Here is chapter 1! Sorry if it is a bit confusing at first, but since Carly wasn't exactly herself when she was duelling Sayer again as a Dark Signer I skipped that part and went straight to after she changes back at the end of episode 39. Please enjoy this chapter and expect chapter 2 to be posted soon!


Chapter 1

Regret

I walked slowly along the deck of a building, completely confused. Hadn't I just fallen to my death? What was I doing on the top of a building, still alive?

"What?" I asked aloud, wanting to know the reason for my weird case of amnesia. "What just happened? How did I get way up here?"

I gasped and clutched my head as my memory began returning to me. "Oh no! Did I really just duel the head of the Arcadia Movement?" That's when I noticed the weight on my left arm. What was up with that?

Looking at my arm, I saw a strange black and orange duel disk. "Huh? What's with this duel disk?" It wasn't any kind of duel disk I'd ever seen. I also noticed a slight irritation on my right arm, and I rolled down my glove to see what was bothering it and gasped. There was a mark on my arm resembling a hummingbird. "What's this mark on my arm?!"

I began to sink to the ground, worried that if I continued standing any longer I would fall over from shock. My voice shook as I spoke. "What's going on? Why am I freaking out like this?"

I did nothing to stop the tears that started running down my cheeks. I was too confused and afraid. I had been about to die, and then suddenly I was up on a building with a strange duel disk and a Dark Signer mark.

"Carly..." a voice echoed, and I opened my eyes. "Don't be afraid of your destiny..."

I lifted my head to see a figure approaching me from within the cloud of smoke. The person had long black hair and wore black clothing with green markings on it. Her eyes were black with blue irises. She looked like Misty, the model I had met at that party, only a scarier-looking version.

"Is that you, Misty?" I asked.

"You were chosen, Carly," she continued, ignoring my question. "Just as I was chosen."

"Chosen for what?" The way she was speaking was strange. It wasn't like the way she spoke when reading peoples' fortunes. It was...darker, more mysterious. I didn't like it.

As she continued speaking, memories of my fall began to flash before my eyes. "Greatness. You were chosen by the Immortals. When the life you once knew was taken away, you had unfinished business. Something you needed to say or do. The Immortals gave you their power so that you could...well...stick around. Same kind of thing happened to me."

What is she talking about? What are the Immortals?

"We're still in this world, but we're not part of it anymore." She raised her right arm as she spoke. It had a mark that resembled a lizard on it. "Not as we once were, anyway. This mark is proof."

"No..." I could feel the tears flowing faster as I exclaimed, "That's a lie!"

I covered my face with my duel disk hand and cried, not wanting to believe this was happening. I don't want to be a Dark Signer! I don't want to hurt anyone! Why was I chosen to become a Dark Signer? Why? Why...?

I felt Misty's hand on my shoulder, comforting me. "I understand. It's a lot to take in, I know. Don't worry, you will understand soon. But before you can do that..." She brought me into a hug and I cried into her shoulder, wishing desperately that this had never happened. "What is your unfinished business? And how can it benefit the Dark Signers?"

I could hear the sound of a helicopter approaching, but I could only continue crying. Misty helped me into a standing position and softly said, "It's time to go, Carly." I was blindly led into the helicopter by Misty, and after helping into one of the helicopter's seats she sat in the chair next to me, her hand resting on my shoulder in comfort.

Though my vision was bleary I could see two other people sitting in the seats in front of Misty and me. One was wearing a black outfit similar to Misty's, but it looked like a guy version and it had yellow markings on it instead of the green patterns on Misty's. He flew the helicopter. The other was a well-built man with long, dark hair, but he didn't wear the same kind of cloak. Actually, he looked just like any other regular person. Maybe he was forced into becoming a Dark Signer as well, I guessed. But although his eyes weren't black, he showed no signs of misery. His face was completely emotionless.

"Who's the new girl?" the man wearing the black cloak with yellow designs asked. "And why are her eyes normal?"

I felt Misty's hand on my shoulder tense at his question, and when I looked over at her I saw that her eyes were protective and angry. She glared at the man as she replied, "She's only just become a Dark Signer, Devack!"

"You didn't answer my first question, Misty," the man known as Devack replied. "Who's the girl?"

Misty sighed, obviously irritated. I was glad she was mad at Devack, not me, because I could tell she wasn't a person you would want to get on the bad side of. "This is Carly, she was chosen by the Immortal Aslla piscu."

"Why would Aslla piscu choose some kid? What's so special about her?" Devack asked contemptuously.

"How about defeating Sayer, leader of the Arcadia Movement?" Misty challenged. I winced as her words reminded me of the duel, and how I sent Sayer falling to his death...

Misty noticed and turned to me with an apologetic look, as if to say, 'Sorry about bringing that up, I know you're not used to being a Dark Signer yet.' I gave her a small smile through my tear-stained face to reply, 'It's okay. I know you're only helping me.'

Devack saw the looks that passed between the two of us and snorted in disgust. Misty turned back to him, her eyes alight with fury. Devack just smirked, as if amused by Misty's rage. This only made the model angrier, and if looks could kill, Devack would have died. Well, died for a second time.

Throughout all of this, the seemingly non-Dark Signer remained silent. I couldn't help but wonder what he was doing here if he wasn't a Dark Signer. Maybe he's going to become a Dark Signer? I wondered. But who is he? What reason does he have for joining the Dark Signers?

I would have asked, but I knew it would be rude of me to stick my nose into other peoples' business so I kept silent. I felt more tears forming as I remembered being a reporter and how I was always in other peoples' business. But now I would never again be Carly Carmine, not-so-expert reporter.

I hadn't realized that we had landed until I felt Misty gently guiding me out of the helicopter. We were in an area I recognized from pictures to be the B.A.D. area of the Satellite. We stood in front of a large hole where Zero Reverse had happened, and when I looked into it I couldn't see the bottom. Misty appeared beside me and offered me her hand. I took it gratefully.

Devack took a few steps forward and lifted up a rock, pushing a button that was hidden underneath. The earth vibrated slightly as a hidden door opened and revealed a stairway leading into the hole. He started to descend the staircase, the non-Dark Signer following as though on an unspoken command. Misty turned to me, a reassuring smile on her face. "Don't be afraid, Carly."

"I-I'm not afraid!" I exclaimed indignantly, but my shaky voice begged to differ.

Misty smiled in amusement and she walked to the edge of the stairs. I followed nervously, clutching her hand tighter. I started shaking when I saw the hole up close. It was even darker and creepier than I thought it had been. Misty gave my hand a gentle, comforting squeeze. "Let's go."