"Where did I go wrong? I lost a friend
Somewhere along in the bitterness
And I would have stayed up with you all night
Had I known how to save a life"
– "How to Save a Life" by The Fray
Chapter 22
I followed Marik onto the ship, scrunching my nose at the smell of fish and sea salt. I had not considered how he had arrived in Domino City, but now it all made sense. I bristled as several Rare Hunters passed us along the hallway in the interior of the ship, although one look from Marik and they kept their distance.
We stopped in front of a door on the left. Marik raised his hand to knock but held his fist midair as he turned to me. "I apologize; I have some matters to take care of. Please find a way to entertain yourself for a while. I am leaving you with my most trusted servant, so you have no reason to worry."
I nodded, not trusting myself to speak. My trepidation had faded, but the idea of spending time alone with a Rare Hunter other than Marik did not sound too appealing. At least I would have a break from being near a Millennium Item.
Marik knocked on the door. "Odion."
The door swung open. I sensed something different from the tall Egyptian man towering over us. He was not like the other Rare Hunters I had come across. He wore the purple robe, but the hood laid against his neck, exposing his shaved head and tattoos on the left side of his face. He had an intimidating expression, and yet there was softness in his emotions. I also had the sense I had seen him in the past.
"This is Samia," Marik said. "She is a guest of ours. Make sure she is taken care of while I am gone."
"As you wish, Master Marik," Odion said I a deep voice.
Marik appeared satisfied at this. "I will return soon, Samia."
I wondered what type of business he had to do, and then I realized I probably did not want to know. Odion stepped aside, and I walked into the room. It appeared to be a simple bedroom with a bed pushed to the side and a work desk near a small window.
Odion pulled out the chair from the desk and motioned to it. "Have a seat."
I did not move. It would feel too awkward to sit when he was already so tall. And I was too busy trying to figure him out. My intuition tried to tell me something important about him, but I could not quite grasp it.
"Are you hungry?"
I shook my head.
"Tell me if there is anything you need. I am at your service."
This triggered my memory, and it suddenly all came together. "I remember you. You're Marik's brother."
Surprise flashed in Odion's eyes for a second, and then it was replaced by something else… weariness? "Adopted brother. And you are correct. We met when you visited Egypt nine years ago."
I instantly relaxed. I had liked Odion. He was kind and considerate, and he was obviously devoted to his adopted family. I wondered how he had gotten mixed up with the Rare Hunters. Even now, I sensed little darkness from him. His emotions were much more complicated than the others'.
"May I ask you something, Miss Samia?" Odion also appeared to have let his guard down a little, although his question came with some hesitancy.
"Of course," I said.
"Master Marik insists you are not a prisoner. Why are you here?"
I wanted to ask him the same thing. Instead, I carefully considered my response. "He's after my friends, but he won't hurt me. If he's letting me get this close…" I took a deep breath. "I think I can help him. Not just so he will leave my friends alone. For his sake as well." I bit my lip and looked away. I hoped that was an acceptable answer.
Odion closed his eyes and dipped his head. "I am glad. You are as I remember." His tough exterior softened as he gazed at me. "Master Marik has not forgotten, but the darkness inside him is growing. I fear it will soon take over."
His concern was genuine, which only raised more questions in my mind. "Then why don't you stop him? Why are you with the Rare Hunters? Ishizu-" I faltered. Was it my place to get in the middle of a family issue? No, I had to risk it. "Ishizu wants to help him, but she's stood against him."
Fortunately, Odion did not appear offended, but a mixture of sadness and weariness did wash over him. "Ishizu has made her choice, and I have made mine. I do not fault her for doing what she thinks is best. I did not think it wise for Master Marik to be left on his own. The darkness would have grown faster, and it might already be too late."
"But if he's getting worse anyway. What am I supposed to do?" I clenched my fists. It was good to have an ally, but it was still too much pressure.
Odion's mouth lifted in a tiny, kind smile. "You are the empath… and his friend. You can stand with him and against him when the time calls for it. For as long as he allows you to take this role, it is a good sign. You can do what no one else can. Unfortunately, I cannot give you clear directions. You must trust in yourself."
I relaxed my hands and sighed. "That's what everyone keeps saying." I needed to stop doubting myself. My grandma believed in me, and now I had the book she gave me. There had to be answers in there. Something I could use to get through this. I took a deep breath. "I do not know what I can do, but I promise you, Odion, I will do everything I can to save Marik."
Odion nodded. "Thank you, Miss Samia. I will assist you in any way I can."
"Thanks." I paused. I did not know how long Marik would be gone or if I would have a chance to speak with Odion again. I had to act now. "Is there anything else you can tell me about him? Something to help me? Anything to watch out for?"
His whole demeanor suddenly changed, and I knew I had struck something. He turned away from me, his shoulder stiff. "It may be best to find out on your own…"
My heart thumped. He was trying to hide his emotions, but I could feel enough of them. "Odion, please. Whatever you have to say, it won't change my mind. "I just want to be prepared. I need to know what I'm up against." And what my friends are up against.
Odion turned to look at me, his eyes swarming with emotion. I gently sent him feelings of compassion to help put him at ease. "The darkness I spoke of… it was not simply a figure of speech. It has taken a physical form."
I furrowed my eyebrows in confusion. "What are you talking about? How is that possible?"
He took a shallow breath. "The pain he endured to become the next tomb keeper was too much for him to bear, and to protect his mind, his subconscious created an alternative personality."
"Does this have something to do with the Millennium Rod? Is it like the Spirits of the Puzzle and Ring?"
Odion shook his head. "The Rod may have given him the power to create an alter ego, but it came entirely from Marik. The Spirits you speak of are real people from the past with human feelings and emotions. What lives inside Marik knows nothing of love or even revenge… only darkness. His only purpose is to destroy."
Cold dread seeped into my skin. I did not have to consider whether to believe him; his emotions spoke loudly enough for me. I swallowed and found a lump in my throat. It took a minute to regain my voice. "This… side of him… it's not in control, is it?"
"No. He has been pushed down into his subconscious where he can influence but not control his actions. He is less powerful when I am near, and I sense the same is true of you. We need to do everything we can to make sure he does not take over." A grave expression overcame his face as his eyes bore into mine. "Master Marik himself would never want to hurt you, but if his other side gained control… he would make it a priority to kill you… and me."
A shiver ran down my spine. Despite everything I had been through the past several months, I had never seriously feared for my own life. The stakes never seemed to be that high. Even the Shadow Realm was not necessarily forever. This was different. This could change everything. "And he would be a far more dangerous enemy for Yami." I spoke slowly and carefully, not trusting myself to not slip into panic mode.
"That is correct. The whole world would be in far more danger." He paused, and his eyes searched my face. "I understand if you wish to warn your friends. It would be better for them to defeat Marik as he is now."
"But then we might lose our chance to save him." I closed my eyes and focused on my breathing. Yami and Yugi were dedicated to doing anything it took to stop Marik, but concern for him would never enter the picture. I could not let them hurt him. Not when there was still a chance he could be helped. There had to be another way.
My fear gave way to determination. This was no time to be weighed down by my own emotions. I was in control. I opened my eyes and looked right at Odion. "I'm not going to leave even to warn them. I'll stay here with Marik. I'll fight for him."
For a second, I thought I saw a smile on Odion's face. "You are indeed, remarkable, Miss Samia. I am forever in your debt."
"You don't have to go that far." Something else occurred to me then. "Hey, does Marik know about this? About the other part of him?"
Odion's expression turned serious again. "No. I thought it best if he did not know."
I wondered about that, but it was not my place to question him. He obviously knew the situation better than me. "Then I won't tell him either."
"Thank you." He suddenly stood up straight and appeared alert. "He is coming. It has been nice talking to you."
I gave him a small smile. "You as well."
The door swung open, and Marik stepped into the room. He had control over his emotions again, but his face softened slightly when he glanced at me. "I am sorry for keeping you, Samia. I expect everything went well?"
I did my best to conceal my own emotions. I could not have him guess what we had been talking about. "It was fine. We were just catching up." It was true enough. I focused on those positive emotions.
"It was nice to see her again," Odion said. "She is good company."
"She is," Marik said, fixing his gaze on the taller man. "You did well, Odion." He turned to me. "It is time for us to take our leave."
"Goodbye," I said in a low voice as I followed Marik out of the room.
"Goodbye, Miss Samia," Odion said just as quietly.
Marik led me to the door at the far end of the hallway. This room must have been his. It was bigger than the last and more ornately decorated. There was even a small sofa pushed to the side and a table with two chairs near the center.
"We have a little time on our hands," Marik said. "Tell me, Samia, do you play Duel Monsters?"
The question surprised me. I searched him but could not find his motives. "I – I've played a few times. My friends are teaching me. I'm not very good."
"That is quite alright. We will play a casual game for fun." He pulled out a deck of cards from his pants pocket. Then he looked back at me with a small smirk. "Don't worry; this is my basic deck without any Egyptian god cards."
I nodded. I hardly thought this was the time to play games, but this was not one of the things I needed to question him on. Besides, it might teach me something about him, and we could talk while we played. I sat across from him at the table and took out my own deck. My gaze fell on the op, exposed card. Wingweaver. My heart clenched.
"That is a powerful card," Marik noted. "Where did you obtain it?"
My throat tightened. "B-Bakura gave it to me. My friend, not the Spirit. It was my first card." He seemed curious, so I held the card out for him to take while I focused on taking deep breaths. The memories of our breakup slashed new wounds on my heart. Would that card always remind me of him? I could not take it out. It was a part of me now, like he was a part of me.
"This is not a card you find often, but there is something familiar about it…"
My head snapped up. "Have you seen it outside the game?"
Marik narrowed his eyes in thought. "She looks like a carving I have seen… a carving often associated with the empath."
I widened my eyes. "What does that mean?"
He shook his head and handed the card back to me. "It means you were meant to have this card. Bakura gave it to you? Perhaps he was unconsciously led by powers beyond his understanding… by the Millennium Ring. There is a reason you became friends."
My heart squeezed. Hadn't the Spirit said something similar once? I did not want to believe it then, but… "It doesn't matter. He has been a good friend to me. That is all I care about."
Marik gazed at me with a mixture of swirling emotions. "You are lucky. Even if you are apart now, you have memories to treasure."
I nodded. That was true. I would not go back and change anything if I could. I shuffled and cut my deck while my opponent did the same. The stone on my neck heated up and pressed down on my skin; I pushed the necklace to the side to ease the irritation.
Marik's eyes followed my movements. "That necklace… I recognize it as well. Isn't there another?"
I dropped my hand. "Y-Yes. I gave it to Yugi."
Marik frowned. He gave off hints of irritation, anger, and… jealousy? "What a shame. I will have to retrieve it from him."
I stiffened. What exactly did he mean by that?
Marik's emotions relaxed, and he gave me a small smile. "Let's not worry about that for now. We have a game to play."
I smiled slightly in return. Right, a game. A very deadly game that we both could not win. And yet, if the right side won, there was a chance we would both be better off for it.
We talked while we played. I told him about how I met Bakura and then Yugi, and he shared stories of his troubled youth. I could not tell what he thought about my adventures, but I felt compassion for what he had to go through. I hoped that by opening up to each other like this, we had taken the first step to finding a workable solution.
Marik won the game, of course. I was surprised with how well I kept up with him, though I would have lost early on if I did not have Wingweaver to bail me out. Somehow, I did manage to relax a little. The game was fun when there was nothing serious on the line.
"You have good instincts," Marik said as he gathered his cards into one pile. "You may become a formidable opponent one day."
I smiled slightly. "Thanks." But I think I'll leave the dueling to Yugi and Joey. He grew still, and I felt the power of the Millennium Rod. How had I forgotten its presence? My uneasiness did not fade even when he relaxed. "So… now what?"
Marik's eyes flickered to my face. It was hard to distinguish his emotions. "We still have some time. Is there anything you want to talk about?"
There was a lot I wanted to talk about, but I did not know where to start. I needed to consult my book… A thought occurred to me. "There is one thing." I slipped my backpack off my back and unzipped the top. "Last night I found a box of things my grandma left me before she died. Look at this." I gently pickup the photo of us as kids and held it out to him.
Marik examined the photo, and I felt a flicker of a positive, light emotion. "This is us. I remember that day." A faint smile formed on his lips. "We were so happy."
I could not help but feel warmed by his response. Odion had said this was a good thing, so I would believe him. There was hope here. "Flip it over. Can you translate what's written there?"
He appeared surprised. "Your mother did not teach you Arabic?"
I shook my head. "I wanted to learn, but she banned anything to do with Egypt. It was hard enough for my grandma to get her to approve of that trip… She was trying to protect me."
"I see." He flipped over the picture. "Roughly translated, this says 'do not harm when you can help.'"
"Oh. Thanks." Why had my grandma thought it so important to write on the photo?
"Sounds like it could be the motto of empaths." He paused. "If you are interested, Samia, I could teach you some Arabic."
"Really?" The offer made me feel a little lighter.
Marik smiled. "Of course. I know your language; it is only fair that you know mine. It is your heritage too, after all."
"How do you know Japanese so well?" Not everyone in Battle City came from Japan, but like in Duelist Kingdom, the common second language of English was spoken to ensure proper communication. However, Marik – and his siblings, actually – spoke Japanese so well that it had not occurred to me it was not normal until he brought it up.
"You have your grandmother to thank for that. After she left Egypt, my grandfather insisted he learn the language of her new country and passed it down to the following generations. They thought Japan would become important. It appears they were right."
"My grandma was pretty smart." Why did she have to leave so soon? She would have known what to do. My eyes fell to my backpack. At least she had left me some of her wisdom. I lifted the book out of the bag. "She left this for me as well." I flipped the book so he could read the title.
Marik's eyebrows rose. "Nonviolence? Sounds like the creed of an empath."
I nodded. "It says we shouldn't return violence for violence; it will only breed more violence. Darkness can only be driven out by light." My heart drummed loudly in my ears. His emotions were hard to decipher. Did he consider me naïve?
Marik leaned his elbows against the table and threaded his fingers together. "It's a nice sentiment but a little unrealistic. I do not fault your idealism, Samia. It is much needed in this world. If people like you were in the majority, I would wholeheartedly embrace nonviolence. Unfortunately, you are very much alone. Surely you can have a great influence, but it is not enough."
His eyes caught mine in a steely gaze. I could sense something behind the wall that protected his emotions. There was so much he was not revealing, and I did not know how to bring it out. "But controlling and destroying people? There has to be another way."
His expression hardened, and some anger slipped through the cracks. "There is no other way to obtain revenge for me and my family. The pharaoh should know the pain he put us through."
"R-Revenge won't solve anything. You've already refused to help him. Can't you just leave and live your own life in peace?"
"I'm afraid it's not that simple." His emotions darkened further. "I can never live in peace until I know no one will come after me. You do not understand the forces I am dealing with."
"But maybe-"
"Peace is only possible after justice has been established, and justice comes from correcting the situation. The pharaoh needs to know my pain."
I had hit a dead end. I stared at the cover of my book as if that would give me the answers I needed. Perhaps I was approaching this the wrong way. I took a deep breath and met Marik's gaze. "I want to know your pain. Share it with me."
His eyes flickered in surprise for only a second. "No. With your abilities, it would overwhelm you."
"Then just let me see some of it. Tell me more about it." Odion had said something about a terrible ceremony. I needed to ask about that without making it clear I already knew. "Is there a moment in particular you can tell me about? Maybe I can help. Maybe if the wounds are healed-"
"You can't change the past, Samia." Regret laced his voice, and frustration simmered under his determination. He balled his hands into fists and laid them on the table. "You can't fix what happened. It's too late."
His words clenched my heart and refused to let go. Yet, instead of despair, I felt driven to keep on going. I could not give up. I took in a shaky breath. "I still want to know." I reached out my hand and placed it on top of one of his fists. "Please."
Marik did not speak at first, and he refused to look away from me. He still held his emotions under control, though I felt them bubbling under the surface. Finally, he spoke in a slow, deliberate tone: "As you well know, pain comes in many forms, and it is often the psychological and emotional tortures that are the hardest to bear. However, the worst physical pain I had to endure came during my initiation ritual as tombkeeper."
I withdrew my hand. "Wh-What?" That could not be right. I knew ancient Egyptian culture could be gruesome, but surely Yami would never approve of anything too brutal.
Marik let out a bitter laugh. "You wanted to know the truth. Did you not believe me when I said we were oppressed?"
"N-No. But there most be a reason."
Marik smiled ruefully. "If you truly want to understand, let me show you." He pushed himself into a standing position and moved away from the table. Then he pulled his shirt over his head and flung it to the floor. Before I could react, he turned his back to me.
Time stood still, and I swore my heart stopped right along with it. My legs wobbled as I stood. Though it repelled me, I needed a closer view. Ancient Egyptian hieroglyphics had been carved into Marik's back like a canvas… like a stone. I could never imagine receiving a simple tattoo, let alone something like this… and at such a young age. I could imagine the pain he must have endured… and the results were a constant memory of that pain.
"D-Does it hurt?" I lifted my shaking hand.
Marik bowed his head. "The physical pain has subsided." I caught his bitterness and resentment… but also exhaustion.
"I'm sorry." I gently placed my hand over one of the engravings on the right side of his back. He flinched and took in a sharp breath but did not move away. "Why? What is the purpose of this?" I no longer wanted to know so I could defend the pharaoh. I needed to know how someone could do this to him.
"The pharaoh's story," Marik murmured. "Each successive tombkeeper carries it… so we will never forget. This is merely a symbol of our enslavement. A reminder that we will never be free as long as the pharaoh remains."
His anger was still the strongest emotion, but now I could sense it cracking. There was something else underneath. My mother had taught me that people often used anger as a shield to hide how they were really feeling. Anger seems controllable and often is more tolerable than sadness and despair. The only time my mother had seemed supportive of my powers was when she noted that we had a special ability to see past the anger. If the root emotion was taken care of, the anger would disappear.
I latched onto Marik's underlying sorrow even as it threatened to take over me. This was no time to lose control. "You were forced to do this? You didn't have a choice?"
"No. There was never a choice."
"But if you have a whole clan, couldn't they have found a volunteer?"
"My father believed only a blood descendant of the original tombkeeper was worthy. No one objected."
That sealed it for me. He had a legitimate concern that needed to be addressed. His blame was misdirected, and I objected to his methods and purpose, but that did not matter right now. I too knew what it was like to feel forced into something. The pressure may have been only psychological, but it had still affected me for many years. Only recently have I felt free to be myself and to choose my own path. Marik deserved that choice too.
"That's awful. I'm so sorry." I did not care that the tremble in my voice might give away my own emotions; he could probably feel them from my touch. "I wish-" The words caught in my throat. What could I say that would be enough? I needed to show him instead. I slipped my arms around his waist and pressed my face against his back.
He shuddered. "Samia…" He was on the verge of losing control. I felt an array of conflicting emotions, and yet I understood his central message.
"You're not alone anymore," I whispered. I did not question the idea my intuition gave me next. "How – how do you say, 'I love you' in Arabic?"
His emotions stirred, and his breath hitched. He took hold of my hands and carefully pulled them away from his body. My mind swirled with questions as I watched him slip on his shirt. Had I done something wrong? I could detect no change in his demeanor, although it felt like he had regained control of his emotions… or they were about to break loose.
"Marik?"
I hesitated to reach out to him, but then he came to me. He stepped incredibly close and placed his hands on my arms while he gazed down at me. "Bahebek…" The tenderness in his voice almost suggested he was not simply answering my question. When was the last time he had said that to someone? When had anyone said it to him? "But… you would say 'bahebak'…"
My breath caught in my throat at the intensity of his words and his gaze. Then I recognized the emotion he had successfully disguised until now: loneliness. And then everything clicked. I could not make sense of it all consciously in my mind, by my intuition understood… and my heart knew the truth.
This man… this boy… was full of contradictions. He had been forced into a life had had not chosen and reacted in the only way he knew how to preserve his sanity. But the truth was slipping through the cracks. I had been able to touch him deeply the first time we met not because of our shared fates but because of our shared loneliness. Despite everything he may have done, there was still a part of him that clung to the light.
"Bahebak, Marik," I said, my eyes filling with tears. "Bahebak."
Marik pulled me up against his chest, and I instinctively wrapped my arms around him. We stayed like that for a long time. We spoke no words, but we were not silent. His emotions spoke more than he could ever say.
The sudden surge of magical energy shattered the moment. Marik pulled back form me. He kept his arms around me, but I knew his mind was suddenly miles away. His emotions were retreating, and I had no idea how to stop it.
"I have to go," he whispered. I did not miss the regret and reluctance in his voice.
I shook my head. "Please stay. Don't leave me."
But I could tell he was already gone. Still, there was hesitation in his eyes. "I will be back. You will be safe here." He drew me close once more, and my heart squeezed in pain.
My hands balled into fists as they clutched his shirt. I wished I could do something to make him stay. We understood how much we cared about each other, but it was not enough. I could not yet break through to him.
"I promise I will make a better future for us," Marik whispered before he placed a kiss on the top of my head. He disentangled himself from me and stepped aware. I shivered from the sudden cold. His eyes caught mine as he paused at the door. "Goodbye, Samia… Ameli…"
He spoke the Arabic word with the same gentleness as the other earlier. Before I could ask him what it meant, he was gone.
I sunk to my knees as the reality of the situation hit me. I had glimpsed an extremely important part of his heart… and because of that, I could not give up on him… no matter the consequences.
I brought my hands to my face and sobbed.
A/N: Thanks for reading everyone. I'm sorry it took so long to get this up. I've been busy preparing for a move across the across. I hope you enjoyed the slower pace this chapter. The action will return this. This was necessary to understand Samia's motivations.
As an FYI, when Samia and Marik talk about love, they do not mean it in a romantic sense. At least not consciously. Any subtext is up for you to decipher. ;)
