IRTB 14 EDITED
"Where should I look first?" Sam said aloud. She was leaning on the guard rail on the flight deck of the Midway. All the party decorations, tables and chairs from the night before were gone, so it was a nice wide open space with a cooling breeze. The sky was a deep blue, and the heat was just right. It didn't seem to look like the stressful day that it actually was; like what she knew was happening was completely separate from what the rest of the world saw that day. "'m pretty sure it is easier to hide in the lower part of the ship than out on top, so I guess the bottom decks would be my best bet."
She had mapped out a route she would take throughout the ship, making sure not to miss any hidden corridors. After two hours, Sam had yet to find bakura. It's 4:30... At this rate the priests will be at the national forest before I even find him. She hadn't expected it to take this long to find him. Out of frustration, Sam decided to forget about her plan, and just headed straight down into the very deepest parts of the ship to continue her search. Common sense doesn't seem to be doing me much good in this situation anyway.
I should have just done this in the first place, Sam thought to herself. At the very thought, She found the back end of the ship was an empty storage area that was dark and full of shadows. Some younger kids wanted to play hide and seek in the dark area, but the parents didn't want them to cause any trouble, and escorted them out. "Behave yourself John!" Sam could hear the mother's shrill voice echoing in the hall behind her. The sound of the kid's laughter slowly died off into silence. When there wasn't any sign of anyone else in the area, Sam called out "Bakura? Are you in here?" Silence. Stepping past the doorway, Sam found herself in the darkness of the large room. "Bakura, I came back like you want me to do. Are you in here?" The only light was what came from doorway where Ms. Samantha had entered. Bakura stepped out of the darkness.
"And here I thought you weren't going to come. It took you quite a while." Okay, Sam thought time to go back into timid mode. "I- I had trouble finding you in here, T- this place is huge after all." Although, technically she didn't have to act too much. The smirk on his face really did give her the chills. So, he took the bag from her "what do we have here?" "C– Clothes. They're for you. It should be easy to get you out of here if you're dressed like everyone else" Bakura was rummaging through the bag. "What sort of hat is this?" He said, holding up a baseball cap. "A b-baseball cap." Her answer wasn't exactly much use to him, so he ignored it anyway. A noise down the hall caught their attention. Bakura leapt back into the darkness, leaving Sam alone in the light of the doorway. Quickly, she put everything back into the duffel bag, and took out her cell phone and placed it to her ear, as if talking to someone on the phone. An old couple walked up. After reading the plaque that was outside of the doorway, they took one peak in. Seeing as nothing was there, they turned and left for the next stop. Down the hall, Sam could hear the old man say "it's surprising that girl can even get cell phone reception in here, I sure as hell can't." When they were gone Bakura stepped back out. "I can't stand these people," he said with a slight snarl. "The sooner we get out of here, the better..." Sam gave the bag back to bakura.
"What the hell! How can you people stand this type of clothing?" Bakura was frustrated with all of the buttons that lined the front of his shirt. "Help me with this will you?" Bakura demanded. Sam, who had been keeping watch while Bakura changed, went up to him and fixed the buttons. Picking up the hat which had been sitting on top of the duffel bag, Sam held it up to him. "L-let me help you with this hat too, we need to hide all of your hair inside it." "Fine," he said, letting her take care of it. "So where are you planning on taking me exactly?" He asked, while Sam tucked his hair into the cap. "Well, considering the fact that you are a wanted criminal here now, I- I think it would be best if we get away from highly populated areas. There is a forest only a couple of hours from here. It would be safe there, and would be the easiest area to use for creating the portal back to your time." "I see..." Bakura said deep in thought. "And how do you propose we get there?" "I have transportation already set up". Sam replied "as long as you are not recognized while we get out of here, everything's sure to turn out alright." Bakura put his regular clothes back into Sam's bag and picked it up, swinging it strap over his shoulder. "Alright then, let's go. I can barely stand another minute in this place."
Sam never felt so nervous before. She didn't want to be caught helping a wanted criminal, but to be realistic she figured that Bakura would end up killing anyone who tried to stop them. Sam did not want that either, so it was a no win situation if they were caught. Sam was surprised though that no one seemed to notice them on their way back out of the ship. It seems like hours to Sam, but was only minutes by the time they got back to the flight deck. Sam's shoulders stiffened while she and Bakura walked slowly past some security guards. "This way." Sam said quietly and let him towards the Van. As they reached the vehicle, Bakura placed his hand on the metal. "What is this thing anyway?" "A car." Sam replied "they are used for transportation, rather than horses." "Ah." Sam opened the passenger door and motioned for bakura to get in. He did, and Sam went in on the other side. With both the doors shut, Sam started to breathe a little better, but knew they were not in the clear yet. Turning the car keys, Sam slowly drove out of the parking lot and onto the main road. "Once we get to where we are going, you can change back into your normal clothes." Bakura was tugging on the shirt collar. "Teh." He scoffed frustratingly.
"I do not like this thing." Seto growled under his breath. "Ms. Samantha's smaller vehicle was far better than this." "Seto, will you stop complaining?" Isis remarked "comfort isn't a luxury we can afford right now." The six priests were on board a Greyhound bus heading towards Sequoia national Park. It was only a 3 Hour drive, but felt longer to Seto because of how cramped they were. "I agree with Isis." Said Mahad from across the aisle. "If you do not like how we are traveling, think of how Ms. Samantha has to travel with bakura… alone." Seto didn't reply to that. On one side of the aisle, were Shada, Karim and Mahad, while the other side contained Isis, Seto and Auknadin. The group stayed silent for a while, while they pondered what could possibly the going on with Ms. Samantha.
A while later, the bus stopped for a break at a gas station. "Alright everyone," the driver said over the intercom "you have 20 minutes and after that we will be back on the road." As the mass of people filed out of the bus, Seto took this time to stretch. "Thank the gods." He said under his breath. "I don't suppose we could get something to eat?" Auknadin suggested. "I am sure there is something around here." Mahad said. The priests followed the rest of the Greyhound bus group into the gas station.
"All these snacks look interesting." Karim said. "What does this one say Mahad?" He held out a small cracker bag towards him. "It says Cheez-it's… seems to be a salty cheese flavored snack." "I shall grab a couple for later." Karim said, picking up a few extra. "These are strange drinks..." Seto said, looking through a glass door into the cooler. Ms. Samantha did not have any of these at her home. Debating what he should get, Seto noticed a symbol on a few drinks. That's the symbol that was on the building were bakura attacked. He thought. Unable to read what the glass bottles and cans said, and too proud to ask Mahad, Seto asked an old lady from the bus next to him. "Excuse me ma'am, but I cannot read your language. Could you tell me what this is?" The short, old woman next to him leaned closer and over the rim of her classes. "My dear boy, that is Starbucks coffee." "Coffee?" The old woman looked at him. "Where are you from? I've never met a young man who has not had coffee before." " … I am from Egypt." He said. The old woman chuckled happily. "While I'll be! I've never met an Egyptian!" The old woman opened the glass door and took out one of the cans of coffee. "It is an energy sort of drink." "That sounds useful," he replied "I should get more for my companions." "Anything else you need, dearie?" The old lady beamed at him.
Once everyone had their things together, they followed the example of the others and brought their items to the service desk, where Karim paid for it with a credit card Ms. Samantha had given him. The cashier had a questioning look on his face when Karim signed his name in the ancient Egyptian, but didn't say anything. Back on the bus, Seto thanked the old woman again as she returned to her seat with her husband. With everyone seated, the bus began on its way. The priests divided up the food they bought. "Shada… Shada!" Karim snapped Shada out of his gaze out the window. "Hm?" "Here." Karim passed him a drink. "… Thank you." He said taking it. Without opening it, Shada returned to looking out the window. "You're troubled." Stated Mahad, from the other side of Karim. "What? Oh, yes." "I am sure that Ms. Samantha will be alright." Mahad reassured him. "Yes," Karim nodded "Bakura thinks Ms. Samantha is his ally. It would be a disadvantage to him to reject her help." "I am aware of that," Shada said, taking the cell phone out of his pocket "However He has already laid his hands on her once, I sensed hit immediately when Ms. Samantha returned the other night." Shada stared at the phone in his hand. "Just because his sees her as an ally of sorts does not mean that she is safe."
The drive was fairly quiet. Other than a few questions bakura asked Sam, neither of them talked. Sam was too nervous to start up a conversation, so she let it be. "Interesting." Bakura said. "Y-yes?" "These trees your country has are enormous." Bakura opened the window to look up. The two had just entered the forest area. "I have s-set up a place where we can stay the night. A cabin." Sam said. "It's about half way in."
About an hour later, Sam pulled up to a wood cabin. They were deep in the forest, so it was highly unlikely to find any other people coming along, and no other cars were allowed down the dirt road she had to take to get off the regular path, except for who had reserved the cabin. "It is about time." Bakura said, stretching. Using the key she was given at the forest entrance gate, Sam opened the cabin door. "This will have to do for now." She said. The cabin had two bedrooms, a bath and a very tiny kitchen. Sam liked how the windows were nice and wide; letting lots of light in. At almost the exact moment she thought this, Bakura went at closed the curtains on all of them. "Ahh," he sighed. "Much better." I should have known he'd do that. Sam went and put her case in the other room. When she went back to Bakura's room, his bag was still there, but he was gone. Crap! I let him out of my sight for one second, and he's gone! "Bakura!" She called out the door. No answer. Looking around, she spotted him on a branch high up in the nearest tree. "The view from up here is astounding…" He called down to her. "It is a Pity we don't have these in Egypt." Bakura then looked down to her. "I'm going to stay up her for a while. Make some dinner." It wasn't a question. "O-okay."
Ms. Samantha had written down directions for the priests to follow in order to attain the room she had reserved for them at the Inn. Reading them once more, Mahad led the group to the front desk, as the rest of the Greyhound bus group parted the other way and disappeared to their own, already acquired rooms. Once they had the keys, the priests headed up: Third floor. Opening the door, the group of 6 filed in, with Seto closing and locking the door behind them. Isis flipped the light switch. "It is a bit small for all of us," Auknadin said, looking around "but it shall do just fine for now." Karim set their suitcase on top of a dresser. "Do you suppose Ms. Samantha is here yet?" He said. "She said she would call us, to arrange a meeting once she arrived." Commented Shada, glancing at the phone in his hand. "Well until then we should prepare for the spell we must conjure." Seto said. "You have finished the plans I assume, Mahad." "Yes." He replied "I finished just before we arrived." "Then let's get to work, and wait for Ms. Samantha." said Karim.
A few sandwiches were all she could muster up, but Sam figured it was enough. Besides, she figured it would allow her enough time to text the priests about a meeting place. It's too risky to call, bakura might hear me if he comes down from the tree before I realize it.
Sam poured two glasses of orange juice, which she had stopped to get along with the food before going into the forest area. Reaching into her pocket, same pulled out a small bottle. I have to make sure he doesn't follow me tonight. Using a spoon, Sam ground up three sleeping pills she had taken from home, and stirred it into Bakura's glass. I figured the only way we could capture him was if he was knocked out, but this works too. Putting both glasses on the counter, Sam pondered. I need to let him take the glass. He might not trust me if I hand it to him. Considering Bakura's personality, Sam poured more juice into Bakura's glass, so it was visible that it had more. I hope this works.
It did. Bakura took the glass that had more juice. He ended up not caring too much for the sandwiches, but ironically liked the orange juice. An hour later, he felt tired. Really tired. "Well I guess I shall take my leave." He said, getting up from the table and heading to the bedroom. Stopping, he looked over his shoulder to Sam. "Care to join me?" Bakura said with a most evil grin. Sam turned bright red. Her fear must have shown in her face, because bakura began to laugh. "I'm just kidding, you know." He began to go back down the hall. "I'm too tired for anything of that sort." Sam waited an hour after that. Bakura was out like a light within ten minutes, but Sam wanted to make sure the medication had a firm hold on him before she left. Putting her shoes on, Sam slipped out the door.
The priests had already began to work. Halfway between the inn and the cabin, there was a slightly more open area between the trees. It was secluded, and big enough for the work that needed to be done. The bigger openings between the trees let in enough moonlight to see by, and made it look like a calming space. In the middle of it, stood the 6 priests. "Alright." Mahad said. "We will each need to activate the portal from a different side." He directed the other 5 to their places. "At each of your stations, I need you to carve these symbols into the ground." Mahad showed them a diagram he had made. The 5 set to work, and Mahad went back to the center, to map out the rest of the symbols. "What now?" Isis called from her spot. "You will need to put one drop of your blood on each symbol." The priests bit their index fingers, and did so. "I hear something." Seto said, hushing the others. They then spotted Sam, just barely noticeable off the edge of their area. Shada was closest. He walked hurriedly over to her and grabbed her shoulders. "Are you alright? He asked sternly. "Huh? Yes, I'm fine." "He didn't do anything to you, did he?" "What? No-no, I'm fine Shada." He breathed a sigh of relief. "Good. I'm glad you are safe, Ms. Samantha. I was concerned because he had already touched you before, and I didn't know if he would do you harm. Bakura is hardly the polite type." "…How did you know he touched me?" Sam asked. "I was able to sense his power around you when you returned that night." Shada said. "Oh." Sam felt awkward and guilty again. The others began to walk towards her. "I'm glad you made it here safely, Ms. Samantha." Mahad said. "Are you certain that you were not followed?" Auknadin asked. "I'm positive." She said. "I drugged his drink, so he shouldn't be up until late tomorrow morning." Sam felt quite proud of herself, and smiled when she said it. "I'm surprised he trusts you so much already." Shada commented. He then realized he was still holding her shoulders, so Shada let her go. "No one knows how that deranged thief thinks." scoffed Seto, crossing his arms. "There is a lot to do by the end of tonight." Said Mahad. "Now that you're her Ms. Samantha, let us get to work." "Alright," Sam said, following Mahad towards the center, "tell me what to do."