wienening

the boobening was first

now the wienening

Lowcountry IX: The Epilogue as Told by Det. Otto Schnelppvort

Part IX:

03 October 1982

"You broke my heart, Randy! And that Act of Doucheyness can never be forgiven! You may have the Power of the Gods, but I made you, and I can unmake you! I hold my own debt unforgiven. May I sleep in Udun."

The sky cleared and the Sun rose. Strange, because it was something like 4 am by that time. Randy's bandages fell off and colour returned to his skin. I grabbed Hans' rifle and nailed him between the eyes. His corpse fell off the roof.

"Prick," I said.

Traci ran right to Nefrina. It was kind of weird, I expected her to still be goo goo for pasty over there. I suppose Fred just kind of passed on, but Nefrina went to Hell for us. That's deep, honey. Traci had the bright idea to talk to Imhotep.

"Is there a chance she can still be saved? Her soul I mean," she asked him. The Frankensteins were still milling around, they didn't know what to do with themselves. I went to Victor, he was holding Elizabeth, both pretty shooken up.

"Victor. I think somehow I can call you my friend," I told him.

"You as well, Otto. I never wanted to do what Henry did to you," He replied.

"I know. Listen, you got to get these guys out of here. You don't belong here. You can find your peace back at Bran. No more killings, no more abominations. No more testing God."

"You're right, Otto. I'll take us back. Maybe we can one day yet redeem ourselves." He turned and gathered what remained, couldn't have been more than half the monsters they came with and left in the darkness back to the woods. I'm not sure if he ever made it back to the Castle. I hope so.

There were hardly any Mummies left. They all just stared at Imhotep and Traci holding Nefrina's body.

"Queen Tera," Imhotep said. The only female Mummy perked her head. "You are in charge now. If there is anyone left to follow you. I do not wish to see any of you either again." The Mummies didn't say a word but they followed Tera back up to the Mountains. Imhotep turned to us. "Come with me."

He took us to the Frankenstein's Lair. He placed Nefrina's body up on the slab.

"What are we doing here?" Traci asked.

"I can locate her soul but it's not going to do us any good to bring her back to a dead body." Imhotep started sprinkling this weird dust and clearing space for some kind of ritual. He took Henry's Ankh out of her chest and rested his own from his staff. "We bring her back as a Frankenstein. For a moment she will live and in that moment I can forgive her and she will pass on to Heaven."

"Only for a moment?" I asked.

"She is a Mummy, Otto. This body will not sustain life on its own for more than a second."

"Could we bring Fred back, too?" Traci asked.

"I'm afraid my dear," Imhotep began, "that as a Frankenstein Fred had no soul to find. He was just a shell. A Mummy is more like a soul bound to Earth. It's all we still are. We cannot pass on. We could give Fred a new heart but when we bring him back he'll just be a Frankenstein, with no memories or dreams." Traci looked at the ground as a tear ran down her cheek. Imhotep just kept attaching Nefrina to the machine.

"So then if Frankensteins have no souls, how will we get this one to get Nefrinas?" I asked him.

"We do what no Frankenstein has ever done during this process." He flipped some switches and a bolt of electricity sparked on. "We pray." The sky grew dark and Imhotep bowed his head. Traci held Nefrina's hand. Lightning flashed overhead and Imhotep channeled it into Nefrina's body. She suddenly woke up and squeezed Traci's hand, then passed back out on the slab, unable to sustain life as Imhotep said she would.

"Did it work?" I asked.

"I don't know," Traci said. I turned to Imhotep, his head was still bowed, muttering to himself.

"Padre?"

He turned and left the room without saying a thing.

Sometimes that's just how it ends in Lowcountry.

Go Broncos.

Lowcountry VIII: The Battles of Nefrina of the Lagids

Part VIII:

02 October 1982

I thought it was going to be cool to have another Mummy in school with me. I've made some friends but there's always some difference when they go home to dinner with their parents and I go home to a Cursed Cave under the Mountains. It's just hard to relate. Anyway, Randy hasn't really made things any easier. I want him to care so much but it escapes him. He's hung up on Traci Lorraine. Such a jerk-off.

Traci is this really weird girl, I always thought she looked like a rat. She spaces out in class all the time, I was her lab partner in like 10th Grade and I had to do all the work, it was bogus. I don't know what Randy sees in her. Ugh he sucks. Great body though.

So of course I was excited when Traci decided to break things off with him and go out with that Frankenstein kid. Randy and I are going to homecoming now as just friends but some 3,000 year old wine I stole from Nesperennub will change that! Maybe. That wasn't what happened though.

My stupid family ruined everything. And those stupid Frankensteins. Me and Randy didn't even get into the dance - all these green things jumped us in the parking lot. Fred and Traci showed up late, she was pulling at him to stop. I suppose we have something in common actually. There must have been five or six of them, we fended them off for a while until Kharis and Nesyamun showed up. Could they be more embarassing?! After Kharis was able to decapitate the one called Margaret and someone else they called Jerry, I think he was valuable. The rest of them stumbled off into the darkness but Randy gave chase. I ran behind him. A woman screamed.

I caught up and saw that Randy had this Frankenstein on the ground, her leg was impaled on a log, blood oozing everywhere. These things are so gross! She said her name was Justine and she wanted to make a deal.

"Stop this! I can give you everything!"

"Why?" Randy lifted his hand as sand gathered around him.

"I loved him, alright? I loved Henry Frankenstein. He...he abandoned me. For that bitch who he doesn't even love, she gives nothing to him. They all deserve to burn for his sins! Let me give them up, I can help! I can be like you!"

"No you can't." Randy used the sand to suffocate her, then smashed her face with the log. I stood there shocked. Kharis emerged from the woods.

"Who are you, boy?" he asked looking at the corpse.

"Randy Snarfle. I'm the most powerful Mummy there is."

Kharis laughed. He laughed! That old guy never laughs! "I like your spirit, boy. And your War Strategy. We'll find them. No prisoners, no deserters. Come, we have much to do." He took him on his wing and they blew off into the winds. Just like that. Not even a goodbye. I stood there like an idiot. Fred and Traci crept out of the darkness. I guess they had been scattered pretty good. Traci couldn't bear to look at Justine. Fred growled. Another Frankenstein quickly loped to us.

"Fred! Don't worry, it's Hans" He said as he grabbed Traci's boy. "Come, we must flee quickly!" Traci turned to leave as well. "No! No mortals!" Fred moaned and they walked off slowly together. That left me and that bitch Traci. I could understand Fred abandoning her. She was nothing. How could Randy and Kharis leave me?!

We walked back to the dance together. You know, for some punch or something. It sucked. I didn't really know anyone at this High School. As soon as we walked in though Traci ran up to this weird old guy wearing a Denver Broncos hat. I figured he was a teacher or something. He and Traci kept looking at me and murmuring. I don't like that. I walked straight up to them.

"What do you people want with me?!"

"Nefrina? Traci here said that's your name?" This dude asked me. "I'm sure you're familiar with me. I'm Otto Schnelppvort." Holy shit! This was the guy we've been after for like, years and years! "This is ending tonight. Can we count you on our side?"

"What side is that? Are you Frankenstein or Mummy?"

"We're on our own damn side," he said. "The side that isn't interested in murder or curses. The side that just wants these creepy bastards out of our town."

"Well, am I one of those bastards?"

"Not if you join us," Traci said. She smiled. I didn't know what this cunt was doing. But I didn't have a place with the Mummies for some reason. And I certainly wasn't about to join those gross Frankensteins.

"Fine," I said. "What do I have to do?"

Lowcountry VII: The Treachery of Imhotep of Djoser

Part VII:

19 July 1973

Kharis will say he freed me from my tomb forty years ago. He'll tell you he liberated me from my prison there and enlisted me in a noble fight against an evil enemy. I seem to be the only one in this paltry organisation however, to understand that we are all breaking our curses to roam around outside playing shoot up with these undead whose moral allegiance should not concern us. We have no part vanquishing evil or good, we are only supposed to guard the tombs of the Pharaohs we sinned against. At this moment, however, what Kharis says is the only law we may accept.

I was the world's first doctor, architect and engineer. I am called Chancellor of the King of Egypt, Doctor, First in line after the King of Upper Egypt, Administrator of the Great Palace, Hereditary nobleman, High Priest of Heliopolis, Builder, Chief Carpenter, Chief Sculptor, and Maker of Vases in Chief. People stopped using that title after the first day because it was too long to say. I told them to make the time. They wouldn't listen. Later generations praised my name and held me among the immortals. Was it wrong that I considered myself one? I earned my praise. Somehow Kharis has put me on the low end of his Court, though I have outlived him by 1500 years. I predict his ignorance shall undue him someday.

Kharis had this weird obsession with trivial parts of our culture. He placed high esteem on Tutankhamun Hekaiunushema, mostly out his legendary Cursing ability and believed he could use his power to wiggle around his own doom. What Kharis doesn't understand is that he is bound to his fate to Ananka and only the willing and genuine forgiveness of a Priest may let him off. He has also confided with Nesmayun some other curse that I am not aware of.

As soon as Kharis discovered that Tutankhamun would tour Europe, he knew he had to get on board. He sent Prem, this murderous, mindless servant to the Soviet Union two months ago to sneak on board and learn what he could, disguised as part of the exhibit. Leaving a trail of bodies in his wake, Prem has sent us word that he made it on board and is now following the Caravan around Europe. He is communicating with Kharis through locusts, vile insects.

28 November 1978

Prem has stayed with Tutankhamen throughout Europe and America. Finally Kharis has instructed him to spill a large amount of Tana Leaves in Northern Idaho. It bids us to travel there. I cornered Nesyamun to find out why.

"You understand the evil of the Frankensteins?" He blithely began.

"They are not foe. We have conflict with them but that does not make them foe. Why suddenly this journey, what does Kharis want in Idaho that we cannot obtain here?" Nesyamun looked away. I gripped him against the corridor. "Lest I remind you of my own power, my Curse's strength is only behind Kharis himself for I sinned greatly and with great avarice. Tell me!" Nesyamun whimpered and relented.

"Kharis is bound to spill the remaining blood of the Family Schnelppvort. He failed to destroy he who entered Ananka's tomb."

"Why are the Frankensteins involved?" I gripped his neck with my Ankh Staff. Life was the only threat I could give him now.

"The murderer of he who entered his tomb was a Frankenstein! The same who I let go in Leeds many ages ago."

"You started this feud, Nesyamun? Your pride has cost many lives." I let him go and he scoffed.

"I know this, Imhotep. The time for my retribution will follow. For now, as Kharis is our King we obey his will."

"He is no King."

04 April 1980

We have made it to Smelterville, Idaho. Prem spilled the leaves near a cave up the road and through the mountains. The rain is cold here and the trees boast a coat of green throughout branches that cover their entire stems. Strange foliage here be. Kharis has finally divulged his full plan here, somehow I doubt that Nesyaum and I were the only ones to know of his Curse prior. The Frankenstein has informed him that Schnelppvort will be here. It is time to search the homes and hills.

We discovered a Schnelppvort a few weeks later. Nefrina, a comparatively young girl we enrolled in the local High School to snoop out leads found him through volunteering at some charity. He was in a home the mortals use to keep those who are about to pass on.

Kharis, Nesyamun and I entered his room. He was very old, white hair, wrinkly skin almost looked like our own. He was attached to a machine that could give him air to breathe. I had forgotten how vulnerable mortals were. Kharis leaned in to him.

"Norman Schnelppvort. Do you remember who I am?" His gray eyes fixed themselves on Kharis.

"I...I believe so. I thought you were a dream. A terrible nightmare I had a lifetime ago."

"You old bastard. Do you know that was 85 years ago? you were just a child. So close to Asar's Grasp but to succumb to me."

"You're...you're going to kill an old man? Why would you do that?"

"He has a right to know why this doom is met, Kharis," I said. With indignant patience Kharis drew close to Norman's face.

"You are the last part of a Curse I lay on your father. When I claim your soul, your bloodline will end and after 85 years of waiting I may return to Ananka." The old man sighed and wheeled his chair to this machine that was connected to his oxygen tank. His hand trembled as he reached for a cord attached to wall.

"That...is a very cute story, creature," He let out a deep breath. "But you shall not claim me today. Not till my son is dead will your Curse be lifted," Norman stared directly at Kharis. "And tho I cannot kill such a monster...he will find a way. Good bye." Norman pulled the cord and slumped over as his machine turned off. Kharis panicked.

Some other mortals wearing white robes rushed in and stopped when they found us. Prem, lurking in a broom closet outside emerged and quickly snapped their necks.

"What now?" Nesyamun asked. Kharis composed himself.

"Nothing has changed. The bloodline lives on regardless. Although that soul would have been a nice offering to Ananka in the afterlife. We must find the son. He shall come here. Soon on account of his Father's death. We must only wait."

27 September 1982

I am not aware of when Otto first came back to Smelterville. I only know I found him first as he was stalking a group of Frankensteins. We were monitoring their activity since they arrived a few years ago, continuing to grow their numbers among the local dead. I neglected to inform Kharis but it was clear from spying Henry Frankenstein he had no idea where Schnelppvort lay. He sought to find him as much as Kharis did. I stopped Otto in the woods after he spoke to a young mortal female and a younger Frankenstein. They ran off and he was about to jump the group in a clearing wielding solely a pistol.

"This is not prudent," I informed him.

"What are you?" He stammered as I crept from the darkness.

"Among the company who seeks you, Schnelppvort, I am the best ally you will receive. I am Imhotep, Chancellor of the King of Egypt, Doctor, First in line after the King of Upper Egypt, Administrator of the Great Palace, Hereditary nobleman, High Priest of Heliopolis, Builder, Chief Carpenter, Chief Sculptor, and Maker of Vases in Chief."

"What the hell?"

"You must be more careful. These things will kill you. Our master, Kharis also wishes you dead. You are in popular company."

"The Mummy, Kharis? Why would you tell me this? Are you to kill me now?" He raised his pistol to my face.

"I cannot kill you. Only may Kharis. Only he may break his curse through your murder and the cease of your bloodline."

"Curse?"

"He failed to kill your Grandfather after he entered his tomb. The Undead are bound to their duty."

"That's not true. Kharis murdered my Grandfather."

"That doesn't make a whole lot of sense," I moved closer to him. "Henry Frankenstein killed Albert Schnelppvort. If Kharis had killed him 85 years ago we could have all gone back to rest."

He looked down at the ground as if this news truly struck him deeply. I forgot what it was like to know death. "Would you now take me to him?"

"No. This is Kharis' curse and it has gone on long enough. I believe you may play a role in ending these times and bringing us all peace. I have a place in secret come and we may-"

"Are you going to say something like 'end Lowcountry?'"

"Yeah."

"Can I say it?"

I sighed. "Fine."

"Come on then, let's end this Lowcountry!"

Lowcountry VI: The Silent Path of Victor Frankenstein

Part VI:

24 December 1974

He's held Schnelppvort here for months. Henry promised to him that he'd let him free, but I didn't expect him to remain among the living through that first night. That was of course before Henry found out who he was. He was indeed the blood of Albert Schnelppvort, a random mortal Henry had killed only to find out was very important to the Mummy Kharis. Henry couldn't fully understand why but he knew enough to keep the second Schnelppvort around.

Christmas Eve. I had forgotten such a holiday existed. Awakening in this body is strange. Sometimes it feels like a memory I lost long ago. Having Otto around reminds me more of mortal life. He told us about a dream he had once. I have never dreamed or I don't believe I have. He described his dream as like a thought he couldn't control while he slept. Frankensteins do not dream, but I think it is like a memory. Christmas with Otto was like a memory of something long ago though I know I have never had one.

Otto was a good sport, I guess. He was never comfortable our prisoner, but he could find fun in his terrible circumstances. He told us this was time for family. Henry always said we were all family together but everyone had attachments to particular people. I personally was attached to Elizabeth who I held near the electric lamps. We forbade Otto to make fire tho he insisted. If he were to master it he could surely intimidate us all into escaping. Henry never had a true bride like I was with Elizabeth. As sorrowful as I could be, she put up with me. I knew Elsa liked him, I mean, she was attracted to the power, she was the kind of girl who really played into his scheming. He shunned her though. He almost preferred to be in the dark alone.

Christmas morning Henry drilled Otto. He already knew his family was important but was through catering to the prisoner's wishes for a nice holiday. He locked Otto in the Cellar with him and myself and tried to find out everything he could.

"Did you know I knew your grandfather, Otto?" He began slowly.

"I know my grandfather used to live in Bran. That he hunted your kind," said Otto.

"Where do you live now? Where has your family been hiding?"

"I won't tell you that."

"We will learn now or later. Keep in mind that we have eternity here. Is this really the place you'd like to die? Not tomorrow, not next month but decades from now? Tell us where you've been hiding."

"Listen pal, my grandpa died while on a hunt of you guys when my dad was a kid. He has never told me more than that. I'm not trusting you assholes."

"Are you aware that your grandfather also hunted Mummies?"

"What is it with you and Mummies? This is bullshit, what the hell does that have to do with anything?"

"More than you could know," I chimed in.

"Quiet, Victor!" Henry screamed and slapped Otto. "Lest you forget we ask the questions!"

"Calm down, Henry," I set his hand down. He glared at me, I turned to him: "I know what you're getting at, let me help."

"Since when are you a help? Go wail at the wind and coddle your whore."

"I will get what you want from him. If not I'll leave and you can continue your way." Henry turned his back on me and paced in the corner. "Otto-" He looked up at me.

"What's up, chief? You're not going to suddenly let me out, are you?"

"I must decline your command. You have never met a Mummy, have you?"

"No."

"There is a Mummy by the name of Kharis who has on numerous interactions with us taken greater and greater interest in your family's name. We want to know where you lived so we can stop him in case he ever made it there and tried to hurt your family."

"I don't have a family. Wife divorced. Daughter is...no longer here. My father's the only one left, he's stuck in a retirement home, barely breathing. Whatever your Mummy wants is not with them, it's me. So give it to me straight. What'd he do with my grandpa?"

I looked at Henry who paused to stare at Otto, then myself. "Kharis murdered your grandfather, Otto."

"Right," He looked down with a kind of swarthy anger. "So you're saying we have the same enemy. You got a plan?"

"We find out where you live, that's where they want to be, we can get them on that turf and rid the world of their evil forever. Until that moment, it is in our best interest to keep you alive."

"As a bargaining chip only," Henry said.

"Smelterville," said Otto. "Smelterville, Idaho. Small town in the Northwest U.S. Let's jump the bastards there." Henry left. I followed him up to his room. Elsa was waiting there.

"Rrraagghh..." she said.

"Shut up, Elsa," said Henry. He began pursing through some documents and old books. "Victor, we have some research to do." He was slugging around like a man possessed. "I want to find out everything about Mummies. We are making a trip to Egypt as soon as we are able."

07 November 1975

We made it down to Kharis' tomb in Egypt after extensive research, probing many ancient local libraries under cover of darkness. Henry rarely slept that year, staying up late reading all he could about the Egyptian Undead. He even managed to acquire this wooden Ankh that he would often fondle while reading these ancient manuscripts. He wouldn't let anyone near him. He even missed the ceremony we made up for Elizabeth and I's wedding in July.

Keeping Otto in the care of Hans and Margaret, it turned that we need not find the tomb to find Kharis. His guards found us and brought us to him before we arrived close. He had built his forces up since last we saw him, there were maybe a dozen of them huddled around the Sarcophaguses.

"I would curse you, but you are already dead, Frankenstein," mocked Kharis. "Now, it is time to send you to your oblivion." Kharis approached as the walls shuddered.

"Schnelppvort!" Henry said calmly. Kharis froze. "OTTO Schnelppvort. You ever hear of him?"

"How do you know that name?" said Kharis.

"He lies in my Castle as we speak." Kharis glared. "Alive. For the moment if all goes well today."

"What do you want for him?"

"You've been following Tut around my lands - get the hell out."

"That will no longer be a problem. Deliver Schnelppvort."

"Done. I will tell you where he will be. Smelterville, Idaho. In America."

"When he will be? When will he be there?" Kharis did not enjoy playing around. Henry clearly did. All of Kharis' immortal power meant nothing now. Perhaps, I think, that Henry finally saw himself in an advantageous position in this war.

"That depends on how fast you and your little brigade here can make it there. I'll give you Schnelppvort, I have no attachment to the mortal, but you're not getting off the Earth without a fight from us."

"What do you know of leaving this World? You do not know the Curses of the Old Religion!"

"That's your problem, Kharis, you never think anyone else knows as much as you do! A Mummy's curse is unbreakable is it not? Bound to both the Cursed and Cursor? You have not fulfilled your duty."

"We do not move fast but we have our means, Frankenstein. You will know when we arrive in your Idaho."

"How?"

"You will know when you know. Now I grow weary of your sight. Be gone of this place." With that Kharis blew us away in a sandstorm and the tomb shut behind us.

"What a miserable place," said Henry.

"Are we keeping Otto until that moment comes?" I asked him. "It could be years. Why not let him go now?"

"I am not letting those Mummies get the jump on him without us being prepared. No, we shall mount the assault on Idaho, not be taken with our pants down."

25 December 1978

Otto has escaped. He lured us into a sense of complacency during Christmas. Henry will never let us celebrate again. While Otto is now fending for himself among our woods and wolves, Henry is furious, worried that he die before his true nature is revealed to us.

A month ago we suffered a swarm of locusts. The insects travel fast. They spelled a message on our wall, the Mummy Prem had reached Smelterville and the rest were gathering. Over the next years as they all made their journeys, Henry's final fight would commence. His plan was to protect Otto, now it is out of our hands but he won't accept that. Schnelppvort will be on his own fighting back to his home.

I wish I had a God to pray to, but there is no God I have yet found in Lowcountry.

Lowcountry V: The Curses of Kharis of Ananka

Part V:

30 June 1056 BCE

I used to know what Love was. I've only loved once. She was a goddess. A princess, daughter of the Pharaoh. Her hair flowed past her shoulders like the Nile, and her skin was as brown and smooth as the silt in its shores. She could command a room with a glance, quiet it with a whisper. So young.

I was a celibate priest in the Pharaoh's court. None held more sway or influence to a higher power. I damned myself though, couldn't control the urges. I forced myself on Princess Ananka when she would not give herself to me willingly. I thought she would give in, be as passionate as I was, she kept struggling and started to scream, I hit her. She fell down and I hit her again. I didn't know how hard, she started to run, I pounced and threw her on on her on to the edge of a stone block, she hit her neck and it snapped. The guards entered and saw what I had done.

I had raped and murdered the Princess. I suffered for my sins. They mummified me alive and cursed me to guard her tomb for eternity as a penance that will never be fulfilled, forever barren from the afterlife. I am never allowed to reunite with my Ananka.

02 February 1895

I did not meet another soul for nearly three millennia. Apparently during a wave of discovery at the turn of the mortals' Century mark many tombs of our people were desecrated by the West. This is how I met a reincarnation of my beloved, Amina Schnelppvort.

Amina was Ananka reborn truly. She had long hair, silky skin, a powerful presence. She came to me with her husband and a group of Archaeologists from England. I heard them digging for days before they found the entrance to the tomb. Had they not known I was here? They should have prepared. Albert told me that was why they had hired him in the first place. You see, when I met my first mortal I also heard of the Frankensteins.

Albert and Amina hailed from a village in Romania named Bran. Apparently they had a nasty issue with the Undead up there, creatures rising from the grave with great strength and little intellect, terrorizing the people. Albert had done well hunting and dispatching the beasts so a group of English seeking to unearth possibly cursed Egyptian tombs brought on he and his family in case the worst happened.

The worst happened. I killed all of the Englishmen easily. They even brought a Priest of the Old Religion named Yousef. His knowledge was too modern though, he could not control me, even with Tea of the Tana Leaves. Mummies are strictly bound to their Curses and to the Scent of Tana Leaves. It commands us to that location but this poor sap thought he could control me when I got there. I ripped his head off.

I approached Albert and Amina when I stopped at her beauty. If I yet drew breath it would have vanished. I placed her aside and grabbed her man's throat, ready to tear it out. He stammered and tried to make a deal.

"What do you want from us?" the mortal said.

"You have nothing to give me." I informed him.

"Money? Power? Riches, every man has something he needs or wants - name your price, man! Anything!" I put him down. I looked at Amina. I knew she wasn't Ananka. She would be pleasant, but could never be an immortal.

"Peace." I told Albert. "My only desire is to rest. To be with my love, Ananka. I require the forgiveness of a priest." I glared at him. "A True Egyptian of the Old Religion. I doubt you can grant me that. Pharaoh Mummies may rest, only those of the highest sins against the gods are cursed to remain in this world."

"But there are priests who walk again! Back in England there was a Mummy in Leeds named Nesyamun! He is what scared the Archaeologists."

"Nesyamun of Menmaatre Setpenptah, the Court of Ramesses XI, serving under Amenhotep, Priest of Amun Son of Ramessesnakht?"

"Uhhh...uh yeah! That guy. I can bring you to him, you'll be forgiven in exchange for the lives of me and my family."

"Agreed," I could not let my temporary fixation on Amina separate me from my true love, Ananka. "But I shall not wait until you go all the way to England and back, fetch him and we will fix Tana Leaves at a good half-way point to shorten his Journey."

"Bucharest is near my home, I know the area, we will be able to be discreet there. Are you sure you can leave your tomb?"

"Meh, shouldn't be a problem."

I held on to his Amina and son, Norman while he journeyed back to England on he Archaeologist's vessel. Meanwhile we made it up to Bucharest ourselves. I lay at the meeting spot with the Tana Leaves, but only Nesyamun and another awakened Mummy, Djedptahiufankh of Shoshenq arrived.

"Where is the mortal?"

"We were jumped by the creatures. They said they would take revenge on he who wronged them," Nesyamun informed me.

"Where are they now?" We crossed a few streets and attacked out attackers. They were slovenly creatures, messy hair, tattered clothing and a horrible stench.

"Where is Albert Schnelppvort?" I asked, Amina and Norman cowering behind me. The tallest one aimed a rifle at my chest and fired. He would learn better. I took hold of one of them and ripped him apart. These things who had no fear of our kind would also learn fear as well. "Where is Schnelppvort?!"

"That bastard is dead!" The gangly one mouthed. "I strangled him myself!" He could not possibly comprehend what he had done. "Now you die!" He threw some water in my face, distracting me enough with the thought of gross smelling bandages to escape. Nesyamun came to my aid.

"Where is the boy? WHERE IS THE BOY?!" Nesyamun and Djedptahiufankh looked around, they had lost them. Amina and Norman also escaped in the confusion.

"What did you want with the mortals?" Nesyamun asked. He was not to blame. This...this Frankenstein was. "Do you still seek forgiveness?"

"It doesn't matter anymore, Old Priest. Schnelppvort entered my tomb. He is cursed by me. Because he died from another's hand my curse is unfulfilled. I must now destroy all his remaining blood. My debt with Ananka for now is moot."

"Surely-" Nesyamun began

"We will destroy that family! And these Frankensteins! Gather who we can. We shall begin with the tomb next to me, it's time we unearth Nesperennub of Usermaetre-Setepenre, I heard those guys come in after the first three hundred years, what a racket. We start with him, he'll show us more. You two, remember any other cursed Mummies. We build our army today. Let we enter into Lowcountry."

Lowcountry IV: The Transformation of Randy Snarfle

Part IV

29 September 1982

What the hell is that bitch doing? I thought we had something between us. I'm just screwed over again. How is she this stupid.

I asked her to homecoming this weekend, she said yes but I knew something was messed up with her. She wasn't enthused at all, I mean, why wouldn't she want to go out with the football team's kicker who can bench 80% of his body weight? That's right. 80%. I'm the man! She's so dumb here!

She's avoided me all week. She goes from swooning and chatting between classes to complete avoidance. I see her from across the cafeteria, walk over to her table and by the time I get there she's gone. I mean, hell I could have any chick in this school I wanted but I deserve a damn explanation. Don't leave me hanging baby.

So I'm stalking her, right, followed her after school and saw this car almost hit her in the parking lot. Some idiot nerdy kid walked in front of it though, got smeared up pretty bad but saved Traci. She's swooning over this cat, now. A few days later they're inseparable. Wherever he goes, she's following. It's bullshit. This cat is real gangly, no body mass at all. What's the point even? Then I found out what this thing was.

Frankenstein.

He's a damn Frankenstein. Abomination. Living horror. She's looking over her back constantly, but she don't know I'm still watching her. They were by the football field after practice yesterday, thought they'd avoid me I guess. Not likely, Traci. I hid under some gardening equipment under the bleachers and saw them talking. Actually I think only she was talking. He seemed to just stare listlessly and moan occasionally. She finally left - and kissed him. Kissed him on the cheek. Don't leave me dangling, baby. Don't do that.

She walked away and he just stood there, leaning in the wind. I snuck up from behind and pushed him to the ground. Now, from time to time my temper gets the best of me - as I kicked the shit out of him and stomped his chest I just kept screaming.

"Who the fuck you think you are?! You stay away from my girl!"

"Rrraaghh!!"

"Shut the fuck up!" I picked him up and slammed him against the side of the stadium. Then I looked into his eyes. They were glassy and gray, his skin green, easily bruised and cold to touch. His hair was slimy, black and sticky. "What are you?"

He raised his sweaty palms and gripped my arms, with surprising strength he threw he off him. Out of the darkness around him emerged some of his clan. They were creatures of Darkness. They threw me around.

"You think it's fun beatin' up some one different?" This really lopey one yelled at me as he socked me with an impossibly long arm.

"Fucking living!" This girl smacked me in the back with a nasty green backhand. I turned to look at her. Her eyes were different colors, a long stitching scar across the middle of her face.

"What the hell happened to your face?" I said as I lay on the ground. She started laughing.

"Shut the hell up, Margaret." The long one said.

"What?" Margaret was suddenly friendly. "He just don't know what we are. I don't blame him."

"He'll know. He'll know when Father's through with him. Say - let me just kill him now, I promise not to mangle the parts, we can take him whole!"

"You haven't had a whole kill since Fred. Sorry Fred." Margaret looked at Traci's crush. I knew your name now, you bastard. "You tear up to much, take too many limbs off and organs out, you need to just get a good clean strangle, like this - " Margaret reached her cold green hands towards my throat. I swatted them away but the other one grabbed my arms, felt like he was going to rip them off. Fred intervened.

"Maarrghhh..." He struggled up and started to grab my arm.

"No!" The male holding me was furious, he grabbed Fred's arm and ripped it off. Margaret gasped.

"Schneider! We do not do that to our own kind!" He had a look of rage in his eye, but Margaret slapped him. He did not retaliate. I would not have taken that from a bitch. While they were distracted I scrambled off and hid behind a tree. They seemed to look around in vain in the darkness, moaning and screaming at each other. They finally sauntered off into the woods.

As the shock wore off I realized what they were. The scars, the green skin, the bolts in their neck, tattered clothing. I couldn't believe it to be true, but we had a whole nest of Frankensteins right here in Smelterville, Idaho. There was only one way to be sure, though.

I stalked them through the woods to this old shack on the far side of the mountains. No one had been over here in years. There must have been twenty or so huddled in his little shack as I peaked through the window. There was one of them taller than the rest, who seemed to scream and beat Schneider after Margaret explained something to him, probably what he did to Fred. He then threw the arm out the window and took a fresh pink one out of a cooler, sewed it back on. No doubt anymore, we had Frankensteins. This was just like when my sister got lice last year. We need fire.

Suddenly something grabbed my shoulder, some bony, dusty hand. I turned around and something was trying to bite me. I punched its face and it fell to the ground with a thud, the Frankensteins inside picked their heads up. It scrambled off into the woods, I followed it, then pounced on it, rolling down a hill near a creek. As I landed on top it started freaking out about its bandages near water. To my surprise it was a chick.

"What the hell are you, now?"

"My name is Nefrina of the Lagids, unhand me, mortal!"

"You're a fucking Mummy...aren't you? Why'd you try to bite me?"

"To turn you into...one of us...our foe badly outnumbers us."

"Is that...is that a thing, if you are bit by a Mummy you become a Mummy? That doesn't sound right..."

"It's not widely known. We are mostly too slow. I mean, it didn't work with you."

"I guess not. Who is your foe?"

"Frankenstein!" I unhanded her and stood up. She panted and crawled to an upright position.

"You're fighting the Frankensteins?"

"Yes. We have for centuries. One on one we are the stronger, but they are increasing their numbers, increasing technology, we are desperate."

"You Mummies, you have like mystical shit, right? Like, magic and shit?"

"Yeah. You can place curses, fly on sand kind of, control little squirmy buggies."

"I want in."

"What?"

"Bite me. I volunteer. I'll kill Fred and the rest of his kind then Traci will be mine."

"Can I be your girlfriend?"

"What? No."

"Okay, okay, I just thought I'd try...I don't meet that many guys. I mean Nesperennub always hits on me but he's sooo old and -"

"Shut up! Bite me!" Nefrina stood up and lurched into my neck. I could feel the dust filling my veins, the bandages growing and wrapping around my skin. The power of thousands of years of cursed power cursing through my fingers. I opened my eyes and I was no longer Randy. I was Randy the Mummy! Nefrina smiled.

"Welcome to Lowcountry."