By Tabitha Brown - Year 12, Kaikorai Valley College
A tomb roof hovered comfortingly above the distressed pair, providing shelter against the cool desert night.
Hieroglyphs as faded as washed chalk coated the walls, telling the story of one who is long dead.
While some may worry about disturbing the dead, everything including the original inhabitant had been cleared out by other travellers who had stayed the night, leaving nothing behind but an empty shell, much like how the couple inside presently felt.
A grimace formed on Sennefer's face that refused to be smothered.
He tried to control his facial features. He and Asmira would just have to cope and hope they made it back in time.
Shifting around, he eyed her, drawing courage from her, using it to calm slightly and maybe get some rest. Another hard day's ride lay ahead.
Asmira glanced at him with her jaw clenched and eyes narrowed.
She'd always been stronger and had always propped him up when he'd needed to be.
Except after they'd received the message - the one which sent him scurrying across the land.
Sennefer had helped her back up that time.
"It might turn out fine,'' Asmira's smooth stone voice echoed off the walls.
Startled, Sennefer realised that his forehead was wrinkling up again and he felt his hands fiddling with the rough edges of his linen tunic - likely the reason she'd interrupted his thoughts.
A slight wave of panic washed over him and he suddenly thirsted for more space than the dust-ridden tomb could provide.
Knees creaked and groaned, whining as the man got off the marble floor, begging for a rest after so much travelling.
Giving a strained smile to the love of his life, Sennefer left the tomb and stood outside the entrance facing the racing winds.
A pleading whisper now rode the breeze, too.
"Please just let it be all right. I'd do anything.''
But no-one responded.
In this vast expanse of sands and stark silence, the gods seemed so powerless, so far away.
Sennefer shook his head, trying futilely to dispel these blasphemous thoughts.
Hooves thudded in the distance. As quick as a sandstorm could arise, Asmira leapt to her feet and cursed.
Only bandits, and those who absolutely had to, crossed the dunes at night.
Scrambling outside, she joined Sennefer who seemed more upset there than inside.
He pointed his index finger towards the darkened horizon.
Asmira squinted, straining to see, and as she did so, her eyes lit up. This was instantly followed by a frown as a feeling like a cold draught tingled her back.
Her brother being here meant only one thing. Coming up beside them kicking dry, dead smelling dirt into the air, her brother dismounted, an elephant in elegance.
None of the trio uttered a sound. Words were useless, as they all knew their nightmares had become a reality.
Asmira stared down at her feet in all their dusty glory, trying to blink back a tide of tears.
Sennefer's hand interlinked with hers.
"When was it?'' he asked the question for her. His voice was coarse with emotion.
Asmira's brother took a while before responding.
"This morning. I came as fast as I could. I'm sorry.''
The words gently delivered, released waves of impact that shattered the world around her.
As she fought to keep upright, silence once more reigned triumphant in the desert plains.
