"Sorry for the outburst. Please, I'll be okay.
Let's keep this our secret.
Who'd believe it anyway?
We'll pretend it never happened, file it and forget."
(School of Rock)
I don't know when I stop running. Eventually, I collapse against a wall in a hallway near the exit- the one nearest to the garage where the d-wheels are kept.
Jack crashed his D-Wheel, aka the Wheel of Fortune. The one he named. After me. My Father- who was a former Signer, the FIFTH Signer nobody knew the existence of- had his arm cut off and gave it to my Uncle, and was now some kind supervillain bent on getting rid of the Signers.
Yusei. My best friend. Aki. Just some sixteen-year-old kid in a cult. Ruka. She hadn't even started high school yet. Jack. My…
I'm entangled in some kind of web that I never asked for. Holy fuck, I never wanted any of this.
My thoughts won't stop racing. My heart is about to explode in my chest. The edges of my pentacles necklace dig against my fingers painfully, but so far it's been the only reminder that this reality I'm living in actually exists and I haven't been placed in some version of the afterlife where I'm being eternally punished.
"Hey! It's you!" A cheerful voice is running up to me. "Kallen Rikiya! Listen- can you tell me anything about the glowing marks found on-…oh."
It's Carly. The reporter from earlier. She stops beside me, her hand outstretched nervously. Her large eyes could be briefly seen through the large glasses she wore. "Are…are you okay?"
Gods, I probably look like a mess. I swipe across my face with the back of my hand. The glove I wore feels irritating against my bare skin. My thoughts are still running a mile a minute to the point I'm not really sure if I'm conscious or not.
"No," I respond honestly.
Carly stares at me. I can see in her mind her thoughts were probably jumping from one conclusion to another.
I don't see her move. Her arms are around my neck in a chokehold that was, I assume, meant to be a hug. I raise my hands in the air in surrender.
Holy shit. That brace of the impact forced me to let out a breath I didn't know I was holding. And then. I was gripping on for dear life- like if I let go, I would fall into an ocean of my negative thoughts and just. Drown. Drown in them. Drown in the knowledge that I was born from a villain you'd only see in mythology. And that.
I could be the same.
"I'm sorry," I whisper into her shoulder. I wasn't. Apologizing to her. Maybe I'm apologizing to Yusei. Or Jack. Or maybe I was apologizing for my existence.
"N-No I'm sorry!" Carly practically shouts. "I, oh wow, I shouldn't have asked anything. That was my bad! I-I didn't know!"
I wanted to laugh. My face felt swollen. I didn't want to let go. The fabric from her vest felt comforting against my chin. Still, I forced myself too.
"…Sorry," I look away after I detached myself. "About. Your glasses." I pick at the dried blood on my gloves. "Never met that man before in my life. But. That was a dick move."
"I made someone get them down for me. Don't worry about it!" Carly smiles at me kindly. I couldn't help but hug my body. "Are…are you okay?" Carly seemed worried about me. Me. Someone she only met once before and probably put her through a few moments of hell. "Do you maybe wanna- if you're okay with it- talk about what happened?"
"Don't think I can," I try to smile. I feel like it comes out more of a grimace. "Dunno if you know. I'm Godwin's niece. Just found out stuff I…don't…" I swallow. "I don't think I was ready for it, you know? Top secret. Bullshit." I slowly look up to get a good look at her face. "Jack. D'you know if he's alright?"
"Huh?" She seems momentarily confused. "Jack…? OH! Jack Atlas! Yes!" She pumps her fist into the air. "He's okay! He got carried off on a stretcher. But Yusei, he ran away before any of us could talk to him, and Godwin-"
I cut her off before she could ramble on. In my hand, I held a ticket for Jack's movie premiere I had stored in my pocket. As a reminder. Both to remember Jack and the fucking movie premiere date.
Carly pauses for a moment. "What?" The words tumble out of her mouth. "Is that-"
"It's yours. Yusei won't be there. You can get your questions from Godwin, Jack, whoever else," I tell her. "It's for letting me break down on you."
I expect her to tell me she can't accept it. Instead, she reaches out and almost hungrily takes the ticket out of my hands. I want to laugh, but honestly, I'm too drained. "VICTORY!" She holds up her camera with a foolish grin.
While she's absorbed in that, I walk away. My hands go to my deck. VIII. Strength. I'll see her again, I think. Carly Nagisa.
This card stands for her.
My phone rings. Six missed calls. Yikes. I ignore it this call. I just. Can't. I can't. Not right now. Lucy texted. Yeager stopped them from leaving before Jack and Yusei's duel. They were on their way to my house. Okay. Can't go back there either. I'm not ready. Rise wants to see me. Elodie sent something. Ike. Delete.
Yusei…He left a voicemail on Lucy's phone.
Sorry. Not now. Not when I can't. Think. I text Lucy if she can grab my D-Wheel. She responds instantly. I love her. I love her for not questioning. I love how she just. Knows. Knows that I'm not okay.
I don't know where I'm walking now. I'm now out of the KaibaDome and walking along the sidewalk to nothing. I feel a raindrop hit my cheek. For a moment, I'm not sure if it's my own tears, but a second falls.
Fuck me. It's raining.
I'm soaked to the bone within seconds. I can barely see as I start to run to what I hope is underneath an awning. I'm shivering at this point as I watch the rain drip down. My arms move to hug my body. I only now notice I'm leaning against the door of a closed diner. Ha.
A red vehicle parks with speed directly in front of me. Then, fabric is covering my wet hair. I peek my eyes out to be face to face with…Yusei. His helmet is still over his head- like his first instinct was to help…his first instinct was to help me.
"You look cold," His words are gentle.
"Got caught in the rain," I chuckle weakly. I let what I now know to be his jacket rest over my head, with the sleeves clutching close to my body. It's warm. Barely wet. Yusei uses his gloved hand to wipe a wet tendril off my forehead. He finally takes his helmet off to set on the ground beside us. Guess he doesn't want it wet.
"Lucy called," Yusei admits. "She said- She said she was worried."
"Yeah. Sounds like her." I take a pause. "Sorry. For ghostin'. I…" I let the word leave, but nothing else comes out. I blink back tears once more. Yusei puts his arm around my shoulders. Like clockwork, we both slide against the wall and sink to the concrete below. My head rests on his shoulder.
"I saw. I saw everythin', Yus," The nickname comes out so easily as I choke back the emotions threatening to once more reach the surface.
"What?" Yusei sucks in a breath. Yet. His hand never stops rubbing circles into my arm.
"What you saw. I saw it too. In the duel. The Crimson Dragon. That town. Gone." I don't mention what I saw with my Dad. That…that's another level I just. Can't talk about it yet. "I saw it. I saw everythin'."
There's no sound except for the thundering rain. Yusei's arm tightens around my shoulders. "Do you know who the fifth Signer is?"
"Yeah," I say, and add nothing else. My tone is both dead and resolute.
Yusei doesn't ask. The only sound is the rain.
"How did we end up here?" I stare out at the plaza.
"You ran. I followed," Yusei replies wryly.
I want to laugh. "No, I mean…"
"I know what you mean." Yusei rests his head against mine. "There was one time she and I ended up in a similar situation," Yusei's voice was quiet but soothing. I couldn't help but listen. "We stole an engine off a Public Maintenance d-wheel. It started rainin'. We couldn't see and ended up taking shelter underneath an abandoned shop like this."
"Did you get caught?" It almost feels weird asking about my own past. I have to remind myself it isn't mine.
"No," Yusei shook his head. "I remember you- she- her making fun of me for just wearin' a vest. We spent all night waiting for the rain to stop."
"And then…she went out into the rain," A vague thought came into my head. "Like…this." I stood up abruptly, shoved Yusei onto his back, and shrieked, "TAG!"
And then. I ran out into the pouring rain.
The first thing I did was let the jacket fall to my shoulders and spread my arms out wide. My face was directly in the line of rain, and…I didn't care. Yusei stared at me for a moment with wide, confused blue eyes, but that sexy cross between a smirk and grin appeared in a snap. He ran with blinding speed towards me, his arm snaking around my waist, and suddenly I was in his arms. He was spinning me around. We were both laughing too loudly. For a second, I felt like I was really flying. I felt free.
He set me down on the ground with his arms still around my waist. Both of my hands were on his chest. We both had those stupidly happy grins on our faces- like nothing was wrong- like we were just those kids again running through the streets looking for scrap.
Our eyes meet. My smile turns more hesitant. He raises an eyebrow. I see his face coming closer to mine- enough so that I can see my own reflection in his eyes.
I feel an instant pulsing of pain. There's an image at the edge of my mind- a mirror reflection of what's happening now- but it's out of my reach. I…I…
Damn.
My eyes tear up as I let out a gasp. Yusei is immediately defensive, his arms moving up to grip my shoulders. "It-It hurts…" I whisper, or more moan, out the words. My hands reach my temples, but that only brings more pain. There are more flashes in my mind I can't make out. My fingers grip Yusei's jacket as I jam my face against his shirt in an attempt to make it. It go away.
He says her name. Then he swears. There's an apology. He's still talking. I can't make out the words. I can't hear anything.
I want it all to go away.
I want.
I want her to go away.
"I'm sorry," I whisper. Yusei continues to hold on to me with a tight grip. My vision is blackening in a haze of cold thoughts. "I-I'm sorry."
I'm sorry I'm not her.
It's nighttime. I'm not sure how I ended up back in my house, on my couch, but I suspect Yusei has something to do with it. I can't even properly thank the bastard because he was gone by the time I woke up.
I feel like I've called everyone in my contact list. I had to tell Rise I was alive while avoiding conversation about what happened, I had to talk to Elodie about what the fuck happened in Godwin's office, and then I had to tell Lux that no, I was not abducted. Just being a bitch. He accepted my explanation the best out of everyone. Rise had to remind me that we had an appearance at Jack's movie premiere, which I already knew. Maybe.
Lucy is sitting beside me on the fire escape. She's chattering about something involving the spirit world. I think. I'm not listening. I'm drinking my good friend, Jack- as in, Jack Daniels.
There's something crawling on my leg. I notice a spider- with my instincts automatically kicking in to swat that fucker off. I almost think that I see that damn thing glowing purple as it falls to the sidewalk below, but I contribute that to my lack of sleep and abundance of booze.
"What crawled up your ass?" Lucy snickers.
"Spider," I swear. "Did I spill anythin' on me?" I hold up the bottle of Jack.
"Permission to look at the chest, granted," Lucy gives me a once-over. I notice her shirt, white with a black fist, declaring I CAN'T BREATHE. "You're good!"
"Thank the gods. I doubt this day could've gotten any worse, but-" Before I can even finish my sentence, the front door slam. I hear Yusei's irritated huffing. Lucy and I share a look. She gestures for me to go in first, which I reluctantly do. Yusei makes a grab for my drink as soon as he sees me, and I let him. He looks like he could use it more than I do. He almost chugs that whole thing. I relinquish the thought that the drink might return and reach for another in my fridge.
"So much for your dedication to milk," I comment.
"Fuck off," Yusei spits. "I just had a goddamn shadow duel."
"What!?" Lucy reacts in a cross between a scream and a yowl. Pharaoh jumps from his position on the couch where he's obviously startled. I pick him up to hold my chunky cat in my arms, where he immediately purrs.
"Yeah. Flames. The threat of death. All because I have this," Yusei holds up his mark. I notice it's there now- permanent, unlike before when it would disappear. I wonder when that happened.
"Wack," I say because there's nothing else I could think of. "So. Does this mean all y'all are gonna keep being attacked?"
"Gods. Probably." Yusei takes another swig of my once drink. "I have a meeting with Godwin tomorrow. Somethin' about discovering my true destiny and learning what the hell I'm actually supposed to do. After that, I'm getting dropped off in Satellite."
"Why?" I raise an eyebrow.
"Save the world, I guess," Yusei shrugs.
"Aren't you supposed to have a team?" Lucy tilts her head to the side. "You know, you and the other four signers. Since there's four of you," She emphasizes the number. "Why just send one?"
"We don't even know who the fifth is," I lie. Yusei gives me a look knowing damn well I'm lying.
"Kallen could talk to Jack. Maybe he could go with you," Lucy offers for me. I shoot her a look. She grins back.
It's not a bad idea. I recognize that. I'm just thinking about how the last place I want to be is in a life or death situation with two knuckleheads arguing over a damn card game.
"I need to talk to him anyway," I scratch absentmindedly behind Pharaoh's ear. "Haven't seen him since his crash."
"Yeah…" Yusei hesitates. "Kallen," His eyes are intense. "Can you- no, will you go to Satellite? With me. When I go." He looks away with an embarrassing red tint to his cheeks. I open my mouth to speak, but no words make their way out.
"Yeah, we can!" Lucy says for me. I can breathe again. "I'll join," Lucy seems bright. "I've never been to Satellite before." She stretches her arms over her head. "Well! Glad we got that conversation out. Night!" She skips to her room where the door shuts behind her.
"That settles it, I guess," I can't describe how Yusei seems both defeated and relieved that Lucy volunteers to go with us.
"Guess so," I echo.
"I'll call you if anything happens," Yusei is staring right at me. "When I'm with Godwin tomorrow."
"Why me?" I let Pharaoh hop out of my arms and back onto the couch. "You've got other friends." Better ones.
"Yeah," Yusei agrees. "I know that if something happens, you have my back."
My heart flutters. "Yeah?"
"Yeah," He nods. With that, he turns his back to me and heads to my bathroom. I hear the shower start a second later. My knees shake. I allow myself to collapse onto my couch and finish the bottle of Jack Daniels to calm my beating heart and anxiety-filled lungs.
"Thanks for the ride, Dia."
"I can't believe you rope me into your schemes every time," Elodie groans from the driver's seat of her car. I give a mischievous grin to Rise sitting beside me, who is stifling laughter.
"So all I have to do is distract the paparazzi sitting outside so you can sneak into the hospital?" Rise blinks her pretty blue eyes at me. She agreed to my plan because she'd be the center of attention.
"No one can do it like you, babe," I wink at her. "Elodie, do you have the rest set up?"
"Yes, I'll bring in your clothes and call the limo," Elodie looks ready to bang her head against the steering wheel. "We'll be late."
"Fashionably late," Rise purrs.
"You're the main act!"
"That means, realistically, they can't start without her," I hum.
Elodie whines. "One of these days, I'm not going to be here to bail you out!"
"And I appreciate you every single second," I say sweetly. "Aight. Kill 'em, tiger," I reach across Rise to open the door for her. Rise responds by flicking her blonde hair behind her. She looked radiant in her sparkling pink dress and white heels. I knew, without a doubt in my mind, that she would steal the spotlight enough for me to slither past her undetected. If someone did catch me, they were right morons for not staring at the Beauty that is Rise Rikiya.
"See you soon, sweetie," Rise leans over and kisses my cheek with a faint pink tint to her cheeks. I blow her one more kiss as she begins to shut the door, and with her free hand, she catches it.
There's a pause. The air in the car feels…weird. Elodie is staring ahead with her knuckles tight against the steering wheel.
"You 'aight, Dia?" I lean forward and move closer to the driver's seat.
"Kal…" Elodie's tone is hesitant. "You're lying. You're lying to Rise. That, or she's lying."
"About?" I frown.
Elodie finally turns in her seat to look at me. "You said she was done with the whole magic Signer thing."
"This isn't about magic. It's about getting Jack to his party," Despite my words, I can't manage to look Elodie in the eyes.
Elodie straightens her posture. Her dark eyes narrow. "So. She doesn't know the reason then. I mean- why you want him to go to the party."
Ah. Right. Elodie would know about Godwin's plans to send Yusei to Satellite.
"Jack should be there," I look away. "No. Rise doesn't know."
"You're lying."
"She's havin' fun. I'm going to a party with her. I'm with Jack. It's what she wanted," I pick at the seat with my fingernails. "I ain't gonna ruin it by telling her."
Elodie lets out a frustrated sigh. I know, despite what I did, she won't say anything. "Just…keep me out of it, okay?" Elodie shakes her head. "Don't hurt Rise."
"Wasn't plannin' on it," Rise asked that she stay away from the magic voodoo bullshit. I'm not breaking my promise. The last thing I wanted to do was see her cry. "Did you handle everythin'?"
"I'm Godwin's assistant, not yours."
"All the same in name, yeah?" I smirk. "See you in a bit, babe."
On that note, I slip out of the car. Rise is doing her thing by distracting the paparazzi while I sneak my way to the side of the building. My fake badge is enough to slip me past unwanted security doors that would otherwise keep me out of kidnapping a celebrity such as Jackass Asshole.
That woman is there. I don't remember her name. She works for my Uncle- her blue hair the same color as her suit. Mirage? Marian?
"Jack isn't taking visitors right now," Her voice is snide once she spots me. "I'm going to have to ask you to leave."
"Overruled." I easily shoulder her out of the way to go into Jack's room. Jack is sitting up on the hospital bed. I see his eyes light up when he catches my gaze, but just as quickly he looks away out the window. I see he's watching the red carpet to his movie premiere on the small TV. His arm is in a slung. There's not even a cast on it.
"You're ridiculous," I can't help but laugh. "What'd you do- just twist it? Get a scratch?"
"You can't be in here!" The woman once again starts her screeching.
"Jack, I'm going to be in here," I tell him boldly. "Tell your dog to back off."
"I am not a dog-!"
"Mikage," The man finally speaks. Right. That was her name. I was close enough. "Leave."
The woman, Mikage, sucks in a breath only to let it back out in a hiss. She sends me one last glare before storming out. Jack still isn't looking at me. I don't like that.
The tv screen cracks. The voice of the reporter on the TV goes in and out- the sound gargling- before the entire TV set starts smoking. Jack turns to me with a glare.
"The TV quality is shit," I comment.
"If you wanted my attention, you could have asked," He rumbles.
"You would've listened?" I shake my head with a snort. I'm beside his bed in just a few strides. "Get up," I command. "We're going to the premiere. Your premiere, 'case you forgot."
"Why?" He gives me a side-eye glance.
"I'm not taking myself," I state. "Gods, all you're doing is moping in some shitty hospital room Uncle is paying for. You lost." I sit beside his bed and take his hand in mine. My voice becomes increasingly softer. "I lost. Get the hell over it."
I have his attention now. I see, no- feel, his thumb sliding gently over my hand in soothing motions.
"You're still the King," I murmur. "You're still Jack Atlas. This is your movie premiere. I never knew you to be a coward."
I see that smile of his. The same one that makes my body feel otherworldly. It's contagious to the point I feel my own smile- a genuine one- stretch across my features. I have to distract myself by moving a piece of hair behind my ear.
"You didn't come sooner," Jack is always the one who notices these things about me. "Godwin told you something. I take it that you ran."
"Yeah," I let out a breath. "Some shit I didn't wanna know." I give him a pleading look. "Later. Please."
I don't say please often. Jack nods easily.
"I'm coming in!" A voice on the other side of the door announces. Elodie enters with two large bags. She hands them both to me, which I toss onto Jack's bed.
"What is this?" Jack picks up the bag with a frown.
"Your suit," I begin my journey to lock myself for the next ten minutes into the bathroom with Elodie in tow. "Put it on."
Jack chuckles. "You've thought of it all."
"I'm kidnapping you," I smirk.
"Weren't you the one afraid of what the media would say?"
"Let 'em talk," My hand is on the doorknob. I don't say I'm doing him a favor. I'm hoping this will distract the media from his champion title loss. "Be back, champ."
"Need help?" He has a smirk that makes me want to shove him against a wall. I want to reply-
"No, she does not!" Elodie yelps loud enough to remind us of her presence. "No peeking! Got that?!" She wags her finger at Jack before shoving me inside the bathroom and slamming the door behind her. "Gods!" She turns to me with a glare. "If you're gonna make out with him, wait until I'm gone!"
"I don't know your kinks," I roll my eyes.
"Not that," She squeaks on the word. "If I wanted to see my best friend shag someone in a hospital-…No, there's no good way to finish that sentence," She shakes her head as she pulls out my heels from the bag and hangs the dress against the shower rod.
"Prude," I tease jokingly. "Did you-"
"The car is waiting out front, yes," Elodie cuts me off just as she turns her back to me when I start to undress. "I bet Rise is gossiping about Jack's return now."
"That'll get his ego inflated," I smirk. I reach for the dress and start to slip it over my head. "Zip?" My tone is cheeky. I hear Elodie behind me as I reach for her bag and start to touch up my makeup.
"You look stunning," Elodie murmurs. The dress is zipped. I can see her smiling in the mirror.
"I know," I touch up my red lipstick. The dress itself is sleeveless, sleek, form-fitting with a sweetheart neckline, and drags behind me just slightly. The dramatic part is the elongated slit that drags in a diagonal up to my hip- exposing most of my right leg. I carefully slip on the purple heels that Elodie packed. I nod at my reflection in the mirror. Yeah. This would work. My pentacles necklace sits comfortably around my neck on a new chain where it belonged- fully on display.
Game time. I check one last time in the mirror before exiting the bathroom, and-
I stop. Full stop. Jack is fixing his jacket to where it could rest comfortably around his shoulders. His suit was white. White jacket, white pants, white vest- but with a black undershirt that matched my dress. He still wore his necklace, but I noticed now he wore another chain with it. His sigma ring that matched mine was on a slighter shorter chain. I couldn't help but smile.
I wasn't the only one who was staring. Jack was giving me a once-over look. I can see his lips quirking up in a genuine smile. His purple eyes were alight.
"Hey," I say.
"Hey," He says back. He offers me his arm- his good one. I step forward and loop both of my arms through his. In my heels, I'm eye-level with his nose. He smiles down at me. Slowly, almost cautiously, he bends his head down to bring his lips to mine. It doesn't last long enough.
"The car is waiting!" Elodie yells from the bathroom.
Right. The movie premiere.
"Wait," Something isn't sitting right with me. I reach towards my bag where my cards are. Dark Signers were after Yusei. That meant- maybe that meant…
"Something's bothering you," I hear Jack rumble behind me.
"Somethin' like that," I agree. My hand draws a single card.
X. Wheel of Fortune. Reversed.
Fucking shit. This stands for unnecessary risk. Something bad- something with bad luck- will happen. Failure.
"What did the spirits say?" Jack sounds amused. He's teasing me.
"Put my deck in your coat pocket," I hand him my deck pouch without another thought. "Keep it on you."
Jack raises an eyebrow. "I didn't expect you to trust me with this," Jack accepts my deck with a more serious lilt.
"If I can't trust you," I step forward with a soft smile. "I don't think I could trust anyone."
Jack looks like he wants to say something. He may have if it hadn't been for Elodie's loud cough. "The red carpet is missing its star," Jack declares. "I won't deprive them any longer."
"That's what it is," I snort wryly. He gives me a look, but I know it's playful. I'd rather shove him onto the bed at this moment, but I allow him to escort me out of the hospital room. I turn back to wave at Elodie. I catch her smiling.
I can't help but smile back.
I know she's happy for me.
Smile. Pose. Repeat.
I always found this part of the parties to be trivial. When I was with Rise, I was mostly ignored. No one wanted to hear from the best friend of an idol. They wanted to hear from the idol herself.
I guess I can't say people don't want to hear from me now- not after my stint in the Fortune Cup, and not with my arm wrapped firmly through Jack's. He's been doing a good job of waving off questions.
The movie itself?
Can't say I remember a single thing. After they announced Jack Atlas was born in the Tops of Neo Domino City, I knew it was just bullshit propaganda my uncle created to boost his own reputation rather than to help Jack.
Also, I wasn't even mentioned in it. The nerve.
Jack was off speaking to reporters regarding questions about the movie. I can't say I was interested in anything other than the glass of red wine I was sipping.
"H-Hey!" I hear a voice beside me. I look down to see the reporter from early today- Carly something- wearing one of the ugliest blue dresses I've ever seen in my life.
"You…came," I had to avoid wrinkling my nose. In the background, Rise's singing could be heard. "Did you talk to anyone?"
"I couldn't get close to Jack! All the other reporters pushed me away," Carly whined. "Maybe…you could introduce me?" I could see her wide pleading eyes behind her glasses.
"Maybe," I'm amused. "Is this your first party?"
"Is it that obvious?" Carly grimaces.
"Yeah," A smile tugs on my lips. I felt a pull to this girl I couldn't explain. Was it because my cards told me she would be important to me- or was it because her energy felt so similar to mine? She wasn't a psychic- but I could tell we were similar in our abilities to read fortunes. Was that it? "Next time, I'll take you shopping for a dress."
Carly jumps in the air. "This is my prom dress!"
"From what- 2008?" I have to hide my smile as I take another drink from my glass. "It's a joke," I assure her after seeing her panicked expression.
"I don't think I could get used to this," Carly admits to me. "It's…a lot of people. You know? I feel like I disappear."
"You'll stand out one day," I promise her. "People will be linin' up to give interviews."
"You think so?" Carly seems awestruck.
"Yeah," I nod. I try to say something else, but I'm pushed by a tall blonde woman in a red dress screeching Carly's name. This bitch is lucky I didn't spill my drink on the expensive ass dress I paid for with Jack's card.
"Angela," Carly is using that fake nice voice you only use when you're trying to be polite to someone you despise. The camera guy behind her must have been filing for her. She's another reporter.
"Oh!" Angela finally notices me. "You're…You're…!" It seems she's having trouble remembering my name. "Aren't you Jack Atlas's alleged girlfriend?"
Wow. What a long title.
"Could I ask a few questions?" She holds her microphone up too close to my face. "Is it true Jack Atlas is really from Satellite and Director Godwin is trying to cover it up?"
"How would I know?" I lift my chin in the air. "I'm just the girlfriend. You watched the same damn movie I did about his life."
Angela didn't like that response. That was fine. I didn't like her. "There's nothing you want to say about him?" She presses.
I said a word I heard Lucy repeat often around the house. Angela seemed confused, which is fair. I'm not sure if I said shit in Danish or if I said gazebo.
"Angela, leave her alone!" Carly hisses. "She's not interested in answering your questions!"
"That's not true!" Angela responds flippantly.
"No, it's true," I interrupt. My eyes turned to the cameraman. With a slight smirk, I saw the camera begin to spark. The guy swears before he drops the camera onto the ground.
"You idiot!" Angela shrieks. I don't waste time grabbing Carly's hand and pulling her away from the spectacle.
"You…did you do that?" Carly sounds confused. "You're like- you're like that girl from the tournament! The Black Rose Witch!"
"Yeah, but no, I guess?" I let go of her hand. I don't confirm or deny I'm the one who broke the camera. "He might've lost his grip. Trust me. I ain't no Black Rose."
"As if that wasn't obvious," A new voice purred. My eyes turned to see a beautiful woman- Misty Lola- the famous model. Rise had spoken about her before.
"Kallen Rikiya," Misty Lola says my name purposefully. "A pleasure."
"The pleasure is mine," My voice monotone. This vibe I'm getting from her is…weird. I don't like it. Her aura is one I've never seen- a dark green- with something…not there. Not complete.
"And you are?" Misty steps toward Carly until she's directly in front of her. "What an interesting face. May I?" Carly tries to protest as Misty takes off Carly's glasses. Misty has Carly's face in her fingers by her chin. "Yes…I can see it. There's a darkness within you."
"Wh-What?" Carly tries to squirm out of Misty's grin.
"I tell fortunes by reading faces," Misty informs us. I can't help the snort that escapes. "Is that amusing?" Misty raises an eyebrow to me.
"Of course not," I'm trying my best not to sound mocking. I don't think it's working.
"I heard you tell fortunes with the traditional method. With cards," Misty turns her attention to me. I don't answer. "I see what's waiting for you. There's a new road waiting."
"The path of the Fool. I'm aware," My tone is harsher than I meant.
"May I have this dance?" Misty offers her hand out to me. I want to say no.
My eyes drift to Carly's. I mouth the words, "Be back." My glass of wine is dreadfully handed over to the passing by waiter.
And I turn to Misty. "Yes," I take her hand.
She takes the lead. Her arm is around my waist, the other clasped firmly in my hand.
"What do you want?" I'm fully aware Misty only asked so she could talk to me alone.
"You are quick to assume I want something," Misty puts an emphasis on the word with a serene smile.
I pause to collect my thoughts. There's a nagging memory at the edge of my mind- but I can't seem to collect it. I hear Rise's voice- her smooth high notes. "You remind me of the siren, Circe," I say without much thought.
Misty seems intrigued. "Explain it to me why."
I open my mouth. And close it. I don't know why I said that.
"Oh. Right," Misty frowns with what I could only describe as sympathy. "I heard about your unfortunate loss of memories."
"From who?" I fire back. The media never reported it. There…shouldn't have been any record.
Misty smiles once more as we turn. I didn't notice before how graceful she was. I thought, for a moment, I saw that glowing spider again- the one from the night before. I blink. And it's gone.
Holy shit, I'm going insane.
"What do you want?" I narrow my eyes at Misty.
"All I can say is that I wanted to see what sort of person you may be," Misty chuckles. "As you know, I know all I need from reading someone's face."
"And mine?" I don't take my eyes off of her.
"It seems you are stuck in the middle of the road- with two paths laid out," Misty recites her fortune. "A new path has opened, one that came from because of a decision made in the past." Misty leans in close.
She says that name.
I let go of her hands with what I assume to be a stunned look. Misty's gaze is neutral- obviously gauging my reaction.
I close my eyes to compose myself. "How do you-" When I open my eyes, she's disappeared. I'm left alone with a stupid expression for cameras to capture.
My thoughts are spinning rapidly. She knew something I didn't. At this point, there's too many obstacles in my life.
Why do I feel guilty?
Gods. I need a drink.
"Found you," I hear a voice next to my ear. I jump, my hand flying up, but it's caught mid-air by-
"Jack," I feel like I sound winded. My eyes are too wide.
He catches the look on my face. He steps closer, his hand tightening around mine. "What happened?" His voice is low.
Me. I happened. I didn't ask you to come because I wanted to be with you. I asked you to come to convince you to continue your journey as a Signer and possibly kill yourself battling the Dark Signers.
I'm a piece of shit.
"Just...thought I remembered something," I whisper with a bitter smile. "I didn't."
The song ends. A new one is starting. Jack pulls me closer. I can see his grimace that he couldn't wrap his arm around my waist with his injured arm wrapped, but I still place my other hand on his shoulder.
"You owe me a dance," Jack growls.
"We're dancing now," I smile genuinely this time. "Enjoyin' the party?"
"Now I am," The corner of his lips turns up. "Kallen." He leans his face in closer.
"I have something to tell you," We both say at the same time. The tension feels lifted. I end up chuckling. "You first," I say.
"Thank you," Jack sways in beat to the song. "You're the one who made me come."
"Wow. Jack Atlas, thanking someone," I tease. "I should call the paparazzi over."
"I'm serious," Jack's eyes are intense. "I lost the tournament. I realize I did win what mattered most."
"What?" I blink.
Jack smirks. "Isn't it obvious?"
"Shut up," I roll my eyes.
"No," Jack took his hand that was wrapped around mine and brought the back of my hand to his lips. "You, Kallen, will always be something more to me." He purposefully says my name. "I won't picture my future without you."
"I'm not that great," I murmur. "Gods, Jack. I'll just ruin you too."
"That's a risk I'm willing to take," Jack shakes his head. I can't help but stare at him. "You're my one. If I'm the King, you-"
"Don't you dare finish that," I giggle. We're smiling at each other.
I feel…happy.
It feels like there's no one but the two of us dancing. Above it all, I hear Rise's singing.
You're just too good to be true.
Can't take my eyes off of you.
"Follow me," My mouth tilts upward. Jack doesn't respond with any more than a curiously raised eyebrow. I lead him up the grand staircase onto the rooftop.
No one was up here. Perfect.
I yank the collar of Jack's shirt to pull his lips down to mine. Jack seems startled at first, but quickly gets the hint.
Then Jack lets out a hiss of pain. I step back, confused, until I remember Jack's arm.
"Shit, sorry," I look up at him in worry. "You 'kay?"
"Damn thing," Jack looks pissed. I can't help but laugh at his pissed-off expression.
"We'll have more chances," I promise him. Jack looks at me.
"Oh?" He has a wolfish smirk.
"After all this is over," I tell him. "We'll figure this out. We'll-" I cut myself off from the sound of a door opening and closing. My eyes turn behind Jack to see who it could be.
I see the blue dress. Shit. I left Carly after I told her I would introduce her to Jack.
Her aura…that's not Carly. I step in front of Jack and block him.
Carly's eyes are purple. She's not wearing her glasses. On her arm is a glowing mark. A duel disk is brandished.
"Jack Atlas," Her voice is different. Lower. Controlled. Not at all like the awkward high-pitch, I heard earlier in the night. "I'm here for a duel."
A/N:
Thank you to grapejuice101 for naming this chapter!
AND HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO DELILAHAZURE, HOPE YOU ARE FEELING 22
Heads up- updates may be slow because of ygo5dsmonth2020. Check out my profile for the upcoming prompts that will be happening every day for a month starting July 7th!
And, if you have any questions you want to ask me regarding me, my story, my characters, or Kallen, go ahead and ask! I'll be answering questions for Day 10
xoxo