The Pharaoh's Champion

"Here Zahra, don't forget your lunch", the weathered woman handed her a folded brown paper bag, as she smiled knowingly at her.

  Zahra dipped her chin. She was so hasty, always forgetting things. "Thanks, Mrs Goodtree.".

  "Hurry up, or you're going to be late.".

  Mrs Goodtree placed her hands on her hips and tilted her head at her foster child. No, she was no longer a child, she was now a young woman. She had known Zahra since she was barely a toddler, she was a new foster mother when the authorities dumped Zahra on the steps of her suburban home. Back then Zahra had nothing but a name, a suitcase full of odd bits and a small tin box.

  The authorities never looked back.

  That suited her fine, she loved Zahra as her very own. While other foster children came and went, Zahra was always her constant. She was a good kid and was great with the younger children that came and went. Though recently it had just been the two of them. She couldn't accept any other foster children. Not when she knew what was coming…

  Yes, she shook herself from her thoughts, Zahra was a good kid, but the one thing they constantly butted heads over, was that she never went to school. Without fail, she would find her waitressing or singing in all sorts of restaurants and clubs, some of which she felt were questionable. Zahra was obsessed with working and earning money, not the worst quality to have, but she had no intention of getting any education.

  Zahra, you have to go to school! 

  But why?! Mrs Goodtree, please, I can't. I don't have time.

  What do you mean you don't have time? You're so young, you have plenty of time. You need to concentrate on your education. 

  Mrs Goodtree, please. I can't explain it. I just know I'm meant to be somewhere else. I'm meant for something bigger. Something... more.

  Zahra, I only go on at you because I care about you, and your future.

It always ended the same way. There was no point in arguing with her. She was so hot-headed and determined. When her mind was made up, it was made up. She never held it against Zahra, when she was young she was much the same, full of dreams and aspirations of something better than what she had. But the not going to school thing… that was problem. Every week she put money in a special jar she kept on top of a kitchen cupboard, a fund for the fine the authorities would slap on her for her child not going to school.

  Now Zahra was eighteen, she had passed the age for school, so for two days a week, she would go to a class at a local college, it was a compromise they both made for the sake of the love they had for each other. She would let her have two jobs if she would only commit to this course and get her school qualifications. Reluctantly, her foster daughter agreed. Zahra was an extremely clever girl, she read books that most people took weeks to complete, in a matter of days. She taught herself more at home, but she still wanted Zahra to go to school. She still wanted her to make friends and live a normal life.

  Was that even possible?

She sighed deeply. As a young girl, Zahra was obsessed with one story and demanded it before she went to bed. Most other children she looked after, wanted tales of princesses or brave knights. Zahra, however, was infatuated with a history book. More specifically, a story about The Forgotten Oasis. A legend about a lush Oasis in the middle of a desert that many sought after, but no one could ever find. It was said to hold the secrets of life. Though in recent years, a card game has become her new obsession. Duel Monsters, she mused to herself. She had never heard of that game before Zahra started reading about it. Now it was everywhere.

  The door opened, she heard the tell-tale chimes on her porch and snapped back to reality.

  "Bye, sweetheart!", she called after.

  "Bye. See you later!", her voice became distant as she ran down the path.

  Shaking her head, she watched the young woman run down the street from her kitchen window. Zahra always ran everywhere, but at least she was doing it wearing shoes now.

  When her figure faded into the distance, Mrs Goodtree busied herself in her kitchen.

  She was almost done with the dishes when she heard her landline ringing from the living room.

  ****

Zahra bolted down the street and watched as the murky city line came into view. It was a short walk into town from the suburban house she called home, an even shorter run. As the din of the hustling city got louder and louder. She smiled, clutching tightly onto the straps of her backpack.  Her first job was waitressing at a small diner on the edge of the city. It was a homely place; the staff were all nice and the patrons were mostly regulars, she never had any grief from them. Since she came clean about her age, the manager trusted her with more jobs and a few extra coins in her pocket.

  She still remembered how nervous she felt that day, she woke up in a cold sweat. I thought you looked too young to be eighteen. But hey, since you're eighteen now, I suppose we can start fresh. Get cleaning those fryers. That was the punishment he gave her for lying to him. With a breath of relief, she gladly accepted.

Before she knew it, the faded and battered, blue and yellow sign of the diner hung above her. She smiled to herself and took her backpack off her shoulders as she opened the door to enter.

  The bell peeled happily to announce her arrival.

  "Wow, you're keen. Your shift doesn't start for another half an hour", the manager looked at his watch.

  "Well, hello to you too, James", she flashed him an impish grin.

  James was clearly a working man. His hands were large and rough from manual labour, splotches of fat dotted his apron. He'd obviously been in the kitchen, they must have been busy, she mused. James hated the heat of the fryers and ovens, it messed with his curls.

  "I got bored at home. I thought I could come in a little early", a small white lie. She was here early because she should be at college and needed to leave at that time so Mrs Goodtree wouldn't suspect anything.

  As she pushed open the 'staff members only' door, she cursed herself for lying so much to everyone she cared about. It was through one door and straight in another to get to the locker room, she set down her backpack on the bench and pulled out her uniform. As she changed, she silently begged for forgiveness. Yes, she was going behind Mrs Goodtree's back and breaking a promise she made to her. But she couldn't help it. Even though she knew it was wrong, something told her she was doing to the right thing. A burning feeling from her very core seemed to guide her in this direction, no one else would understand if her excuse for lying was some feeling she got. She shook her head, pathetic.

  In the beginning, she had gone to the college, she registered and as promised she attended classes… for a grand total of four weeks until a silent urge inside called her back to work.

  Zahra pulled out her non-slip, extra grip, heavy-as-shit, work boots, and she hated them with a fiery passion. Slipping off her favourite pair of daps that she had specially adapted to suit her, she grimaced at the thought of imprisoning her feet for a whole shift. As a child, she was always scolded for not wearing shoes, they made her feet sweat and somehow she felt claustrophobic, like she couldn't breathe. These daps were perfect for her, they were sturdy enough to hold their shape after she cut through the sole. Now she could look like she was wearing shoes, with the comfort of her feet touching the ground. Unless she was a complete buffoon, no one would notice the difference. As soon as she took them off, they went straight into her backpack.

  So far, she had gotten away with it. Luckily, she was so busy in the diner that she barely had time to notice she didn't have them on.

  ****

Mrs Goodtree placed the receiver down gently and took a deep, shuddered breath. Once again, Zahra had not shown up to class.

Could this week possibly get any worse? At least the authorities couldn't fine her for Zahra not going to college now.

  A darkness loomed over her, she knew the time would come soon. She had felt something telling her that. All those years ago, when Zahra was left with her, she was never told how, or why and they never left any paperwork. Soon after, her strange dreams came again

  They took her back to a time long ago when she often found herself standing outside a fabulous stone palace in a country covered with golden sand. There she had a daughter. She wasn't born to her, wasn't her flesh and blood, but she protected her with a fierceness and brought her up as her own. In these dreams, there was a man she never saw, but he seemed to narrate her dreams, telling all about who she was in this dreamland. He told her that her life back then was cut short, that she was needed more now, at this time of the century, and destiny works in mysterious ways. And when the time came, she needed to let Zahra go, she was to present her with the small tin box she came with and kept safe all these years, and allow her to fulfil her oath.

  Her destiny.

  All the time she had lived led up to the one moment when a small, terrified little girl was left on her doorstep. Her heart tugged hard in her chest. Zahra was her daughter, she had brought her up as best as she could, trying to help her lead a normal life like any other child.

  But some things are already written.

  With a long sigh, she went into the kitchen. Taking the small stool that sat next to her bin, she stepped onto it and reached as high as she could to the top of the kitchen cupboard, feeling around for the ceramic pot.

  Zahra was no normal child, and she was an adult, there was little she could do to stop anything. Still, the grief she felt at the idea of letting her go was real and it cut her deeper than any knife could.

  A part of her still wished that these were just dreams. That she could keep Zahra, and they could be as they were, a family, for as long as time allowed.

  A cold, chalky feeling brushed against her finger. Bingo!

  Gently, she pulled it back down. The coins inside barely made any noise, she had jammed it full with notes over the past few months. Though she didn't get fined anymore, she knew Zahra would need the money soon. Reaching into her purse she pulled out the last of the cash that she had. Folding the notes neatly, she slipped them through the thin opening and worked them gently into the pot.

  With a heavy heart, she realised it was coming all too soon.

  ****

"Thanks for helping me clean up, Zahra."

  Zahra pulled her backpack over her shoulder. "No problem, James."

  "I guess I'll see you tomorrow then."

  "Yes…" For some reason, she hesitated. "Yes, I'll see you tomorrow."

  They said their goodbyes and the bell peeled to signal her leaving. She had stayed longer than usual in the diner. They had been slammed all day, she couldn't leave James to clean up everything himself. Looking at her watch, she picked up her pace into a light jog. She'd have to move quickly to get to the club on time, her set would start soon. Then there were the mic checks and tune-ups… bloody pre-show checks, she cursed.

  The many streetlights that dotted the pavement glowed brightly as the sun began to set behind the buildings. A chilled night breeze sent a small shiver down her spine.

  Zahra stopped at traffic lights. The club wasn't too far away. The lights were taking far too long.

  Come on, come on! Places to go, people to see. Silently, she cursed them, there was always the back alleys…

  If she took them once she crossed the road, it would cut her travel time in half and lead her straight to the club's back door. Zahra began to wonder whether her choice to put on her sole-less daps was really the best idea, the back alleys are filthy, and that's being mild.

  The lights turned green to cross, so she took her chances and swiftly nipped down the back alleys.

  As the light from the streets dimmed in the dark back alley, Zahra stopped dead. There seemed to be some commotion up ahead. She heard voices, loud forceful voices.

  This was definitely not a good idea, she suddenly realised, and slowly she tried to back away.

  "Going somewhere beautiful?"

  Shit!

  As she turned she was met by the shadowy figure, of a mountain of a man. She craned her neck to look at his shrouded face. There was a gut-clenching grin on his lips and stained teeth that twinkled in the little light they had. He clicked his knuckles, ready for a struggle.

  "I..I.." She raised her hands in submission. "Please. I don't want any trouble."

  Another man came out of the shadows behind her. A smaller man, but just as tall and dark in the shadows. "Well it's too bad, you found it."

  Zahra backed away as far as she could, nearly tripping over bins from the various cafes and shops on the other side.

  The two men laughed as they approached her. She felt herself grip tightly on the metal lid of a bin, her chest hyperventilating in fear. What am I going to do? How the fuck am I going to get out of this?! I should have left the diner when I was supposed too...

The larger man lunged towards her.

  To Zahra's astonishment, she swiped the lid up and around, catching the man straight in his jaw. The clang of metal-on-bone was cringeworthy.

Her assailants were just as shocked as she was.

  The small man sniggered. "Looks like this one is going to be a handful."

  Zahra felt a force take over. She couldn't explain it, but somehow her eyes started to dart around the two men, analysing everything. She looked at the larger man and watched how he walked around her in a predatory circle. A slight limp in the left leg. Go for the knee, bring him down… Bruised jawline from bin lid, a swift elbow will crack that right open. Don't. Hold. Back.

  She looked at the shorter man. Quicker, better reflexes probably. I'll have to outsmart him. Her eyes quickly scanned her surroundings. This alley is too small, better take the big one out first.

  She waited patiently for the larger man to make his move, then with lightning speed, Zahra dived to the side and flicked her leg out, catching him just in his ankle and sending him off balance. As he stumbled, she spun with a dancer's grace and pounded him right behind his left knee with her soleless dap, she felt his bone shudder through her bare foot. As predicted, he fell hard to his other knee. Zahra didn't think before she gave him the courtesy of her elbow in his jaw.

  Don't. Hold. Back!

  There was an awful crunching sound as he plummeted unconscious to the ground. Before she could look up, she felt a tight arm around her neck. She struggled and kicked, but his grip only got tighter. And tighter.

  Breathing was hard and the pressure in her head grew. Her eyes felt as though they would pop out of her head. Still, she thrashed in a desperate attempt to free herself.

  No! What are you doing? 

  Suddenly realising that kicking and pulling wouldn't get her out of this, she went limp. When he thought she was out, he loosened his grip slightly.

    Now!

  Quick as the wind, she stamped on her assailant's foot so hard that she felt her own leg scream in pain. Luckily, it was enough to loosen his grip on her throat even further, enough for her to swiftly turn and land a devastating punch to his neck. Down he went, with a thud that shook the ground.

  Zahra gasped and trembled with fear or adrenaline, she wasn't sure which. Somehow, she had managed to get herself out of this situation and she wasn't going to question how.

  She needed to get out of there now! Her eyes darted around, looking for her backpack. Where is it?!

  "I believe you are looking for this?"

  Oh no. Please, I just want to go home. Slowly she turned and saw the figure of a man.

  He seemed to be wearing what she could only describe as a bed sheet. His accent gave the impression he was from some far-off land. He adjusted a dark headdress atop his head. He must have been who the men who arguing with first, she thought.

  What was he doing here? He was either mad or very lost. After what just happened, she was tempted to go for the latter.

  Unlike her two assailants, who blended into the shadows, this man seemed to glow in the darkness. Around his neck was a large, golden key held by a long chain. It looked odd, it certainly wouldn't fit any lock around here, it was far too big.

  "Who are you?" she spoke confidently. Surprising herself she trembled. But something about this man seemed familiar. She didn't feel the need to fight him.

  "Do not be afraid. I am here to enlighten you."

  She took a step back. "Enlighten me?"

  The man bowed his head slightly. "Long ago, you were a Champion to a very important ruler. You swore an oath to protect him. Soon, he will need you again.".

  She took another step back. The cold dampness of the alley wall pressed against her back and feet, making her shiver. "Me? A Champion? Look, you must have the wrong girl. I'm no Champion of anything. I couldn't even stay in school."

  "Then perhaps you should ask yourself, how were you able to take down these men so efficiently?"

  She had no answer.

  "You are more than you appear. Even five thousand years ago, when you protected our great ruler, you were more even then. That's how you were able to tap into your ancient power", he lifted his golden key and stepped towards her. "The years have sullied your memories. I am here to unlock them again."

  Zahra was frozen in her spot as she pressed further into the alley wall. The mysterious man stepped closer and held his key out in front of him. Zahra tried to crane her head away and she looked at him pleadingly from the corner of her eyes. The man's face was stone. No expression, no remorse, as the key came closer and closer to her forehead.

  There was a cold metal feeling, then a blinding flash of light…

So many images flashed through her mind. It made her dizzy and nauseous.

  She begged the mysterious man to stop. Lights flashed and blurred images flickered by. Just when she thought she couldn't take much more, she fell to the ground. Only it wasn't the cold ground of the city her knees felt... It was soft and grainy golden sand.