This Chapter Contains . . .
Violence: Explicit Gore
Language: None
Drugs: None
Nudity: None
Sexual Content: None
Edit Update: 10/14/2015
1st draft with little to no editing.
Yugi stumbled through the hallway, his head spinning as he felt like the world was swaying underneath his feet. It was obvious that he needed to rest, but doing so would mean his demise. It wouldn't take long for Marik to catch up with him, so he needed to either find a way out or a place to hide. But so far all of the doors he came across were locked.
"Let me help." His other self said, and a moment later one of the doors creaked open.
Yugi wasn't sure how he had accomplished it, but he was too lightheaded to ask questions. And besides, his throat was still hoarse from the poison, which hurt even when he breathed too hard.
Somehow he managed to reach the now open door and walk into what looked like a lab room before finally collapsing, his legs unable to carry his weight any longer. And as he lay there on the cold tile floor, he heard the door close and lock behind him. How was his other self doing this?
"Don't thank me." The other Yugi said before a fluffy brown creature with large eyes and clawed hands appeared in front of the young boy's face.
He nodded, unable to say his thanks, and the small Monster replied with the same gesture before it disappeared from sight. Yugi would have acted surprised by this strange occurrence if his insides weren't burning.
"You can't stay there."
"I know." Yugi managed to croak out before attempting to get back on his feet.
The door being locked didn't mean that he was safe. He had to find a place to rest until he had the strength to escape. With much effort, Yugi used his shaking arms to push himself up and he leaned against a counter with surgical instruments on it for support. Now where could he hide?
The door was blown off its hinges, narrowly missing Yugi as it flew past, and he stared at the creature that stood where the door had been moments before. It was a humanoid with pitch black skin and wearing purple and yellow armor with ax blades on the sides of its helmet and bracers that allowed it to wield six sword-like weapons. It disappeared before Yugi could fully register what was going on and a tall figure came into view: Marik.
"There you are, Pharaoh."
Marik shorted the distance between him and his target. Yugi tried to back away but stumbled, giving his attacker time to grab the front of his shirt, lifting him up and onto the table, almost knocking over the tray of surgical tools in the process. Marik glanced at the silver instruments and grinned as he reached for a knife with his free hand, holding it up for Yugi to see; wanting him to know exactly what was going to happen to him, and that he was powerless to stop it.
"You rang?" Ryuji asked in a mocking tone as he entered the room.
Pegasus frowned at the boy's attitude, feeling tempted to end the boy's life right where he stood. But he couldn't. Not yet, anyway. Not until they got rid of the little problem that had just arisen.
"It seems that we have some unwelcome guests." Pegasus said, cutting right to the chase as he grabbed a remote from the table.
He pressed a button and an image appeared on the large screen in front of them. The image of three teenagers trying to hide a short ways away from the mansion, unknowing that there were hidden cameras in the trees. It looked like they were getting ready to move from their spot, and Pegasus knew where they were heading next.
"Grab Yugi's grandpa and bring him here." Pegasus told Ryuji.
"Why?"
Pegasus wished that people didn't keep questioning him. Couldn't they just obey orders? "We're going to give them a welcoming party."
"Why don't we just kill them?" Ryuji asked, irritated. "It's obvious that Yugi isn't with them."
"That's not how I work, Ryuji boy." He sat down and crossed his legs. "After you bring the old man, invite our uninvited guests inside. I don't want them barging in and breaking my home in the process."
Ryuji smirked and leaned against the wall as he placed his hands on his hips. "Whatever you say. But don't be surprised if I end of bringing them in body bags."
Pegasus chuckled at this and flicked his wrist.
Fingers wrapped around Ryuji's throat and he heard an exaggerated laugh that should have sounded ridiculous but was terrifying. He tried to pry himself free, but then he felt the Monster's body wrap around him like a python before a cartoon face came into view, which was smiling at him with crossed eyes.
"Did you know that cartoons can't be injured?" Pegasus asked. "They can be stabbed and shot but will never even draw blood." He shrugged. "And it is unfortunate, but they seem to have a nasty habit of assuming that everyone is indestructible."
The Monster laughed and twisted its long body, throwing Ryuji to the floor while keeping its hands tightly wrapped around his throat. Its smile grew as an anvil materialized and floated over Ryuji's head, who realized what was happening and tried to push the creature off of him, but it only made it tighten its grip. The anvil began to wobble in midair before it came plummeting down. It landed only an inch away from the boy's head, creating a small crater in the wooden floor. If it had landed on his face, the anvil would have surely crushed his skull.
Pegasus smiled to himself as the Monster evaporated. "Now Ryuji boy, go and show our guests the same courtesy that I just showed you."
"This is it, guys." Jonouchi faced his friends and smiled. "You all be careful in there."
"Just remember to take your own advice." Honda told him, and the blond nodded.
Anzu looked at the ground. "Do we really have to do this?"
"We already decided." Honda said.
"I know, but . . ." But I don't want to lose anymore friends.
"Anzu,"
Honda didn't get to finish because they saw the massive doors that led into the mansion open up and someone stepped out. The three companions all flinched and jumped into a nearby bush, trying to remain silent until the mysterious figure left. Or until he got close enough for Jonouchi and Honda to grab the guy and maybe use him as a hostage.
"I know you're in there." Ryuji said. "Our security cameras have been watching you for hours."
"Security cameras?" Jonouchi grimaced. "Just how paranoid is this Pegasus guy?"
"He is an eccentric billionaire, after all." Honda pointed out.
"And a kidnapper." Anzu put in. "And it would explain why there wasn't anyone out here waiting for Yugi to arrive."
"Look," Ryuji said. "Just come out peacefully and I won't have to get you out by gunpoint."
The three teenagers all gave each other a nervous glance before they stood up, their hands behind their heads. But they lowered their arms when they saw that the boy in front of them was unarmed.
"Where's Yugi and his grandpa!" Anzu shouted, unable to hold in the question any longer.
Ryuji knew that the smart thing to do would be to pretend they also had Yugi, but he didn't care enough about Pegasus' plans to make the effort. "I don't know where this Yugi kid is that Pegasus wants to meet so badly is, but we do have the old man."
Anzu lowered her head. Where are you Yugi?
"Where is he?" Honda asked, holding up his fist. It would be a piece of cake for him and Jonouchi to overpower him, forcing him to take them to where Yugi's grandfather was.
"This way." He said before walking back the way he came. "And don't try anything. Pegasus has ordered his men to shoot you on sight if you cause any trouble."
Yugi's friends stayed rooted to the spot for a moment before forming a huddle.
"What do you think, guys?" Anzu whispered.
"I say we follow him." Honda said.
"What if it's a trap?"
"Even if it is, it'll get us into the mansion. And if what he said is true, we haven't got much of a choice."
"And we could always grab him and use the guy as a bargainin' chip." Jonouchi pointed out.
"Hey." Ryuji called out from the mansion's entrance. "Are you coming?"
Jonouchi, Honda, and Anzu all nodded in unison, letting each other know that they were in agreement, and then they straightened up and faced Ryuji, who was watching them impatiently.
"Yeah." Honda said as they walked toward him. "We're coming."
With bandages as rope, Yugi was tied to a chair and waited helplessly as Marik gathered all of the tools he needed. He had tried to get out of his restraints, but the bandages were too tight and he didn't have the strength. Where was the other him? Why didn't he ask a Monster like the small hairy one who had helped him get into the room to come and help him out? But of course, it looked like Marik had Monsters of his own. Maybe his other self didn't have any that were powerful enough. Yugi could only guess.
As Yugi wondered this, the other him fought off the images that were rushing into his mind. He had been ready to summon a Monster to attack Marik when he felt like a vice was crushing his head and he saw what he knew was his past. Something about what was happening now seemed so familiar, and something deep within him said that it was better not to remember. But it didn't give him much of a choice. He placed his hand over his face as he saw a torch lit room. He grimaced at the memory of laying on a stone slab, his limbs bound with linen that was used for mummification. As he had tried to escape, someone had stood over him, placing a cold knife against the left side of his body. And then after that . . .
"Yugi!" He had to stop Marik. Even though the past was still a haze, he knew that what was happening now had transpired three thousand years ago, and that he had to stop it.
The other Yugi began to raise his hand, getting ready to summon the Dark Magician - one of his most powerful Monsters - when fingers dug into his shoulder and spun him around, causing him to face a grin that ignored the blood that flowed out of it and an eye socket that at first looked like it was empty until he saw that there were some remnants of the eyeball still instead.
Bakura tightened his grip. "We finally meet again, Pharaoh."
Yugi's friends tried to stick as close together as possible as Ryuji led them further into the mansion, past expensive sculptures and paintings that seemed to stare them down, as if saying that they were privileged to even being able to look at them. Everything about the place screamed 'untouchable'. Especially to them, who could barely afford buying lunch at Burger World.
As they walked, Ryuji stopped and looked down the hall to his right, where one of Pegasus' men was leading Yugi's grandfather away to be taken to the room where he and their new captives were heading. Ryuji knew that he was told to guide Yugi's wannabe rescuers to Pegasus, but he couldn't pass up this opportunity.
"Stay here." Ryuji ordered. "And don't try anything. We've got cameras all over the place."
"I guess we can't draw mustaches on the paintings, then." Jonouchi said.
Anzu glared at him as Ryuji walked off. "Are you trying to get us in trouble?"
"Just tryin' ta lightin' the mood."
When Honda was sure that their guide was out of earshot, he motioned his friends over. "While he's gone, let's come up with a plan for when we meet this Pegasus guy."
Ryuji turned his head and saw the three teenagers in a huddle, whispering to each other. Not that he cared. There was only one thing on his mind.
When he reached the guard and their captive, Ryuji said, "Change of plans. I was ordered to take the old man while you take them." He pointed at Yugi's friends, who were still forming a plan.
The guard gave him a suspicious glare. "Pegasus didn't tell me about this."
"That's because he ordered me to tell you."
The tall man smirked before pulling out his gun from the inside of his jacket. "Nice try, kid. We all know that you hate this guy. And Pegasus said to off you if you tried anything like this."
Ryuji prepared himself, getting ready to wrestle the gun out of the man's hand. But then he stood there in shock when Yugi's grandfather rammed himself into the guard, causing the man to temporarily loose his footing. Instead of wasting this opportunity, Ryuji grabbed the man's arm and rammed the elbow against his knee. He felt the bone break and heard a soft crunch before the guard hollered in pain and grabbed his broken arm as he fell to the ground.
The black haired boy reached down and grabbed the gun before placing the muzzle against the adult's temple. The guard opened his mouth to either beg for his life or to throw a curse at him, but was unable to when Ryuji pulled the trigger. The bullet penetrated his skin and flesh, which caused the faint smell of burnt flesh, before going through the skull and traveled through the brain before blasting out of the man on the other side of his head, leaving a large exit wound in its wake. Ryuji grimaced at the blood and brain matter that was spilling onto the carpet and stood up straight.
"This doesn't change anything, old man." Ryuji told Mr. Mutou. "I could have stopped him on my own."
"I don't doubt that." Yugi's grandfather looked away from the sickening scene. "What are you planning to do now?"
Ryuji held up the gun, pointing it at Mr. Mutou's head. "I think you already know."
"What is taking them so long?" Pegasus asked himself. They should have arrived by now.
With an exasperated sigh, Pegasus picked up the remote, turned on the TV screen, and watched the live feed from his security cameras. He scanned the individual rooms and paused on Yugi's friends. Why were they left alone in the middle of the hallway? But that was soon forgotten. He quickly stood up, causing his chair to fall onto its side. There, laying on the floor, were two bodies.
Pegasus raced over to his door and opened it, making the man who was guarding it jump. "Send someone to bring in Yugi's friends! And tell everyone else to look for Ryuji. He must be captured immediately!"
"Yes, sir!"
The man grabbed his radio and began relaying the information as Pegasus went back into the room and closed the door, leaning against it. Everything that could go wrong had happened. Why couldn't things run smoothly so that he could succeed in his plans to use the Pharaoh's power to bring his dead wife back? With his one eye he looked at the portrait of the woman with long blond hair. Would he ever get her back?
There was a knock at the door and he groaned before answering it. "What is it now?"
"Pegasus." One of his men bowed slightly. "We've just heard news that Seto Kaiba has the Pharaoh."
This brightened up Pegasus' mood quite considerably. "Well then, send out four men to pick him up. If he refuses to come," He paused for a moment, "tell him that we have his friends."
"Yes, Pegasus." The man bowed again before leaving.
Pegasus walked over to his bottle of wine and poured himself a drink. While it was annoying that Ryuji had killed Yugi's relative, at least he had some leftover captives now.
"What's going on?" The Pharaoh asked as he and Bakura were engulfed by a purple void.
"You failed, Pharaoh." Bakura said before coughing out more blood. "We both did."
"What are you talking about? And where's Yugi?!"
"You don't remember," he wiped his chin with the back of his hand and looked amused at the red liquid that now covered it, "but we have gone through this more times than I can count."
"Explain."
Bakura smirked and stood there, as if he were waiting for something. The Pharaoh was just about to demand an answer to his strange behavior when an intense pain struck his left upper arm. He clenched his teeth until his jaw felt like it had locked in place as he grabbed the throbbing area. It felt wet. When he removed his hand from his arm, which was now covered with his blood, he saw a long gash that was opening up on its own, trying to expose what was hidden underneath the skin.
Bakura chuckled. "It looks like Marik has begun working on Yugi."
"Bakura!" The Pharaoh reached out to grab him by the front of his shirt, but his hand went right through, as if Bakura were made out of mist.
Another jolt of pain hit his arm and he groaned. It felt as if something cold and hard was plunging into his open wound. What was Marik doing to Yugi? And how could he stop it?
"It's time." Bakura said as his body began to fade. "Maybe I'll be able to kill you next time."
"What-?" The Pharaoh began to feel lightheaded, and when he looked down, he saw that he too was disappearing. "What's going on?"
Only the top half of Bakura was left, and more of him was vanishing with each passing second. "Our souls are leaving this world. After all, we can't reincarnate and continue this game otherwise."
"What game?"
"There's no point in explaining." Now Bakura was just a head, and his smile widened as half of it disappeared. "When this is over, you won't remember any of this."
"Bakura!"
The white haired boy laughed. "Now it is time for the next game to begin. And next time, Pharaoh, I will win."
Marik checked the tourniquet to make sure that it was still tight enough, wondering if it would start to loosen from being soaked through with blood. It wouldn't do for Yugi to bleed to death before he was done with him. Once Marik was satisfied, he continued his work. The scissors slipped into the incision he had made in the boy's arm, which made his victim flinch as he tried to protest through the gag in his mouth. Marik stopped to watch him squirm in his seat. The terror in the boy's purple eyes made Marik lick his top lip as he waited, remaining still to make Yugi hope that it was over. When Yugi stopped trying to escape, Marik dug in, cutting into the flesh and muscle. Yugi sounded like a frightened animal being skinned alive, which only made Marik want to hurt him even more. More pain; more screams; more pleasure.
It didn't take long for him to find Yugi's humerus. When he did, Marik rubbed his thumb against it, wondering if Yugi could feel it. But when he looked at him, he saw that his victim had blacked out, which made him let out a frustrated grunt. It wasn't fun anymore if Yugi didn't know what was happening to him. Why did the Pharaoh have to come back in such a weak body that couldn't take it? Such a disappointment.
His pleasure was soon replaced with annoyance and he glared at Yugi as he grabbed his Millennium Rod, the blade covered with Bakura's dry blood. "I was expecting more from you, Pharaoh." Marik smiled. "After I'm done with you, I will just have to find your friends and continue with them."
When Yugi didn't respond, Marik grabbed the boy's hair and pulled his head up. He was truly unconscious. Now his annoyance was turning into anger, almost all memory of their session forgotten. They had gone through this so many times through these past three thousand years, and the Pharaoh always found a way to dampen his fun.
His manic smile was completely gone now as he pressed the tip of the blade against Yugi's chest, ready to thrust it into the boy's heart, and waited for something to stop him. Something always did. That was the nature of this game they were forced to play. But no one came to Yugi's rescue. Was it going to be different this time? Impossible. He tightened the muscles in his arm, preparing to drive the blade through Yugi with all his strength, but dropped the Rod when a dark sphere hit his body like a bullet. Blood, flesh, and small pieces of burnt intestines flew across the room, landing on the floor, walls, and tables as the Dark Magician flew to his master. He looked at the boy with a deep sadness as he used his powers to remove the bindings. This was the moment when he would be consumed by the shadows, loosing his mind in the process. Once Yugi was free, the Dark Magician sent himself back to the home of Monsters.
Once the Dark Magician had vanished, Yugi's glazed eyes opened and stood up before walking steadily towards the open doorway. As he did, a black vortex appeared, releasing a horde of bloodthirsty Monsters.
