HD: SORRY!
COH: HD is truly sorry. She got a new computer and lost all her documents.
Alvar: she worked hard and wrote this chapter in one day!
Bea: hmm…not too bad. (smirks)
HD: you only like the ending!
Bea: so?
Cole: HappyDevil owns nothing, which is a good thing.
HD: HEY! Oh and sorry for grammar and spelling mistakes!
Chapter 10: Unleash The Mutant.
All around was cold white. Under his fingers he could feel the smooth metal and the straps around his ankles and wrists. He couldn't move, even if he wasn't bounded to the table, all he could hear was the soft buzz of running machinery.
"Are you awake?"
Sleep filled lilac eyes opened to meet the bright lighting that made him wince.
"Good. We thought we lost you." The man didn't seem very concerned for the teen in front of him, who wasn't the least bit surprised.
"What a shame that would be." The teen croaked, watching the man from the corner of his eye as he circled the table.
"Yes, all my work would come undone when I'm so close." Either he missed the sarcasm or he didn't care. The teen guessed the second. "Do you realize just what a big part of my plan you are?"
"I'm flattered, really." The teen bit out as the man stopped beside his head and looked down at him with a smirk.
"You, M104I, are my greatest masterpiece. You are the one who will take forward my plans."
The teen opened his mouth to protests but a gas mask was placed over and slowly sleeping gas took him, but not before the first needle entered his shoulder.
Malik sat up right, panting softly as cold sweat wet his brow. It wasn't yet six and outside the world was still dark. Across from him Ryou slept soundly, un-a-wear that Malik had awoken.
Malik laid back down, his breathing slow and shallow. He hated those dreams. They made him weak, reminded him what they were able to do with him. He rolled over and watched the silhouette of Ryou's sleeping form.
He hoped, prayed, that the others didn't go through the same torturing dreams, well more memories, that he often replayed. He knew they did, but he would rather think they didn't.
Deciding sleep wouldn't be coming back Malik crawled out of bed and changed into his uniform before heading to the bathroom. He studied his reflection, pale after the dream, his eyes had taken on a blood-shot look from the lack of sleep and he rolled his shoulders, trying to relax his tighten muscles.
After long minutes of staring Malik decided he needed to do something before he went crazy standing around. He went over to his bed and from under it, wedged between the boards, pulled out a thin, small dagger.
He had taken this from the labs years before, taken actually from Ryou's cage. He didn't like to think how or why Ryou came into possession of this dagger but he decided without it, Ryou was causing no one any harm.
He tucked it into the waistline of his pants, concealing it with his shirt and jacket. Once he was sure it was out of view he slipped out of the house and took a walk in a random direction.
The air was chilling and he wrapped his jacket tighter around his body, his wings tightening to give his back some warmth. Despite what the Rare Hunters had done to him, Malik was very fond and attached to his wings. They were his strength and his down fall.
He looked up once he'd reached the park they had visited before and sat down on a swing, letting his feet trail on the ground.
"What's a mutant like you, doing in a place like this?"
Malik sprung to his feet, once hand reaching around his back while the other steadied his position.
Before him was a tall man, his face concealed by the shadows of his wide brimmed hat, a thick heavy coat pulled around his body. Malik's eyes narrowed as he slowly withdrew the blade.
"Who are you?" He spat.
The heavy shoulders heaved and the man took a seat on a flat rock by his side. "I am not a Rare Hunter, if that is what you mean. Well, not any more anyway."
Malik gripped the dagger his wings prepared to snap out if needed. "What do you want?"
"To talk to you. Otherwise I wouldn't come." The man pulled out a long cigar and lit it, placing it between his lips before withdrawing and letting out a stream of smoke. "M104I. I was the one who made your design. I designed your wings your strength." He paused. "Everything."
"You made me like this?" Malik hissed. "Bastard!"
He didn't seem to hear Malik as he continued. "I thought they were going to use some sample, make a child not take one." He looked at Malik. "When they first brought you to me, I was mixed with such emotions. I admired you as my experiment and almost loved you like my son. You were mine."
"I am no ones!" Malik yelled, the blade now coming into view.
His eyes were watering. So they had taken him? This man had done this to him and he thought of him as a son? Malik wanted him to die. He wanted to watch his life bleed away before him, the monster that had made him.
The man stood swiftly. "You are mine. When they tattooed your nameplate onto the base of your neck they injected a small microchip. The microchip had my name on it and my number. RH5."
Malik was shaking. "If I am yours then why haven't I ever seen you?"
The man sighed, taking another drag of his cigar. "I started the experiments. The Boss was impressed. But soon, I could only think of you as my child. I didn't want anyone else to touch you; I demanded that you were to only be under my service. The Boss wasn't happy. He ordered me sentenced away and he took you."
The Boss was the one who ran the whole Rare Hunter operation.
Malik glared harder. "I am not yours! You never loved me! You only saw what you created."
"Yes, but that's the beauty. What you are now is my creation! You are mine, I made you."
Malik stumbled back. "Leave me alone!"
"M104I, don't you understand? This is what you are because of my work. Come with me. There is so much I want to do. I want to try. The world will never understand you, only I will."
"You're a freak." Malik whispered. "I don't want any part of this! Leave me alone!" His wings snapped out, ruining his clothing and he sprung into the air, above the man's head.
The man let out a woop of joy. "See what I have allowed you to be?"
Malik flew off before he would have to hear more of the mad man's bullshit. He landed gracefully in Isis's yard, before he kneeled over, knife still in hand, and let the tears fall.
"Malik, are you alright?" Ryou was kneeling beside him, his small hands rubbing his back in soothing circles.
"I…." Malik looked up. "I don't want to be this!"
Ryou blinked and nodded. "None of us do."
Malik finally meet his eyes. "I saw my creator."
Ryou wasn't too sure what Malik had been on about. He hadn't explained it fully, just went back inside to take a quick shower and dress in another uniform.
When they had reached school Malik was normal again. Joey and Yugi hadn't seemed to notice. So Ryou did what he was best at. Stayed silent.
"Ryou?" Ryou looked up at Allen-Sensei and smiled a little.
"Yes?"
"Have you made an artwork for the competition yet?"
"No yet." Ryou silently added he had no inspiration so far.
"OK. When you do I would love to see it." She moved away to talk to another student and Ryou sighed.
Joey was happy to be back in cooking class. He rather liked it. Today they were going to make fired ice-cream. He was setting everything up when he realized he needed the most important ingredient. Ice-cream.
He headed for the freezer up the front where all the small tubs of ice-cream where for the students use. He wasn't paying attention as he ran into none other than Kaiba Seto.
"Watch where you're going!" Seto snapped, glaring down at the blonde who glared back.
"You're da one who ran into me!" Joey growled. On instinct his wings started to unfold until he quickly pulled them back in.
But Kaiba had seen. He glanced over him curiously before walking off.
Joey sighed and tightened his wings. This couldn't be good.
Malik was trying to sleep. It was hard considering he was seated in a stiff chair. He moaned in frustration and opened his eyes again. Yugi looked over at him and gave him a small smile that Malik fought to return.
"What's up with you, Ishtar?"
Malik looked sharply at Marik who was keeling on the chair in front of him, his arms crossed lazily in front of him.
Malik wished he still had that dagger.
"What do you want?" Malik sighed, sitting straighter.
Marik smirked lopsidedly that was almost cute, in a kind of psychopath way.
"Just wanted to inquire about your feelings."
"Well right now they are murderous." Malik's eyes narrowed at him.
Obliviously Marik wasn't very smart. "Why?'
"Because I'm being annoyed by a psycho Egyptian." Malik stood with Yugi and walked out of the theater.
"Good luck with that!" Marik called after him.
Joey sat ridged in his seat. He could feel eyes on his back. His wings tightened and he shifted. He knew it was Kaiba. He just hoped that he hadn't figured it out. Finally the blessed bell rang signaling lunch. He almost ran out of the class room and into Ryou, Malik and Yugi.
"Joey, what's wrong?" Malik asked.
"Uh…nothing. I'm just hungry!" Joey lied following them out.
"Your stomach leads you on." Malik laughed.
"What else?" Joey grinned.
They found their usual spot and pulled out the mountains of food. Isis had been informed about their diet and had taken it upon herself to make sure they had enough food.
Once they had finished Joey headed back inside. Someone ran into his back, their hands lying against the material that was covering his wings. When he looked around to see who it was no one was standing there.
Malik laid in the darkness of the room His heart pounding against his chest. The base of his neck tingled and he shivered. He rose and dressed in form fitting black pants and a tight black shirt with a heavy camo-print jacket over.
He once again slipped the dagger back into the waistline of his pants before tying his hair up into a high pony tail.
"Malik?" Ryou's soft voice whispered, heavy with sleep.
Malik looked over his shoulder. "Go back to sleep Ryou. I'll be back soon." He left the room without glancing back.
He was waiting in the same place as this morning.
"I knew you would come!" He had another lit cigar in hand as he opened his arms.
"What do you want from me?" Malik asked firmly.
The man offered a gloved hand. "I want to fully unleash you."
-TBC-
HD: Phew. Poor Malik!
Bea: so Kaiba knows?
COH: it seems like it.
Alvar: lots of thanks to our anonymous reviewers:
Dark Toy: Thanks for the review! I think it would be a bit of both, lol. I love them too and there will be more soon!
S2Teennovelist: Thanks for the reviews! Um…hopefully you haven't died. I finished the chapter after I got your second message. I'm really sorry about my slow updates. LOL. I couldn't resist! Yugi needed to get back at him. Yea, Yugi is so innocent, it's almost creepy. They do, don't they. They are all just so cute! Lol. Emi is fun! And everyone needs rebel! Yugi can be one tough little cookie when he wants to be. Oh hell has broken lose, lol. Well Bakura at least thought Ryou was cute. Romance will be soon, promise. In a chapter or two it starts. Oh, things started to get a lot bad for poor Malik, trust me. Yea, Rare Hunters are bastard. I love cupcakes! Lol. Yea, Seto is a chief! Hehe. Anyway, please review, love to hear from you!
Bea: you know the drill. If you want HD to actually write something review!
COH: wow, you were almost nice!
Alvar: REVIEW!
HappyDevil, Bea, COH, Cole and Alvar!