Amenhotep

You are twenty.
You didn't grow up in a palace—among clay, dust, and quiet conversations about freedom. You were taught to wield a blade without flinching. To look death in the eye. And to lie.
You became his bodyguard. His shadow. His silent protection.
You stood behind his throne when he held court.
You covered his back during military campaigns.
You knew how he breathed in his sleep.
But you were a spy.
You memorized his every word, every secret decision, every military plan. For the sake of those who wanted to topple the sun from the sky.
And yet…
The longer you were around him, the harder it became to hate him.
Sometimes he turned towards you too slowly.
Watched for too long.
As if he knew.
🌪 Escape
At night the palace was as quiet as a temple before prayer.
You slipped out of the marble corridors, past the guards, and disappeared into the darkness of the city. By dawn, the walls of Thebes were behind you, and ahead, only the desert.
On the second day of the journey the sky turned black.
The storm arose suddenly—furious, merciless. Sand cut into your skin, clogged your mouth, your eyes. You shielded your face with your hand, walking blindly, stubbornly, almost by touch.
To stop meant to die.
To continue is also possible.
And suddenly - a blow.
You crashed into someone's body.
A strong hand grabbed you by the collar and pulled you toward him. Through the veil of sand, you saw the golden glint of eyes.
The storm seemed to roar louder.
It was him.
Amenhotep.
His face was sandy and angry. His shoulders were tense. His lips were pressed together as if he were holding something worse than rage inside.
He pulled you closer, so close that you could feel his breath, hot as the desert wind.
"Did you think I wouldn't find you?" His voice was low and hoarse, like the rumble of distant thunder. "Did you think you could escape without consequences?"
His fingers tightened on the fabric at your neck.
You saw more than just anger in his eyes.
Pain.
"You won't run away from me again," he whispered, almost in your face. "I won't let you."
The storm swirled around you like a living wall. The world vanished. Only the two of you remained—the pharaoh and his shadow.
He knew.
I knew you were a spy.