Mummy Issues - Part 5

Here is the next part of my novella, thanks for everyone's words of support! For new supporters - please go read the previous parts before reading this one! They are also available here on my Patreon! Hope you enjoy!!  The paragraph in italics, is repeat from the last post, so it would get you back into the story. So without further ado... Chapter 2  - Part 2There were two things which you couldn’t fail to notice. The first one was that the shape beneath the layers of linen was unmistakably female; the swell of hips and breasts made it clear, even under the faded, coarse wraps. And the other one was the form nestled against her midsection - not simply a bulge but something with well defined edges and corners. It was a boxy shape, cradled protectively between her arms. The question of whether to delve deeper nagged at me. Our faith, as my father had told me several times, dictated respect for the dead. We weren't meant to disturb the bodies of the departed, much less pry into their guarded secrets. But curiosity, that wicked, insatiable companion of my childhood, whispered insistently. Thud, thud, thud, thud… the stairs echoed under my feet as I descended, the steps pounding in time with my racing heart. The scissors from the kitchen drawer were cold and heavy in my hand as I climbed back, steeling myself for what I was about to do. But back in the attic looking down on the mummy, doubts clawed at my resolve. I had seen what the mummified remains looked like in my father's books - they were unnerving, a grim reminder of mortality. I didn’t want to see the dark mummified flesh. But I thought of a strategy - If I am careful, if I cut only around the object, I will not have to glimpse any of it. With a shuddering breath, I began. The scissors sliced through the ancient cloth with ease, each snip bringing me closer to the hidden box. I was careful enough, so to unveil the secret without awakening the horrors beneath. As the cloth fell away, what was revealed in front of me was an ancient book. It looked worn but surprisingly well preserved. I reached for the book, but as I put my hands around it, an unexpected dilemma unfolded in my mind - to remove it meant exposing the flesh beneath. My mind again swirled with images from my father's books - mummified remains, shriveled, and blackened by age. But the allure of the book, the promise of hidden knowledge, it was an irresistible force. Swiftly, I snatched the book from its cradle, my eyes deliberately quickly averted from the sight I anticipated. I have successfully grabbed the book, and I was now turned to the other side. But something was nagging me. - Had I just seen a glimpse of something? Not the disturbing remains I expected, but something else? The courage to look back took a moment to find, but once I summoned it, I turned my gaze to the now-exposed abdomen of the mummy.Below the unravelled wrappings was a sight as startling as it was perfect - a woman’s tummy both smooth and feminine, but also showing a well defined muscles underneath the skin. It was preserved so impeccably it seemed almost lifelike, marred only by the ghostly pallor of death. I reached out, hesitating momentarily before my fingers grazed the cold, soft skin - an impossible contradiction given its age. The book lay momentarily forgotten as the scissors found their way back into my hand. Doubt and curiosity fought within me, but doubt never had a chance. I had to see if it was all like that.” -“You didn’t!?” - said Ahmed in disbelief. -“He did.” - said Rameez, answering instead of Sami. “I cut some wraps at her arms first, then I moved down to her legs. Each time, I told myself it was just a little more. A small slit in the wraps, a fleeting peek underneath. Each cut felt like a transgression, a violation of her rest, yet each revealed something breathtaking - a beauty frozen in time. Her skin beneath the linen was immaculate, eerily preserved. Caught in the momentum of my curiosity, I found myself increasingly drawn in as the incredible feminine form appeared bit by bit in front of me. Just a little more, I told myself again. A cut here, a snip there, just enough to see, but not enough to completely reveal. From her sheens I continued up to her thighs, each new exposure offering an impossible glimpse into the past. After a while more of her body was uncovered than covered, and I was mesmerized by the perfectly sculpted form of her body, by the definition of muscles under the smooth skin, the feminine strength apparent in her physique. Then came the moment of decision - should I reveal her face? The question loomed over me, the weight of what I was doing sinking in. My hand hesitated, the scissors poised for one more 'little' cut. I sliced through the remaining bandages that concealed her face. Her jawline emerged first, angular and refined. Then came her lips, full and pouty, even in their eternal slumber. Next was her nose, straight as an arrow and equally sharp. But her eyes, they were still hidden under her closed lids. I felt a wave of relief, grateful that I wasn't staring into the open eyes of the deceased. Her lashes were long and dark, while her brows were slender and carried a hint of red that matched the tinge of her hair. Yes, her hair. I almost forgot. As I snipped away the last of the bandages, her hair seemed to explode from its confines - a cascade of curly red locks, vibrant even in death. She was beautiful, hauntingly so. I was fascinated, entranced. But then guilt began to gnaw at me, a reminder of the line I had crossed.