Chapter 2: Egypt's not so boring, after all...
What...? You guys actually LIKED it? *blushes* wow... you'd better not be saying that just to be nice. ^_^ Okay, so for your enjoyment (maybe), here's the next chapter!
A.N. There seems to be a bit of confusion... this happens when Anzu is only five years old, before Yuugi completed the Puzzle, and most of the Millennium Items still belonged to Shadi (he guards them). So, most of the Millennium Items were still in Egypt, at the time...
Disclaimer: Why do we even have to write these things? Who in their right mind would sue a poor girl who obviously doesn't own Yu-Gi-Oh!, because she's writing a FANfiction? *sigh*
**********
My feet hurt. I can't remember another time in my life when I've walked this much. It was mostly a downhill climb - there were stairs, a LOT of them - which I was thankful for. However, I knew that later I'd have to climb back up when I was already tired... Maybe this wasn't such a good idea... I thought. My parents are probably looking for me by now... maybe I should go back...
No. It was only a little further - it couldn't be that long now. I had to be getting close... to what? What was I even looking for? I didn't even know...
...chose not to heed my warning. I froze, then backed up a few steps. They've seen me! I worried.
I was about to bolt for the exit (I've always been a fast runner) when I heard someone answer - though I couldn't make out the words. Relieved, I crept forward, eager to see what was happening. I peered around a corner into a large room, where the two men were; the robed one stood next to something that reminded me of the coffins I had seen in the boring museums. The walls all had paintings - they looked similar to the ones I had seen in the pyramids - and torches lit up the room with an eery glow. Involuntarily, I shuddered.
The robed man was speaking, but he wasn't making any sense. He was talking about being chosen by a Millennium Item - something that I hadn't learned about in any of the exhibits. Curious, but scared, I watched as the robed man took out a golden ball with a weird eye carved on it. I wondered how a gold ball could choose anything, as it's not alive; did this have something to do with the ancient magic I had heard them speak of?
From the look of things, I was about to find out. The robed man held up the ball to the hat-man's face, over his left eye. Suddenly, a strange light began shinning from it, and, to my horror, the robed man... he shoved the ball into the hat-man's eye!
His screams were terrible - they filled me, heart, mind, and soul. I opened my mouth to scream too - but no sound would come out. That was just as well, because I didn't want to be found, too - who knows what that robed figure would do to me if he knew I was here?
By this time, the man had collapsed to his knees. His back was to me, but I could see the pool of blood collecting on the smooth, stone floor. Through it all, the robed figure stood tall and silent, unmoved by this spectacle.
When the white-haired man finished screaming, the robed figure nodded - he seemed impressed. You are the chosen one. he commented. According to him, the hat-man was chosen because he hadn't gone insane when the Millennium Item had taken the place of his real eye. He further stated that the gold ball would give him a sixth sense - an ability to see what the others could not.
As if to prove his point, a strange, white light appeared out of no were. The hat-man obviously made something of the strange shape; I decided that this must be the man's new sight that the robed figure had spoken of. The hat-man (whose hat had fallen to the floor) was whispering something I could not hear as he embraced the odd light.
Suddenly, the light disappeared - just like that. Looking is not the same as touching, feeling... the robed man warned, as the silver-haired figure bowed his head, and tears from his good eye fell down his face. After a final exchange of conversation (that the silver-haired man didn't seem to be paying much attention to; he looked like he was daydreaming), they both turned to leave.
Uh-oh. Too late, I realized that there was only one way in or out of the chamber. And I was hiding in the very corridor that the two men were approaching. I was in trouble. Big, big trouble.
I was about to run away, when I realized it would be futile. I was only a five-year-old girl, who was already tired from walking so much. Two grown men could catch me, easily. I started sweating, figuring the end was near...
I moved against the passage, willing myself invisible. I held my breath as they passed by me, apparently taking no notice. I felt that my heartbeat would give me away... it was so loud, I figured even a deaf person could hear it. Please, oh please, don't let them see me... I thought desperately.
Suddenly, the robed figure turned around, as if my thoughts had given me away. He had strange blue eyes that seemed to bore deep into me... as if he was looking not at my face, but my heart.
I couldn't move; my feet had frozen in place. The robed man told the silver-haired man in a low voice to go on ahead; he nodded absently, and continued up the long flight of stairs. As he disappeared, the robed figure turned to me, and once again looked at me - or, as it seemed, through me.
He advanced towards me - I could not move back any father, as I already had my back to the wall. My eyes darted around for a place to escape. The robed man held up his necklace - it looked like a large golden ankh (an Ancient Egyptian symbol that stood for life and passing generations) with an extra gold piece on one side of the base; rather like an old key. I trembled, still unable to do anything as he pointed the end of the ankh-key at my forehead - then, with a swift flick of his wrist, he turned it ninety degrees...
I staggered backwards into the wall. Although everything looked normal - or as normal as an ancient catacomb could be - something inside me sensed something was wrong. Even though time hadn't seemed to pass, I felt like I had been standing in place for at least a few minutes. I also had a slight headache - it wasn't exactly painful; it was more of a tingling sensation. I wondered if I had fainted on my feet - but then why would the robed man not have moved his position, either? The only thing I could think of was... magic...
the robed man said very clearly. Now I knew it had to be magic. How else could he know my name? I know, from looking into your heart... you are not a Chosen one. You are fortunate that I do not let the Items test you themselves. he said.
I swallowed a lump in my throat, remembering what the silver-haired man had went through. Forget what you saw. he continued.
The ankh-key began to glow with strange light, just like the golden ball had. He's going to cast a spell! I realized franticly. He's going erase my memories!
I hadn't had the strength to move my feet before, but this time, I set off at a dead run. Because the robed man was partially blocking the way out, I ran down the stairs, into the strange room with the Millennium Items.
The robed man followed, quickly - he wasn't exactly running; rather, he was briskly walking forward. Seize her! he called.
Out of seemingly nowhere, two men in dark clothes leapt at me. I was able to dodge the first, but the second one grabbed my foot, causing me to fall. I recovered quickly, and kicked my feet, causing him to let me go.
When I tried to rise, however, the first man pushed me forward; again, I fell to the ground. This time, I rolled over, and kicked the man under the knee with my foot. Although I wasn't very strong, my aim was true - and the man doubled over in pain, his legs giving way underneath him.
The second man was back up again; but not for long. I turned and charged him, using my elbow to slam him in the stomach; then, I did a jump-kick - right where it hurts. My playground experience is finally paying off! I thought.
By this time, the robed man had caught up with me. I ran forward - until there was no where else to run. I had backed into the coffin like thing that held the Millennium Items. It was too late to jump over it, and the robed figure was too close to dodge if I tried to run to the side... so there was only one way out. Through him.
I made a fist, ready to attack. As I let my punch fly - it stopped. I couldn't bring my hand forward any more. Desperately, I tried to kick his legs out from under him - but whenever I got close to the strange figure, I couldn't finish initiating my attack... it would just freeze in midair. His magic... his magic is protecting him! I realized.
He advanced on me once more. He still held out his ankh-key, almost touching it to my forehead. I trembled involuntarily. This time, I had nowhere to run...
**********
I hope you liked it... I think I'll be able to have chapter 3 up by the end of tomorrow (or the day after). In chapter 3, she actually gets her Yami. It's my first fanfic, like I said, so I'm not expecting it to be that good... please, R&R (don't be afraid to criticize)!
P.S. Thanks to all of the people who replied to chapter 1! I appreciate it!
