~*A/N*~ Hey guys! Long time no post! I know I am quite sorry for that, but im going to tryyyyyyy (No promises) to keep this updating much more frequently. Enjoy!
Chapter Nine
Hope
I place Seth's body gently on the floor and rise to my feet. I turn to my assailant as I contemplate my next move. Atemu strides closer to me painfully slow, his crooked smile never faltering. I rapidly glance around the room trying to find a way to defend myself. With my light depleted, I had to rely solely on my own physical skills, which unfortunately were lacking. I feel the beads of sweat accumulate around my forehead. I bend my knees sliding my right foot forwards in a defensive stance. I breathe deeply to calm my racing heart. Atemu jerks his body at me pretending to launch himself towards me. I flinch, losing my balance for half a second before regaining it. He snickers under his breath making me let out a low angry hiss.
'Stall him... Stall him... I have to stall him! Seth wake up... Please wake up!'
"You could just give up, Yugi. I wouldn't blame you." Atemu spins the knife around the top of his hand before it returns to his palm. The late afternoon sun beamed through the open window reflecting off the metal blinding me when it angled a certain way. "Then we can skip this game of cat and mouse. Just surrender yourself to me."
'How can I distract him?'
"Why are you doing this? What do you get out of making others suffer?" I force my voice to stay even. Desperately trying to keep my adamant fear from being exposed. Atemu rolls his head shaking it slowly.
"Why would I waste my time explaining that to you?"
'Damn. That usually works in movies. The villain always explains his plan before killing his victim.'
Atemu narrows his eyes at me.
"Oh? Were you hoping to prolong your demise?" He takes a quick step closer. "I won't fall for your transparent tricks." I tense my body and he lunges towards me. Using most of my lower body strength I spring to my left and roll away as he jabs the blade at me. My body aches as I jump to feet as fast as possible. My bones throb from the ruthless beatings I've suffered over the past few days and the millennium puzzle, once a proud relic of the love me and Yami shared, now hung like a rock weighing me down with every step. I hear the crumbling of the stone on the wall where the knife penetrated it. Atemu turns to me with less relaxed features. I could tell his patience was wearing thin. He hasn't snapped yet, but I knew it was only a matter of time. I returned to my defensive stance tensing my body waiting for him to make the first move.
"40 seconds." Horakhty's voice whispered inside my mind.
'Until what?' No response. She was always so cryptic with her messages. I could only assume it was the amount of time I had left to wait for light to replenish, but even if that is the case it certainly wouldn't be enough to stop Atemu. So how could I use it? I needed to think of something quickly, and with Atemu drawing closer with every step, my concentration is starting to slip. Struggling to think of plan I back away from Atemu mimicking his steps, that was, until my heel hit the back wall. As my breath hitches Atemu quickens his pace until he's only a stride away from me.
'I'm probably not going to live through this. I really wish I was able to pretend that Atemu was Yami. I wish I could keep lying to myself, but he's stained Yami with darkness and hate. Things were so much easier when I lied to everyone about how I really felt... acting like everything was okay when really…'
'Pretending... lies... acting…'
'I was really good at those things…'
I contemplate for only a few milliseconds on whether this would work. Realizing the situation I was in, I didn't have the time to think. I just had to do. Not think, but do. Atemu takes his final step towards me raising his weapon his eyes never leaving me. I start to shake as I collapse against the wall behind me. I force the tears to my eyes, letting them roll down my cheeks. The smirk returns to his mouth as I scream.
"OKAY! Okay! I give up just don't kill me yet!" I raise my shaky hands to my face in a protective manner. "PLEASE!" I crumble to the floor curling into a ball as I start to wail. Atemu slides his hand under my chin gripping onto my jaw. He pulls me off the ground to my feet forcing our eyes to meet. He watches with me with narrow eyes and a blank expression. I grab his wrist with frail fingers as my face grows more panicked with every moment that passes against his stare. A faint smile creeps on the edges of his mouth and the rest of his face twists into disgust.
"Sorrow and fear." All traces of his smile fades. "Humans are truly pathetic creatures." He releases my jaw roughly and immediately clutches his hand just above my elbow, tossing me into the side of the bed. I gasp as all the muscles near my ribs cramp up. My eyes clench shut from the pain.
'Ten seconds'
"You knowI'm going to do so much worse than that." His light airy voice stings my ears as I'm ripped up pushed onto the bed. After wetting his lips he flashes his teeth at me. "We're just getting started!" He crawls on top of me pinning my wrists to the bed and leans his mouth to my ear.
'Five seconds'
"I want your mouth on me…" Atemu whispers seductively following by stroking my ear with his tongue and piercing one of his canines into the lobe. I grunt loudly as I feel the blood drip down off my ear and onto the bed. Atemu leans back up swallowing the red liquid in his mouth and licking the corners of the remains. He smirks and releases my wrists leaning up on his knees. His feet and ankles were sticking over the edge of the quilt. His knees pressed in between my legs prying them open slightly.
'Now.'
I summon some of the conjured light to the flats of my feet. I place my arms at my sides gripping the sheet with my nails. I can feel my expression change from fear to determination while Atemu's eyebrows raise at the inner corners in confusion as he tries to process the change me. In a flash I bunch my knees to my chest and slam my feet into Atemu's face as hard and as quickly as I possibly can. I yanked on the sheets adding to the force of my kick. Energy sparks from my feet illuminating the room like a strike of lightening as they collide with Atemu's face. I feel the crunching of his nose under my skin as he is sent flying back. The chiming of the knife echoed as it skidded across the stone to his right. The room shook as he smashed into the wall and Atemu groaned loudly as the wind was knocked out of him. The wall crumbled and became dented where his back laid. The wall sprouted cracks along the bricks a few inches around the perimeter of his body. I didn't waste another second. I propelled my self off the bed and b-lined it for Seth, snatching up the knife as I slid on my knees towards him. I focused the energy to my palms and cradled my hands on his skull. I could hear Atemu cursing and yelling behind me as he recovered. I tried to push it to the back of my mind as I focused on healing Seth.
"You mother fucker!" Atemu dragged himself to his feet and stumbled towards me, still dizzy from smashing into the wall. I break my concentration to turn and see Atemu. His nose was definitely broken. It was gushing an endless amount of blood that dripped onto the floor. With every step he painted a new stone red. His eyes were filled rage and hatred, his teeth bared, covered in a dark red gloss. Blood oozed from the corners of his lips. "IM GUNNA KILL YOU!"
'His voice sounds so demonic. Damn you Zorc.'
I grab the knife from beside me and ready myself for his attack. He lunges at me.
'Zorc'
Realization struck me. I was in a dilemma. I couldn't do anything. I was at a loss. This might be Atemu's body, but it wasn't his soul. I can't just kill him knowing he's just been Zorc's puppet this entire time. My body and mind battled with each other in a frozen debate. In the end what was the right thing to do? Time pauses, Atemu only inches away from me.
' I can't kill him while he wears Yami's face. No matter what he's done to me. I just can't do it.'
I cringe, but hold my stance until he hits me. My arm is yanked to the floor and I fall back crashing on my side. I see a tan arm swing past my face just barely missing me. Seth uppercuts Atemu in the jaw knocking him onto the floor. Atemu leans up on one arm with a scowl. Seth swiftly grabs me, lifting me into his arms and fleeing for the door. I flailed the knife onto the ground from being scooped up unexpectedly. He uses his shoulder, slamming them open before retreating down the hallway. I climb past Seth's torso peeking over him. Atemu fades from sight, but his glare remained locked on me. We rush to the court yard in front of the palace. I can hear Seth panting from sprinting as the sweat runs down his face.
"I'm okay Seth. I can walk." He nods in reply and lets go of my legs. I wobble around for a moment before I gain my balance. My body ached and felt like jelly from using most of my light. Seth, catching his breath slightly, rests his hand on my shoulder turning so he faces me.
"Are you sure your okay to walk?" I nod in response. Dropping his hand to his side and raising his other to wipe the sweat from his brow, I can see his body tense slightly. "We must explain to Heba. Maybe we can reason with him. Perhaps he can help."
"We have to try." I sigh inwardly as we hustle to the stable. Seth places the reigns around a chestnut brown horse with a black mane. He jumps onto the horse, then grabbing my hand, he lifts me up behind him. I straddle the horse and place my grip around Seth's stomach. We ride off into the dessert.
"How are we going to find Heba?" I yell over the pounding of the horses galloping. Seth turns his head to the side slightly so I can hear him.
"I'm hoping he's still by the Nile. Otherwise we'll have to gather a search party, and we don't have the time for that." I nod into the back of Seth's robe, wincing at throbbing of my bruises as the horse trudges through the dessert sand. Fifteen long minutes later we arrive on the bank of the river. There were small huts along a path that lead to the shore. It was like a tiny village. I hop onto the ground ignoring the pain that shot through my body as I made contact with the earth. Seth and I make our way down the path looking left and right in search of Heba. The Hebrews only glared at Seth with their guards up. We reached the biggest hut at the end of the path and two middle aged men stood with crossed arms scowling.
"I must speak with Heba. It's Urgent." Seth demanded and the two men looked to one another before returning to stare at him.
"Why should we listen to a murderer?" The man on the right growled.
"You have a lot of nerve coming here and making demands. Kuss Ummak!" {Fuck You} My eyes darted around as the villagers closed in on us from all directions. I lean closer to Seth. I hear him hiss through his teeth.
"This is a matter of life and death. Let me speak to Heba." The villagers laughed from around us but the two men just became more angry.
"Life and death? You and your empire speak as if you are gods. Preaching to us about such things... You are a disgrace! A pack of murders with no remorse for human life!" Suddenly I hear Seth grunt as his body jerks towards me. He grabs his face in pain. The villagers start to barrage us with stones and rocks. Seth wraps himself around me shielding me from the attack. I cover my face with my inner elbow. The rocks scrape my ankles as the people barrage us with insults, telling us to return to the palace. I hear the cloth in front of the hut shuffle to the side. I peek up from my arm to see Heba standing with a shocked look on his face. He raises his hands upwards and out to the sides.
"Good people! What has become of you? Stop this insufferable violence. Please!" The villagers stare at Heba in confusion and anger, but stop regardless. The elder man in front of us turns to Heba.
"But Heba. They've murdered and enslaved so many of us! We must stand up for ourselves!" The villagers discuss to one another in agreeance. Heba lets out a sigh before resting his hand on the mans shoulder.
"We will my brother, but this behaviour makes us no different from them." The people become shameful for their actions, dropping the rocks they held. Seth wipes his cheek. His left eye is shut tight due to the blood from a cut in his forehead overflowing down his face. He lifts his gaze to Heba. "Seth. I am sorry for what my people have done. I apologize on their behalf, but you must understand their feelings."
"I do. I am completely against this discrimination." Seth gets down on one knee and places his hands on the ground bowing before Heba, making the villagers gasp. "Forgive my people. We do not wish this anymore than you do. Heba, please I must speak with you." Heba bends down to Seth's level and grips his arm.
"Of course please come inside." We follow Heba into the hut. The cloth in the doorway slides closed as we enter. We sit on the floor facing each other. I sink to my knees resting my aching body letting out a sigh. This was the first time I relaxed all day. "What is it that we must discuss?"
"Atemu, the king. He is being possessed by a demon. He hasn't been in his right mind since he was crowned pharaoh." Heba gazed into Seth's eyes waiting for him to continue. "You must not let your god kill him. Please we must find a way to save him." I can see Heba glance around the room in thought. "We have both seen it with our own eyes."Seth gestured towards me as Heba looks between us.
"I believe you. I have no reason not to trust you Seth. You have always been a man of justice and truth. Kind to all of those who approach you." Heba pauses for a moment before continuing. "But, unfortunately, this is a request that I simply cannot accept." My heart sinks in my chest.
"Why!? He's not a bad person! He's just a puppet..." I trail off my voice getting softer. Seth's expression, like stone, never changes.
"I am simply a mediator for my god. I cannot control his whims. Also one mans life for an entire race of suffering. It is a fair trade, as much as it saddens me to say."
"Please, Heba." Seth begs, fighting desperately for his life longest friends innocence.
"Even if I could so something about it, I don't think my people would be able to accept such a story. That a phantom possessed him to murder their loved ones?" The room was silent. I grab my heart outside of my chest, gripping it tightly. There was nothing we could do. I wouldn't blame the Hebrews for not forgiving the Pharaoh, but Atemu... I let a couple of tears shed, grieving for his sake. "I will be right back. I will give you a moment to your thoughts. This must be very hard for you both." Heba arose and exited the hut leaving Seth and I by ourselves. We sat in silence. There was nothing to say. Nothing we could do. It all felt so hopeless now. Seth placed his face is his hands. Behind his hands I see a tear run down his tan cheek.
"In the end, I couldn't do a thing, Yugi. I couldn't save my closest friend. I don't deserve to stand by his side." I opened my mouth to disagree, but my morality was at an all time low. So I just sat there staring at the ground waiting for Heba to return. Seth laid on his back lifting an elbow and bending it to cover his eyes. After a few moments of silence pass, Heba returns. He sits in front of us crossing his legs and he lowers himself to the ground.
"I am sorry for the hardship I has caused." Heba looked at me with concerned eyes.
"There's nothing left to talk about." Seth grumbled refusing to make eye contact with either of us. Heba turns to me.
"What's your name my child?" He smiles gently at me. I didn't return the smile, but replied none the less.
"Yugi." I barely whispered. He stared at my chest with an intrigued look.
"Tell me, what is the fascinating pyramid that hangs around your neck?" I cradle the puzzle in my hands smiling softly.
"It's my most prized possession. It reminds me of someone I hold very dear." My smile fades. "Well it used to anyway..."
"May I see it? I feel... a strange connection." That perked me up a bit. Nodding I hand him the puzzle with the rope still wrapped around my neck. He touches the Eye of Horus on the front and a blinding light envelopes us and the room forcing me to shut my eyes. When I open them I am in in between dimensions. The endless white room with no roof or walls. The different shades of white and light yellow swirled all around, constantly flowing, like a river. It was so peaceful here, like all the bad in the world could melt away. "What is this place?"
The sudden voice makes me jump, not realizing Heba had been transported as well. "This is a realm of light. Where beings of light exist, or at least that's what I think it is."
"You are correct, Yugi." Heba and I snap our heads to the side to see Horakhty's 10 foot being floating a few feet away from where were standing. "This stranger, Yugi. He is not a being of light, but I do not sense darkness within him. Why have you come to this realm?" Heba lifts his staff up and taps in on the non existent ground. A entity with no physical form swirls around the staff reaching the top then floating beside Heba. It was a warm comforting presence of many colours, moving like the wind, with no malicious intent. It spoke in a deep elder mans voice.
"Pure goddess Horakhty. We mean no harm. I am the god of the Hebrews. I bare no name." Horakhty waits a moment before replying, her mouth never moving as she spoke.
"Will you kill an innocent man, knowing he is possessed by evil?" Horakhty's pure voice echoed around the white room.
"Sacrifices must be made. One mans life for an entire race. Is that not a fair trade?" The spirit replied in a calm matter.
"As a being of light, we cannot condone those actions, but there is another way. Show this child of light your teachings and let him purify the evil. Will you still exact your revenge after the evil is gone?" The spirit thought for a moment.
"Very well Horakhty, but if he is not purified within 24 hours, Egypt will fall." Horakhty stretched out her arms and another blinding warm light appeared surrounding Heba and I. Joyous tears escaped my eyes.
'There's still hope. I can still save everybody!'
