March 21st, 2018

I hadn't talked to Candace or Sam to let them know what was going on. So I shouldn't have been surprised this morning when Candace called up asking about joining Hal and I at the gym. I hadn't even been to the gym since Saturday morning. So I got around real quick and suffered my parents disapproval long enough to get something in me and catch the bus.

They weren't all that bad, my parents. They were happy to see me up in the morning like usual, and had seen my applications from yesterday. I guess getting back to some relatively normal behavior on my part helps them to take Mom's advice and move on too.

At the gym I got Candace caught up on what happened. She thinks I should be proud of my actions and that the museum should be ashamed to lose me. I'm not sure she understands how important security is for the museum. Either way, it's a refreshing response to me and makes me feel a bit better.

Since I had already done most of my chores, and had the day to myself anyway, we decided to go take care of some of her things like we usually would. Then head back to her place. I hadn't planned on doing those things so I needed to head back home, which gave me the chance to grab the now completed applications to maintain a certain image in my parents eyes. A few of those applications I decided to turn in anyway, I do need some job after all.

So we ran some chores for Candace, just a couple of things she needed, but she was anxious to get home to work on her garden. I hadn't realized she'd bought so much stuff. I know I was there to watch her buy it, but at the time it was mostly numbers. Seeing the pile of wood, and potting soil, and everything else put those numbers into perspective.

Candace was relying on Sam to build the raised garden for her, and he had already started marking up the boards. But Candace didn't have the tools to cut the wood, so there they sat until Sam had figured out the dilemma. And until it got built, Candace didn't have the ability to work with her pots like she wanted. But we could start with the little pots, and that's what we did, got them ready for the seeds.

At one point I heard a noise that startled me. When I turned around I noticed Candace's cat sitting down after having jumped up onto the fence. He was watching something and when I looked my mind hallucinated a fairy flying away. Candace had been startled by it too, though not as bad as I. She laughed it off telling the cat "Good job, keep those pests out of here."

We lost ourselves in the work until Sam showed up surprised to find that I was there. He had brought a table saw that he could set up to cut the boards with and asked for some help getting it to the back. Candace teased him about needing help, which seemed friendly enough. But Sam scowled at her and so she went inside to clean up and start working on dinner.

Mostly Sam needed help getting it out of the truck, which he had his chain set up for moving the anvil. So we made use of that to get the table saw out, just to make it easy on us. And then it had wheels so even I could have taken it to the back. But someone needed to hold the gate. Once we got it in back we covered it up in case it rained, and Sam said he'd be able to cut the boards down the next day he had off. While we were there though he asked about our conspiracy dinner. He apologized that he'd missed the texts, but he was so busy he wouldn't have been able to make it anyway.

He knew Max had plans on Saturday evening with her family, and Hal and I got caught up in what was going on at the museum, so we hadn't even sent out texts. Which lead into another explanation of what had happened and where I now stand. Sam just listened, and didn't offer any judgement.

While we were eating dinner I vented some more, and admitted the ultimatum that my parents had left me with. Candace said if I needed I could move in with her, and Sam mentioned again needing a hand around the shop and said he could offer me a job if I wanted to help him with that. He couldn't offer me full time, but it'd give me at least some cash if I needed while I looked for something else. And Candace wouldn't hear about me paying rent, so I wouldn't need more than to cover my bills.

Actually, when Candace stepped away to go to the bathroom, Sam said that he really hoped I would take them up on their offers. At least Candace's. He said she's been getting worse lately and that he can't be here all the time. If I could move in with her, he'd be able to trust that someone was looking out for her when he couldn't be there. I asked what he meant by her getting worse. He said it was hard to explain, but I'd understand after spending some time here.

He said he didn't want me being any sort of live in maid, just that Candace needed help with things and if I were here he could trust she'd be fine. And he offered me to consider it my real job, he could pay me so that I wouldn't need to worry about finding another job and with me not paying rent I'd be better off altogether.

I thanked them both for their offers and told them I'd think about it. And while Sam was giving me a ride home, he didn't pressure me, he just thanked me as always.

I'm not sure I like him making these arrangements behind Candace's back, not without any good explanation of why. I also know that I've been feeling like I need to watch out for her from him for a long time. I've got so many questions about these two, including how he has the money to make this kind of offer. I'm a little worried about what I might be getting myself into, but this would be an opportunity for me to answer some of those questions. And I don't exactly have anything else going at the moment. I'll sleep on it tonight, and talk with them again tomorrow.

March 20th, 2018

Hal finally stopped texting today and allowed me space.

I spent the morning doing chores knowing full well Mom was there. She was happy to see me out. I had been out yesterday of course, but I'd pretty much hid from her and Dad so it's not like they saw me out. She did want to talk and while still disappointed in what I'd done, she felt it was time I accepted the consequences and moved on. To that end she was encouraging of me to find another job. And I do have a lot of money saved up, I could probably put in for some loans, scholarships, and other forms of financial aid and go to school.

It's just that I'd been working toward a scholarship through the museum and had hoped to do that this summer and start in the fall.

At least Mom wasn't dumping on me. Though I was still getting disapproving silence form Dad. Even with her encouragement, I still have an ultimatum on the table.

I have time now, I could go look in to admissions and financial aid at the college. But I still have bills that need to be paid, so I'll need a job either way.

They've been pretty adamant that I not spend time with Hal any more too. So when I got my chores done around the house, I left saying I'd be out looking for a job. Then I called Hal up and asked if we could meet somewhere. He picked me up at the next bus stop and we headed back to his place.

Hal was tripping over himself to apologize. He said he knew how much the job meant to me, but then he turns around and reminded me of the job offer with The Order. They'd pay for my schooling, and I'd earn enough money that I wouldn't have to worry about it. Then I could go out and do anything. He forgets that I'd also be trespassing secured areas and losing my job on a regular basis. I don't know what kind of career I could make out of that.

It's a tempting offer though. If they're going to get me into this kind of trouble, I may as well make them pay for it and take advantage. I told Hal I'd think about it.

I couldn't stay out forever though, and I wanted to make it look like I'd tried to get jobs. So I asked Hal to bring me home and stop by every fast food joint on the way. That way I could walk in with a pile of applications to fill out.

March 19th, 2018

Hal and Max's spring break started this week. I still hadn't responded to Hal's texts or his messages and I'd just about turned my phone off to stop getting calls when Max's name showed up on my screen. After spending most of yesterday in bed, and even most of this morning, I was feeling like I needed to get out. So I welcomed Max's invite to go get something to eat.

I ended up telling her everything that'd happened. She let me be disappointed in myself rather than adding to it, and counseled that I talk to Hal and let him know that I'm not angry at him. It was a nice long chat, and it's been a while since just us two did something. Max was feeling good about her midterms, she's already gotten most of her grades back and they're all A's. This next term she's got a project for one of her classes to create a short film and she's looking forward to that.

Candace texted while we were at lunch to let me know that the stuff she'd ordered from the garden supply store had arrived. She's looking forward to my days off so I can help her in the back yard. I couldn't bring myself to respond.

My parents were much more calm after I'd returned home. They still lectured me on responsibility and making the right choices and stuff. I guess Hal had come over while I was out hoping to catch me and instead caught an earful from Mom. Still, I have an ultimatum on the table to find a job, get into college, or find another place to live.

Feels like I'm getting kicked when I'm already down.

I finally sent Hal a text. I told him that I wasn't trying to shut him our or anything. I apologized for ignoring him and explained that I just need time to process. Then I turned my phone off.

March 18th, 2018

I've barely gotten out of bed today. I went downstairs around two to get something to eat. Mom was there and wanted to know what happened. I told her that Hal and I stayed after hours in the museum hoping to catch who was causing the troubles at work. She flat out told me that was stupid, that it was the security guards whose job it was to do that. She's very disappointed with my decision, and I can't blame her. I only half listened to her lecture, and then I went back upstairs and crawled back in bed.

When Dad came home he yelled at me too. I didn't go down for dinner.

Hal's been trying to call me all day. I've turned my ringer off so I don't have to hear it. He texts too, desperate to talk to me. He thinks I blame him, or that I'm angry with him. I'm not happy with him, but as much as anything I'm angry with myself for agreeing to do that at all. At first he kept trying to reassure me. When he realized I wasn't going to answer, that's when he started trying to plead his case and beg me to talk. I still haven't responded to him.

It's getting dark, Mom and Dad have gone to bed. I'm going to go grab something to eat real quick and then come back to bed. I don't know what I'm going to do tomorrow.

March 17th, 2018

What have I done?

Last night there was a break in to the museum. And this time it was almost identical to the break ins we had been reading about in the cities that Nephmesu visited during his tour. The difference was that the museum didn't respond to it as a break in, nor did they report it. Just that a door had been found unlocked and we all heard about it as though someone had forgotten to lock something up before we left at night.

That's what triggered Hal and I's attention, though of course Hal was only learning about it when he visited for lunch. He and I were both thinking it, we didn't need to voice our thoughts. As he left he said simply "We're doing this." and I couldn't disagree.

He showed back up later before the museum closed, and since everyone still knew him there was no issue with him coming into the back and being chummy. Just before we'd start doing the closing announcements he mentioned needing to use the restroom and disappeared in that direction.

Later I would mention that he was already outside waiting for me as though he had passed through and the others just hadn't seen him. I counted down my till as fast as I could mentioning that Hal was waiting for me, so that it could appear that I was one of the first to leave. I ran back to my locker in a rush, but of course rather than grabbing my stuff and going I met up with Hal who was hiding. He had made friendly with one of the aids who had a key into the locked areas and using the skills Tim had taught him stole the key. In that way we were able to lock ourselves into one of the areas that should remain locked through the night and escape detection.

Hal informed me later that if they had changed the key code on the pad since he'd left, we'd have been screwed. I'm not happy with him about that.

We waited long enough for the guards to settle into a predictable routine and avoided the cameras by not going anywhere. Then we waited longer for any indication that something was up. Hal was sure that however anyone was avoiding detection, it would affect the guards and we'd notice it. That was what he was waiting for.

And he wasn't wrong. As night fell and the museum became truly dark, Hal suddenly started yawning hard and his head nodded forward. Quickly he grabbed a charm out of his pocket that he explained would protect us from the magical influence. He and I held it tightly between our hands for minutes while he continued to yawn, which of course caused me to yawn in response. With all that yawning I was starting to feel tired, and then Hal looked up at me and said it was over. He took the charm back and put it in his pocket and then we carefully made our way back to the door.

Back out in the hallway, we crept up the stairs watching for guards. Up on the second floor we finally found one, passed out on the floor with his flashlight laying next to him. Hal turned back to me and smiled and after that he stopped trying to be so sneaky confident that we wouldn't be discovered.

We stopped into the wildlife exhibits quickly to see if anything was happening there, but Hal was impatient about getting to the Egyptian mummies exhibit. There was nothing to find so we made a beeline to Nephmesu.

At first nothing looked out of order, and Hal's impatience began to show. He stationed me there to watch over Nephmesu while he explored the rest of the exhibit hoping to find something.

While Hal was gone though I watched as Nephmesu stepped into view. He wasn't resting in the sarcophagus as we expected, but rather he'd already been down the other hallway leading to his chamber and was returning. Hal had gone back the way we'd come otherwise he'd probably have run right into the ancient.

The other thing was that Nephmesu didn't appear like one would expect a mummy to appear. He wasn't wrapped up in his bandages, nor was his face or body gaunt. He looked fully alive, and was dressed in a nice modern suit. What gave him away is that he looked nearly identical to the renderings that scientists had generated to put a face on him for the public. He was much darker than expected, though not as dark as Sam. Also his face was younger, and he had a scar on his forehead that no one could have expected. Finally he was wearing all the jewelry that accompanied his mummified form.

There was also a sense of power that radiated from him. I'm not sure I can explain it properly. It's like the area around him was charged, like static electricity. But it's not like I felt if I were to try and touch something I'd be shocked. More like there was a potential there that anything could happen.

I watched him, peeking from around the corner behind which I hid, terrified that he'd discover me. But like Hal he was confident that he wouldn't be discovered. Instead he just paced, like he was waiting for something. Rather, he was waiting for some one. From the lobby came a noise that in the silence seemed loud, the click of one of our lobby doors as it opened, and then closed. I couldn't call out to Hal, but I had hoped he'd heard that and that he would be mindful enough of what it'd mean.

Nephmesu heard it too though, and fortunately for me the more direct rout to the lobby was down the other hallway. Nephmesu actually looked down to his clothing and smoothed it out, checking to make sure he looked presentable. It was almost a nervous action, and at the same time when he looked up he assumed a demeanor befitting a king.

We didn't have to wait long before someone joined us, approaching from the expected passage. This someone was also a male, his skin was lighter than Nephmesu's though still darker than mine. I couldn't quite make out his features, he never did look my direction. His hair was cloudy white as though he were as ancient as Nephmesu's actual age. His form was solid though, like he was still in his prime. Both men were skinny like Hal, but this newcomer moved in a way that made me think of Sam. He was also dressed well, but not regal like Nephmesu. It made me think back to how Nephmesu had straightened his clothes, and made me wonder why Nephmesu was nervous to meet him rather than the other way around.

Like Nephmesu though, he also brought with him a sense of power. But this was different, as though the air itself became more dense, as though there were something tangible about it. Again, I'm not sure my explanation does the feeling justice.

They greeted each other formally, the body language universal. But once the formality was over, they seemed to become more familiar to each other. I get the feeling that they knew each other at least somewhat well. They remained professional, but comfortable.

They did talk, but I couldn't understand the language. Hearing them I was reminded of clips we have used to show us how the ancient Egyptians might have sounded. I suspect that's what they were speaking.

They seemed to come to an agreement, and then they shook hands. That was when Hal tapped me on the shoulder. I bumped the wall as I spun around, bringing my hands up to my face terrified that I'd scream. It was later that I learned Hal didn't see anything, but in the moment I could only think that he was completely unconcerned with the meeting happening right in front of us between two people who could probably squash us like bugs. Hal apologized for startling me, and started to explain that he wasn't finding anything in a volume far too loud. Seeing the fear on my face though he stopped and asked "What?"

I turned to look back down the hall, but both men were gone. When I turned back to Hal he asked again what was wrong. I told him what I'd seen and Hal looked down the hall hoping to see what I was talking about. Of course by then there was nothing to see. When he turned back to me I noticed behind him a guard approaching with his gun drawn.

The police were called, we were handcuffed and dragged outside. I just about pissed myself. Hal kept whispering to me "Don't worry, don't say anything, and don't worry."

I kept my trap shut, I was more terrified of what I might say than anything. Hal remained infuriatingly calm in the face of all of it. It might have had a calming influence on me, but once the CEO arrived with head of HR all I could hope was that they wouldn't recognize me.

They talked to the police and security, glancing in our direction every so often. Before too long a lady arrived approaching those talking about us. Hal said, "She's here," as though that explained anything. She was tall, almost as tall as Hal at least. She was dressed professionally, and had dark full hair that reached down to her mid back. While they talked a security guard arrived carrying a box. There were some questions, the guard shook his head and put the box down before walking away.

It felt like an eternity passed while they discussed our fate. Eventually the box was passed to me, it was the contents of my locker. They approached me and asked what had happened, why we were there, what we'd seen. I didn't hear Hal's answers, I just stared into my box. Finally Hal touched my shoulder and guided me away. We followed the lady who had come late back to her car. Inside Hal introduced her as Brigida Sarto, his college.

We won't be charged, and The Order would make sure nothing shows up on our records. But I also don't have a job any more.

Hal spent the evening trying to reassure me. We went out to get a late dinner, but nothing could fill the hollow in my stomach. I told them what I'd seen, but Hal said he didn't see anything. Brigida was kind, said she was happy to finally meet me. She thanked me for my help and told me not to worry, The Order could offer me a job if I wanted. I told her I'd think about it and asked if I could go home.

I don't know what I'm going to do.

March 16th, 2018

Hal is convinced he can hide in the museum to stay after hours. That he can then continue to avoid security so he can catch for himself whoever or whatever is causing the issues we've been having. He's also convinced that the who is in fact Nephmesu himself. And I know I've entertained that idea, but that's not possible. But even if it's not Nephmesu, if Hal can pull this off as he thinks he can, he'd be able to figure out who it is. And God help me, he's just about got me convinced as well.

I was hoping that after Monday things might settle down. I'm not sure why I hoped that, the only indication was that things were getting worse. Some of the other employees are talking about a ghost that's haunting the museum. I wouldn't be surprised at this point to learn it was goblins. But I had hoped that they did what they were trying to do and that was the end of it. It wasn't.

Today we had guests all day reacting to the wildlife displays moving. Some thought that we had used the days closed to install animatronics to make them come to life or something. Others were complaining that the movement was scaring themselves or their kids. By the end of the day we had someone posted in the display to try and catch the movement, and in the few hours they spent there they couldn't report seeing anything. Though I hear they felt like they were constantly seeing something move out of the corner of their eyes.

Hal had his last test this morning, so when I told him about this stuff at lunch he was determined to spend some time in the wildlife display for himself. Hal said it was like everything was moving just at the corner of his vision. But when he'd turn his head, everything was normal. He heard a few kids react to something, but when he went to check it out neither he nor the parents were able to find what the kid had reacted to.

Convinced that Nephmesu had something to do with it, Hal went into the Egypt exhibit to see if he could find anything there. He was still there when I got off and joined him, and he said he wasn't noticing anything. Nothing moved, not even out of the corner of his eyes and it all seemed normal. But he said he felt something was different and he couldn't explain how. I didn't see, sense, or feel anything to confirm what Hal was experiencing. Hal wanted to take me through the wildlife exhibit real quick to show me that, but with the place closing down we needed to leave.

The only thing is, he can't do this without me. He needs someone who works there, and that's me. So I can't just agree to let him try, I have to join him.

March 15th, 2018

Temperatures are already coming up and it almost seems warm. Working in Candace's garden I'd even taken my heavy shirt off. It felt good to have the sun on my back.

After Candace arrived at my place, we headed out to the garden supply store and mostly just shopped around. It's still early for things, but Candace wasn't looking for plants or seeds as much as she was looking through tools and whatever else she could find. I found a whole aisle of garden gnomes and pointed them out to her. I thought they were cute, Candace seemed more disturbed by them. We picked up some extra stuff for me to use, trowel, gloves, apron, things that would make it easier for us both to be working. Candace also placed an order for some pots and soil to be delivered.

I kept pointing out all the cute little fairy garden things, the furniture and stuff. Candace resisted buying those, but for some reason when I noticed the bird house kits, she thought that was a great idea and bought two of them for us to put together.

We also looked at patio furniture. Candace has a few chairs and table, but they look like they're made of rust and more of a health hazard than source of comfort. We picked out a set that Candace was happy with, a larger table that'll fit six chairs. Should be just enough for our group if we were all to set together. Candace requested they be delivered with her other order, and they said she'd probably receive it all next week. We asked them to call ahead and then when Sam showed up we let him know what was expected. That way he can be there to help move things around and if they show up on Wednesday or Thursday I can be there as well.

Hal did meet us for lunch, and we found a nearby Ethiopian restaurant to try. I don't think I've ever tried Ethiopian before, I certainly don't remember using sponge bread to eat the food rather than dinnerware. It was pretty tasty and I enjoyed it. Hal and Candace did too.

Hal gave us a ride back to Candace's before he needed to get to his lab. And then we spent the rest of the day putzing around in the garden. There wasn't a whole lot we could do yet, and I could tell Candace was anxious to see how the winter had treated what she'd already done. We did check on the buds hidden by leaves. They all looked good and there were many more sprouts to both our delight. There's still the chance of a late frost, so we kept them covered and protected. And then Candace went over with me the plans she had.

She's got flowers spread all throughout, some for color, others to distract harmful insects. She has mostly planted perennials, but she's left a lot of space for annuals that she'll plant once the stores have the seeds and sprouts. She wants to get a couple of tomato plants, and some radishes, squashes, she's got a whole section set aside for pumpkins and another smaller section for various herbs. She'll use the pots to create a raised garden for things that'll need a lot of attention. That way we won't be bent over the ground while we're caring for them. So next week she wants to make another trip for hardware supplies to build that. But that'll depend on when we get the order she already placed today.

I had thought she was only going to use the one section of the yard. But as she was going over her plans I realized she was going to turn the whole backyard into a garden. There'll be lawn space in the middle with a strip to get to the tree, and another strip leading to the front gate. But all along the fence and around will be plants. She wants the raised garden along the fence leading to the gate, and under that she wants to plant plants that don't like the sun as much. Mostly mushrooms, and they'll catch the water that drips down from the pots above.

Under the tree she wants to put a bench to sit on. And as we were looking her cat had already found a perch in the tree above. He looked like he was dozing, but he seemed to always have one ear perked to listen to us.

Sam showed up and Candace gave him the same tour she'd given me. He said he was expecting to be pretty busy with his commission, but he'd happily help out when he could. He actually admitted that working alone at his shop, he was having a hard time taking care of things like he'd wanted and lamented not having some helping hands himself.

It was a good day, and it felt good to be out in the backyard after spending the winter inside.

Tomorrow I'll be going back to work. It sounded like they kept the museum closed even on Wednesday, but it had reopened today. I just wonder what I'm going to find when I get there.