Can't Hide

Chapter 10: Deal

She felt like she was floating. Her mind was numb; her fingers stroked something unbelievably soft and barely there – like liquid silk. A small groan escaped her lips as Alexis struggled to make sense of her surroundings.

"Where am I?" she wondered out loud, her voice raspy and dry.

Darkness.

Every direction she turned was darkness.

She struggled to stand, the combination of dizziness and velvet shadows taking its toll on her. Memories of what had previously happened flashed through her mind: the thunderstorm, the quicksand of darkness, her brother hugging her, being dragged across the carpet, Zane trying to pull her back . . .

Alexis gasped.

Zane.

He didn't let go. He'd gone through with her.

She whipped her head around frantically.

Where was he?

"Zane!" she cried.

It came out to sound more like a hoarse whisper, but the panic was present in her tone and fully loaded.

"Zane!"

"I wouldn't waste my breath, dear."

Alexis nearly jumped out of her own skin at the unexpected taunt. She turned around and came face to face with a pair of bright green eyes. Dark-Wing smirked as she stumbled backwards in surprise and fear.

"You."

"Me," he confirmed.

"Where is he?" she insisted. "What did you do with him?"

The Shadow Rider flicked his wrist in the air in dismissal.

"Oh, Mr. Truesdale is around," he said elusively. "He's being put to good use."

He took a step toward her, and Alexis instinctively wanted to take a step back. But she stood her ground, and stared at the young man in front of her with determination – all the while hoping that he didn't sense the fear practically radiating from her tense body.

"Now, you on the other hand," he continued, "you and I need to have a little talk."

"I'm not doing anything until I know Zane is safe," Alexis bit back.

Dark-Wing's eyes flashed dangerously as he took yet another step toward the blonde.

"Trust me," he said, his accent thick and full. "He's alive and kicking."

Alexis shivered unconsciously at the malice and impatience of his tone. Her hand impulsively reached for her pendant.

"H-how do I know I can trust you?" she trembled. "How do I know you won't hurt us?"

The hardened look in his eyes disappeared and was replaced with a glint of amusement.

"You don't," he replied, his lips quirked in slight mirth. "But trust this: if I was going to kill you, I would have done it already."

Alexis paled.

He sounded so . . . pleased.

'Zane, where are you?'

That was her last thought before Dark-Wing lunged at her, so fast she was barely able to gasp. Darkness completely enveloped her senses and she fell into abyss.

YGO-GX YGO-GX YGO-GX

Murky turquoise eyes stared unabashedly at the individually laid out deck of cards on the table. Each one new and glossy, no human hand having ever used them.

"Well, Mr. Truesdale?"

Zane pulled his gaze from the cards and looked up at the expectant voice.

It was pure temptation for any duelist. Rare, powerful cards not one foot away – winning guaranteed.

"Do we have a deal?"

Vice was his name. Dark and brooding, his personality. But he also had the ability to persuade at his disposal.

"No," Zane replied.

Vice was unfazed as he stared at the legendary King of Obelisk Blue.

"No?" Vice echoed, red eyes lustrous and sharp. "Why 'no'?"

"I would never choose a game over a friend," Zane pronounced, unwavering.

At this, the Shadow Rider laughed.

"You think this is a game?" he scorned. "Tsk, tsk, Mr. Truesdale. You have no idea how serious your situation is, do you?"

Something inside Zane screamed at him. The man before his eyes was crazy.

"Where is she?" Zane demanded. "What did you do with her? What do want with her?"

"Our team is need of strong, female duelists," Vice explained, playing with the gold chain holding his black robes together. "And so far, out of all the ones we've . . . found . . . she's the most promising. Just as we'd expected."

Zane kept his face calm at this detail, but underneath the table, his hands curled into fists, fingernails sinking deep into his palms as he tried to hold them back from punching the Rider not two feet way from him.

Vice smiled a cold smile then as leaned across the table, noticing the flicker of anger across the duelist's eyes.

"You, on the other hand, we were not expecting," he continued, staring intently right into Zane's turquoise irises. "A bycatch . . . a surprisingly useful bycatch."

Zane tried to suppress a shudder.

"Tell you what Mr. Truesdale," Vice started. "How about we make a deal?"

This caught Zane's attention as he glanced at the Shadow Rider guardedly, silently urging him to continue.

Black, leather gloved hands began collecting the cards displayed on the table into one solid deck.

"If you join our league of Shadow Riders, we'll give your precious Alexis the option of leaving."

Vice pressed forward the now stacked deck of duel monsters cards, the crazed smirk never leaving his face.

"What do you say, Mr. Truesdale?" he prodded. "Do we have a deal?"

Something wasn't right. It was too easy. Vice had clearly stated that he needed strong female duelists, and here he was, willing to let his top pursuit go without a second thought. There was a catch. There had to be.

'Alexis . . . what do I do?'

YGO-GX YGO-GX YGO-GX

Principal Sheppard entered the code for the tenth time. But it was no use. The computer couldn't pick up on any reading, and the monitors were blank of any dots signaling the whereabouts of his student.

He sighed, collapsing into his brown leather chair, frustrated.

Fifteen minutes. He'd left them for only fifteen minutes. And now two of his best were gone – captured, taken, stolen.

Sheppard could only imagine how their friends were dealing with this. Particularly Atticus.

Guards and security were on the look out, searching every inch of Duel Academia in a pointless attempt. He had to do it, though. He had to tell them to send a search party, because otherwise, it wouldn't have seemed right.

But Principal Sheppard knew they wouldn't be able to find Alexis or Zane. Not unless these guards knew how to find the Shadow Realm.

YGO-GX YGO-GX YGO-GX

Atticus tilted the photo frame in his hands, making the sun shine on it at a certain angle and causing a glare effect.

It was an old photograph, taken before Alexis had been admitted into Duel Academia. Before Atticus had fallen prey to the Shadow Riders.

In the picture, Alexis had her arms wrapped securely around Atticus' neck, and her legs dangled off either side of him in a piggyback pose. A huge smile was on her face in obvious laughter, and a huge scowl was on his. She wasn't exactly the lightest little sister around. Zane stood to the side of the photo, watching both of them, his arms crossed, an amused expression on his features. He was clearly enjoying Atticus suffer the weight.

Unexpected tears welled up in Atticus' eyes, and he tried to blink them back.

"Come back," he pleaded quietly – desperately. "Please, come back . . ."

YGO-GX YGO-GX YGO-GX

"Deal."

Zane knew he regretted the word the moment it left his lips.

Vice leered.

He'd just struck a deal with the devil.

(A/N): Et voila! Sorry for any grammar errors. I did some parts in a bit of hurry. Hope you found it interesting. I know it's short, so to keep you all interested (if you're currently not), here's a little snippet of the next chapter:

"You said you'd give her the option of leaving!" Zane indicted angrily. "You gave me your word!"

Several arms clad in black cloaks emerged from behind and grabbed Zane, holding him back.

"And I'm sticking to it. However it was you who failed to specify how I would give her the option of leaving."