GARY KENNEDY: THE WRAITH AND THE RUBY EYES OF ANUBIS

Another Prose Comic from James Heath Lantz

The desert sun was blistering hot as the noon hour struck. Famed archaeologist Theodore Morton, a robust middle-aged man, had grown accustomed to it after numerous trips to Egypt. His most recent visit began roughly eighteen months ago. He and his team searched the Great Pyramids for the tomb of Pharaoh Oditep, who was said to be the Pharaoh of Pharaohs. If Morton could discover that, he’d finally achieve his oldest long-term goal. He had taken five or six years to convince his colleagues of Oditep’s existence.

Morton had lost count of how many expeditions he had led all over the world. He was almost certain his total for Egypt alone was more than ten. However, Theodore Morton was more interested in cultures of the past. He had especially become fascinated by their legends and mythology. Theodore’s Uncle Trevor had told him when he was a boy that he could learn more about people’s customs from their stories and the gods they worshiped than from their daily habits and routines. He took that pearl of wisdom to heart, especially with the ancient Egyptians.

The digging proceeded according to Morton’s plans. There had been a sandstorm last week that slowed things down a bit. Yet, it didn’t really hinder any work. Morton should be able to return to the United States by the end of the week if things go well.

Theodore Morton, whose dark hair grayed at the temples, walked up the steep flight of stairs to enter the center pyramid. His daughter Tara greeted him. She was a tall, athletic version of her mother. Her blue eyes twinkled when she saw him. Her muscular husband, Bill Taylor, helped with the digging, heavy lifting, and discoveries. His intelligence matched his brawn, often challenging Morton to look at things differently. This, combined with the fact that he and Tara were madly in love, made Theodore happier than the rarest archaeological find.

Bill led a group into the heart of the pyramid about an hour before Morton’s arrival. Tara was translating some old pages she had found. She had called to her father, who had been talking to the guides.

“Hi, Dad,” Tara said, “Bill’s in the central chamber. He and I found something that will interest you.”

Tara walked behind her father with the parchment pages in her hand. They looked brittle enough to tear in the wind. It was a miracle they held together at all.

“Bill and I translated these pages and some inscriptions in the central chamber,” Tara said while walking down the long, narrow corridor. “Some words here and there were illegible. Considering their age, it’s a miracle we were able to read so much of the texts.”

Theodore Morton and Tara Taylor entered the large center chamber. Bill dusted off two sarcophagi in the heart of the room. A hexagonal pylon was between the pair of tombs. It had vertical panels on each side that contained lights, illuminating the entire room. Its beams also reflected into a circular carving in the floor. A small, polished black sculpture of Anubis, the Egyptian God of Death who guided spirits to their afterlife, sat in this ring. Its ruby eyes shone and sparkled as it absorbed the energy from the solar rays. This figure seemed menacing yet protective.

Bill heard the familiar footsteps of Tara and her father near him when he spoke. “The light may come from the sun somehow.”

“This is an amazing find,” Theodore Morton said, looking around the chamber. Eight taller stone carvings of Anubis with his jackal’s head and powerful human body encircled the tomb.

“These parchment papers I found basically warn us not to disturb this room. Get this, Dad. You were right. This is the tomb of Oditep. According to the third page, he and his wife, Queen Jadyra, were mummified here and placed in those two sarcophagi. The Anubis between them uses the light taken from the pylon to guide their souls to the afterlife and protect the flesh that served as their earthly vessels.”

“Should the bodies of Jadyra and Oditep or their resting place be disturbed in any way,” Tara continued, “The ruby eyes of Anubis will exact the deity’s revenge upon the defilers.”

“You both will love this,” Bill said to Tara and Theodore. He read the inscriptions on the sarcophagi. “The words on these tombs confirm what Tara said. Plus, they warn not to open the lids. Those who do so will incur the wrath of Anubis.”

“Poppycock and balderdash,” Theodore blustered. “We’ve been through many of this country’s tombs. All of them claimed to be cursed, but nothing has happened to us yet.”

Bill and Tara looked at each other and smiled. They admired Theodore Morton’s courage and determination. The couple, like Morton, didn’t believe in curses. Yet, after what happened to Howard Carter and his associates during his expedition to Tutankhamun’s tomb, they didn’t want to dismiss any warnings. Tara and Bill often talked among themselves when Theodore wasn’t around. They felt that he had become a bit overconfident recently. Tara’s mother, Theresa Morton, would most certainly scold him for this behavior if she weren’t in Cairo talking to ambassadors and customs agents.

“I heard that, Theodore,” came the shrill, raspy voice of Theresa. Her short stature could be deceiving. She had a way of convincing those around her to assist her or do whatever she wanted. This is why, like her father before her, she was such a good envoy. This came in handy during archaeological digs.

Theresa shook her plump, left index finger at Theodore. Streaks of silver and blonde hair moved while she shook her head. Tara and Bill stifled their laughter. They knew if Theresa heard their giggles, her wrath would be worse than that of any of the Egyptian gods.

Theresa had her back to Bill and Tara. The young couple mouthed her words and mimicked her facial expressions and hand gestures as she spoke. Theodore rolled his brown eyes as Theresa began her discourse.

Theresa asked sternly, “What have I told you about being too sure of yourself, Theodore?”

Theodore stammered in exasperation. “I-I-I only told the children that I don’t believe in curses.”

Theresa circled Theodore like a vulture. Whenever Tara and Bill were in her line of sight, they pretended to read an inscription. The others working in the tombs’ chamber moved to other parts of the dig site to give Morton’s wife a wide berth.

“If you continue with that attitude,” Theresa said, “You’ll end up getting yourself killed.”

“Now, Theresa,” Theodore replied. “Just because your father believed in curses doesn’t mean one killed him. He merely died of a heart attack.”

Bill whispered to Tara. “Are we sure she didn’t kill him?”

Tara laughed, perhaps too loudly for her mother’s taste. Theresa looked angrily at Bill and Tara, “What’s so funny, you two?”

“Nothing, Mrs. Morton,” Bill replied. “One of these phrases we’re translating was considered a joke for the ancient Egyptians.”

Theresa paid no mind to Tara and Bill. She turned back to Theodore. “Just be careful, Theodore,” She said. Her tone softened a bit. “Something about this expedition feels different somehow.”

“Now, Dear,” Theodore said reassuringly. “Don’t worry so much. Everything will be fine.”

“Okay,” She said. She wanted to continue to discuss the issue, but decided not to press on. It was clear Theodore Morton had made up his mind to continue this dig. Theresa cleared her throat and stated, “The embassy in Cairo will have all the papers we need to fill out in a couple of days. Once we have those, your findings can go to the museum in America without any problems.”

“Thank you, dear,” Theodore said calmly. He knew Theresa’s gruff personality was a mask that hid preoccupation for all of Theodore’s archaeological trips. This stemmed from her father’s death when she was twenty years old. Theresa accompanied her father to a dig in Peru at the time. Some of the locals had said the land was cursed. Thomas Poulson continued exploring the region despite believing their stories. He died of a heart attack mere days into his mission.

Theodore had just started out in archaeology at the time. Theresa’s father had been his mentor. He comforted Theresa greatly after Thomas Poulson’s passing. They married four years later, and Tara was born five years afterwards. She joined Theodore and Theresa in their voyages when she became old enough to travel. She learned to translate numerous languages and writings and studied at the prominent Osborn University in London, England, where she met London native Bill Taylor.

Bill learned more from Tara’s family than he ever had in school. Archaeology was just the tip of the iceberg. Bill received an education in art, literature, music, and various sciences when the Mortons took him under their wings. He and Tara officially joined Theodore’s archaeological team after they graduated and got married. Bill chronicled his father-in-law’s adventures in articles published in newspapers and magazines upon their return from their explorations.

Some days had passed since Theresa’s conversation with Theodore. He hadn’t given much thought to her concerns. He was too focused on bringing his findings to the Thurston Williams IV Museum of History and Antiquities, not far from the family home, Morton Manor. Theodore and Bill helped load the mummies of Oditep and Jadyra onto a truck while Tara cataloged and prepared other artifacts for shipment. This included the polished black figurine of Anubis with the ruby eyes. Theodore Morton looked with pride at the statue as the afternoon sun beat down upon the back of his neck.

Morton wiped the sweat from his brow. He took a drink of water when a fat man in a white suit approached him. Perspiration streamed down his angry face and became trapped in his thick black mustache. He sputtered like an old, broken tractor engine.

“Defiler!” The man screamed. “Anubis will punish you for your desecration and blasphemy!”

A burly, bald man to Theodore Morton’s left wanted to go talk to the man. However, Morton stopped him. “Let me handle Aatami, Bob.”

Morton walked briskly to Aatami, who was a head taller than the archaeologist. Aatami strongly protested Morton’s presence. Morton tried unsuccessfully to tell the man that he wanted the entire world to honor Pharaoh Oditep and Queen Jadyra with a museum display. Yet Aatami insisted that Morton and his group were outsiders bent on defiling the tombs of Great Oditep and Jadyra.

“Aatami,” Morton said, “Your government and the United States embassy in Cairo have approved my expedition here, and they’ll approve my displaying the artifacts we found in a museum very soon. I do understand your feelings on the matter, but there’s nothing I can do about it.”

Aatami’s face grew red with anger. “You think this is about stupid bureaucracy?! Mark my words, infidel.” His sausage-like index finger jabbed the air in front of Morton’s round nose. “Anubis will have his revenge for your desecration of the sacred tombs of Oditep and Jadyra!”

“Father,” A tall, powerful-looking younger man appeared behind Aatami. “Stop this nonsense. It will only lead you down a dark path, one whose destination can only be death.”

“Do not get involved with things you do not understand, Asumi,” Aatami responded.

“I understand that you have an obsession, father. It’s the same obsession that killed mother.”

“How dare you disrespect your mother in that way, boy?!”

“Gentlemen,” Thomas Morton interjected, “Perhaps these are discussions for another time. Besides, my team and I are due in Cairo tomorrow.”

“Mark my words, defiler,” Aatami bellowed, “The wrath of Anubis will strike you when you least expect it!”

“Father, please,” Asumi said while placing his hand on Aatami’s large shoulder. “The old ways are no more. They have made way for the new ones. This is the way of nature.”

Asumi led his father away from the dig site. Theodore Morton heard both men argue. However, they were too far away for their words to be intelligible.

The trip to the embassy in Cairo and the return to the United States went on without incident. Perhaps Asumi managed to calm Aatami. Theodore Morton hoped for the best, and he respected Aatami for standing up for his beliefs. Morton knew few people like that.

The artifacts were all loaded on their cargo plane without incident. Baggage had been packed, and the Morton expedition was officially ready to leave Egypt.

Everything was prepared for the opening night of the Morton Exhibit at the Thurston Williams IV Museum of History and Antiquities. Bill Taylor’s articles on the archaeological dig had chronicled the Mortons’ adventure in great detail. He, Tara, Theresa, and Theodore also put together displays and gave viewers something as authentic as possible.

The elderly Thurston Williams IV, adjusting his monocle, looked around the vast exhibition hall with great pride. His cane tapped the tiled floor in a staccato rhythm. His white mustache curled as he smiled broadly. Williams had been a family friend of both Theodore and Theresa for many years. He even named Tara when she was born.

“I must say, Teddy,” Williams said to Theodore. He was one of the few people whom the archaeologist permitted to call him that. “This exhibition is your best yet.”

“Thank you, Thurston,” Morton said. “That means a lot to us all.”

“It’s simply splendid,” said a voice behind Williams and Morton. It was Stephen, Williams’s only son, who was around the same age as Tara and Bill. He was a short, rail-thin man with coal-black hair and horn-rimmed glasses. His voice, however, made him sound much taller and more athletic than he actually was.

Walking closely behind Stephen were Irene Lane and her brother Larry – Tara, Bill, and Stephen’s best friends. Larry had just been released from prison a few weeks ago after being falsely accused of killing the district attorney. The timely intervention of Irene, private detective John Ferret, and the Wraith, the eerie phantom-like champion of justice, saved him from the electric chair.

Since Larry and Irene’s fateful first encounter with the Wraith, they haven’t been at a loss for adventure. They inherited both their Uncle Jed Abbot’s fortune and their Uncle Coster’s gold mine. Again, the ghostly Wraith, sometimes in his human form of Gary Kennedy, helped the Lane siblings get out of dangerous situations, and Kennedy has recently revealed that he was the Wraith to both Irene and Larry. At first, they were frightened by this revelation. Yet, they soon realized there was nothing to fear from the Wraith.

Larry and Irene Lane had used their recent wealth to finance Theodore Morton’s expedition for the tomb of Oditep and the research that led to Queen Jadyra’s discovery. Irene had always been fascinated by Egyptian lore, but she and Larry gave money to Morton’s dig out of friendship for Bill, Tara, and Stephen.

While Irene and Larry looked at various displays, Stephen walked around the exhibition hall. He stopped in front of a trophy case between Jadyra and Oditep’s mummies that contained a polished black statue of Anubis. Its ruby eyes shone eerily in the museum’s bright light, giving them a more sinister shade of red. Stephen looked hypnotized by the idol. Bill nudged him back to reality.

“Hey, Stephen old chum,” Bill said, “Are you okay?”

Stephen shook his head as if Bill had awakened him. “I’m fine, old boy. I was just fascinated by this statue.”

“We found it in the same chamber as the mummies,” Tara said as she approached the two men. “Its eyes were beautiful in the Egyptian sunlight. However, here in the museum, they are downright frightful.”

“Now, Tara,” Theodore Morton said, “There’s nothing to worry about from that Anubis statue. It’s a mere decoration.”

In spite of the famed archaeologist’s words, Tara, Bill, and Stephen shuddered as they looked at the ruby eyes of Anubis.

Opening night was that evening. The Mortons, Irene and Larry Lane, and Stephen and Thurston Williams IV entertained and chatted with people. The museum became more crowded as the hours passed. Stephen joked about Bill’s articles being written too well. There wouldn’t have been so many people there without Bill’s prose. Tara said that, for that reason, her father made Bill the Morton expeditions’ official chronicler.

As the crowd grew, no one noticed the tall, bearded Egyptian man dressed completely in black, or the short, cleanly shaven, bald man by his side. They remained shadows, moving to and fro unobserved. Both men had cold, one might even say evil, looks in their hawk-like eyes as they stared intently at Irene Lane.

“Master Anordo,” The short one whispered to the tall man, “She is the one the prophecies spoke of, yes?”

“You are quite correct, Nubari,” Anordo replied with a sinister sneer on his lips. “When the full moon arrives tomorrow night, and its light hits the ruby eyes of Anubis, she will be sacrificed to bring the God of Death to this world. The cleansing of the infidels shall begin upon his arrival.”

Anordo and Nubari continued observing the museum. Theodore, Theresa, Tara, Bill, Thurston, Stephen, Larry, and Irene greeted new arrivals when Asumi was spotted next to Pharaoh Oditep and Queen Jadyra’s mummies. The young Egyptian man was dressed in a black tuxedo.

“Well,” Theodore said happily, “I didn’t expect to see you here, Asumi, especially considering how your father opposed all this.”

“My father is quite set in his ways, Mister Morton. I can tell you I hold no ill will toward you or your expedition. The world should see these artifacts in order to learn about my land’s history and culture. Besides, if Anubis wanted to avenge your desecration, as my father called it, wouldn’t he have done so when you entered Oditep and Jadyra’s pyramid?”

Morton pondered Asumi’s question. “You know, I hadn’t thought of it that way, son, but I suppose you’re right.”

While a celebration took place at Morton Manor after the museum had closed, A pair of individuals clad in black from head to foot entered the darkened exhibition hall furtively. Poison darts struck and killed the security guards. The shadow-like men moved quietly as they removed the Anubis statue and disappeared into the night.

The party at Morton Manor had ended after a few toasts and some discussions. Theodore Morton had gone into his study to paste Bill’s latest article in his scrapbook. Theresa had gone to bed, but Tara and Bill had remained awake. They soon became worried. Normally, Theodore would come out of his study after a few minutes to have a brandy before going to sleep. However, nearly half an hour had passed since he entered the room.

Bill and Larry knocked on the study door and called to Theodore, but there was no response. This preoccupied Tara and Irene even more. Bill knocked harder. Again, nothing. Fortunately, both he and Tara had keys. Bill unlocked the room. A slightly chilly wind greeted him and told him the study’s balcony window had been opened. Yet, Bill had not yet seen what made his wife and Irene scream in sheer terror.

Theodore Morton was slumped over in his leather desk chair with a knife’s blade in his back. The weapon’s handle had the head of Anubis on it. A message attached to the dagger, written in Egyptian Arabic, served as a warning: only four foreboding words.

“Anubis shall rise again!”

Theresa had been awakened by Irene and Tara’s screams. She called the police upon learning of her husband’s murder. Everyone answered Detective Sam Riley’s questions. Officers who had accompanied Riley examined the study and took the dagger as evidence. Riley looked over the crime scene when a beat cop entered to tell him of the theft of the statue of Anubis. Another scrap of paper in Egyptian Arabic was found in the Morton Exhibition case in place of the idol. The same quartet of words was written upon it.

Those who had attended the opening night of the Morton Exhibit had been questioned in the late hours of the night. Asumi was next on Detective Riley’s list of people to interrogate.

Riley, a gray-haired middle-aged man with a pot belly, looked as if he had slept in his white shirt and rumpled red tie for days. His office looked surprisingly well-organized. He sat at his desk and read a page in a file folder before speaking to Asumi.

“I looked over the statements of everyone in Theodore Morton’s family,” Riley said. “They all said you tried to talk sense into your father when you met the Mortons in Egypt. Is that true?”

“I’m not always successful in convincing my father of anything, but what the Mortons said is true. Father still believes in many of the old ways. When he learned of Theodore Morton digging in Pharaoh Oditep’s sacred chamber, he grew extremely angry.”

“Angry enough to commit murder?”

“That is a possibility, Detective Riley.”

“You don’t sound surprised by this, Asumi. Why?”

“My father is an ill-tempered man capable of anything when angered.”

“You got along with Morton and his family and the people working for him. Is that true?”

“Yes, as someone who wants the world to learn of my land’s culture, I felt Theodore Morton could help with that.”

“Where were you at about 11:30 PM tonight?”

“I headed back to the Carlton Arms Hotel, where I’m staying in room 213.”

“So you weren’t on the Morton Manor grounds?”

“No, I was not. I was in my room sleeping until the receptionist told me you were looking for me. I asked him for directions to the police station, and an officer led me to your office.”

Detective Riley handed Asumi the scrap of paper written in Egyptian Arabic. “Can you tell me what this says?”

“It says ‘Anubis shall rise again!’”

“Any idea who wrote it?”

“Legends in my land speak of the Cult of Anubis. They could have written this.”

Detective Riley felt shivers overcome his entire body. He had heard of various cults in his time on the force. Their beliefs were insane to him, but the thought of their existence made his skin crawl. Once Riley regained his composure, he said, “Okay, you can go now, Asumi. Don’t leave town until this case is solved.”

“I have every intention of cooperating with you in every way, Detective Riley.”

Asumi shook Detective Riley’s hand. Riley and the young Egyptian man left the office and walked out of the Fifth Precinct building. A nearby street lamp was the only light source.

“If we need you, we’ll call the hotel,” Riley said to Asumi.

“Of course, Detect-”

Asumi’s words were cut short. Detective Riley was shocked as the Egyptian fell face-first onto the pavement in front of him. A dagger with the head of Anubis on the handle stuck out of Asumi’s back. A small scrap of paper with four words in Egyptian Arabic was attached to it.

“Anubis shall rise again!”

Detective Riley and the entire police force began a citywide search for the killer or killers who murdered Theodore Morton and Asumi. Squad cars drove with lightning speed as a church clock tower in front of the local cemetery chimed the Witching Hour.

A chilled wind blew, bringing the spirit of Theodore Morton to the graveyard. He wandered confused. He was clearly unaware of his own demise. Theodore realized something was amiss when a night watchman walked right through him. He was also surprised to discover that he could see through his white, fog-like hands.

The befuddled Morton moved about the cemetery for quite a few minutes. A car pulled up to the cemetery’s main gate. Morton knew it belonged to Larry and Irene Lane. The newly deceased archaeologist heard the two siblings discussing their next move. Larry shuddered in apprehension.

“You sure about this, sis? This place gives me the creeps,” Larry said.

“You and I know better than anyone that Gary Kennedy is our best bet in solving Theodore Morton’s murder. If we’re going to find his killer, we’re going to need the Wraith.”

“Well, if you need anything, call me.”

“Don’t worry so much, Larry. I’ll be fine.”

Walking through the foggy cemetery, Irene recalled the night she learned the truth about the Wraith as if it were yesterday. It was shortly after she and Larry were rescued by Gary Kennedy from the gold mine thieves who killed their uncle. He asked her and Larry to come to the cemetery with him. Kennedy told them that his death vow to avenge his brother’s death made him the literal spirit of justice called the Wraith.

Theodore Morton heard stories of The Wraith when he returned to the States. However, he thought of them as the chatter of pure legend. Now, he knew better as he wandered the graveyard. He followed down the path to where Gary’s body was laid to rest after it had been stolen and later recovered.

“I’m not sure if you hear me, Gary,” Irene said quietly in front of Kennedy’s headstone, “But the Wraith is needed. Archaeologist Theodore Morton has been murdered.”

A green mist arose from the ground where Gary Kennedy’s body had been buried. It gradually took the form of the late policeman with a white sheet serving as his clothing. Irene was finally getting used to Gary’s dramatic nightly awakenings. Theodore Morton, on the other hand, was flustered somewhat. He was at a loss for words.

In spite of his otherworldly aspect, the Wraith did not have a menacing presence, or rather, it wasn’t that way to Morton and Irene. Whatever power that made him return from the dead could have made it so the Wraith was considered fearsome by those who preyed upon the innocent.

“I know of Morton’s death, Irene,” The Wraith said in a voice that was both eerie and reassuring at the same time. He looked behind Irene’s right shoulder. He saw Morton’s spirit looking confused. “There is nothing to fear, Theodore Morton. Show yourself so Irene may see you.”

Morton asked, “Can I do that?”

“With spirits such as you and me, that is possible. All you have to do is think and concentrate.”

Moments such as this created numerous questions in the archaeologist’s mind. However, he understood that his priority was to learn how he became a spirit.

With the speed of thought, Morton appeared as a white, misty figure to Irene. She was neither surprised nor scared. Her lovely facial features had only expressed the need to help Theodore Morton.

“Mister Morton,” Irene said, “Are you okay? How do you feel?”

“I-I feel fine, my dear. I have no idea how I got here or how I became like this.”

The Wraith’s otherworldly, yet comforting voice interjected, “That is perfectly normal when someone is recently deceased, Theodore Morton.”

“We found your body stabbed in your study,” Irene said. “The knife in your back had the head of Anubis carved into the handle.”

Morton was shocked and frustrated. He just couldn’t recall this violent event. He wanted to be able to remember all the details, for even the smallest of those could help bring those who took his life to justice. He asked, “Can you help me, Mister Kennedy?”

“I will help you, Theodore Morton. To do so, however, we must travel together to the moments leading to your death.”

Irene, Morton, and the Wraith moved through the archaeologist’s subconscious memories. Morton saw himself in his study, pasting Bill Taylor’s article on the Oditep expedition into his scrapbook. A slight breeze from the open window greeted him as he read the piece. The noise of brush or foliage moving seemed louder in the dead silence. It had interrupted Morton’s reverie. He was about to get up from his desk chair when a dagger with the head of Anubis on its handle stabbed him in the back. Irene Lane, Theodore Morton, and Gary Kennedy saw the “Anubis shall rise again!” message attached to the knife. The voice of one of three individuals in long black robes is heard upon Morton’s successful assassination.

“The Cult of Anubis has been avenged!”

The Cult of Anubis – The mere mention of them struck fear into the hearts of most of those Morton and his group had met in Egypt. Morton believed them to be nothing more than hearsay or legend. The dagger’s blade in Morton’s back proved otherwise.

Morton realized he could not rest until the Cult of Anubis was stopped. He told the Wraith and Irene everything he knew about them. The clandestine group worshiped the Egyptian God of Death. Their goal was to bring Anubis to our world to cleanse it of infidels. The Cult of Anubis must sacrifice a woman with golden hair to bring their deity here. Their prophecies say they must do this when the full moon’s light reflects off the ruby eyes of the statue of Anubis. The same idol, as Morton, Irene, and the Wraith later saw, was stolen by the Cult of Anubis before Theodore Morton’s murder.

Irene knew what must be done. The Wraith must find the Cult of Anubis before the full moon occurs tomorrow night. If he does not succeed, innocent lives could be lost when the God of Death wreaks his wrathful vengeance upon the entire world. The Wraith formulated a plan to avenge Theodore Morton. However, the spirit of justice needed the help of police detective Sam Riley to begin its first phase.

Sam Riley was hungry and worried about the outcome of the Morton murder case. He needed to think. Since Asumi’s murder and being assigned to the Morton case, he’d been trying to find new clues, anything that would help him find the killers. The only things he had were a couple of knives and the pair of messages in Egyptian Arabic. His instincts told him that the Cult of Anubis, which Asumi mentioned, was behind both homicides. Yet, instincts alone were not enough. He needed hard proof that they were the culprits.

Riley had been so lost in thought that he didn’t realize he had wandered onto the cemetery grounds. Gary Kennedy, who could possess the bodies of the living and the dead, used the police detective as a vessel. Irene noticed a slight green glow to Detective Riley’s eyes. This told her the Wraith was controlling him. She learned of Gary’s ability to do so when she and Larry learned the truth about the Wraith. He had used a grave robber against his partner in the cemetery.

“Another has been murdered by the Cult of Anubis,” The Wraith said, interrupting Irene’s memories. His voice sounded like both Gary Kennedy and Detective Sam Riley in a chorus that would be chilling to most. However, Irene Lane felt no fear when he spoke. “The young Egyptian named Asumi Salah has fallen victim to their lethal dagger’s blade.”

Theodore Morton was shocked. His voice showed this when he asked, “Why would anyone want to kill Asumi?”

“It was, most certainly, to prevent me from learning the truth,” Asumi, who, like Morton, was in spirit form, interjected. “Forgive my intrusion, but the path created by Mr. Morton and Kennedy to this place was still open. I felt I should use it to aid you somehow.”

“No apologies are necessary, Asumi Salah,” said the Wraith-controlled Detective Riley. “All help is welcome when justice is sought.”

“Thank you, Mister Kennedy,” Asumi responded. “Shortly after my death, I learned that the Cult of Anubis is financed by my father. Its leader, Anordo Sardonhah, receives monthly funds from him. The cult killed me, believing I knew of my father’s involvement with them. The truth is that I had just discovered this fact after my demise.”

With the minds of both Gary Kennedy and Detective Sam Riley currently residing in the latter’s body, the pair of beings could discuss the macabre events of this night in order to plan their next move with Irene, Asumi, and Thomas. The two men basically existed in two different places at once. Kennedy saw himself in Riley’s office.

“We’re in my office,” Riley said, “I left to get something to eat. What happened?”

“The human mind tends to put one’s psyche in familiar surroundings, detective,” Kennedy replied. He moved some old newspapers off a sofa near the door. “They give them a sense of comfort.”

Kennedy continued, “You have already received every bit of information my associates and I have on the murders of Thomas Morton and Asumi Salah. You also know what the Cult of Anubis plans to do tomorrow night. The bonding of our minds made certain of that.”

“You bet I know everything, Kennedy,” Riley replied. “But there’s one thing you didn’t consider.”

“And what is that, Detective Riley?”

“The description of the one the Cult of Anubis is to sacrifice, according to my investigation, is an exact match for your girlfriend Irene Lane.”

“On the contrary, detective. That fact is extremely important to my plan to stop the cult.”

“And what exactly is that plan?”

“We’re going to let the Cult of Anubis capture Irene.”

Irene felt a mix of confusion, shock, and anger when she heard this. She wanted to slap Gary until she realized that the man in front of her was Detective Riley. He shouldn’t be caught in the middle of whatever was going on between Irene and Gary. This did nothing to cease her seething rage in this moment. It took all of her strength of will not to throttle the Wraith, no matter whose body he had possessed.

There was a confident assurance in Detective Riley and the Wraith’s chorus voice. “There is no reason to be angry or afraid, Irene,” Riley and Kennedy said. “Listen to my plan, and everything will be clearer.”

Irene Lane, Detective Riley, Theodore Morton, and Asumi Salah listened to the Wraith’s plan. Riley and Irene went their separate ways to enact their various phases. Irene returned to the car and found her brother asleep. A long hand went over her mouth. She tried to scream, but only a muffled noise came out. A handkerchief with chloroform was in her assailant’s hand. It forced Irene Lane to give in to the shadowy darkness of a dreamless sleep.

“We must bring her to Master and prepare her for tomorrow night’s full moon,” The voice of the tall, robed man said as he helped his comrade carry Irene out of the car. The Cult of Anubis had officially taken Irene Lane as their sacrifice. Things were already going according to the Wraith’s plan. Whether or not it succeeded depended on whether he could find their lair in time.

The Wraith, having left Detective Riley’s body, sensed Irene was in danger. Morton and Asumi wanted to help him stop the Cult of Anubis. However, their spirits were bound to the cemetery. Unlike Gary Kennedy, they could not leave. Perhaps that was for the best. Fighting the Cult of Anubis could prove to be dangerous for both the living and the dead.

The Wraith moved much faster in his spectral green form. Riley, who stood near the cemetery’s main gate, felt like he had just awakened from a half-remembered dream. Yet, he was completely aware of what had happened to him and the Wraith’s plan.

Detective Riley found Larry Lane slumped over in the passenger seat of his and Irene’s car. The driver’s side door was open. Riley knew the Wraith went to follow the men who took Irene. However, he didn’t know where Gary Kennedy would end up or if he’d succeed. Riley’s best bet was to wake up Larry.

“Come on, Sleeping Beauty,” Riley quipped while lightly slapping Larry’s left cheek, “We have to move like the devil to find the kooks that took Irene Lane.”

Larry groggily asked, “Someone took my sister? Who are you?”

“I’m Police Detective Sam Riley,” Riley replied while showing his credentials to Larry. “The Wraith went chasing after the folks who took her shortly after leaving me in the cemetery. I wish I knew where they went.”

“I don’t know if this can help,” Larry said, “But I could swear one of the jokers who put me to sleep said something about going somewhere for Easter.”

“Easter isn’t for a few months. Are you sure?”

“I heard the words ‘going’ and ‘Easter’. The rest is a blur.”

Detective Riley thought for a moment. “There’s the abandoned Easterbrook Hotel. They could be there. You don’t look like you’re in any condition to drive. You mind if I take the wheel?”

“Be my guest, Detective Riley.”

A black sedan with an Anubis hood ornament sped through the deserted roads late at night. The two black-robed men who captured Irene Lane were inside, unaware that they were being pursued by the Wraith. The cultists carried the unconscious form of Irene into the Easterbrook Hotel. The derelict building was in relatively decent condition. It’s electricity and water worked perfectly. There were small signs of neglect inside. However, the exterior still looked like it had before it had closed.

The top floor was completely occupied by the Cult of Anubis. Looking more menacing than usual, the tall Anordo stood in front of Aatami Salah, who was sitting at a polished wooden desk. The Wraith remained unseen as the hawk-faced cult leader pointed his talon-shaped finger at Aatami.

“Remember our deal, Aatami,” Anordo hissed, “You provide funds for the Cult of Anubis, and we, in turn, make the infidels feel the wrath of Anubis.”

Aatami sputtered, “I have honored my part of our deal. Yet, none of the objects stolen by Theodore Morton have been returned to Egypt as you said they would.”

“Patience, Aatami,” Anordo said. “Everything that’s meant to happen will happen in the right moment.”

The Wraith floated unseen outside the window of Aatami’s office in the hotel. He used his possession power to take over the robust man. However, Gary Kennedy did not want to control him. He merely wanted to show Aatami an unrevealed truth about the Cult of Anubis.

Aatami’s mind showed him his son talking to Detective Sam Riley. He felt the cult’s knife stab his son. Aatami’s face became red with rage. His plump hands balled into fists after the Wraith left his body.

Aatami yelled with an overpowering madness, “You killed my son, you murderer!”

Aatami lunged at Anordo. The cult leader seemed to float as he dodged Asumi’s father with the speed of a panther. Aatami flew through the open window. However, he did not fall to his death. A green mist enveloped him. The Wraith placed Aatami on the street just in time. Anordo witnessed this with great surprise.

“It would seem that the gods are protecting you, Aatami,” Anordo said.

“Not gods,” Gary Kennedy said as he confronted Anordo, “Only the Wraith.”

“I do not know who you are, Wraith,” Anordo said with great assurance, “But you cannot stop the inevitable. When the woman is sacrificed, Anubis shall cleanse this world of infidels.”

“Not if-,” The Wraith said before the beginning rays of dawn’s sunlight pierced the clouds. Gary Kennedy had no choice but to return to his grave now. Had he remained, he would have heard Anordo cackle maniacally as Larry Lane and Detective Sam Riley were captured by the Cult of Anubis.

Anordo entered the ballroom on the top floor of the Easterbrook Hotel. Nubari and the rest of the Cult of Anubis had modified and prepared it for the sacrifice that would bring Anubis to Earth. Detective Riley and Larry were unconscious and bound and hanging upside down on a pair of pendulums on either side of Irene above the sacrificial altar. Between them was a pillar with the ruby-eyed statue of Anubis on top of it.

The pendulums were to cut Irene. The Cult of Anubis believed her blood would allow Anubis to arrive. It would surround the statue of the God of Death, opening a portal. Once Anubis comes to our world, he shall begin his cleansing with Larry and Riley. All that Anordo had to do was wait for the full moon’s light to enter the skylight.

Night had fallen, and clocks all over the city chimed midnight. Gary Kennedy arose from his grave to find Theodore Morton and Asumi Salah waiting for him. Kennedy knew that their inability to leave the cemetery grounds was more for their safety. Kennedy’s work as the Wraith was dangerous for both the living and the dead.

The Wraith moved with lightning speed to the Easterbrook Hotel. He arrived to find Larry and Detective Riley tied to swinging, forked pendulums that continued to lower toward the dormant form of Irene. He had mere seconds to react before the blades cut her, bringing her blood down a path to a pillar where the statue of Anubis’s ruby red eyes would reflect the moonlight. Its rays would then open a portal from where the God of Death would arrive.

There was just one thing for Gary Kennedy to do. He had to possess Irene in order to awaken her. Upon doing so, he noticed her hands were tied over her head. Kennedy took over a cultist whose knife freed Irene. The blade accidentally scratched her left hand, causing her to bleed slightly. The small crimson drops had landed near the statue of Anubis. The Wraith, not realizing his mistake, fought various cultists to get to the pendulums’ lever behind the statue of Anubis. Once they stopped moving, the Wraith threw the blade in Detective Riley’s direction. It landed right on the ropes, liberating him.

Riley landed on his back on the floor, dusted himself off, freed Larry, and drew his revolver. Apparently, the Cult of Anubis didn’t see the detective or his weapon as a threat to their plans. Otherwise, they would have taken it from him. Irene, meanwhile, had taken a cultist’s dagger and stabbed him with it.

Light from the full moon had brightened the ballroom. It struck the ruby eyes of Anubis. A pair of white/red beams opened a circular portal. Nothing but blackness could be seen from the other side until the gigantic form of Anubis appeared in the center of what was once the dance floor. A shocked Anordo scanned the scene, wondering what to do next.

The Wraith used his power of possession on Anordo. He grabbed a sword from a nearby wall. He swung it at the Egyptian deity. However, his long, powerful right hand blocked Kennedy’s attack while the left hand broke Anordo’s neck.

While Anordo’s body fell to the floor, Detective Riley once again became the Wraith host. Both Kennedy and Riley noticed something. Anubis still remained near the portal. Irene stabbed his Achilles heel with her dagger, causing him to stumble backwards. She raced out of the way to avoid being crushed by the falling body. The Wraith fired Riley’s gun until the statue of Anubis shattered. The idol’s destruction caused the rift that brought Anubis to the Easterbrook Hotel’s ballroom to close. This sent the Egyptian God of Death back to the limbo from whence he came.

The Cult of Anubis’ leader was dead, and all its surviving members and Aatami surrendered to Detective Sam Riley.

“My son was right,” Aatami said to Riley with tears in his eyes, “I was led down a dark path. I accept whatever punishment the law of this land will give one such as myself.”

The Wraith had left Riley’s body while the detective handcuffed Aatami. Gary Kennedy’s green mist form looked at Anordo’s broken corpse. Irene stood beside the Wraith. Both of them looked troubled.

“It’s a pity we couldn’t save him,” Irene said.

“The wheels of justice turn in mysterious ways, Irene,” The Wraith replied. “Perhaps Anordo’s death was their way of bringing peace to those whose lives the Cult of Anubis had taken.”

That was a chilling thought for Irene, but she understood that things were set right when she had escorted Gary Kennedy back to his grave. Both she and Kennedy saw Theodore Morton and Asumi walk up a lit path in the night’s sky. They were finally at peace when the Cult of Anubis was no more. Meanwhile, the Wraith rested, assured that justice had been served once more.

The End