A/N: I am so sorry that the prequel for this sucked so bad…I hope I can surpass my last attempt…I'm really trying to make this unique. If you stick around for the main plot to kick in, you'll see what I mean. P This is just the beginning after all…it's only a set up for the WORSE problems to come.
Disclaimer: I do not own GX.
Chapter 2:
Jesse stopped by his locker after classes so he could take his textbooks back to his room. As he opened it, a note fluttered out. He looked both ways. The students in the halls seemed to be more focused on their individual conversations. He didn't see anyone who might've left it for him. Deciding that whoever had left it for him was gone, he stooped down and picked it up, then carefully unfolded it.
Jesse,
I need some help moving my things from the Obelisk dorm to the Slifer dorm. I accidentally left some things behind when I moved back. If you would come to my old room at Obelisk as soon as possible, that would be great.
--Chazz
Jesse could not help but roll his eyes as he crumpled the note up and stuffed it in his pocket. The boy always had a thing with notes. He just loved to create suspense. Why couldn't he just ask him in person? They'd been in the SAME class only moments ago. The whole thing was pointless. However, he merely pulled his books out of his locker and slammed it shut, deciding he might as well help the spiky-haired teen out. If he did that, though, he'd have less time to do his homework and study, which he desperately needed to do. Duel Academy wasn't exactly the easiest school. In fact, it was far harder than North Academy. These people sure did have high expectations. But he was more than willing to prove his worth and meet those expectations. Jaden would be disappointed though…
He cringed, biting back the guilt. He'd had less time for Jaden lately with all the work in preparation for their first set of exams. To think, the first quarter wasn't even done yet! Were mid-quarterlies really that necessary? Sighing, he just told himself that it was all the better for his career.
Slipping through the Academy's double doors at the entrance, he hoped that Jaden wouldn't spot him and try to drag him off. It made him feel even worse to think this but, hell, he had things to do. Stuffing his hands in his pockets, he hurried towards the Obelisk boys' dorm. If Jaden were back in the room already, he'd better hope that he didn't come out into the hall. Quickly, he slipped through the dorm's doors and took the stairs two by two until he came to a corridor with doors on each side. His eyes scanned the room numbers, his footsteps muffled by the thick, plush carpet. Finally, he came to the room he was looking for. Wondering if Chazz were there yet, he lightly tapped his knuckles against the wood. There was silence for a moment, then the sound of something heavy crashing on the ground followed by a curse. A second later, the door flung open and an irate Chazz stared at him with narrowed eyes.
"What?!" He snapped, then relaxed, "Oh, it's just you." Holding the door open a little farther, he stepped aside and allowed the other boy to enter.
Jesse stared. Chazz's room was a complete mess. It was worse than he could've imagined! And he'd said he'd only left a few things. More like his entire room. Jesse groaned. This was going to take awhile…much longer than he'd expected. He considered calling Jaden to tell him he'd be late, but then figured that he'd just stay for a little bit then leave.
"So…this…is everything you forgot…" Jesse said weakly, barely avoiding tripping over a box of CDs in the middle of the floor, "What a mess…"
"Yeah, I know," Chazz snorted, running a hand through his ebony spikes, "So why don't you start over there in those drawers." He pointed over to a dresser which had clothes spilling over the edge.
Jesse felt slightly irked at the sudden request. "Ya know, Chazz, that was kind of rude of you…" He frowned a bit.
Chazz's face turned red. "Oh…um…yeah, sorry about that. It's just…Alexis can't really help me…and you're pretty reliable so…"
"Uh-huh," Jesse crossed his arms, but couldn't help the smile that came to his face. "Well, I reckon I should do it…"
Shaking his head, he stepped over piles of dirty clothing, books, and DVDs to the dresser. He began going through the drawers and putting the clothes in boxes, taking care to fold them and organize them by drawer. Glancing over his shoulder, he saw Chazz throwing anything that lay around him on the floor in a box. Jesse rolled his eyes. Perhaps Chazz didn't care. In that case, he could just throw them haphazardly in the boxes and get done quicker. Really, he hated the thought of Jaden worrying. He wondered what the brunette was doing at the moment.
It took him and Chazz several hours to pack all the boxes, even if they threw things in at random. Jesse was thankful that he hadn't tried to be neat about it. He hadn't wanted to take so long…but Jaden would just have to understand.
Then, he and Chazz had the lovely task of carrying the boxes from the Obelisk dorm to the Slifer dorm. They each carried as many as they could. It still took several trips. By the time they were finished, Jesse was tired and sore all over. He stretched a little, trying to ease his aching back and yawned. Glancing at the time, his emerald eyes widened. He really had to get back and do his homework.
"Thanks for helping me," Chazz told him almost begrudgingly, crossing his arms and looking less than grateful.
Jesse grinned weakly and rubbed the back of his head. "Hey, no problem. Anytime. But I have to go now. Homework calls."
"Wait," Chazz said, grasping the other boy's wrist.
Jesse sighed heavily. "What?" He asked tiredly.
Chazz smiled a little at him. "I wanted to tell you something."
"What is it now, Chazz?" Jesse asked, looking slightly exasperated.
Chazz jerked Jesse's wrist, forcing him to turn and look at him. Then, he yanked the other boy against him, releasing his wrist to hug him. Jesse stiffened. He was uncomfortable with this. What could Chazz be planning? Before he could say anything, Chazz placed a finger to his lips to keep him quiet.
"I know it's sort of wrong but…" Chazz took a deep breath, "I still like you a lot. I just can't forget…It's just too hard. I kind of miss you, actually."
Jesse opened his mouth to tell Chazz that he really had to go. Instead, he was horrified to hear himself saying what he'd wanted to keep in his head. "I feel the same way, actually. I just didn't want to admit it…"
Chazz, ever the impulsive one, tilted his head and started to lean down. Jesse told himself to turn his head. He told himself to jerk away. He told himself to say something. Anything would've done to avoid it. But he had no time to think anymore. Next thing he knew, Chazz's lips were glued to his own. As his eyes half closed, he realized he didn't want it to stop. It felt strangely…so good…so relaxing. He just didn't have the motivation to pull away. So he did the only thing he felt he could do: give in. His mind kept telling him to stop even as he began to return the pressure of the kiss. Even though he knew that he should break the kiss before he made it worse, he rather found himself entwining his arms around the other boy's neck, and letting his fingers drift to entangle themselves in Chazz's rich black hair. At the same time, Chazz's arms encircled Jesse's waist, and he pulled the transfer student closer.
Just as Chazz was slipping his tongue in Jesse's mouth did the teal haired boy regain his self control. Quickly, he tore away and fell backwards against a desk, which he gripped tightly, breathing hard. Chazz blinked, looking somewhat dazed.
"I really shouldn't have done that," Jesse muttered, wiping his mouth on his sleeve as though to try to rid of his blunder, "I have to go…See ya."
Before Chazz could say another word in protest, Jesse hurried out the door. He was ashamed of himself. How could he have made such an impulsive decision? How could he have let himself slip up like that? He wasn't sure how he could tell Jaden about it…but he knew he had to. It nearly broke his heart to think of Jaden's reaction. Especially since he thought that Jaden had been a little bit dissatisfied with him for the time being. But that was nothing compared to how disappointed he'd be when he heard of this.
Quickly, he rushed back to his room and slipped through the door, closing it quietly then locking it. He stood with his back against the wood, shaking a little, trying to calm his breathing and his pounding heart. It made him sick to think that he'd cheated. Still in a daze, he wondered how it'd even happened. It was so random. It hadn't even escalated! Unless, of course, they'd felt it building up and failed to admit it to themselves. Really, he had to learn to be more careful.
Running his hand through his hair, he decided that all he needed was a cool shower. He'd feel a lot better after that. He'd have to wait though. Jaden was in the shower at the moment, judging by the sound of running water. Leaning back, he wondered why Jaden hadn't called him. Perhaps the other boy just trusted him too much. This made him feel all the guiltier. He hadn't meant to do anything that would injure his boyfriend! What would Jaden think? Perhaps he was just overreacting over the entire thing. Perhaps Jaden would forgive him and they could forget about it. He strongly doubted this theory, though.
Growing a little anxious, he began to spin around in the chair, watching the room go around and around until he was dizzy. It didn't matter to him if he fell to the floor and passed out. As long as he could get his nervous energy out. His stomach grew queasier the longer he spun. He suspected that it could be either the impending conflict that was coming his way, or the constant spinning. Then again, it probably was a combination. He ignored the nausea and increased his speed.
On the probable hundredth spin, he noticed the door open and a brownish blur step into the room. Seeing this only made him want to keep spinning in hopes that he might vanish off the face of the earth. Perhaps he would've if he hadn't been so dizzy that he fell out of the seat and rolled across the floor, only to be stopped by crashing into the foot of the bed. Staring up at the ceiling, he watched the room whirl and spiral sickeningly around, sending him into an automatic spell of vertigo.
"Jesse?" Jaden leaned over the teal haired boy, his voice filled with confusion.
Jesse found himself unable to focus on the brunette. He couldn't help but grin at the sight of three or four images of Jaden all in a row, yet their features indistinct and blurred.
Finally, he tried to sit up, only to slump back down. Jaden grabbed his wrists and pulled him to his feet. The room was still spinning slightly, but his vertigo had calmed quite a bit. Not to say that his stomach had. His grin faded as his gaze finally settled down on Jaden's sparkling brown eyes. Sighing, he patted Jaden on the head and slipped past him, into the bathroom. He decided that after a quick shower, he'd tell Jaden what he'd done.
The whole time he spent under the cool spray, he planned what he'd say to Jaden. He hated to think about confessing, but he knew he had to. And somehow, he felt as though he was making a bigger deal out of it then he should've. He became defensive. Well, it hadn't been his fault exactly. Chazz had started it. Sure, he'd made a little mistake but…it wasn't that bad now, was it? Jaden would understand. He wouldn't be upset, right? After all, it was clear who Jesse cared more about. Then again, he argued, he hadn't been paying as much attention to the brunette as he felt he should. Perhaps he should've been more attentive. Then maybe he wouldn't have done this. Perhaps if he hadn't pushed himself so much and stressed himself out…Well, that was the past now. He was just going to have to grin and bear it. Not like that was going to be exactly easy. Not that he expected it to be. But Jaden was gentle enough. Maybe he would understand…He truly loved Jaden. He thought he loved Jaden with all his heart. If that were the case…then why did he have those feelings for Chazz? It really bothered him.
Quickly, he stepped out of the shower and dried himself off. He dressed and dried his hair as hurriedly as possible. Then, he quietly stepped out into the adjacent room. His emerald eyes softened at the sight of Jaden sitting at the desk, hunched over a piece of paper.
He walked towards the Slifer, his footsteps almost inaudible due to the plush carpet. Slowly, he reached out a hand and ran his fingertips lightly over the backs of Jaden's shoulders, then let his fingers brush against the boy's bare arm, until he'd reached his hand. Then, he placed his hand fully over the brunette's. Doing this made him feel a little sad. He hated to think about what he'd done. Reaching up with his other hand, he fondled the other boy's cheek, catching a bit of his hair between his fingers so he could lean down and kiss it.
"Jesse…" Jaden began, turning the chair to face him. He looked a little worried, though he tried to mask it with a smile. "Where were you? I didn't want to call you in case you were really busy but…"
Jesse grinned sheepishly at the Slifer. "Jay…I needed to talk to you about that." Nausea settled once more in the pit of his stomach as he tugged on the other boy's hand and pulled him to his feet. Then, he led him over to the bed, where he sat down and yanked Jaden down into his lap.
Jaden stared up into Jesse's sea green eyes, his expression a mixture of worry and confusion. It was almost too much for Jesse to stand. Jaden was just…too innocent. He was totally undeserving of this situation…He'd done nothing to deprive Jesse of affection. Rather, it had been the other way around.
"Well," Jesse said nervously, toying with Jaden's dark hair and twisting it around his fingers as he avoided the boy's intense gaze, "I made a bit of a mistake."
"What happened?" Jaden leaned in Jesse's face, now thoroughly concerned. "Jes? You Ok? You look kinda sick…"
"I might just be overreacting but…it's not the action so much as the meaning behind it," Jesse told him, rubbing the back of his head and smiling weakly. "You see…I kind of…" Here, he dropped his voice and mumbled, "…cheated on you…"
"What?" Jaden's voice grew slightly louder at hearing this. "But…Why?'
"Well, it wasn't like I'd planned it or anything," Jesse explained quickly, "I just had to help Chazz move some of his things to the Slifer dorm, and it took the whole afternoon. I should've told you but…I didn't because I felt like it wouldn't take that long anyway and I was afraid you might be mad that I was blowing you off for Chazz…" He paused momentarily, realizing that his babbling was doing more harm than good. "No, no! It's not like that…It's just…coming out wrong…I didn't mean to blow you off…I didn't want you to think that, that's what I mean. And, well, it took longer than I thought and I just didn't call…and you didn't call so I thought it was Ok and then I had to help him carry the boxes and then I tried to leave but he wouldn't exactly let me….That's when he kissed me…and said he still had feelings for him. And I told him I still felt the same and then my mind just blanked and…I kissed him too…" He took a deep breath and looked sheepish, "But I really didn't mean to do it. I meant to push him away but…I'm really sorry, Jay. I don't like him more than you. It was a mistake and I don't intend to do it again."
Jaden looked uncertain of how to react. His eyes were a bit wide from shock. Then, he smiled wanly. "It's Ok, Jes. I know you didn't mean it. Don't worry about it." He gently pushed Jesse's hands away and crawled off of his lap. But he didn't stop looking at him.
"I didn't mean to hurt you…" Jesse said, his voice hushed to an almost-whisper as he reached out and touched Jaden's face again, "Jaden, please don't act like I haven't been hurting you all this time. Please just be open and honest with me."
Jaden sighed heavily. "Really…I'm Ok. Yes, it does hurt, but I'm not going to hold it against you." He shrugged and closed his eyes. "Hey, I've dealt with friends betraying me and trying to hurt me, even to the point of ending my life! But I forgave them. Why should this be any different? You really didn't do much of anything. I know you feel bad about it. I know you're sorry. We all give into certain temptations at different times...It does bother me…a lot. But it wouldn't bother me as badly had you and him not fallen out the way you did. Maybe…if I didn't love you so deeply…even deeper than you could ever love me…" As he finished talking, his voice cracked a little.
Jesse realized that Jaden wasn't just upset over this incident. He'd been upset over the way Jesse had been brushing him off for the past few weeks too. And this only made him feel worse, to think that his boyfriend would push him away to help out an ex with something that just anyone could've helped him with. All this time, he'd been enduring it.
"Aw, Jay…" Jesse reached out and hugged the other boy, crushing him against his chest. He hadn't recently thought about how much Jaden meant to him. "I love you," He whispered in a trembling tone, stroking the Slifer's hair and rocking slightly.
Jaden tucked his head under Jesse's chin. "I know…" He sighed heavily, "It's Ok, though. Don't worry so much. You worry too much…Just don't do it again, Ok?"
Jesse nodded and blushed as Jaden pushed him down so he was lying on top of him. He felt undeserving of such quick forgiveness; however, he did not object. Jaden dug his fingers into Jesse's shirt, clinging to him as though he'd disappear any second.
"I know you want good grades," Jaden said softly, "I know you need to do your work since that's a priority to you. And I understand. All I ask is for a little bit more of your time. I know things have been crazy as far as classes are concerned lately…But I just want things to go back to normal." Closing his eyes tightly, he nuzzled his nose against Jesse's neck and collarbone. Then, he buried his face deep in the crook of Jesse's neck and breathed softly against the tender flesh.
"Well," Jesse said slowly, gently touching the palm of his hand to the back of Jaden's hair, treating it with delicate touches, "I can forget about my homework tonight for your sake. We really do need some time…" He grinned sheepishly, somewhat ashamed, "I'm really sorry. You should've told me earlier so I could've paid you more attention."
"Oh, no, I'm fine," Jaden insisted, "I just didn't want to bother you since you were busy. It's cool. I have plenty of friends to hang out with."
Jesse caught his face between the palms of his hands, forcing Jaden to look him in the eyes. "Look, if you really need it, you should tell me. Besides, I'm not just your friend. You can't get what you need from just anyone. Not only am I your best friend, I'm your boyfriend too! Next time, please tell me. We need to talk about these things. I don't want to ignore your needs."
Jaden looked down into Jesse's eyes, his own filled with trouble despite the smile on his face. He finally collapsed back down on Jesse's chest, encircling his arms tightly around the others' waist. Clinging with all his might, he began to tremble. "I guess you're right," He admitted, giving a shaky laugh, "I really do need you."
He paused momentarily, staring down into Jesse's face. Suddenly, his eyes widened and he gave a little gasp, "Oh, Jesse!" He dropped his head a bit, his hair flopping in his eyes.
Alarmed, Jesse held him tighter, giving Jaden's face little nudges to try to make him lock eye contact. "It's Ok…I'm right here…Hey, what's the matter now?"
"I'm so afraid," Jaden told him, still laughing softly in the same odd way as before, "It's so stupid that I'm so afraid." All the time he spoke, he avoided Jesse's eyes. He refused to look at them.
"What are you afraid of?" Jesse asked, catching his face in his hands, "Tell me what's wrong."
Jaden pushed his hands away, curling up against his chest almost like a child would. He kept laughing softly, then, he finally forced himself to look up into Jesse's eyes, his brown ones filled with tears despite the wide grin on his face, his teeth chattering. "It's so stupid to be so afraid of losing one you love…" He whispered, quickly wiping his tears away, "Especially if you've only had a dream…Especially if what you think you see you know doesn't exist…"
"But--" Jesse began, looking puzzled, "You were fine just a minute ago! I don't understand…"
"I'm not Ok…I haven't been," Jaden confessed, taking a deep breath and calming himself, though he still remained shaky, "I told you that I'd been having bad dreams…well, they just got worse. And then this happened…I was just afraid you might change on me…People sometimes change…so much that you don't recognize them. So much so, they aren't even the same person anymore. It's like they're dead…"
"Jay, what are you talking about? You're really creeping me out…" Jesse said, watching Jaden for a moment.
"That's because I'm terrified," Jaden told him, catching him by the shoulders, clutching them, "I've tried to be strong…I've tried to forget about it. But those dreams…they just haunt me so badly. It's like…someone's actually trying to tell me something. And then this…Ah, never mind. It's just a dream. I'm being ridiculous." He swallowed hard and snuggled closer to Jesse's chest, closing his eyes, "As long as I have you, I'll be all right. Just…don't leave me."
Puzzled, Jesse just nodded. "O-kay…Are you sure you're all right?"
Jaden took a deep breath and nodded, smiling weakly. "I'll be fine. It's just…sometimes I think that it's real. Like…it's happening now…But then I end up being wrong. And something really scary just happened now…Something I really don't want to tell you about…but it's been happening too often…"
Wondering if he even wanted to know, Jesse asked softly, "What is it?"
Jaden laughed nervously. "Oh, I just thought…I saw your eyes change color…it scared the hell out of me. Because I saw that in my dreams…And I wonder if I'm losing it."
"You must really be freaked out by these dreams then," Jesse murmured, rubbing Jaden's cheek, "Because that's just impossible…"
"I guess so," Jaden relented, resting his head on Jesse's shoulder. "Sorry I freaked out like that…It's just…I don't want you to change. I'm kind of afraid something bad might happen to you."
"And you told me not to worry," Jesse chided gently, "Well, now it's my turn to say, don't worry, Jay. I'm here. I'm not going anywhere. And I'm not going to even leave your side to do my homework. Tonight's for us, Ok?"
Jaden propped himself up on his elbows and looked down at his boyfriend. Jesse could feel Jaden's heart start to beat faster as soon as he'd said this. He watched as the brunette's cheeks flushed with color. This odd behavior continued to puzzle him. He couldn't help but start to become uneasy. The mood swings were so extreme that it made him wonder if Jaden was going crazy.
But no, Jaden wasn't insane. Perhaps he was just nervous. Perhaps he was still upset over what he'd thought he'd seen. Jesse wished that Jaden would tell him more about his dreams. But they seemed too disturbing for the Slifer to properly relate. He just wouldn't talk to him about it.
They lay still for awhile, listening to each others' even breathing and enjoying each others' company. Yawning, Jaden closed his eyes partially. He blinked sleepily.
"Jes?" His voice interrupted the solitude, startling the other boy.
"What is it?"
"Maybe I can sleep if I know you're here..." Jaden mumbled, yawning again, "Don't let me go."
"Are you sure you'd rather sleep? Don't you want to talk?" Jesse asked, somewhat dismayed.
"I haven't slept too well recently," Jaden insisted, "I can't help but be tired. Goodnight."
"Well, 'night." Jesse sounded uncertain though.
He watched as the brunette fell into an almost instant state of unconsciousness. It really worried him how Jaden had been acting. The poor boy was probably just sleep deprived thanks to those dreams. Grimacing a little, Jesse wondered if it was the food that Jaden ate that gave him those dreams. He had told the boy not to eat sardines and pineapple on his pizza. However, Jaden would be Jaden. And something deep inside told him that it wasn't just any dream. After all, the Slifer didn't get upset over just anything. It took a lot to get him down. He wondered if there was more to it than that…Could someone actually be talking to him?
He stared up at the ceiling for awhile, listening to the wind swaying the tree branches and watching the shadows move across the wall. He ran his hand slowly up and down Jaden's back, comforted by the feeling of the brunette's warm body against his own. As long as he held Jaden that closely…all would be all right. He let his eyes droop shut, then fell asleep.
Jaden found himself in the midst of a chaotic scene. Terrified people ran around him, dragging whatever household items they'd managed to salvage from the fire that ravaged the city. The streets were tearing apart, as though some great unseen force was ripping them with giant hands. Crevices soon appeared, and lava flowed over, drowning helpless victims in a swirling torrent. Staring up at the darkened sky, he watched as lightning bolts streaked through the air, giving an ear splitting roar. The people's voices and cries melted together as one. They spoke as one. They were one.
"It's the apocalypse!"
"Why can't anyone save us?!"
"The hero is the destroyer!"
"It is your destiny…"
The calm voice was too much. He'd heard enough of 'destiny.' Covering his ears and squeezing his eyes shut, he dropped to his knees and screamed, trying to make it stop. The turmoil lasted way too long. He knew he couldn't sit around and do nothing, no matter how afraid he was. He had to rise up and face his most difficult challenge yet.
He dared to open his eyes, gathering his courage, bent on saving the people. Even though he tried to duel, there was nothing that could be done. He didn't know who was causing this. He tried to help the bystanders, but they just screamed and ran.
"You have become that which you hate…feed off of your hatred…It is what you stand for. You ARE hatred."
Jaden's eyes flickered open. He lay still for a moment, panting, his heart racing. Staring down, he saw Jesse lying beneath him, a peaceful expression on his face. Even though it made him guilty, he envied Jesse. Never before had he felt so disgusted with himself. After all, who let such dreams disturb him that terribly? Who let his dreams take over his life and determine his very actions? It was so uncommon to the boy.
Wiping some of the cold sweat from his brow, Jaden slowly crawled off of the other boy. Immediately, he felt the absence of warmth. He felt so cold…so lonely. Crossing his arms over his chest as though to warm himself, he climbed down from the bed and looked around the room. It was peacefully quiet. Nothing was out of place. Nothing was out of the ordinary. But the calm made Jaden shudder rather than relax.
Figuring he just needed to take a walk to clear his mind, he changed his clothes and slipped his shoes on, pulling his jacket over his shirt to shield him from the cool, misty night air. Glancing back over at Jesse, he couldn't help but smile a little. The teal haired boy looked so happy and tranquil as he slept. Shaking his head, Jaden slowly stepped out into the hall, and closed the door quietly.
Jamming his hands in his pockets, he made his way carefully down the hall and out the front door of the dorm. He breathed in deeply. Yes, the fresh air would do his troubled mind much good. He would be much better if he had some time to get his mind off of it. He really hated dwelling on such unpleasant things. It might've been better to just tell Jesse about his dream. But for some reason, he just couldn't bear to do it. He felt as though it were just insignificant; he could overcome it. It wasn't just the dream itself. It was the feeling that…something like that could happen. That he either lacked the power to stop it…or…possessed the power to cause it.
As he walked down the path, he kicked a few pebbles, watching them go skipping into the dew-covered grass. In the distance, he heard the waves crashing on the rocks. It comforted him to hear that sound. It really had been a good idea to go for a walk.
He closed his eyes momentarily, just absorbing the sounds of the night. He listened intently, letting his stress dissipate. A gentle zephyr toyed with his hair ever so slightly. Sighing in relief, he allowed his worries to fade away.
He became accustomed to the ongoing melody of the night creatures with the wind and the waves. Soon, though, he noticed that some of the animals had quieted down. Hearing a twig snap, he became uneasy. Perhaps it would be a good idea for him to return to the dorm room…
Hurriedly, he turned around and headed back towards the dorm, glancing over his shoulder every now and then. Before he'd made it even half way back, though, a strong, rough hand landed on his shoulder. He froze. Slowly, he turned his head to see who had grabbed him.
"Jaden Yuki," Professor Viper's deep voice and piercing glare greeted him, "What are you doing out here so late? After curfew?"
Jaden grinned a little. "Well, I just needed some fresh air, that's all."
"Well, then, you could've stepped out onto the balcony if you wanted some fresh air," Professor Viper told him, narrowing his dark eyes, "I think that you should come with me. I can't trust a delinquent student such as yourself."
"Hey, I'll just go back to my dorm room," Jaden said, frowning and shrugging, "It's not big deal. If you don't want me out of my room, I just won't do it again. Just let me go."
"I don't think so," Professor Viper said, through his teeth, "I have something I need you to do."
"Well, what is it, then?" Jaden looked irritated, "I thought you said I was trouble. So what's the deal? Come on, just tell me!"
"Demanding," Professor Viper commented, a small smirk tugging his harsh lips upwards, "I think what I have to say will interest you. Come, my boy." He gripped Jaden's shoulders tighter and forced him to walk in front. "Now, listen to me."
Jaden squirmed a bit. "I would've anyway," He muttered, irked, "You didn't have to go to all this trouble, really." He winced a little as Professor Viper's grip tightened.
"You don't understand the consequences at stake here," Professor Viper told him, "I have someone very important to you…And in order to get that person back…you're going to have to help me out in my experiments…dueling experiments that is. You see, you possess a gift. You have a power unlike any other…I'll say no more."
"Uh…you didn't need to kidnap any of my friends," Jaden said, scowling, "If you'd just asked me…"
"No, you wouldn't have agreed to it if you knew what was at stake." Professor Viper told him, "So I took someone who I knew would be extra special to you."
The first thought that came to Jaden's mind was the obvious: Jesse. His eyes widened. "You didn't!"
"Oh, yes, I did. Now come on. Time is running short."
Before he went any further, he stopped and wrapped a handkerchief over Jaden's eyes. Jaden protested, but Professor Viper would hear none of it. He turned Jaden around several times, then shoved him off in some unknown direction. They walked for a ways until the path became rockier and rougher. Jaden tripped a few times, but the hardened man only yanked him back to his feet. Finally, they stopped. There was the sound of Professor Viper tapping on a few keys, possibly to type in a code. Then, Jaden heard the sound of automatic doors sliding open.
They walked into a pitch black hallway. The sound of their footsteps resounded off the walls, which seemed to be made of metal. It was deathly silent. Professor Viper flicked on a light switch, and soon the low buzz of fluorescent light bulbs echoed down the seemingly endless hall. Jaden could only walk blindly until they came to another door. Once there, Viper shoved him through it, to the floor. He removed the blindfold.
Jaden blinked in the dim light. Around the room were several test tubes, and a large glass tank in the middle of the room, which resembled a lava lamp. Off against the wall were computers and surveillance equipment. The rest of the room was a mess of wires and bubbling half-finished experiments. And Jaden had thought that Bastion was bad about leaving a mess with his work!
Professor Viper stepped over to a closet, and opened it. Alexis fell to the ground, tied up in cords, blindfolded and gagged. "Normally," He told Jaden, picking Alexis up, "I would not have kidnapped one of your friends to lure you here. But I need her as well. I need you to duel her…And she resisted a little too much. You both may go back unscathed…as long as my experiments don't hurt you. But don't worry. It's all for a good cause." He grinned wickedly and gestured over towards the tank in the center of the room.
Jaden clenched his fists. "You hurt Alexis!" He said in a dangerously low voice, "How could you?! Well, forget it. If it's going to hurt her, then I'm not going to do it. If I must duel, then I'll duel you! I won't risk hurting innocent people, my friends at that."
"Big words for such a small boy," Professor Viper told him, circling him like a shark and looking him up and down, "But you will duel Alexis. Otherwise, I'll have to use other methods of obtaining your duel energy." He gestured towards the tables of chemicals and test tubes. "So what will it be?"
Jaden bit his lip. "What happens if we duel? What's the worst thing that could happen?"
"Well, considering that you would win," Professor Viper told him, crossing his arms over his large chest, "She would be drained of every last drop of her energy and be killed…at the worst."
Jaden swallowed hard, his fists clenching tighter and trembling. "And the experiments?"
He grinned wryly, "Will be more painful than you could ever imagine. I can't guarantee either of you would survive. But you'd have much more chance at survival than if you dueled…Of course, it does come with sacrifices. I won't get as much of your energy. But I might be able to use you later. Of course, I'd rather you dueled for obvious reasons. The show would be particularly entertaining."
Jaden glanced over at Alexis, then back at Professor Viper. The man was between him and the door. There was no way he could grab Alexis and throw her out so she could escape while he stayed behind and dueled. If he were injured…that'd be just fine with him. As long as she was all right. He might be able to take care of Viper once and for all if they dueled…but Viper was refusing. What choice did he have? He never backed down from a challenge but…Alexis' life was on the line. Could he really risk it like that?
Taking a deep breath, he raised his head slowly, his teeth clenched. "Listen, I won't duel Alexis and hurt her. I just WON'T. I'll duel you. You can have your crappy energy that way. As long as you just let her go!"
Professor Viper laughed at the boy's obvious agitation. "You really are stupid, aren't you? There's no way I'm going to duel. Watching as your friendship is torn apart…there's nothing more satisfying. Watching the life leave your limp bodies; it gives me pleasure knowing that I'll soon have my son back, even at the cost of your worthless lives."
"That's so sick!" Jaden exclaimed passionately, "There are other ways to do these things. You don't have to hurt people! Maybe we could help you…"
"There's nothing YOU can do to help me," Professor Viper insisted, "Well, since it's apparent that you're not going to duel her, I think I'll take it on myself to force your energy out of you!!" He slammed Jaden against the wall, crushing him to the point that he couldn't breathe. "You're going to regret turning my offer down…" He hissed in Jaden's ear, cupping his face in one of his muscular hands.
Having said that, he slammed Jaden to the floor, knocking the breath out of him. Jaden struggled, doing his best to get away so he could save himself and Alexis. He tried to talk some sense into Professor Viper, tried to tell him that he could help, but the man would hear none of it. Soon, he had Jaden properly bound and thrown next to Alexis. He stabbed them with needles attached to what looked like I.V.s, and began to inject them with some sort of clear fluid. Alexis made a small noise of protest, and struggled against the cords.
"What do you think you're doing?!" Jaden screamed, struggling against his bonds and trying to rip the needles from his arm.
"Don't worry," Professor Viper told him, "It's not a poison. It's just a way of putting a certain chemical in your blood that will allow the extraction of your life force once exposed to electricity. You should survive…And if you don't…that's not my problem; now, is it?"
"This isn't necessary," Jaden began again, only to be struck sharply across the face.
"Silence is golden," Professor Viper told him, "Your incessant prattling is wearing on my already thin nerves. I have work to be done. I suggest you comply. If you do, it will be a lot quicker and a lot easier. I'm afraid I can't release you, however. You'll have to live here and supply me with energy until my mission is complete. And then…I think I'll just cause you a rather mild case of head trauma in hopes that either you'll develop amnesia or your rescuers will think you're delusional."
He turned his back on them and began messing with his computers and surveillance controls. Jaden glanced around the room, planning an escape. He wasn't able to come up with a solution for the moment, but he knew he would have to come through for Alexis' sake. Leaning over, he gave her a little nudge with his face.
"Don't worry," He whispered in her ear, "I won't let you down."
She gave a small noise in response, indicating that she'd heard him. He glanced down at the needles in her arm. Suddenly, he had an idea. Leaning down, he took the tubes in his teeth and tried to rip them from her arm. Unfortunately, Professor Viper turned around. He raced over and slammed Jaden's head against the wall multiple times.
Once more, Jaden tried to struggle against him. With each crack of his skull against the hard metal wall though, he felt his sense being knocked out of him. His vision became blurred and splotched with black. He clenched his teeth, trying desperately to endure it. There was no such luck. Eventually, his world went completely black.
Satisfied, Professor Viper turned around back to his computers and seated himself comfortably. "Soon, my son," He muttered, watching the orange substance float in the tank, "Soon you'll come back to me…"
Turning back to the screen, he noticed a figure walking around near the woods. Frowning, he leaned in closer at the image of a certain black-haired Slifer, who was desperately calling for Alexis.
"Damn it," He grumbled, "That meddlesome Princeton kid…I'll have to take care of him. But later. For now…I have other things to attend to."
The last drop of fluid ran into the two teens' veins. Professor Viper smirked coldly as he walked over and carelessly ripped the needles from their arms, letting the blood rush from the broken vessels. Then, he placed metal bands around their wrists, ankles, and necks.
"Let this be the beginning," Professor Viper muttered, picking up a remote control, "And quite possibly…the end."
A/N: I know, sucky chapter. It might seem a little bit of a crackish idea…but it's sort of like cracky drama if that's possible…you'll see what I mean in the next chapter. Jaden's not going to let anyone down though….XDD The story may seem cliché now, but I can assure you I have this epic plan for the future and I need this to set it up…sort of. It has nothing to do with the main plot. It's not like they're going to be running from Viper because "OMG he's the really bad villain!!" I think he had reason enough to do what he did. I don't like him but…he's desperate.