Cairo, Egypt – A scene of unprecedented disruption unfolded this afternoon as a group of mummies, seemingly animated and exhibiting coordinated action, commandeered a double-decker bus, plunging the city’s central thoroughfare into chaos. Authorities are scrambling to contain the situation, with a specialized unit of the Egyptian Antiquities Service currently attempting to negotiate with the ancient figures.

The incident began around 2:15 PM local time. Witnesses report seeing the mummies, believed to be originating from the Valley of the Kings, emerge from a newly unearthed tomb near the Khan el-Khalili bazaar. They swiftly boarded the bus, which was carrying approximately 80 tourists and local commuters. Initial reports suggest the mummies, clad in tattered linen wrappings, displayed a disconcerting level of tactical awareness, directing the vehicle onto a series of increasingly erratic routes through the city.

“It was… surreal,” recounted Fatima Hassan, a local shopkeeper who witnessed the bus’s initial deviation from its intended route. “One moment it was heading towards the Citadel, the next it was careening down a side street, nearly colliding with a fruit stall. They seemed to be… following a pattern, almost like they knew where they were going.”

The situation escalated when the mummies attempted to access the vehicle’s onboard intercom system, emitting a series of low, guttural sounds that some experts believe may be a form of rudimentary communication. Dr. Omar Khalil, a leading Egyptologist on the scene, stated, “The vocalizations are unlike anything we’ve previously documented. They’re not simply groans; there’s a deliberate cadence to them. We’re working to decipher their intent.”

Currently, the mummies have stalled the bus near the Egyptian Museum, reportedly demanding “relics” – specifically, a golden sarcophagus and a canopic jar containing the preserved organs of a Pharaoh. Negotiations are ongoing, with authorities cautiously offering to provide these items if the mummies release the passengers and surrender peacefully.

The Ministry of Tourism has issued a statement advising all visitors to remain indoors and avoid the affected area. Security forces are maintaining a perimeter around the bus, while the Egyptian Antiquities Service continues to monitor the mummies’ behavior, hoping to understand the motivations behind this extraordinary event. The long-term implications of this unprecedented interaction between the ancient and the modern remain uncertain.