Chapter Three: Guiding Hand

Serenity was slowly walking down the street, feeling her way along the store windows and trying hard to listen for footsteps or any other signs of life.

What happened to Joey? she thought worriedly to herself. It felt like he just transformed into stone…oh, I hope he'll be okay.

Suddenly, she felt her foot step off of the sidewalk. From right in front of her, she heard the sound of a car pass by and knew that she was about to step into the street. Serenity pulled back and cried to herself, "Oh, no…what do I do now…"

She then felt a hand place itself into hers. Serenity let out a small shriek.

Shhh…Serenity heard a voice seemingly coming from inside of her head. Don't worry, Miss Serenity, everything's okay.

"Who are you?" she asked.

I'm someone your brother knows well. I also know of some people who can help him out. Come; let me guide you towards them.

Cautiously, Serenity let the hand start pulling her across the street. She was shaking with fright all the way, but when she finally felt her feet step back down onto a sidewalk, she relaxed a little and let the hand continue to lead her.

After walking down various sidewalks and across many streets, the voice spoke to her again. Okay, my dear, we're here. The hand lifted hers up and placed it onto what felt like a glass door to a shop. You just go inside; they'll come out once you call them.

Serenity nodded. "Okay. Thank you, whoever you are," she said.

Wait a moment, the voice said. There's one last thing.

She suddenly felt two hands place themselves onto the bandages, right over her eyes. A strange, warm sensation suddenly passed through her for one moment. There, that's done.

"What is?" Serenity asked.

You'll see soon. For now, though, you just go inside. And when they prepare to leave, insist that you go with them. You'll need the practice.

"Practice? For what?"

There was no reply. Apparently the person, whoever they were, had gone away.

Serenity pushed the glass door open and stepped inside. "Um…hello?" she called out.

Inside the living room, Yugi, Tristan, Téa, and Bakura had been sitting around watching a movie on T.V. when they suddenly heard a voice coming from the Game Shop. Tristan had been lying on the floor, but now he quickly jumped to his feet and ran out of the room, crying out, "I know that voice!"

He and the others dashed into the Game Shop and were shocked to discover a still bandaged Serenity standing at the entrance.

"Serenity?" Tristan cried out.

Serenity looked in the direction of the voice and asked, "Who's there?"

Tristan grinned and immediately dashed over to Serenity's side, with the others coming behind him. He gently tapped her shoulder and she looked in that direction. "I'm a friend of your brother, Serenity. Tristan's the name." He shook her hand. "So, where exactly is Joey?"

Serenity glanced down at the ground. "I don't know…" she murmured.

Everyone stared. Yugi asked, "What? What happened?"

"Well, Joey and I were walking around the town, and I kept hearing this hissing noise…Joey wouldn't tell me what it was…then when we finally heard it the third time, Joey led me towards the noise, and then…" She paused. "I don't know if I should tell you what happened next…you might not believe me…"

The others got 'oh no' looks on their faces. They knew what that meant: more magical insanity. Téa gently took Serenity's hand and said, "Don't worry, Serenity, you can tell us. It's okay."

"Well…I heard even more of the hissing noises, and then…I…I felt Joey's hand turn into…well…it was like stone!"

The others were shocked. "Oh my…" Bakura whispered.

Yugi's Millennium Puzzle glowed, and the Pharaoh took over for him. He turned to Téa and said, "Téa, do you have the Guide with you?"

She nodded. "It's in my purse, I'll go get it." As she ran out of the shop, she called back over her shoulder, "What should I look for?"

"Anything that has to do with hissing and stone," he replied. He turned back to Serenity and said, "Don't worry, Serenity, we'll go and find your brother. In the meantime, why don't you come sit down and wait for us while we go find your brother?"

"Um…" Serenity paused. "Actually…right after I felt Joey transform, somebody came and led me all the way over here. They… told me that I had to come with you guys."

Everyone stared at her. "Who exactly was this person?" the Pharaoh asked.

"I honestly don't know…but it was strange…it sounded like their voice was coming from inside my head…and when they touched my bandages, I felt some sort of warmth pass through me…"

"Oh!" the Pharaoh said, realization dawning in his eyes. The ones who gave us our powers gave her some too? Interesting… "Well, in that case, perhaps we shall bring you along."

"And don't worry," Tristan assured Serenity, "we'll protect you from whatever nasty creature took Joey away."

"Medusa." Téa walked back into the game shop with the Guide open in her hands. She turned the book so that the guys could see a picture of a woman with pale skin, yellow eyes, and green snakes for hair wearing a flowing red gown. Surrounding her were various stone statues of screaming, terrified-looking people. "A creature from Greek mythology who was once a beautiful young woman that got transformed into a snake-haired beast as punishment for making out with a god in the temple of a goddess. Has the power to transform anyone who looks into her eyes into stone statues and to send her snakes out at anyone who dares to attack her."

"Joey really was turned to stone?!" Serenity cried out.

"Don't worry, Serenity," Tristan said, patting her on the back reassuringly, "we'll be able to change him back." He looked up and mouthed to Téa: "Right?"

She rolled her eyes and mouthed back, "Right." She pointed at the book. "There's a spell here for reversing the effects of her eyes, aside from destroying her altogether. And there's also one which could bring us right to her."

"One moment," the Pharaoh said. He snapped his fingers and a pair of sunglasses appeared in his hands. "We should protect ourselves from her power."

The others nodded and also zapped up dark sunglasses which they put on immediately. Then Téa rose up her hand and started chanting in a strange, ancient language. Her hand glowed with a soft, pink light.

A glowing portal appeared behind Serenity. Tristan took her hand and said, "C'mon, Serenity, this way. Watch your step." He gently guided her in through the portal, followed quickly by the others. Once they were through, the portal vanished behind them.