A midnight stroll was just what the young man needed to cool his nerves after the grueling day at work. His boss had chewed him out and then fired him for something that he didn't do. One of his fellow workers had stolen money from the company bank and blown it all on liquor and cigarettes. And, of course, he had been blamed for the theft and fired.
He stopped in front of an electronics store that was still open and watched the flashing television screen. The news was on. A grotesque picture of a dismantled person (it was impossible to tell whether the corpse was male or female) was the current picture on the screen; the scene of the murder was within the city limits, that much he knew.
"…numerous murders such as this have been mysteriously occurring all over the city. The most recent victim was a thirty year-old woman named Reanne Johansen. Johansen was found lying bloodless in the middle of the street in front of the antique shop next to the electronics store on Main Street. The murderer has yet to be found. If you have any information on the killer please contact us immediately," the newscaster reported.
"Probably just some throat-slitting kleptomaniac trying to rip off some store," the young man mumbled and continued on his way. He walked past the alleyway that separated the antique store from the electronics store. The sign sitting crooked on the door of the antique store caught his eye and he stopped to read it.
"Closed due to fear of being murdered on my way home from work. Will be back when I'm not s—" The rest of the sign couldn't be read. Small drops of blood dotted the white sign in random places as if the writer had been coughing up blood.
Because the young man was too busy thinking about the unusual sign, he missed the glowing red eyes that glared hungrily at him behind the veil of shadow that occupied the alleyway.
"People these days," he said indignantly, holding back the urge to tear the ridiculous sign to shreds. He glanced at his watch under the light of a streetlamp. 12:30. He decided that he had better get home before his roommate got too worried.
He turned around and began to head back to the apartment. When he passed by the alleyway again, a shiver turned his spine to ice and he stopped. Hesitantly, he lolled into the dark alley, half curious and half afraid. The glowing red eyes that suddenly appeared before him bore into his soul and he found himself unable to move even a millimeter. A lump formed in his throat and he swallowed in attempt to rid himself of it. The eyes narrowed and began to approach him. His heart began to race wildly in his chest; it felt as if it were trying to break out of the protection of his ribcage. Hands colder than ice left the shadowed alley and the long fingers seized his shoulders. The scent of blood hit the air as the red liquid flowed down his shoulders and onto the sidewalk. Then, with a last horrified scream, the hands pulled the young man into the alley. Vile sounds of muscle being torn and bones being shattered echoed through the night, but no one heard it. After silence reigned for thirty seconds, the red eyes reappeared, accompanied by a satisfied growl. Then the murderer disappeared into the eternal abyss of the night.
Red blood trickled out from the alleyway, onto the sidewalk, and into the street for all to behold.
"Good morning Yugi," my Grandpa said as I sat down at the table, sleepily rubbing my eyes. For a moment, I just stared at him, then I reached for the orange juice he sat down in front of me.
"G'mornin'," I managed to mumble. Setting the glass to my lips, I drained the cup of half of its contents. "What time is it?"
Grandpa glanced at the clock on the wall. "9:30," he told me.
I shot up in my chair, suddenly fully awake. "I have to meet Joey, Tristan, and Tea at 9:45 in front of the shop! I completely forgot!"
"If you get dressed I can drive you there. I have to open up shop for a little while today anyway."
"I'll be back in a minute!" I replied and rushed off to my room. I quickly threw on some clothes,
slipped my feet into my shoes, and hung the Millennium Puzzle around my neck. I immediately felt the presence of Yami in my mind.
Good morning, Yami said. Did you sleep well?
I grunted and ran out to the car, where Grandpa was waiting for me. I opened the car door, sat down and buckled the seatbelt, and closed the door. I sighed and relaxed, sinking down into my cushy seat. Grandpa started the car and pulled out of the driveway. I held a conversation with Yami while we rode down the streets that lead to the shop.
You seem rushed. Is something the matter?
No, I'm just tired and late.
Late?
Yeah. I had a hard time sleeping last night for some reason and forgot that I had to meet my friends by the card shop at 9:45.
By the way, Yugi, while you were asleep last night, I began to pick up some odd vibrations.
Huh?
Something weird is going on in the city, but I can't put my finger on it. It seems familiar, yet far unknown to me at the same time.
Does it have anything to do with the murders happening around the city recently?
I believe it does.
The car stopped, and Grandpa turned off the engine and removed the key. "Looks like we're early," he said. "It doesn't look like they're here yet."
I peered out of my window. Grandpa was right; Joey, Tristan, and Tea weren't there. I had rushed myself for nothing, but it wasn't quite time for them to be here yet either.
"Well, I guess I could open up the shop a few minutes early since we're here," Grandpa said, climbing out of the car and motioning for me to do the same. I obeyed and shut the door behind me. I felt Yami shudder, and that made me shudder. It wasn't common for Yami to shudder, so I was instinctively curious.
What's wrong? I asked him.
He didn't reply immediately. It took him a moment to recover his nerves, and then he answered me. Nothing.
"Yugi!" I heard Tea exclaim from behind me. I turned around to greet her smiling face, but at the sight of her terrified expression, my face mimicked hers.
"What's the matter Tea?"
She grabbed my hand and sprinted off, dragging me gently along behind her. We passed many buildings and crossed many streets until she stopped in front of the alleyway between the antique shop and the electronics store. She pointed a slender hand into the alleyway. "Look."
I glanced at the object lying in the alley and swallowed a scream. For there did a corpse inhabit the nearly empty alley.
My heart stopped momentarily.