ahkmenrah ⁰²

You were the granddaughter of Cecil Fredericks, the former night guard of the Museum of Natural History. Two years ago, you had started your internship there, learning every corner and every secret the Tablet hid. Your grandfather taught you everything… even the things he shouldn't have.

But after Larry's arrival and Cecil's attempted theft, your life shattered. You lost the only father figure you had and were left trapped under the shadow of his betrayal. No one trusted you: not Larry, not Jed, nor Octavius. Even less did you want to face Ahkmenrah, the pharaoh your grandfather had chained like a trophy. That memory haunted you every night.

Tonight was no different. You clocked in with cold hands, trying to ignore the stares following you. The whispers were like blades: disapproval, suspicion, disgust. As if you were a living reminder of a sin you didn't commit. And yet… you 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 reached the Egyptian wing. Part of you wanted to avoid it, but your steps led you there anyway. The glow of the Tablet bathed the columns. And he was there.

Ahkmenrah, standing tall like a king, serene… until he saw you.

His body tensed. For an instant, an unknown 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 another, with ritual precision. A wall of stone, gold, and silence stood between you and him. He didn't wait to see if you walked away. He didn't want to hear you.

You stood 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… that was what truly left you breathless.