Chapter 3: Awakening

I remember nothing before or after. I don't even think there was a before and after. I had awaken to find myself in one of those experimental rooms where I was in a tube of red water, strapped in and connected with a breathing mask and a lot of those wires. What had happened?

I dimly remember having a secret, but now, I do not remember what that secret was. It had to be terrible if I had gone into a 1000-year coma for it.

I just don't remember.

-Atemu

"Do you think he will ever awaken?"

"It's been years. The Goddess wouldn't want us to pull the plug, but he's costing us the most out of everyone else."

"What do you think happened to those two women?"

"The ones who broke out? I don't know, but they are of no worry to us. All I know is that they're the Pharaoh's family, or friends. They wouldn't dare steal him out because he'll die if he is taken out of that tube before he's at least awaken once."

He wondered who the speakers were. He didn't know any of the voices, but they did sound male. He wasn't awake; like the males said, but he didn't care. He was waking all the way soon, but not with all of those men around. He fell deepily into his memories that had been replaying for him for 1000 years.

Darkness...

That was all he saw...

All of his memories ceased to play in his mind...

All those feelings...happy, sad, evil, pain, joy, fun...everything...

They all ceased to exist as his body and spirit began to awaken.

"He's stirring," a familiar voice whispered.

"Calm yourself," another familiar voice answered. "Let him go as slow as he wants."

"I don't want him to take his time though! I don't want those retarded scientists to see him awaken. You know how much they depend on him now."

"Don't worry; they haven't used him for anything, Shalina."

Shalina...why was that such a familiar name...he knew the voice and knew the name, but he couldn't quite picture the face.

"Shelby, come on; make him go faster!"

"Do you want your husband to be mentally or physically retarded?"

Shelby...Shalina's advisor and girlfriend to Bakura...that was the other woman speaking...

What did Shelby say about Shalina and him? He was Shalina's husband! But what was his name?

"No," Shalina responded, quietly.

"Don't rush him then, Shalina," Shelby said.

He opened his eyes, seeing nothing but red at first. Then, he saw bubbles in the red, and knew that he was in water. But how was he breathing? He reached up towards his mouth.

There was a gasp. "Shelby, look! He's moving and his eyes are open!"

"Hold on, Shalina! Let him speak first. He has to go slowly and figure things out. Be quiet!"

He touched a breathing mask over his mouth and nose. That was the thing giving him the oxgyen. He slowly reached forward into the red liquid, and his hand touched glass.

So he was in a tube full of red water...how good was that? His hand moved back toward his face and felt over it. There were wires attached to his body. As he continued to feel, he found his chest bare with little things attached all over. He wore pants so he wasn't naked completely, but his feet were bare as he could feel the bottom of the tube. Boy, was it cold!

He closed his eyes again and formed a picture of the tube that held him in his mind. It was quite clear. He felt a tingling sensation run through him, and he instantly pictured the tube cracking and releasing him.

There was a loud crash, and he knew that he was free. The liquid ran free, and he was left there, standing until his legs gave way to gravity and he fell forward. A pair of arms caught him.

"Maybe you could've been a bit louder so security could have heard you," Shelby snapped.

One word flashed across his mind then: Atemu. He knew instantly that it was his name.

"Atemu, you're alive and awake," Shalina cried, hugging him tightly for it was she who had caught him.

Atemu looked around, suddenly feeling very cold. "Shalina...what happened?" he asked, weakily.

"Not here, Atemu," Shalina said, seriously. "We need to get you out of here. Shelby, will you do the honors, please?"

Shelby can toward them with a small Ipod looking item. She tapped Shalina, Atemu and then herself on the forehead three times. Then, she pushed a small button on the side. Atemu felt suddenly nauseous as they began to spin around and around.

The next thing he knew, they slammed right in seats.