May pulled her cloak tighter around her neck. The air was bitter that night, despite the candles glowing and reflecting in the lake like fireflies.

She turned the page of her book and gazed through the flickering light at their paradise. Wilting roses swayed drunkenly, dancing with the musk-scented breeze. Crickets hummed through the oasis, their music making ripples in the honey-like water.

The stars were brighter than ever before and seemed to smile on them.

May sighed happily, regarding the others through the smoke-laden air. There were 6 of them in total. They didn’t have a name, but all were artists of some sort. They would meet in the woods and do whatever they felt the need to do, on nights like these.

She was lifted from her daydream by a heavy splash of water. Laughter rolled through the grove as a figure, Frankie, cut through the molten gold of the lake.

Frankie grinned and gestured for the others to join her before letting herself be pulled back underwater.

Leaving her paperback on the shore, May joined her friends and slid into the depths. She bit back a gasp as the cold soaked through her clothes and started jumping up and down to keep warm.

The group messed around chasing and splashing each other, spraying waterdroplets that turned to amber in the candlelight.

And so they continued, until the early hours of the morning when the strawberry light of dawn floated from the east and the wind grew brighter with the birdsong it carried.

It felt like everything- like nothing else could possibly be as significant as that moment. When nothing existed but them and the stars.

“Look at this one!” Camilla said, pointing in amazement to an Egyptian drinking cup.

Annie smiled, “Nice, yes.” Her responses had become more strained as the patch of sky through the ceiling grew darker and the crowds grew thinner. “Are you almost ready to go?”

Camilla looked up at the empty room, her brown eyes buzzing with excitement. They were tucked into the far corner, behind a large wall of hieroglyphics. She frowned. “Hmph. I suppose”

Annie sighed in relief. She would’ve left hours ago, but it was her friend’s birthday. She sat down on a bench and checked her watch. “Hey, when does the museum close anyway?”

Camilla shrugged, “soon, I suppose.”

As she turned back to her Egyptian pottery, a heavy thump sounded through the exhibit.

Annie jumped to her feet in alarm. “What was that?”

Camilla emerged from the corner and peered over acres of artefacts to the main exit. She grimaced.

“What?” Annie asked.

“It seems they’ve closed the doors.”

Annie groaned. “At least they’re probably still here. Might we be able to get their attention?”

Camilla looked skeptical, but nodded. “Worth a try.”

They decided to try the mummy exhibits, since there was more security in there than anywhere else. They waved and shouted at the little black cameras, but nothing happened.

Camilla went to the exit and banged on the door.. but nothing happened. She returned, looking flustered, “Why don’t the guards check after locking the doors?”

Annie bit her lip. “I guess we’re fully alone then.” She said, after a minute of silence. Anxiety was starting to prickle beneath her skin, and she could tell Camilla wasn’t happy either.

“Do you know how many horror films are set in museums?” Camilla started to pace around the mummy exhibit. “Loads! And we’ll be the next!”

Despite the situation and the horrible feeling of bile in her throat, Annie chuckled. “No, it’s fine. We’ll just sleep on a bench or something.”

Camilla raised an eyebrow. “On one of them? Please. I’d rather sleep on the floor.”

“You don’t get to be fussy when you’re locked in a museum.” Annie replied, “but whatever. Let’s not argue.”

They stood in silence, each waiting for the other to say something.

Annie almost jumped out her skin as a low wailing sounded from behind them.

Her heart raced. “Did you hear that?”

Camilla nodded, and grabbed the nearest weapon to her- a jagged stone shaped like a sword.

She approached the source of the noise, and another wail sounded. It was low and desperate- like something calling for help.

Annie was concentrating all her effort in listening that she almost missed the slight shake of the sarcophagus.

She seized Camilla’s arm. “It moved. It-“ She shivered as another wail came. It can’t have been a coincidence that it was coming from the same direction as the moving coffin.

“Run?” She asked, her voice dry with fear. Camilla gestured for her to wait.

Camilla approached the golden sarcophagus slowly.. reaching out a hand... ready to lift up the lid..

She drew it back with a yelp as something shuddered inside. She looked back at Annie, who reluctantly nodded for her to do it, and threw back the lid.

(Edit: I’ve just posted a Part 2!)