack, easily taking out three of them. Harrow steps forward, raising a gun that you didn’t even see him holding and points it at Marc.

Before you have a chance to even try to fight, Harrow pulls the trigger. A bullet hits Marc straight in the chest. He stumbles backwards, pain on his face as his white shirt starts to stain red. You scream in Bobbi’s grasp and Harrow locks eyes with you for a moment before turning back and firing a second, fatal bullet at Marc. It hits, sending him falling backwards into the water.

“I can’t save anyone who won’t save themselves.” Harrow says as he watches Marc’s life’s body float in the water.

You manage to swing your arm around to hit Bobbi in the stomach, causing her to release her grip on you and you rush forward, past Harrow and straight into the water, pulling Marc's body up to cradle him.

“Steven?” You cry, not caring that the mix of water and bloody is soaking into your clothes. “Steven please. Wake up, please.”

Harrow comes up behind you, placing a hand on your shoulder but you instantly push him away.

“Get off me!” You shout, Harrow looks completely unfazed. “Stay away from me! You're a murderer!”

“We must move on.” he holds his hand out to you.

“No! I’m not leaving him.” You argue. “I would rather die than go anywhere with you!”

For the briefest moment you think Harrow almost looks hurt by your statement. But then his face changes again.

“I can see you’re upset, you're not in your right mind.”

“Oh my mind is perfectly right.” You say as you stand up, face to face with Harrow. “I never want to see you again.” You say through gritted teeth before turning your back on him and returning to Marc’s side.

“This is your last chance Y/N.” He warns, and you ignore him. “Very well.”

Suddenly two pairs of hands grasp yours arm, yanking you up to your feet as two disciples drag you away kicking and screaming out of the water and hold you as Harrow and two disciples go to Steven’s body.

“Don't you dare touch him!” Your shout falling on deaf ears as the disciples drag Steven out of the water. Harrow crouches down beside him as the disciple hands him Ammit’s ushabti. He smiles before looking at Steven.

“I’m sorry it had to be this way, Marc Spector, Steven Grant…” he pauses as he places the scarab beetle on Steven’s chest “whoever else might be in there.” He uses his cane to help him stand back up and turns to face the crowd of disciples, but his focus is on you. “Sometimes we need the cold light of death before we can see reality.”

You struggle against the hands that have you restrained but they just hold you tighter, forcing you down to your knees to bow as Arthur holds the ushabti high for everyone to see.

You hear the sound of footsteps as someone runs into the room. For a moment you feel hope as you think it could be Layla with a plan to stop him, but when you see Maya run up to Harrow the hope quickly dies.

“Harrow, sir, I am so so sorry.” She rambles breathlessly. “I was trying to find you, to warn you, but I got lost in these tunnels.” She pauses, looking at him with sad eyes. “I’ve failed you.”

“Yes, you have.” He says, completely emotionless as he turns his attention away from her. From the look on her face you can tell her heart has just broken. She backs away from him and stands alone near the wall.

“Who wants to heal the world?”

The disciples around you get up and start making their way back out of the tomb. Harrow starts walking over towards you but suddenly stops when he hears Maya following.

“Not you.” He says, not even turning to face her.

“S-sir..?” She says, confusion on her face.

“This is the end for you.” He reaches into his pocket and before Maya has a chance to register whats happening he turns and shoots her in the chest with the same gun he killed Steven with. You gasp and try to get to her slump as she slumps painfully to the ground, but the disciples holding you keep you firmly in place, still kneeling on the floor.

“Why- why did you do that?!” A sob escaping your throat as Harrow comes to stand by you. “She was just a young girl!!”

“She let him get to you. She put you in danger… I can’t have that.”

“The only reason I’m in danger is because of you!” You say shakily and Harrow looks down at you. He doesn’t say anything, he just reaches his hand down to wipe the tears from under your eyes. Then he walks past you, gesturing for the disciples to follow. As they harshly pull you up to your feet, you can’t take your eyes off of Maya’s lifeless body. Her glossy eyes staring at you as they drag you away, leaving her forever resting in the tomb of Alexander the Great.

Part Six coming soon

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