Chapter Fifty-Six
56
Connar had her arms folded over the doll that held 's soul within it as she sobbed across Jaden's bed. The doll that Camula so carelessly tossed away like garbage after she had won, with a total lack of respect for a Duelist who fell dueling his best. No matter what anyone tried to say to calm her, she only sobbed harder next to the brunette who had to be forced back into bed rest for leaving too early just in time to watch their beloved teacher fall.
Norika watched her with concern, not knowing how to react. she lifted her hand in hopes to try and pat her back, or hold her trembling shoulders...but she just couldn't bring himself to do it. Yet, Chazz Princeton, who sat with her as she sobbed heavily into Jaden, who lay unwell in bed, was still able to place gentle pats on her head and stroke her long pink hair in a tender manner.
"Don't you worry, Connie." Jaden said softly,"Camula's gonna get it sooner or later!" he sighed,"Taking the spirit key is one thing...but Crowler's soul too!?"
"Jay..." Syrus sighed,"You really oughta rest."
So...
Norika blinked.
Now EVen Creepy Crowler is left without a soul...
She sighed and glanced at the doll in Connar's arms, that held his creepy likeness and shivered.
Still...something doesn't add up...
Chazz thought to himself as he held his Spirit key in his hand, shifting his eyes between it and the sobbing pink haired girl with the broken spirit.
Didn't that Vampire chick call Connar Something?
He blinked.
"Spirit Caller"...
He thought to himself and sighed.
Something doesn't feel right about that...
He blinked.
What even is a Spirit Caller?
He asked himself.
And what does it have to do with Connar?
And More than that...
He sighed as he rested his eyes on the grieving girl who trembled underneath his now limp palm.
What does it even mean... for Connar, to be one?
He blinked.
I get the feeling there's a lot more at hand here beyond just this threat of "Shadow Riders"...
"What's more..." Bastion said softly, calling the attention of everyone in the infirmiry,"Now that she has Crowler's Spirit Key, she only needs six more to obtain those beast cards." he stated.
"And then it won't just be our souls on the line..." said Alexis as she rested her uneasy gaze on her sleeping brother,"But the entire world."
"That's it!" Jaden snapped,"I'm dueling her!"
"You duel!? HA!" said Chazz as he tossed the bedding over Jaden's head,"You can't even win a fight with a sheet!" he stated,"Leave this to The Chazz!"
"Princeton..." Connar sniffled.
"I'm just saying that Jaden's not up to snuff right now." he said softly,"One of us is going to have to face Camula."
"And by us you mean you. Correct?" Bastion blinked,"I'm sorry Chazz but I'm not entirely convinced that you're the man for the job." he stated,"I should go."
"You!?"
"What we need is to work together!" Alexis snapped,"Protecting the remaining keys and getting Crowler's soul back is all that matters!"
A silence fell upon the group. A silence that Zane took advantage of, to quietly sneak away. Noticing his brother's departure, Syrus's curiosity piqued and he snuck his way out to follow him.
"Hey Zane..." Syrus called out as he struggled to keep up with his older brother's long strides in the hall,"Wait up!"
Zane blinked as he stopped and peeked back.
"Syrus?"
"I thought it was just agreed that we would work together, big bro!" said Syrus,"Where are you going!?"
Zane chuckled and gave a gentle smile to his younger brother.
"Rescusing Crowler's soul...and protecting the remaining keys..." Zane said softly,"That's what matters right?"
"I guess..." Syrus sighed, he didn't like where this was going.
"Then little brother...you know exactly where I'm going."
XXXXX
Chazz had carried Connar back to her room and placed her gently onto her bed. with the help of Norika.
"Are you sure you're all right with this?" he asked her, "I don't mind having her stay with me if you need some space."
"Oh please." Norika huffed, "My head may not be where I want it to be right now." she stated, "But I still know better than to leave a gireving female to stay at a man's residence!"
Chazz twitched.
"Are you suggesting that I would take adavantge of Connar while she's this emotional!?" he huffed.
"Well...you did try to grab her tits while she was asleep in the ifirmary." she leered, "...just sayin'..."
Chazz blushed and let out an exasperated huff.
"I told you!" he snapped, "That's NOT what it was!" he stated, "You wouldn't get it-"
He tried to retrieve the doll from her hold, but she wasn't letting go for the anything. Even as she slept.
"Ah well..." Chazz sighed,"With a vice grip like that, Crowler's Soul doll couldn't be anywhere safer than Connar's arms." he scoffed and gave an awkward smile.
Dr. Crowler was...eccentric to say the least. He even weirded Connar out. Yet somehow seeing her still care this much...even for him... was sort of touching. He chuckled and left quietly retreating back to his room to strategize.
The time passed slowly, and Connar snored softly, cuddling against the soul doll that she still grasped tightly in her clutches.
"C...Connar..." a voice began to echo softly around her, disturbing her slumber to a point where she struggled to open her eyes.
"C...Connar...please...!"
"Huh?" she blinked and rubbed her eyes as she tried to listen,"What? Who is that..."
"C-Connar, my dear..." it was a familiar screetching voice,"Y-You're squeezing me...too...tightly, child!"
She gasped.
B-But that's...Dr. Crowler's voice...
Her hold loosened and she slowly lowered her head down to the doll in her arms.
"Whew...finally!" he stated,"You've got quite some grip on you, my girl!"
Connar's eyes blinked and widened slowly.
"What? What is it?" he asked,"Why are you making that face? What-wait-N-NO!"
"AIIEEEYAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!"
Norika gasped and shot upright.
"Connar, what is it!?" she asked.
"CONNAR!" Chazz called out as he leapt from his bed and darted for her room toward her scream. With a hard shove of his shoulder he busted open her door and found her quivering in tears in, wrapped up like a potato in her blankets with the Crowler Doll sprawled across the floor.
" What happened!?" Chazz asked as he ran to her aide and put his arms around her checking for any form of attack on her.
"I have no idea!" said Norika, "She just woke up screaming, threw Crowler's doll on the floor and cowered under her sheets." she blinked, "...Not that I blame her...That Crowler Doll is kind of creepy."
"I-It's...alive...!" Connar whimpered.
"What!?" Norika blinked with confusion as the pinkette pointed a trembling hand toward the doll on her floor.
"Not to worry boss~! I'll check things out for your lady!" said Ojama as he did a little jig onto the scene.
"Wh- She's not my-" he blushed,"Just handle it you bug!" he huffed as he pulled the girl in closer to his chest.
"Who are you talking to!?" Niruka snapped.
"Don't worry about it, I'm not talking to you." said Chazz.
"Hmmm..." The yellow creature pondered as he bounded on the plush item on the floor.
"HEY! FRAGILE HERE!" 's voice cracked through startling Chazz causing Conner to let out another terrified shriek.
"Girl, what is WRONG with you!?" Norika asked.
"Boss! Connie is right!" Yellow stated,"This doll's alive!"
"Say what!?" Chazz asked as he took the item into his hand and examined it closely.
"Would you mind easing up on your grip a tad!?" Crowler snapped,"You're wrinkling my coat!"
"Oh yeah...that's Dr. Crowler all right." Chazz scoffed.
"I had that...thing in my bed with me!" Connar squealed and gripped tightly to Chazz's coat.
"Glad to see that you are NOW realizing how creepy it is." said Norika.
"How dare you call me a thing!? AND CREEPY!?
That's so rude!" Crowler huffed,"It's not my fault you're an aggressive cuddler!"
"No! It just makes you a pervert for not saying anything SOONER!" Chazz huffed as he squeezed the doll tightly in his grip while it created very pained sounds.
"Okay! You're right! I'm sorry...!"
Suddenly, something else caught the spirit's attention while Chazz fought heroicly against the creepy pervy doll to protect Connar's honor. As Yellow took flight outside he let out a startled shriek at all the bats that had begun swarming around in the air around their dorm.
"Huh!?" Chazz blinked and grabbed Connar's wrist , tugging her along outside.
"Princeton!? What gives!?" Connar squeaked.
"There's no way I'm leaving you alone again with that pervert doll!" he stated and they both looked up and gasped as the number of bats seemed to be increasing.
"Ah...!" Connar gasped as her wrist that once held the bite throbbed and her eyes took a glow once again.
"Again!?" Chazz gasped.
"Woah...what's up with her eyes!?" asked Norika, "Are they...glowing!?"
"Apparently...she's seeing something." said Chazz, "What is it Connar?" he asked, "What do you see?"
There was displayed image of a familiar Obelisk Blue student standing alone against a swarm of blood suckers.
"...Zane..."
"Zane?" Norika blinked, "What about Zane?"
"It's starting again..." Chazz huffed as he tightened his grip on Connar's hand,"Let's run!" he stated, "Norika, get back inside and lock all the windows and doors, got it!?"
"What!?" she blinked, "But...hey...Chazz!?"
Taking the lead, Chazz rushed into their decent into the darkness that awaited them..held tightly to Connar, hand in hand.
To Be Continued