Chapter 5: The Midnight Castle
Amy and Kazuki had finished in the tool shop. Kazuki had managed to find the toolbox he was looking for to replace his worn set of tools. After exiting the shop, the two teens were surprised to see that Jack and Chloe had gone. They looked around for them but they were nowhere to be seen. Amy ran a hand over one of her ponytails in confusion.
"That's strange. They said they'd wait for us outside?" Amy murmured, "Jack NEVER wanders off without telling me where he's going first if we're together! And Chloe wouldn't wander off either as she hates being caught in a crowd without a friend nearby!"
"I sure hope nothing bad has happened to them." Kazuki said concernedly, "I doubt they'll have gone far if they've gone anywhere else."
"Probably. Maybe Chloe saw a shop she wanted to look into that's close by." Amy suggested, "Let's look around and see if we can find them."
They were searching the area the entire time Jack and Chloe had been confronted by Lord Hallows. As they searched, Chloe charged out of the alleyway and looked around wildly for the two. She looked in the tool shop but they weren't there so she ran back outside to look for them. This wild goose chase went on for about ten minutes until finally, Chloe spotted them. She'd asked a civilian if he'd seen them and he directed them to a nearby pizzeria where the two were looking for her and Jack. Chloe thanked the man and sprinted towards the two. Amy heard her coming and looked up to see Chloe running towards her. Amy held up her hands to stop Chloe from crashing into her. She grew very concerned for her friend. Her face was as white as a sheet and she was acting hysterical.
"WHOA! Whoa, steady on there Chloe! Clam down! What the hell's the matter with you?! You look like you've seen a ghost!" Amy shrieked.
"I pretty much did!" Chloe shrieked, her voice sounding strained as if she was struggling to get the words out of her mouth, "You gotta help Jack! He's been captured and his captor's coming for you next!"
Then suddenly, her eyes rolled into the back of her head and she fainted in Amy's arms. The shock of what had happened had been too much for her. Amy gasped and carried the unconscious Chloe in her arms.
"We gotta get back home and fast!" the red-haired girl exclaimed.
"Shouldn't we call an ambulance?" Kazuki noted.
"She'll be fine with us! She's only fainted!" Amy decided, "Come on, let's go!"
She and Kazuki carried Chloe between them as they headed off back to Amy's house to give her somewhere to rest. Amy was worried about what Chloe had said. What did she mean by Jack had been captured and his captor was coming for her next? Was Jack in serious trouble? Hopefully Chloe could answer her questions once she came round…
It took Chloe an hour to finally wake up again. Once Amy had brought her back to her house, her parents had placed Chloe on the sofa with a pillow to rest on and a blanket to warm her up. They made her a glass of warm milk to drink once she came to. Amy and Kazuki watched as Chloe stirred and sat up on the sofa. She groaned sleepily and rubbed her head.
"Ooooh…where am I? What happened?" she mumbled.
"You passed out so me and Kazuki brought you home." Amy explained, "Mom and dad made you comfortable and gave you some warm milk for when you woke up."
She handed the mug to Chloe. The blonde bookworm took it and sipped it, grateful to have something nice to drink after that horrible experience.
"Oh thank you so much. I really needed that." Chloe said softly, "I'm so sorry if I scared you two. I was just so frightened and with everything that had happened, I just got so overwhelmed and…"
"It's OK Chloe. We're just glad you're alright." Kazuki said kindly, "Now then, can you tell us what happened to you and Jack?"
Chloe's eyes widened as if she'd only just remembered what she'd been trying to tell her friends before fainting earlier. Her hands trembled, the milk shuddering in its mug as if scared to hear what she was going to say. She put it down on the coffee table so she wouldn't drop it.
"You probably won't believe me if I tell you, but here goes…" Chloe said, sighing heavily.
Amy clutched Kazuki's hand as she anticipated what she was about to hear. They gave Chloe a moment to collect herself for it was clear this was emotionally taxing on her. Then she spoke:
"We saw a shadow on the wall and we were puzzled by how it seemed to be moving so we followed it into an alleyway." Chloe explained, "Then the shadow formed into some skeleton man who calls himself Lord Hallows, the Keeper of the Shadow Realm. He challenged Jack to a duel with the prize being his soul if he lost. And…he lost!"
The tears welled up in her eyes again.
"I was so scared Amy! I was trapped and forced to watch as Hallows duelled against Jack and beat him! He ripped his soul from his body and now Jack's nothing but a lifeless husk while his soul is in the Shadow Realm for all eternity!" Chloe wailed, "Hallows took Jack's body with him to make him his mindless servant and he let me go because my soul is useless to him! He says that he's coming for you at midnight so I imagine he'll want your soul too! You've gotta stop him Amy, you must!"
Amy and Kazuki stared in utter shock at what they'd heard. It took several minutes for the two to recover and even then, they still looked as if they weren't able to process what they'd just been told. Chloe had spent the whole period of silence just crying again. She dried her eyes and looked up as Amy breathed in and out again.
"So let me get this straight…my brother was challenged by some demon guy called Lord Hallows to a duel. He lost the duel and now he's been banished to the Shadow Realm?" Amy repeated.
"Yes!" Chloe whimpered.
"OK…I'm sorry Chloe but this all sounds pretty incredible." Amy said, trying to choose her words carefully so as not to insult her friend, "I mean come on, shadow demons? The Shadow Realm? Banishing souls? It all sounds pretty farfetched to me."
"Please Amy, you have to believe me!" Chloe begged, "I'm not making this up, I swear! You know I wouldn't do that! Everything I've said is true, honest!"
"Come on Amy, be reasonable." Kazuki said supportively, "Would Chloe have fainted in your arms over a story she made up?" he noted
"I get that! I'm not saying she's lying or anything! God knows Chloe couldn't lie if her life depended on it!" Amy retorted, "I'm just…struggling to take it all in, that's all."
Amy was completely torn over what to feel. She couldn't wrap her head around the possibility of what she'd heard being true. Skeleton men? The Shadow Realm? Banished souls? It sounded perfectly ridiculous! It sounded like something Chloe might've read in a storybook or something! Chloe was always reading those and it was possible her obsession with books had left her unable to distinguish fiction from reality. But Amy also knew Chloe was not the kind of friend who would make up crazy stories just for laughs. Why would she make up a story like that just to mess with her? That wasn't Chloe's style at all! She began to feel wretched for doubting her. She sighed heavily. She put a hand on Chloe's shoulder and gazed at her apologetically.
"As hard as it is to believe, I DO believe you Chloe." Amy said, her voice sounding wobbly as her emotions started to well up, "I'm sorry if I sounded doubtful. When you're worried for your loved ones, it does cloud your way of thinking."
"Don't beat yourself up Amy. I understand." Chloe said kindly, "I admit, what I said does sound unbelievable. I STILL feel like everything I've just seen is nothing more than a nightmare! But don't ever do that to me again, OK? I don't want you to ever call me a liar as that really, really hurts and offends me. I never lie, and I especially wouldn't ever lie to you."
"I know, I'm sorry!" Amy whimpered, "Oh Chloe…what's that freak doing to my brother?!"
The damn burst and Amy finally allowed herself to break down into tears. She threw her arms around Chloe and wept heavily into her shoulder. Chloe hugged Amy back, sharing the tears with her. Kazuki gave the girls some much needed space. He hadn't known Jack for long but he too felt the pain of his loss. How could Lord Hallows just take an innocent young boy away like that? He thought back to what Chloe had told Amy. Hallows was coming for her at midnight tonight. He wasn't going to let him take her soul too! He was sure Amy could defeat him, but he wanted to have a shot at Hallows too. He clenched his fists and looked up to the ceiling.
"Hallows, if you can hear me, I'll be coming for you, and so will Amy!" he whispered angrily, "And we're both gonna kick your ass for this! We'll get Jack back and make you sorry you messed with us!"
He wasn't sure if Hallows would ever hear this, but he hoped he had. The dragon duellist was determined to pay him back for all the pain and heartbreak he'd given Amy and Chloe for taking Jack away…
Amy lay in her bed, her stomach sick with worry. She lay still with her head against the pillow and her quilt tucked up close to her neck, her green eyes staring up at the ceiling as if she'd somehow find out what had happened to Jack if she stared long enough. She hadn't even bothered to draw her curtains so the moonlight outside spilled through the window and over her bedsheets. She was waiting for this supposed demon to come and wondered if she'd see him outside if she left the window open. Amy was still having trouble wrapping her head around Chloe's story. Her brother's soul was stolen by a demon? It all sounded so unreal! But she trusted Chloe and if she said it was true, it had to be. Amy glanced at her cell phone lying on the bedside counter for the millionth time. She was praying that Jack would finally ring up and let her know he was alright. The phone made no sound at all. The red-haired girl felt the tears well up in her eyes again.
"Oh Jack…where are you? What's happened to you?!" she wailed, "Please give me some sign that you're alright!"
She wanted to cry again but Amy fought off the urge. Crying wouldn't help Jack. She had to hold on to the hope that her brother would return alive and well. The rookie duellist lay for what seemed like forever until finally, she glanced at her bedside clock. It was finally midnight. Chloe had said this "Lord Hallows" character would come for her then. The teenager's eyes swept around the moonlit room. She was still alone. No one else was here. Amy felt her heart pound. What was going to happen, if anything?
"It's midnight…so where are you Lord Hallows?" Amy muttered under her breath.
Then to her amazement, a cloud of wispy smoke suddenly seeped into her room through the window! Amy shrank back in her bed as she watched the smoke trail through the windowpane and form into big puff of smoke with two glowing yellow eyes. The eyes fixated on Amy, seeming to take delight in the sheer terror she displayed from watching them. Amy shivered like a man wandering naked through the Arctic. This felt like the start of a bad dream and she wanted desperately to wake up. The smoke formed into the shape of a skeletal creature clad in dark robes and a huge flowing cloak with a hood pulled over its head. Lord Hallows flashed Amy his usual sinister pumpkin-style grin. His yellow eyes flashed in the darkness.
"Hello Amy…" he purred. He said her name with the kind of sinister interest a snake might do before it bit its unfortunate victim.
Amy stared at the terrifying figure before her, feeling like a child trapped and cornered by the bogeyman. She opened her mouth to scream but Hallows shot out with a bony hand and clamped it tight around her face. Amy's heart pounded wildly. She was sure she was going to die right this second. Hallows put a finger to the bony section of his mouth where his lips should be.
"I wouldn't make that noise if I were you." Hallows said darkly, "I bet you'd never be able to live through life with your parent's souls weighing on your conscience. If you so much as raise your voice little girl, they will be joining your brother in the Shadow Realm. Call for help and the same will happen. Are we comprehending the situation?" he sneered, using the kind of condescending voice a school bully might use when talking down to their victim.
Amy nodded furiously. Her fear was already starting to turn into anger upon hearing Hallows confirm everything Chloe had told her. So this freak of nature had stolen her brother's soul! She was itching to crack his head open but she knew she'd never get far. Hallows would likely steal her soul before she even left the bed. Hallows let go of the girl's face and Amy sat up in her bed. Her eyes burned with hatred.
"You're the bastard that's taken my brother away!" she snarled, "Chloe told me you beat him in a duel and you've banished his soul to the Shadow Realm! I seriously thought the Shadow Realm was just a myth so I didn't believe her! But it was true all along…why did you do it you sick freak?!" she demanded.
"Do I need a reason to take people's souls away?" Hallows snorted, "If not for the fact it sustains my very being and allows me to enter the mortal realm, I enjoy getting to torment you insignificant little worms by making your souls my personal playthings! In any case, your brother was simply in the wrong place at the wrong time, and now his body is an empty shell lying in the castle dungeons while his soul is trapped in the Shadow Realm for all eternity!" he crowed.
"You give him back or so help me I'm gonna smash your skull in!" Amy snarled.
"You humans are so adorable trying to sound threatening." Hallows jeered, "If it wasn't so enjoyably pathetic of you, I'd grow tired of it. But anyway, you should know full well Amy Spears that I don't just "give back" souls I banish. What Keeper of the Shadow Realm would I be if I did that? No…you must defeat me in a duel if you want Jack's soul restored!" he declared, pointing a bony finger at Amy's face.
"Then let's duel! Right here, right now!" the red-haired teen declared bravely.
The skeletal demon just laughed mockingly at Amy.
"Fie! This is no place for a duel!" he cackled, "Besides, you're in no position to make demands here, foolish child! With me, you play by MY rules and we do things MY way. You must come to me at the Midnight Castle tonight if you want to duel me. You'll have to be quick though, my castle disappears at the crack of dawn and you'll have to wait until tomorrow night to try again."
Amy sighed heavily. She wanted to get this over with right now. But if she wanted Jack back, then she had to cooperate. If she didn't do as she was told, Hallows would probably just leave her and she'd never see him or Jack again. She had no choice but to comply. Amy spread her hands across her thighs, straightening out the blankets. Her eyes gazed into Hallows's own.
"Where can I find you?" she asked, her voice cold and venomous.
"To save time on the details, I'll just plant a little thought in your head." Hallows replied, "Stay still, this won't hurt…much." he crooned.
He poked Amy's forehead with his finger. At once, Amy's body froze up and her eyes stared vacantly as her mind was changed by Hallows's touch. She now had the location of the Midnight Castle fixated in her brain. She wouldn't have trouble finding him now. According to the thought, his castle was floating by the docks a few miles from her house. Amy's body returned to normal and she blinked heavily. Hallows had left her with a slight headache but otherwise, she was fine. She stared back at him defiantly.
"I'll be there. And mark my words you piece of shit, I am gonna duel circles around you and get my brother back!" Amy growled fiercely, "I promise you, I'll use every card in my deck if it means kicking your ass back to the Shadow Realm and freeing Jack!"
"There is no card in your possession that will get past my superior duelling skills, little Amy." Hallows crowed, "I have NEVER been defeated. I will see you at my castle Amy. But I warn you…I will NOT be denied your soul! I will win it from you as I did your brother, then you'll both spend an eternity in the Shadow Realm wailing in torment!"
He laughed manically as he wrapped his cloak around himself and disappeared in a puff of smoke. Amy coughed and looked back to see that Hallows was gone. The room was back as it was. She was amazed that her parents didn't seem to have heard what was going on. Did Hallows do some kind of magic to block out the noise so they wouldn't be overheard? It didn't matter. At least they'd be safe and out of danger while she duelled Hallows. Amy jumped out of bed and got dressed up. After slipping her shoes on and tying her hair back up into ponytails, she snatched up her duelling deck and stared at it. How had she found herself in a situation where her brother's fate depended on a deck of Duel Monster cards? Unlike Jack, her deck would carry her to victory! She shuffled through the deck and found the Monster Reborn card Jack had given her. Amy felt as if his soul was here in this card and was trying to call to her now. She ran her finger over the picture.
"Hang on big bro…your little sister's coming to get ya back!" Amy declared, "With this deck, I will not lose!"
She slipped the deck into a deck box she carried on her belt, clipped her Duel Disk onto her left arm and crept downstairs. She moved slowly and quietly so as not to wake her parents. The last thing Amy wanted as for them to make themselves potential targets for Hallows. She sneaked through the front door, closed it softly behind her and headed out into the night. Despite how late it was, Domino City still had plenty of light in it through street lights or some buildings still operating even at this time of night. Somehow cities never truly seemed to sleep no matter what. Amy closed her eyes and thought about the castle. She could see its location so clearly despite not being there right now.
"I've gotta be there. Like Hallows said, the castle will disappear at daybreak." the teen duellist muttered.
She snuck around the back of her house so she could grab her bike and cycle to the docks. She'd get there much faster by bike.
"Amy, what are you doing?"
The voice had come so suddenly that Amy jumped. She wheeled around expecting to see her mother standing there. But it was Chloe instead. The Spears family had decided to let Chloe stay with them the night so she could rest from the horrors of today with Chloe staying in Jack's room as it was currently unoccupied. While Amy hadn't woken her parents up, Chloe had heard her as she'd been struggling to sleep and thus could still hear Amy despite how quiet she was being.
"Hallows came for me." Amy explained, "He said I'm to come to his castle and I need to be there before dawn, otherwise I'll have to wait another night for him. Please for the love of god don't try to stop me! I'm getting Jack back and nothing you say will change my mind!"
"Stuff that nonsense, I'm coming with you!" Chloe retorted, "As if I'd stop you from getting my love back!"
"Chloe, I appreciate the gesture but I really think you've suffered quite enough lately." Amy said firmly, "I'm not gonna let Hallows scare you near to death again, nor am I gonna let you become a target for him."
"Amy, my soul is worthless to him so he won't banish me to the Shadow Realm." Chloe noted, "Yes it was scary watching what he did but I was more scared of losing Jack than Hallows himself. And do you seriously think I'm gonna sit at your house worrying to death if you're gonna make it back or not? I'm coming and you're not gonna convince me otherwise."
"Chloe, please, don't make this harder for me. I…"
Amy's voice trailed off as she saw the determination in her friend's spectacled eyes. When Chloe wanted to do something, she stuck to it and didn't let anyone change her mind. It was amazing how someone as meek and mild as Chloe could be so stubborn. Then again, Amy was no different and maybe that was why she liked her so much. Chloe was more like her than she'd care to admit. Sighing heavily, Amy patted Chloe on the shoulder.
"Thank you Chloe. I swear at times you're too good a friend for me." the red-head said graciously.
"Oh no, never. I'm the right amount of good." Chloe teased, "So is there another bike I can borrow?"
"You can use Jack's, though you'll need to readjust the saddle as it'll be a bit high up for you." Amy answered.
Soon the girls were off, pedalling quietly into the night side-by-side. Amy and Chloe cycled through the streets with Chloe following Amy as Amy knew where she was going. It was strange cycling through Domino City at night-time. Not many people were about, very few cards and other modes of transport drove around and the city just seemed to be too quiet. It almost felt like they shouldn't be doing this and that they were breaking some kind of unwritten rule by cycling out at night. After a few minutes, they arrived at the docks. Unknown to Amy and Chloe, these were the same docks where Yugi Muto had had his faithful duel against his best friend, Joey Wheeler, when he'd been possessed by Marik Ishtar during his phase as a villain. The only difference to the docks was that now, looming just above the water, was a huge castle that had appeared from nowhere. The castle looked like it came straight out of a gothic painting with its sinister looking architecture, black colour scheme and towering appearance. Amy couldn't help but feel impressed. Say what you want about Lord Hallows, he knew how to make a big impression! How did he cause an entire castle to just appear like that? As the Keeper of the Shadow Realm, he must have incredible powers at his disposal…
"Ooooh, it's really creepy looking." Chloe said nervously, "Are you sure we should do this, Amy?"
"I'm sure. No Disneyland Haunted House attraction is gonna stop me from getting Jack back!" Amy said coldly.
She was about to walk up to the castle until suddenly, another voice called to the girls.
"Amy! Chloe! Did Hallows bring you here too?"
The teens turned around and squealed in amazement as they saw none other than Kazuki Shudo standing there! He'd come on his own bicycle and he looked surprised to see the girls here.
"Kazuki?!" Amy exclaimed, "What the hell are you doing here?! How did you find this castle?"
"I could ask you the same but I think we both know the answer to that question!" Kazuki said, half-chuckling at Amy's reaction.
"Lemme guess…Hallows came to you as well?" Amy speculated.
"Got it in one, Ames." Kazuki confirmed, "Earlier today I silently warned him that I'd come for him and make him pay for taking Jack away and causing you and Chloe so much distress and to my amazement, he actually heard me! Though he was already planning to bring me here anyway. He's apparently watched me and Jack duel earlier today and he says my soul would be a worthy prize as well, so he wants me to come."
"But then why did he only ask me to tell Amy she was next?" Chloe asked in confusion, "Why didn't he ask me to tell you both you were next instead?"
"I guess he wanted to do one at a time but Kazuki's warning made him change his mind." Amy said with a shrug, "Doesn't matter. At least I'll have you to back me up when things get rough. With you beside me, I can't possibly lose!"
"Of course Ames. We'll get your brother back. I promise." Kazuki swore.
"I know. Thank you Kazuki. This means more to me than you'll ever know." Amy said graciously.
The two stood staring lovingly at each other. Chloe giggled. She could swear they were about to kiss! It dawned on Amy and Kazuki what they were doing and they blushed in embarrassment.
"Ahem…we should get a move on." Amy said sheepishly.
"Yeah, yeah, of course. Double time." Kazuki babbled meekly.
The three friends walked up to the castle. The door had a huge knocker shaped like a gargoyle protruding from the centre of it. Amy had to question how it was possible for a door knocker of all things to look like the most evil thing imaginable. She grabbed it and banged furiously on the door.
"HEY! Lord Pumpkin-Face! We're here for my brother's soul now let us in!" Amy shouted furiously.
"Do you think it's wise to insult him like that?" Chloe said worriedly.
The door suddenly opened, creaking loudly as it moved. It sounded as if the door hadn't opened for years. Amy, Chloe and Kazuki walked in and found themselves greeted with a huge hallway that looked anything but inviting. Everywhere was black and grey in colour and there was nothing of comfort to be found anywhere, not even somewhere to sit. Ghosts snaked through the air and disappeared into the walls. Even the stairs looked somewhat threatening with their jagged appearance and sharp looking railings. Anyone who tripped and fell down these stairs would be impaled before they hit the bottom! A huge chandelier hung above their heads but it was alight with cold blue flames that did nothing to add any warmth or light to the place. It only made the hallway look even grimmer as a result.
"Hallows sure is a depressing guy." Kazuki muttered, "I feel like I've stepped into a Tim Burton movie!"
"Nah Kazuki, even his films look happy and colourful compared to this." Amy scoffed, "I doubt even Dracula would want to live here!"
"I'm starting to feel sorry I came here now…" Chloe mumbled to herself.
"HEY! Lord Hallows! Where are you?!" Amy called out, her voice echoing around the hallway, "I accepted your invite and I've come to duel! Now show yourself you ugly freak of nature!"
Right on cue, Lord Hallows made his entrance, rising up from the floor as the shadows formed together to morph themselves into his shape. Hallows stood before the trio with his cane in hand and his jack-o-lantern face broken in a wide grin of sadistic delight.
"Welcome to my humble home, dear children." Hallows purred, bowing as if he was the master of the castle inviting his guests in for the night, "I don't appreciate you insulting it though. The Midnight Castle is perfect for a shadow demon such as myself but what do you mortals know about a good décor anyway? Thanks to all the souls I've collected over the past month, my powers have grown to allow me to bring this castle into the mortal realm, even if it's only from midnight til dawn but soon it'll be a part of your world permanently when my powers reach their full potential!" he declared.
"Where's Jack?" Amy said with a voice dripping with venom.
"Ah, ah, ah…you didn't ask nicely." Hallows taunted, pointing his cane at Amy sharply.
"Please may I see my brother?" Amy snarled, making no attempt to hide the contempt in her voice.
"Close enough." Hallows sniffed, "Jack, your little sister has come for you!" he cooed in a fake sing-song voice like something a wife might use when calling to her husband.
Jack walked into the room. Amy put her hands to her mouth in horror as she saw what had become of her beloved brother. Jack was alive, yet not really alive at the same time. His skin was deathly pale, his eyes were blank and lacking in life, his face was vacant and he walked hunched over as if even holding his head up was too much effort. Chloe looked away, disgusted to see her crush reduced to this hollow shell of his old self. Amy ran up to Jack and placed her hands on his face, her eyes already streaming with tears.
"JACK! Oh my big bro, I can't believe what's become of you! Oh what have you become?!" she wailed.
"He's nothing more than a mindless servant to do as I ask him to." Hallows jeered, "And as long as his soul is mine, he will remain that way! Get used to it Amy for you'll soon join him in that position!" the shadow demon crowed.
"No fucking way Hallows! I'm gonna kick your ass and get my brother back!" Amy growled, "Now then, I accepted your invite, I came as promised so let's duel!"
Hallows just laughed.
"Slow down little girl, why rush into things when you can take your time instead?" Hallows purred, "I said I would duel you…but I decide WHEN we duel. You see, I think it would be more fun if you duelled my little friends first before you duel me."
"I'm not playing your stupid game Hallows! We duel right now or I walk outta here and you don't get my soul!" Amy snarled.
"Suit yourself." Hallows retorted, "I guess you really don't love you precious brother enough to save him if you'd rather leave then follow my terms…"
He patted Jack on the head like he was his personal lapdog. Amy grimaced. That really hurt. She didn't want to play whatever sick game Hallows was planning but of course she couldn't just leave Jack behind like that. She'd never forgive herself for that! Sighing, Amy glared back at Hallows.
"OK then, I'll play nice." she spat, "So what do I have to do?"
"You will challenge my Fiendish Five for the right to duel me." Hallows explained, "I will guide you through the rooms of my castle where each member of the Fiendish Five is waiting for you. If you defeat any of them, you may progress to the next room and duel the next one and if you defeat all five of them, you will get your match with me."
"But what about me?" Kazuki asked, "You said I could come too. Don't I get a chance to duel you?"
"If Amy loses to me or the Fiendish Five, you will have your turn." Hallows declared, "However, I might arrange an extra duel for both of you to participate in if Amy wins my challenge just so you don't feel too left out…" he said thoughtfully.
"Deal." Amy insisted, "Now can we get started? I wanna get this over with so I can return Jack's soul where it belongs!"
"If you're so keen to rush to your demise Amy, be my guest." Hallows sneered, "This way my child. The first member awaits…"
He put an arm around Amy and guided her through the hallway to the first member of the Fiendish Five. Chloe and Kazuki followed close behind. Amy shivered. Hallows's touch was like ice. This was probably what being touched by a corpse felt like. She took one last look at Jack, who was standing by motionless as if waiting for his master to give him another command.
"I'll save you big bro. I promise I will…" Amy whispered to him.
She hoped that despite not having a soul anymore that Jack had heard her. She looked ahead as Hallows led her to the first door. There was no turning back now. Hallows's challenge was about to begin and she was going to beat it no matter what…
Amy has accepted Hallows's challenge. Hopefully she won't live to regret it...will she be a match for Hallows's Fiendish Five? Or will she fall at the first hurdle? Find out as we begin our first of five duels for Amy with "Amy vs. Gypsy"...
Trivia: No joke, the scene where Amy and Hallows first meet was the first scene I ever wrote for this story. I know, talk about ahead of time. XD I was just so excited to write it that I had to do it. I'm sure you writers understand how that feels. :)