Friday, May 8, 2026

Prison of the Serpent: A Snippet from AnaRose and Pharaoh’s Gold by Mary Ann Bernal

 

Snippet

Jo awakened in a small room filled with Ancient Egyptian furnishings. She had hazy memories of how she got there in the first place. Jo recalled declining Khepri’s offer to ride back to Cairo. While waiting to board the bus, she felt a sting in her neck and felt lightheaded. Out of nowhere, Khepri appeared, held her upright, and brought her to his Jeep. He strapped her into the passenger seat, where she rested her head. With blurry vision, she saw his tattoo before blacking out.

Looking for an exit, Jo ran toward a solitary door. When it wouldn’t open, she hit it with the palm of her hand and shouted, “Let me out of here.”

Exhausted after several minutes of incessant pounding, Jo sat on a chair and tried to calm down. She had to think. Hysterics would hamper her survival until AnaRose rescued her. Jo suppressed the urge to scream when she realized she wore a white gown, gold bracelets, and a serpent pendant hanging from a layered gold necklace covering her chest. Her hair and skin smelled of perfume, causing Jo to gag at its intensity.

Wall paintings and hieroglyphs depicted scenes of horror and violence with images of Apophis devouring the sun, the sky turning red, and people slaughtered by his minions. Jo felt a surge of fear and panic, unsure if AnaRose would find her in time.

Resolved temporarily to her fate, Jo searched the room, looking for her clothes and phone. Obviously, they’re gone! Do you think they’re stupid? These guys are killers and leave no trace of their victims.

Overwhelmed, tears welled in Jo’s eyes. She felt claustrophobic, terrorized of being buried alive in a sarcophagus, and freaking out when they shut the lid.

Stop it, or you’ll die of fright. Have faith in AnaRose’s abilities. It will be okay.

Resigned for the moment of accepting the situation at hand, Jo closed her eyes, her thoughts chaotic as she counted down the hours to her rescue or death.

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Where to Buy

AnaRose and Pharaoh’s Gold
https://books2read.com/u/380DQ6

Connect with the Author

https://maryannbernal.com

Discover More Stories

If you enjoy discovering new stories, you may also like The AnaRose Chronicles—a trilogy of award‑winning adventure novellas.
https://books2read.com/u/4jzKAY