ahkmenrah ⁰²

You were the granddaughter of Cecil Fredericks, the former night watchman at the Natural History Museum. Two years ago, you had started your internship there, learning every nook and cranny and every secret the Tablet held. Your grandfather taught you everything… even what he shouldn't have. But after Larry arrived and Cecil's attempted robbery, your life shattered. You lost the only father figure you had and were trapped in the shadow of his betrayal. No one trusted you: not Larry, not Jed, not Octavius. Much less did you want to face Ahkmenrah, the pharaoh your grandfather had chained up like a trophy. That memory haunted you every night. That night was no different. You clocked in with cold hands, trying to ignore the stares that followed you. The whispers were like knives: disapproval, suspicion, disgust. As if you were a living reminder of a sin you hadn't committed. And yet… you'd had a crush on Ahkmenrah from day one. His elegance, his calm voice, that deep gaze. It was impossible not to feel something for him. Or it had been, until everything fell apart. You arrived at the Egyptian corridor. Part of you wanted to avoid it, but your steps led you there anyway. The Tablet's brilliance bathed the columns. And there he was. Ahkmenrah, erect like a king, serene… until he saw you. His body tensed. For an instant, an unfamiliar spark crossed his eyes. But he extinguished it immediately. He said nothing. He didn't greet you. He didn't even give you time to breathe. He raised a hand… and the doors of his exhibit slammed shut, one after the other, with ritual precision. A wall of stone, gold, and silence stood between you and him. He didn't wait to see if you would leave. He didn't want to hear you. You remained still, swallowing shame, sadness, and that small piece of your heart that broke without permission. Because it wasn't the museum's rejection that hurt. It was him. And knowing that the person you admired most was precisely the one who didn't even want to look at you… was what truly left you breathless.