History Never Repeats

(Sorry if this is a horrible start!)

Harper was sitting at her desk in her office, the museum had already shut for the night and the front doors were locked. But she had so much work that she still had yet to finish, that it caused her to continue sitting at her desk, her finger tips tapping away at the keyboard of her computer. Harper had been a curator at the London Museum for the past year, she loved her job and had been enjoying every second of the work she did in her day. Her curled locks had been pulled up by a hair tie and was currently in a rather messy bun, her legs were crossed on her office chair as her heels were abandoned on the floor underneath her desk.

Most of the people she knew, couldn’t understand why someone her age would want to work at a museum. But Harper had always been fond of history, she enjoyed learning more about events that had occurred well before her time. Perhaps it was the fact as she grew up, her mother was a history teacher at a local high school, she had given Harper so many books on different eras and Harper had spent days exploring museums when her other friends were playing. It was an interest that has stayed with her as she has gotten older, it may seem strange to most because it was normal to Harper, and it was what she loved.

(it was perfect)

Sofi had just had a busy day, she had been run off her feet with work, running errands and making sure her boss was satisfied with everything before she was able to knock off. She was standing at the door to her flat fighting with her lock, it had been dodgy for weeks but she hadn't had the time to see a locksmith about it.

"Come on," he sighed before pushing all her weight on the door, it swung open and she stumbled into her flat landing harshly on her knees. Groaning she slowly pulled herself up, closed her flat door and kicked her shoes off.the instant relief was almost euphoric. Sofi walked over to her lounge and collapsed she didn't have the energy to watch television, instead she grabbed the pamphlet off the coffee table and flicked through it for the thousandth time.

The London Museum, it was her favourite place to go, she loved the exhibits and the history behind them and found herself drawn to the Egyptian displays. Her fingers traced over the photographs of the sarcophagus's taking in their beauty and reading about the history behind Ahkmenrah a new display all the way from New York who had been placed with his family, Merenkahre and Shepseheret.

Tomorrow was her day off and like every other day off she knew she would spend it locked away in the museum diving into History. However for now she was going to relax and enjoy the silence of her apartment.

Harper checked the watch on her wrist and realised how late in the evening it was already, a slight amount of panic settled in her stomach as she knew how busy the next day was going to be for her. It was the first day that there was a new display on show to the public, although the display technically wasn’t new, it was just being added to. The son of the Egyptian Pharaoh and Queen had been transferred from the Museum of Natural History in New York, Harper had been advertising this for weeks now as it was a big deal to anyone who adored history as much as she did. So, Harper knew she would need to get home and get some sleep, before the huge day that was coming at her quickly. Saving her work on her computer before she packed her things into her bag, slipping her feet back into her heels, she shut her computer down and placed her bag strap over her shoulder. Standing up from her desk, Harper froze for a second when she heard a noise somewhere in the museum. However, it was quickly forgotten when she realised, she had gotten the cleaners in, to make sure the museum was ready for the next day.

Making her way through the museum, she bid her goodnight to Tilly, the night guard as Harper made her way over to where she had parked her car. Suddenly, grateful that she had decided to drive to work that morning, as she really didn’t want to catch a bus or the underground train, all she wanted to do was get to her apartment and climb into bed. Starting her car, she pulled out of her parking spot and drove through the large metal gate, giving Tilly a small wave as she drove past the blonde. A yawn escaped her lips as she drove through the quiet streets of London, only a few cars joined her on their journey home. Once Harper was back at her apartment, she abandoned her heels at the front door and her bag on the dining table. She didn’t bother to eat dinner as she didn’t have the energy, her feet carried her down the hallway and into her bedroom. Her clothes were tossed into her hamper and her pyjamas were pulled over her body, she spent a few minutes to wash her face and brush her teeth, before she crawled under the warm covers of her bed.

---

Harper stood inside the museum just as the security guards unlocked the double glass front doors, to allow the public to enter and view the exhibits. She normally felt nervous when there was an event or a new display, simply because she wanted people to enjoy the history that the museum held. She had booked in two different school’s that were bringing in their students, something that Harper was passionate about, as she believed that all young kids needed to know what had happened in the past, what people had done back then and how far along they were because of certain world events. Smiling, she greeted the first round of people that flowed through the front doors, which slowly started to settle her nerves.

After a few minutes, Harper moved on and started to walk through the museum, this was her normal morning routine. She always did a walk through to make sure everything was running smoothly, that the staff were doing their jobs correctly and that the exhibits were as they should be. Once, she had checked on everything, she would then go into her office to get some more work done.

@ sugarplum.
Sofi had woken early to say she was excited was an understatement. She had got herself ready before catching the bus to the museum, she was one of the first ones there waiting patiently outside clasping her pamphlet. She saw security guards open the door and took a step in she suddenly felt a sense of home, of ease. The brunette took everything in spinning slowly looking around at everything, she couldn't help the smile that spread across her face.

She made her way towards the exhibits but there was really only one in particular she wanted to see. However she thought it best to see the others before spending the rest of the day at the Egyptian exhibit reading about the history.

It took around two and a half hours for Sofi to fully get around the museum as she would stop and read everything even though she had read it a hundred times before. Finally she came to exhibit, her dark eyes were drawn to the sarcophagus newly added as she took in the detail, the gold, the colours but behind what was what really caught her attention. A golden tablet. Something she had never seen before, or heard of for that matter. She wanted to know more about the significance of the tablet so she set out to find someone who could help her. That was when she spotted a group of school kids. She knew that wherever kids were a guide wouldn't be far away.

Harper smiled at a few people who she walked past, it seemed like everyone who had arrived at the museum were enjoying themselves. That thought put any nerves that Harper felt at ease, all she wanted was for the public to enjoy coming to the museum and learning all they can. Walking through the large museum, Harper made her way to the Egyptian exhibit as she wanted to check on how the extra sarcophagus was being taken in by the public. By what she could see, everyone who was viewing the exhibit seemed happy with the Prince being there with his parents.

Smiling, Harper noticed someone who looked to be searching for someone. “Excuse me, can I help you with everything?” Harper asked the raven haired woman, who did look familiar to her. She did see many faces during her day at the museum, but Harper did recognize most of the regular people who often came to the museum. But she wasn’t positive if this woman was a regular or not. “I’m Harper and I’m the curator here.” She knew the guides had their hands full with the class of students that had arrived.

@ sugarplum.
Sofi was caught slightly off guard when a female approched her introducing herself. "Oh yes, uh, hello... I'm Sofi it's lovely to meet you..." the female was stumbling, "Uhh... yes... Right... with the Ahkmenrah exhibit I am just wondering what is the significance of the table that is behind his sarcophagus?" the female inhaled deeply, she could feel her cheeks redden with embarrassment, she had not meant to come off so flustered but it was almost like her brain was working too fast for her words.

"I'm sorry, my brain is going a million miles an hour... wow your the curator, how fascinating, you did a wonderful job might I add." she looked at the female beaming, her dark eyes locking with the green eyes of the woman in front of her, "If you don't have time..." she began looking at the group of school kids, "Maybe I could just tag along in the group to learn about it..." she didn't want to hold Harper up, especially if she had jobs to do.

Harper smiled warmly at Sofia, “Thank you.” Hearing that at least one person thought she had done a good job, was all Harper wanted to hear. Because she had done her job and she had done a damn fine job at that, “Oh no. Don’t be silly, I have plenty of time.” She assured the woman as this was part of Harper’s job that she didn’t get to do much, actually interact with people and talk about the history or the exhibits that they were interested in. “Come with me, we can get a better view of the tablet over here.” Harper spoke as she guided Sofia to the right side of the exhibit, so she would be able to get a better and closer look at the tablet.

“Many people have different opinions and stories that go along with the tablet, and why it was made. Some believe that it’s the key to holding power, others believe it opens up a completely new world to the beholder, or that Ahkmenrah had the tablet made to be gifted to his future wife.” Harper explained few of the stories that she had heard about the tablet, “My favourite story is that the tablet was created by Merenkahre and his servants, a gift for Ahkmenrah after he was born. It was given to Ahkmenrah so that their family may live on past death together.” Harper could only imagine receiving a gift such as the golden tablet, because no one actually knew for certain which story of the tablet was true or if they had been wrong about the tablet all this time. “Is this exhibit your favourite one?” She asked her green eyes turning to Sofia, the question was one that Harper was always asking the people she spoke to. She was always curious as to which exhibits people liked the most.

@ sugarplum.
Sofi followed Harper, she was lead around to where she could get a closer look at the tablet, her dark eyes scanned over the object as she listened to the woman beside her. So many different legends and stories about one tablet. If only Ahkmenrah himself could come back she would bombard him with questions regarding the tablet along with many other things in his life. He had died young she knew that, but what else was there to know? Probably so much.

"Wow, so many different opinions, it's time like these you wish they could come back just to get the real answer," she said turning and smiling at the female. "Oh yes! Of course it is, I have always been fascinated with Egyptian History, I have heard stories of my ancestors how they had served Pharos, had seen the pyramids being built. So I have always had a hunger to know more." she paused knowing she was bumbling but she couldn't help it. "What about yourself? Do you have a favourite exhibit?"

Harper couldn’t help but nod her head in agreement to what Sofi was saying, “I would love to have time with so many people in these exhibits. That would be a dream come true for me, to actually know how events in time really happened.” She would have a very long list of questions for anyone from the exhibits in the museum, sadly that was something that would never happen. Turning her attention onto Sofi, Harper smiled hearing that Sofi’s ancestors had been in the same time period as Ahkmenrah had been. “I shouldn’t have a favourite exhibit, but I’ve always been intrigued with the Camelot exhibit. I’ve always wanted to have my own knight in shining armour,” Harper chuckled softly to herself, glad that she had found someone like Sofi as they seemed to have the same passion for history.

She also didn’t feel ashamed for saying that she wanted her own knight, she just adored the idea of finding that one man who loved her for who she was. She had yet to find that man for her, and she was beginning to give up all hope that he was even out there. “I have to say, that it’s not common to find someone our age that is just as passionate about history as I am.” She admitted but she was glad she had decided to approach Sofi.

@ sugarplum.
Sofi giggled when the curator commented that she shouldn't have a favourite exhibit, but she could totally understand that it was the Camelot exhibit, that was her second favourite after the Egyptian one. She loved the tale of King Arthur it was rather interesting, sad but interesting.

"Oh don't we all," Sofi commented when Harper commented about wanting her own knight in shining armour, the brunette could understand that she knew the feeling of wanting someone who loved her for her. "I know! It is hard, most of my friends don't understand the love I have for this place and the knowledge it holds... that's why I come her by myself... I mean it is okay... but I would love to have someone in my life who loved history as much as I did." Sofi paused briefly before speaking again.

"This may sound silly, but is there any chance that this place is hiring?" she felt silly for asking and she wasn't sure this was the way to go about it but she had been wanting a job in this place for so long and since she had struck up a conversation with Harper she thought there was no harm in asking. Sofi liked Harper, in the little time she has spent with her, she felt like the two could be very good friends.

Harper understood what Sofi was saying, none of her friends even cared about history or the museum. It was something that often made her feel left out of her group of friends, because she had one less thing in common with her friends. Not that it overly bothered her, she loved her job way too much to be bothered by her friends not understanding one of her passions.

Looking at Sofi, Harper couldn’t stop herself from smiling. Meeting Sofi today was such good time and luck, because her boss had just let her know that there was enough money left in the yearly budget, so Harper could hire herself an assistant. “Actually, I will be looking to hire an assistant for myself. I was going to advertise the position next week, but I don’t see why I can’t give you a trial before I do advertise.” Maybe this was meant to happen, Harper hadn’t been looking forward to reading through resumes and going through interviews. Sofi clearly held the same interest in the museum as Harper did, which was the most important trait in who she wanted in the person that she would work with.

“Do you mind if I ask you what job you have now?” She asked just wanting to know if Sofi would have any experience or skills that would help her, not that it mattered much as Harper was willing to train and help whoever she hired to work along side with her.

@ sugarplum.
"Really?!" Sofi gaped, she had not been expecting that answer, but she was so excited to hear it. The smile that spread across her face was so wide it felt like her face was going to split in two, sure she didn't have the job yet but she was going to try her hardest to get it. Anything to get away from the job she had now and to work in this historic place. "That would be amazing! Oh my gosh! I mean I know I don't have the job yet but this is so exciting!"

She paused when Haper asked her about her job now. "I am an assistant of sorts in an office. I really just run around grabbing coffee for my boss and stare at the clock waiting for my shift to be over in all honesty. This would be something completely different and something I would make me love coming to work," she stated keeping her tone light but she couldn't help the excite meant that was bubbling inside her.

"When do you need me to start?" she would very easily throw in her job and take this one right away if that was what was needed.

Harper could tell that Sofi wasn’t expecting her answer, but it was the answer that Sofi had been hoping for, hearing the job that Sofi currently had, reminded Harper of the job she had and hated before she was hired at the museum. She knew how it felt to be stuck in a job that she hated and dreaded going into work. So, if she could help Sofi get out of that position, then she really wanted to do whatever she could.

“I’ve been in a job like that once as well, so I totally understand what this job could do for you. How about you go about your day, enjoy the exhibits. If you can come back tonight, before the museum shuts and we could have an interview.” She asked as she still had things that she wanted to go over with Sofi before she hired anyone, and she thought the sooner she got Sofi in for an interview, the better it would be for them both. She didn’t want to take up Sofi’s day off, it also gave Harper the chance to make sure she had all the questions that she wanted to ask Sofi ready for her in the afternoon.

“Ideally, I’d like you to start whenever you’re able to.” Harper would start off with training, giving Sofi a complete tour of the museum including the back staff only rooms. To help Sofi with not getting lost, Harper knew she shouldn’t get her hopes up about this, but she just had such a good feeling about Sofi.

@ sugarplum.
"Oh it is the worst isn't it, but it was the first job I got out of university and have been stuck there ever since. Okay, sure I will be sure to come back before the museum closes and we can get the ball rolling," the raven haired female was almost bouncing on her toes at how excited she was. This is something she has been dreaming about for years and now it may be coming true.

"Of course, yes! I can do that, if I get the job of course," Sofi knew that there would be others that would go for this job, others that may be better suited for it but she really hoped and prayed that Harper liked what she saw and hired her without any further interviews, "thank you so much," she gushed wanting the hug the female but she thought better of it. Maybe if she got the job she would. She walked off leaving Harper to her duties as she went back around the museum, every now and again sitting and enjoying being lost in history. However she had to leave after a while as her stomach was making loud intrusive noises and she decided now was the perfect time to get lunch.

Harper stood in her office waiting for Sofi to join her, Sofi had arrived back at the museum just before closing for their interview but had asked to quickly use the bathroom before they started. Harper had shown the raven haired woman to the nearest bathroom before walking back to her office to wait, her notebook sat on her top so she could easily take notes as Sofi spoke and answered the questions that Harper had ready for anyone she interviewed. The rest of her day had gone smoothly, she received so much positive feedback on Ahkmenrah being reunited with her parents, which is all Harper wanted. She still couldn’t believe that she had been part of bring the Egyptian family back together after centuries of being apart.

However, Harper was brought out of her thoughts but a noise. Turning around she expected to find Sofi standing in the doorway to her office, but no one was there. Then she heard the sound again, a frown formed on her face as confusion settled in her mind. She could have sworn that the noise sounded like heavy footsteps, a thought that caused her to feel foolish for even allowing a thought like that to cross her mind. Yet the noise came again down the hallway, was someone playing a joke on her? The only people that should be inside the museum at that time, where her and Sofi and Tilly the night guard. Not that she expected Tilly to play a joke on her.

Stepping out of her office, Harper moved down the hallway and around the corner. “Sofi?” She called out in case she had gotten lost coming back from the bathroom, yet no one answered her, and Sofi didn’t appear. The noise did get louder, steadier after she had spoken in the otherwise silent hallway. Her feet paused when her eyes caught a shadow on the wall, something was coming around the corner, and Harper could feel her heart beat increasing, even though she knew for certain that there wasn’t anyone else inside the closed museum. Her green eyes widened at the sight she saw in front of her, it was something that was impossible and didn’t make any sense to her at all. The skeleton body of the Triceratops had stepped around the corner, it moved just as Harper imagined that it would have when it had still been alive. But it wasn’t alive, it was an exhibit, one that wasn’t made to move. So how was it moving now?

Harper didn’t know what to do, was she getting stressed and was now seeing things? Though when the Triceratops roared and started charging towards her, out of instinct her feet carried her backwards. She should had run to her office, instead her back pressed against a wall as she couldn’t move much more than that.

Lancelot had 'awoken' from his state and was getting his bearings when he heard a female call out, it was a voice he had never heard before, someone new. Had they bought a new member to the museum? He began to make his way toward where the voice had come from, surprisingly it didn't sound far from where he was.

"Fair lady?" he called out waiting for an answer, however as he rounded a corner he saw her, she was backed against a wall with what could only be described as a look of disbelief and maybe horror. She was beautiful and definitely someone he had never seen around before. He gripped his sword and hurried toward her dragging the blade along the ground knowing that the beast that had her cornered would run.

Once it had disappeared he removed his helmet and a smile spread across his face. "My fair lady are you alright?" he asked as she looked faint.

---

Sofi had made it back to the museum for her interview but she had been desperate for the bathroom, being silly and not going somewhere while she was still out. She stood in front of the mirror psyching herself up for this interview, telling herself she was going to be amazing. She was going to ace this and she was going to get this job, however there was a niggling feeling of doubt. She tried to shake that off. Running her fingers through her dark hair she righted herself before turning and exiting out of the bathroom.

She had been walking toward the office when movement caught her eyes, she thought it was simply a cleaner and thought nothing of it until she heard the sound of hissing, her blood run cold, she hated snakes, how could there possibly be snakes in the museum.

That was when she rounded the corner and saw that the Chinese exhibit area she had walked passed had come to life and the Xiangliu had come to life. The creature was moving its nine heads moving around. A scream ripped through her chest.

How could this be happening?

Ahkmenrah had woken up earlier than most of the exhibits, which was normal for him. He always liked to walk around the museum on his own before the museum came to life again for the night. However, this night wasn’t a typical night for him on his walk. Because he heard a scream not too far from where he was, a frown pulled his dark brows together as it was a woman who had screamed and that was something very strange. His feet quickly took him in the direction of where the scream came from, he slowed down when he found who the scream came from and it was very clear that she wasn’t an exhibit, she didn’t live in the museum.

“If you don’t go into that room, then you’ll be okay. Xiangliu never comes out of that room, you just have to walk away slowly.” Ahk encouraged the woman from behind, he didn’t want to startle her, so he kept his voice calm and low. He could see how terrified she was seeing the giant nine headed snake, he took a few more steps closer to the woman, his hands gently pressing against her shoulders as he helped guide her away from Xiangliu.

Once he had her away from the snake, he moved around her as he wanted to introduce himself to the stranger. That’s when he saw her, someone he hadn’t seen in centuries but still thought about every day. “Safiya?” Her name still sat on his tongue perfectly, much like it did when they shared a love so strong that he would change the world for her. How could she be here now? She couldn’t be part of an exhibit, she had been a slave to his mother, she may not have been important to many but she was so important to him.

---

Harper didn’t know what her body was feeling at the moment, she knew there was no way the dinosaur could be there in front of her. The exhibit wasn’t made to move, yet she couldn’t ignore what she was witnessing. She couldn’t explain what was happening, and she didn’t want to try to begin as she knew she wouldn’t know where to start. Her body couldn’t move, her mind was screaming at her to move, to run back into the safety of her office. She just couldn’t.

She could only brace for the worst as the dinosaur grew closer to her, until a sharp noise pierced through her senses. The noise was enough to scare the dinosaur away, once the beast had disappeared her attention went to the man who saved her.

Seeing the handsome blonde confused her even greatly, he was wearing a suit of amour which again didn’t make any sense. What was happening? “No, I’m not alright. What the hell is going on here? How did you get in here?” She looked at the blue eyes of the handsome stranger, the only reason for all of this in Harper’s mind was that this man had broken into the museum and was playing a joke on her. The museum was secure at night, how this man had broken in without being detected was again beyond her, but she wanted to know. She was going to get answers from this man.

@ sugarplum.
Lancelot was startled by her tone and the words she spoke, he knew that she was most certainly not an exhibit. How was he to explain that he was an exhibit here, that he lived her when he could see she was so clearly distressed.

"Perhaps I should introduce myself and then everything may become clear.... My name is Lancelot, Sir Lancelot... at your service..." his eyes scanned over her, she was beautiful, Lady Guinevere was beautiful but this woman was so much more. "And your name is?" he was almost desperate to hear it. To feel it on his tongue.

He could hear movement in the museum everything was coming to life, like it had done since Larry had brought the tablet and it had been left with Ahkmenrah. He was still getting used to it but there was only ever Tilly in surveying the area and they all knew her. However this young woman was new, and most certainly not a guard.

---

Sofi heard the calm tones of a masculine voice and adhered to his words backing away from the room where the creature was moving. Her heart beat was in her throat and her palms were sweating. She felt hands on her shoulders but she was too scared to take her eyes off the now alive exhibit and look at who was touching her, no doubt a guard. Once they were a safe distance away from the room the male who helped her moved around and she saw him.

Another scream built in her chest, this was not a night guard. "Who are you?" the words fell from her lips so quickly. "Safiya? Who is Safiya? Is this a joke, is this a test? Has Harper done this? Is this..." the questions tumbled from her lips all the while she backed away from the male she was staring a that was until she came in hard contact with a tiled wall. She wanted to close her eyes and tap her heels together say the magic words and all this craziness would be over.

"HARPER!" she screamed, she needed to know that Harper was still here. She had no idea how she was going to get back to the main entrance especially with the nine headed snake hissing and spitting.

Ahkmenrah opened his mouth to speak, how could she not recognise him? Yes, they hadn’t seen each other in centuries, but he would never forget her. He was confused when she suddenly called a name out, a name that he had never heard of before, had she found someone else to love? There was no exhibit with the name Harper, Ahk knew that by exploring his new home every night. Ahk didn’t know what he could say to her, all he did was watch as she backed away from him, which hurt him deeply.

“Safiya please, it’s me… Ahkmenrah” He looked at her praying that she would remember him now, she had to remember who he was and the time they had shared together. Watching the beauty in front of him, something in Ahk was nagging him. Something wasn’t right. It was only then, he took her in more and that’s when he noticed how different she was.

Her clothes were the first thing he noticed, then he saw how short her raven hair was now. This woman wasn’t Safiya, she wasn’t the same woman that he had loved, yet she looked so much like the woman he had known. How did she look so much like Safiya?

---

Harper didn’t know to scream for help or laugh at the man, did he actually think he was Sir Lancelot? Looking at him, Harper stayed silent as she didn’t have any words to say to this man now. And she didn’t have the chance to speak to him again, as she heard her name being screamed by Sofi. Harper didn’t even think as she pushed herself from the wall and ran past the man who thought he was Lancelot, she needed to get to Sofi and get her out of the museum, they had to call the police and have the blonde man arrested.

She should have felt relief when she saw Sofi, but all she felt was dread as there was another man standing there with her. A man who was also dressed up as who she could only guess to be the Egyptian Pharaoh, not that Harper let that stop her as she ran over to Sofi and grabbed her hand. “We need to get out of here,” She huffed as she continued running through the museum, her hand gripping onto Sofi’s tightly so they wouldn’t get separated again.

Harper pulled Sofi in the direction of the main doors, as that was the closest exit to them. Entering the main room, she could see the doors, they were so close. But Harper stopped dead in her tracks again, when her eyes caught sight of multiple exhibits in the main room of the museum. All moving as if they were alive, like the blonde man who thought he was Lancelot. “I can explain all of this, if you would allow me.” Ahk spoke as he watched the women, he had followed them through the museum as he could only imagine how utterly confused they would be.