~*A/N*~ Guys I am SO sorry about the lack of updating! I LOST MY INSPIRATION! I also have been busy with moving and having to deal with the landlord ect. BUT HERE YOU GO! Hopefully I will be updating much more frequently. Thank you for all the wonderful reviews! you guys keep me going!
Chapter Two
Mistakes
As the sun soaked itself into my skin, a smile crept across my face. I felt the warm embrace of Yami's arms around me, holding me gently through the night and into the morning. I hear myself mumble his name as my eyes drift open. I blink a few times and smile at the body next to me. Those Crimson eyes stare into the depths of my soul. Yami smiles at me before speaking.
"Moswen?" My eyebrows twitch at the unfamiliar voice. My short lived bliss shatters as Yami's room, the soft sheets of his bed and his face change into the worn tent, the heat of the desert and Abayomi's concerned eyes staring at me. I flinch away from him and roll onto my back when I realize how close we are. "Are you okay?" He leans up with one arm below himself.
"Y-Yeah! I'm so sorry if I freaked you out. I guess I move a lot in my sleep." I gave a very unconvincing laugh. I fought the tears that wanted to accumulate in my ducts. How I wish Yami was still here to hold me. He would tell me that everything would be alright, that everything would be okay because we were together. I wouldn't have to be… alone. I snapped back into reality and smiled at Abayomi.
"Actually, I'm the one who moved closer to you. You kept mumbling someone's name in your sleep." Abayomi reached over and ran his thumb across my cheek, wiping away some water. Damn. I thought I wouldn't cry. "You seemed so lonely and when I moved closer you stopped crying, but you don't have to worry. You'll never be alone with me here." He spoke like he read my mind. He smiled sweetly at me. I laid there with my mouth half open for a few seconds.
"Thanks, Abayomi." I returned his smile before sitting up in the tent. I removed the bandages from my arm where I was stabbed by the spear and to my surprise the wound was completely healed. "Wow, that ointment is amazing! It's completely fixed. There's not even a scar." He flashed a crooked smile before reaching inside a basket pulling out and ripping apart a loaf of bread into several pieces. He hands me a piece and I graciously accept it. The two elderly men on the opposite side of the tent join us as we enjoy our meal together. I notice that the woman, who is also in our tent, was still asleep and has not moved for quite some time. I leaned close to Abayomi's ear to whisper. "That woman still hasn't moved." He raises and eyebrow at me and I point to the motionless body on the ground. He cranks his neck over his shoulder and crawls to her, resting his hand on her arm and gently shaking her. Her limp body rolls over and her hand thumps onto the ground effortlessly. I gasp, breaking the silence and Abayomi turns to stare at me, confusion written on his features.
"What? She's not dead if that's what you thought. She does look sick though." He placed his hand on her forehead. She grimaces at his touch. "She has a terrible fever!" He raised his voice with his last words as the others looked at each other in shock. It took me a second to realize that regular sickness was life threatening in ancient times. Panic crossed Abayomi's face, and for the first time his carefree expression twisted into one of fear.
"What should we do!? Do you have some kind of medicine or remedy like the kind you used on my shoulder?" He didn't speak, but slowly shook his head and stared at the ground. One of the older men put his hand on my shoulder, turning me to make eye contact with him.
"Only God can save her now." His hand slid off my shoulder and my gaze returned to the woman on the ground, to weak to open her eyes. Beads of sweat dripped down her temples and her face twitched with discomfort. I closed my eyes and prayed silently for the woman. I prayed for death to take her quickly.
"You are a being of light, do not pray for darkness."
My eyes flew wide open as I tried to distinguish where the voice came from. Silence. I closed my eyes again. "Please let death take her soul to heaven if it exists." I thought to myself.
"Yugi, you have the strength to save her." The words echoed in my head. I glanced down at the puzzle hanging around my neck as it shimmered in the morning light.
"Horakthy? Have you heard my prayer?" Silence. I had my answer. That ominous voice of light and dark was definitely coming from the puzzle. It was half horakthy's voice and half…someone else's. Someone who was not a being of light. Someone I have yet to meet, but dread the day I do. How was I supposed to save this woman? I gripped the puzzle for a few seconds before kneeling next the woman, placing my palm flat on her forehead and closing my eyes to concentrate on… Well whatever itwas I was trying to do. "What do I do? How do I use my, my 'light' to save her?" After a few moments of quiet and unanswered questions, I thought about about the word light meant. Yami's warm embrace protecting me. My mothers gentle caress. My fathers love. The times I had with my friends. I played my memories like a movie in my head. Tears of joy fell down my cheeks as my hand started to ignite. I opened my eyes as I felt there love wash over my body like an energy and race to my fingertips. Light shined from underneath my hand on the woman's head, blinding us as it began to get brighter. I retracted my hand as the light faded away. I started to pant as a wave of exhaustion hit me.
"What was that Moswen!?" I turned to Abayomi looking at me with a look of excitement and confusion mixed together. I smiled at him and let out a strangled laugh before shrugging. The two men looked at one another and then back to me bowing slightly.
"A-Are you a god?" I smiled at them shaking my head slowly. I returned my attention back to the woman who was smiling in her sleep, no longer in pain. "Your body can perform miracles?" The second man asked.
"I honestly don't know. This is the first time I've ever tried to harness my power before." I glanced at the woman once more to find her smiling at me, but this time with open eyes staring at me.
"Are you feeling okay now mam?" She blinked before she responded.
"They're waiting for you on the other side Yugi. They want to help."
"What do you mean?"
"I danced with death, but I also met someone else on the other side. Joseph says 'we're all here for you Yug'. Your not alone on this journey'." I grinned and cried at her words. Everyone's still here with me. Joey, Anzu, Maya, Duke, Tristan and… Yami!? As quickly as the words could escape my mouth I begged the woman.
"Did you see anyone named Yami?" She smiled before closing her eyes and fell back asleep unable to answer my question. One final tear escaped my eye then I dried my face with my hand. 'No more crying Yugi.'
"The person you were calling for, Yami, I'm sorry I had no idea he was…gone."
I felt my body stiffen as I turn to Abayomi. My eyes glaze over and all the emotion leaves my body. I feel my heart turn cold and my skin numbs itself.
"Yes. Yami's gone. I'm from another world. In my world everyone I loved was murdered before my eyes."
Dark memories of Yami being stabbed repeatedly all over his body as Téa rips through his skin with her nails like he was dragonfly and she was ripping off its wings for sport. Slowly taking him apart. Slowly breaking him. Unable to save him. I feel a dark aura of hopelessness, hate and rage start to surround me. I haven't been able to grieve. I know I can still save them, that's why I'm here.
"Yugi!" I feel a tight grip around my arm bringing me back to myself. I stare at Abayomi's fearful face and he shakes.
"How do you know my name?" I asked trying to sound as calm as possible.
"The woman said it." He spoke quickly before continuing. "Don't give into the darkness. I believe you're here to save us. You're not alone. Don't try to grieve all by yourself." My being softens. It's like he sees right into my very soul. Any walls I put up he can break through. I have decided I'm not going to be weak anymore. I can't cry about the past now, I have to save everyone. He releases my arm and smiles at me. "I think you can help save my people." He whispered.
"Your people?" I asked in confusion.
"Yes, the Hebrews. The pharaoh thinks that we are insignificant and weak. He makes us his slaves and works us until we die. He knows not of what love and compassion are. He is not to be trusted Yugi. I fear you are like us, but because of your skin you are more of a target. Please be careful."
I nod slowly. How could he do this? A king is supposed to treat all his people with respect and kindness. My thoughts are interrupted by the sound of pounding footsteps outside making us stiffen as we await to hear what the commotion is about.
"Everyone, out of your tents and line up!" As per instructed, we file out of tents. Guards walk around to each of us placing me and Abayomi in shackles.
"Anyone under the age of eighteen shall be brought to the pharaoh to see if your worthy to become slaves! The rest of you will start to work immediately and the completion of his majesties pyramid!"
The guard cracked his whip onto the ground erasing any thoughts of petition from us. I watched as boys and girls were placed in chains. We were in large groups. Three rows each with ten boys and girls connected by chains as we shuffled across the sand towards the palace. I turned to the two men from my tent and mouthed goodbye. I regret never asking their names. I hope they do what they can to take care of each other. I also hoped for the woman's recovery.
As we made our way across the desert sand, Abayomi leans towards me.
"Do not make eye contact with his majesty." He says with sarcasm. I can't help but giggle at his tone. His eyes narrow. "I am serious though Yugi." My smile fades and I nod. A loud thump come from behind as the chain tightens up and we are unable to move. We turn to see a boy passed out from exhaustion. A guard unchains the boy and flops his body onto the sand. He glares at us.
"Keep moving you dirty Hebrews!" With a crack of his whip everyone turns away and keeps walking. I scowl at the guard.
"You can't just leave him there! He'll die!" I yell at the guard. I look at Abayomi who turns his narrowed gaze and pained expression to the ground. The guard approaches me and I stand my ground still holding a scowl. He jets his hand out as his fingers snake there way around my throat. He squeezes tighter as I claw at his wrist trying to break free. He lifts me from the ground pulling me closer to his face.
"I said, keep moving." He spits through his teeth before throwing me down onto the sand. I lose my balance and fall to my knees coughing and gasping for breath. I feel Abayomi reef me off the sand to my feet and push me as the group continues to walk. I glance back at the boy laying in the sand. I pray inwardly for him to be saved somehow as we make our way across the desert heat.
We arrived at the palace about two hours after leaving the camp. The first two groups were brought into the royal chamber while our group waited in the foyer. We received horrible looks from the royals as they passed by. After sometime we were finally were called into the chamber. We shuffled our way in. I kept my gaze low and my mouth shut. We were brought before the pharaoh as we awaited for his verdict. The silence rang in my ears. The only noise was his footsteps as he made his way down the row examining each of us as he did. It echoed in my ears making them sting. I closed my eyes until the footsteps turned to silence. I slid my eyes open slowly still staring at the golden floor. I had to somehow stop this person. My anger and anxiety for the pharaoh built up in me the closer he approached. He stopped directly in front of me and it wasn't until he spoke, that every inch of composure I had, shattered to my feet.
"Where is this one from? He is not Hebrew or Egyptian." That indistinguishable voice. Those deep baritone lyrics pierced my ears, like a song that had been stuck in my head that I had long forgotten. My eyes flashed up to meet his Crimson gaze. As we stared at each other my eyes became wide. "Where are you from?" He demanded, eyes filled with impatience. I lost my sanity.
"Yami!" I practically screamed at him. I felt Abayomi's head jerk towards me. Then I remembered all the terrible things I had seen. "How could you do this to your people!? I know this isn't you!" The pharaoh's face scrunched up into a look of disgust as he gripped onto my hair pulling it back.
"How dare you! Don't presume you know anything about me!" He hissed at me. I feel Abayomi shuffle and pull me back. He begged with the king.
"I'm sorry for my friends outburst. He has turned crazy from the heat." I turn to Abayomi and blink a few times. For the first time Abayomi stares at me with anger and whispers. "Yugi, please." Yami grabs him and pushes him away from me.
"Where. Are. You. From." He punctuates every word spitting them more irritatingly with each word.
"Another world. One where you treated everyone as equals!" I crossed the line. I can almost hear the physical snap of Yami's patience as he throws me to the ground. He removes his sword from his sheath and points it under my chin. I tremble in fear realizing I have failed everyone, including Yami.
"I'm going to break you." I close my eyes and feel tears well up. As they fall down my face I reopen them to see Yami's face covered in shadows. His aura so dark and hateful surrounding us making the hall disappear with any light it may have brought. His Crimson eyes shone in the darkness and a sinister smile crept on his lips. His swings his arm and I wait for it to penetrate my skin. Time slowed itself as I became paralyzed under his gaze. As the blade made its way down I notice it taking a new path away from me and towards my right side. Before my mind registered what was happening, the hall faded back into view and the speed of his blade returned. It slashed through the throat of not me, but the boy standing next to me. I jerked up as blood exploded from his throat hitting me and the pharaoh. I watched as the boy turned towards me and then fell into my arms. The boy with emerald green eyes stared into my amethyst ones. He killed Abayomi. It didn't sink in. I didn't believe it. My eyes turned vacant as I stared at him expressionless. He choked and gasped as blood overflowed from his mouth. I did this. I whispered to him.
"You said you would never leave me alone. Please don't die." I cradled him in my body. I placed my hand over his throat.
'Maybe I can heal him with my light! Perhaps there's still a chance to fix this!'
I closed my eyes and imagined all the things that brought me happiness. I remembered my friends and family. I remembered Yami smiling at me, and his face turn to shadows and slit Abayomi's throat. I quivered and lost my concentration. I couldn't focus on my light when all I could feel is darkness. I looked up at the pharaoh who wore a crooked pride filled smirk. "It should have been me. So… why?"
"I've done him a favour. I have freed him from you. Don't forget that you made this choice. You killed your friend."
I wanted to argue. I wanted to say that I wasn't the one who struck him with the blade. I wanted to convince him that he was wrong, but he was right. I did kill him. He warned me not to make eye contact, not to trust or defy him. I failed him just like I failed everyone else in the past. I felt the sudden urge to find something sharp and cut into my skin. I couldn't cry. I needed something to mend this. I needed to hurt myself the way I hurt him. I panted hard as I watched Abayomi take his final breaths. His body stopped jerking as his spirit left his body. I closed his eyes and laid him on the ground as I kneeled, eyes vacant staring at the body before me. I heard the pharaoh chuckle at me and his accomplishment.
"Have my sword cleaned and brought back to me and this place cleaned. It reeks of betrayal and blood." I shivered at his words. One of the guards approached the king.
"And what of the body, and what do you want to with the boy?" The man asked.
"Have the body burned and the boy," He stopped and turned to me, "Yugi wasn't it? Have him cleaned and brought to my chambers. Put the rest of these slaves to work. I must wash the blood from my clothes." He left the hall with the golden doors slamming shut. Silence filled the room. Two guards reached under my arms and started to drag me out of the hall. As Abayomi faded from view I whispered to myself.
"I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. My friend. My dear friend. I killed happiness. I destroyed the bringer of happiness."
