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Alexis's P.O.V


I struggled to keep an upright position as well as prevent water from entering the boat and Jaden from falling out.

Waves continued to slosh against the sides of the boat, and each time they did a bit my lip and pressed on through the murky waters. Faintly through the mist I could see the red carpet leading towards Camula's castle.

At the shore I could barely see the outlines of my friends, and quiet voices that just barely pierced the thick gray mist.

As I got closer to the red carpet, the figures turned and looked surprised to see me. I pointed to Jaden in the boat, and said, "He's our secret weapon." Jaden popped up from the boat and I put a hand out to him to help the Slifer up.

Carefully Jaden exited the boat and I followed him.

Chumley and Syrus were right by their best friend's side ready to help him if he ever needed it. Our boots clicked as they hit the path and I had a hand on Zane at my waist. This place made me uneasy, and for good reason. On every direction the only thing that I saw was mist. Suddenly I heard Zane shout,

'Alexis, look out!'

I stopped and craned my head to look at him, and I did see him, just like I saw a black puddle forming around me, with clawed hands grabbing at my feet and legs, slowly drawing me into the hole.

I let out a frightened gasp which made everyone turn around and gasp when they saw hands were drawing me into a pool of black shadows. My eyes wereshaking wide with fear, and the puddle seemed like quicksand, the more I struggled the faster I was being pulled in. I became aware that the Zane doll at my hip was nearly touching the black quicksand-like goo.

As fast as my shaking arms were able to, I reached down and snatched Zane from my waist and tossed him as far away as I could onto the red carpet.

By then 3/4 of my body were in the hole, and Bastion and Chazz reached a hand out to me. Desperately I tried to reach out to both of them, but the goo was relentlessly sucking me in.

It was up to my neck, thus making it harder for me to breathe. My breaths came in quick frightened gasps, and at my feet I still felt the black claws, making incisions in my bare legs. Every time a new cut was made I winced in pain, biting my lip which was already underneath the black goo.

Faintly I could hear my friends shouting my name, and one voice cutting through the overpowering darkness.

Darkness took me, and I was dragged underneath the black puddle, and was gone.

---

When I opened my eyes again, I saw nothing, just an empty blackness. I looked down at myself, I was dressed in a strange garb, like something from long ago. It was a tan one-piece skirt that seemed worn down with use.

"What is this place?" I asked outloud to myself, my voice echoed around unseen walls. And I drew back slightly in fear, what was going on, and where was I?

Was Zane alright, and what about all of my friends? Suddenly, the black was gone and instead was replaced with familiar surroundings. I was back at Duel Academy, but I was at the Abandoned Dorm, and I was alone. The haunting building in front of me chilled me to the very bone. Something was very wrong about this place, yet I couldn't pin-point it exactly.

Suddenly, voices inside the building alerted me that several people were there, I pushed aside the fear in my mind and I jumped over the barrier and ran into the Abandoned Dorm.

The voices seemed to be coming from all directions, bouncing eerily off the walls. I closed my eyes and listened carefully to where the sound of it was all coming from, as soon as I had it figured out I moved quickly through the hallway on the right and I was face-to-face with, how clichè, a fork in the hall.

My head turned from the left, to the middle, then to the right.

The sound seemed to be fading slightly, and I could no longer hear which direction it was coming from.

All of a sudden, the key which hung around my neck glowed brightly, and out from it erupted a light which pointed to the hall on the right. I looked at the hall, then back to the key and whispered to it, "Alright, if you're sure." If I hadn't known any better I swore I could have seen my key nod. I shook the thought out of my head and went down the right path and placed a hand on the rusty doorknob.

Abruptly, the door burst open and out ran two Obelisk Blue boys, their faces painted with the colors of true fear.

I closed my eyes waiting for the impact of three bodies, but it never came. Instead, the only thing I felt was a gentle liquid impact against my body, I opened my golden eyes which widened as soon as I saw that the boys had actually passed through me.

What on earth is going on?

Normally I do not take interest in boys, some might say they arelike food, they go right through me. But theretwo boys had literally gone right through me. I shook my head again and quickly denied what had just happened.

I nervously poked my head through the crack and looked down the flight of steps, and let out a horrified gasp at what I saw.

There were hundreds of thousand of little shadow creatures surrounding a familiar, tall, blue-clad body. His brown hair was sprawled out about him, and his face a knit with surpressed fear and perhaps pain.

It felt as though my own breath were caught within my windpipe, finallyI managed to murmur, "A-Atti?"

Then, my brother lifted his head with some difficulty and looked at the open door as though he could see me, "Lexi, Lexi..." His voice faded away as he vanished uner the mass of wriggling black creatures.

Tears filled my eyes and clouded my vision, I closed my eyes and felt the warm salty tears roll down my cheeks like water on a window.

---

When I opened my eyes I was back in the black area, my clothes were gone, and I was curled up into a small ball, my head nestled in the crook of my kneesand resting onmy arms.

"Atti? Atticus, what happened? What were those things, how did you get there? Please, someone tell me, someone help me. Zane, is this what you saw when you were sent to the Shadow Realm?" I don't want to know that, that could have been what fate befell my dear brother. "Zane, I'm sorry. You probably felt the same fear when you were here, in this hell-ish place. I'm so sorry, it was my fault you were sent here. Zane..."

Again the flow of tears began, and they wouldn't stop, but they did when I heard a low, but kind voice call out to me, "Alexis, stop crying. I'm alright."

I lifted my head, and found that I was once again in my clothes, and I was not alone. This time, Zane was with me, he was in his blue blazer, the tail ends of it streaming behind him. "Z-zane?" I stuttered as I wiped away the tears with the back of my hand.

The familiar Truesdale smiled at me, and I forced my legs to help me stand.

As soon as I gained control of my wobbling limbs I rushed over to where Zane stood, I buried my head in his chest and cried with relief. His arms were gentle and help me back, his words echoed to me, "Lexi, are you alright?"

I pulled away from his strong chest and looked him in his blue eyes, "Yeah, I'm ok. Zane, why're you here?" I felt a bile rise up in my throat, and it hurt each time I swallowed.

"Alexis, we're getting out of here, both of us. This is the Shadow Realm, but a less dark place. Jaden had defeated Camula using the power of the pendant that your brother gave to him. We're going to be alright now, so please, stop crying." His voice was gentle and I almost instantly obeyed him.

"Jaden, did it?" I whispered. Zane nodded in return, "He did. Step back and we're going to be in the real world once more, Camula is gone. Ok Alexis?" I stepped back and nodded, "K'" Zane turned around and gestured goodbye, "See you on the other side, Lexi." With that he was covered in a yellow light and vanished. I too vanished shortly, and was to meet him, on the other side.

---

I felt my body moving from side to side, heading lolling slightly.

My eyes opened up to see Jaden's worried face, which changed drastically as soon as he saw that I was awake and alright. I pushed my hands underneath me an with Jaden's help rose to a sitting position.

"You did it Jaden." I stated to the Slifer.

Jaden grinned, "Sure did." I smiled, "Where's Zane?" I asked him. Jaden turned and looked at Chumley who was trying to help the unconsious Zane sit down without dropping him. I smiled gently and called to Chumley, "Chumley, bring him over here. I'll help him stay upright." The chubby Slifer nodded and waddled over to where I was and placed Zane down on the ground next to me.

Zane's blue-head rested against my shoulder, his hair was real, and comforting.

So, we're both back Zane. And I'm glad, I missed you, and I guess you missed me as well. Zane, please know that I am sorry for having you sent to the Shadow Realm. But at least you're back now, and that is all I want right now. Zane, as soon as you can, I wanna talk, and hope that you can forgive me. But for the time being, stay here with us, because, you are back at last.


Ok, 4th chapter, done and done. So, leave reviews, and the next chapter is going to be the last one. Love this and tell your friends about it! Lol. Thank you for your support so far!

-PurificationArrow