Chapter Seven- The Disappearance of Little Espa

"Come on, Monica. We don't have time for tears." Christien said softly, squatting to the little girl's level. "I know you want Rex, but that's just not possible right now."

"Come on, Monnie. We have cake at the end this." Andy attempted to persuade his friend. Well, that's what Christien had told him.

"Take?" Monica stood up, brushing herself off. "I wants take."

"Well, we have to get to the end of this first." Christien picked her up, and wiped her tears. "Come on. The faster we get to the end, the faster we get to cake, the faster we get to Rex and Espa." He looked back at the twins. "Are you two okay?"

"Uh huh." The Wilson twins nodded in unison. "She tay?"

"She's fine." Chris smiled. "Let's go you guys." He led his group off again. "Mokuba, what's up ahead?"

"Just more corridors. This has to be some magical trap."

"Not so loud! There are little ones among us." Christien replied.

"Oops. Forgot about that. Are they doing okay?" The young boy looked over at his best friend's brother.

"I think the twins are getting tired." Christien answered. "Do you think we're allowed to sleep in here?"

"I don't see how we couldn't. We're stuck here until we figure this maze out." He slumped to the floor. "I'm with them. I'm exhausted."

"Let's take a rest then. They can nap, while we try to figure out what to do."

"I'm not tired, Chris." Andy piped up.

"Then you don't have to sleep." The older Roba told him. "Just lay down for a little bit." He laid Monica down too,covering her with his jacket. The Wilson sisters laid down beside Monica, one on each side. It wasn't long before they were asleep.

"Whoa….we went right through that thing!" Randi exclaimed, as she stared back at the mirror.

"That was kinda cool….wasn't it?" Jonathan was holding Little E's hand. The little Roba had decided he would not be carried anymore. "Kenny, are you okay?"

"Yeah. I just need a rest." Kendra looked up at them. So, they didn't know about her condition. Could it be that her brother had never told anyone? Well, she wasn't going to either. Up ahead, she heard some screaming. "What's all the noise?"

"I don't know, but it doesn't sound too good. Come on." Randi helped her up, and the two girls followed Jonathan.

As they came closer to the racket, the noise took the form of a six-year-old girl, throwing a tantrum.

"Argh! Shut her up already!" Kendra commanded.

"Shhh….she's just a little thing." Randi walked over to Jonathan. "Who is she?"

"She's Joey's cousin, I think." He released Little E's hand, to pick the girl up. "Hey there….what's the matter?"

"I wants tousin…." The girl studied Jonathan through her tears. "I no wikes him be gone….."

"Shhhh…..it's alright, Lacey. We don't have our brothers either. Do you want to stay with us?"

Lacey nodded, wiping her eyes. "This pwace scawy…"

"I agree with you. This is no place for little children." Jonathan held her tightly, trying to calm her down. "We're with you though. Nothing bad will happen to you while we're here. I promise."

"Uh….Jon? Where's E?" Randi looked around for the baby Roba.

"What…he was just here." Jon looked around now, panicking. "E?! Little E!" There was no response. "Oh no! I've lost my baby brother!"

"Don't panic, Roba. He's got to be around here…not too many places to hide in here." Kendra spoke up sensibly.

"What if there's another one of those mirror portals?! He could walk right through it,and we'd never find him!" Jon handed Lacey to Randi, and peered around a corner. "Little E? Are you here?" He looked back at the girls now. "He's gone. We've got to find him, Randi! We have to!"

"We will find him, Jonathan. Don't worry." Randi reassured him, as she stroked Lacey's hair. "In the mean time, why don't you inform Christien of what's happened. Perhaps he will run across the little one."

"Good idea." Jonathan turned his headset back on, hoping Christien still had his on. "Chris….you there?" He waited a few minutes then he heard a very welcoming sound.

"What's up, Jon?"

"Little Espa's disappeared."

"WHAT?! How is that possible?!" Christien's exclamation rung in Jon's ear.

"I…I had to let him down for a minute to comfort Joey's cousin. When I turned around, he was gone!"

"Ugh! Great. Just great! Do you know how hard it will be to find him in here?!"

"I know I know. I'm sorry. I didn't mean for it to happen." Jon felt his stomach tighten. "Furthermore, I don't think it was just him running off. I think he was lured away. He never just runs off, Chris."

"Maybe…..I'll keep a look out. Oh,and Mokuba says hi."

"Tell him I said hi back. I'll contact you soon." Jonathan turned it down,but not off, before turning to Kendra and Randi. "We have to rest here tonight. If he comes back, this is where he'll expect us to be."

"Sounds good to me." Randi settled against the wall, holding on to Lacey. "Does anyone have any food? I'm really hungry."

"I wish…." Kendra settled down across from them. "How long do you think these isane people will keep us in here?"

"No telling. I wonder how the dueling is going." Jonathan replied.

"I bet your brother was picked first." Randi told him.

"No….somehow, I don't think so." He closed his eyes wearily. All he wanted were his brothers. He realized now how close they all were to each other.

"Come on, Kaiba! Come at me!" Joey smirked at his opponent.

"Like you can really win, once I destroy your knight! Alright then, Wheeler. Blue Eyes, Destroy his Knight!"

"Is Wheeler crazy?! He hasn't learned anything!" Rex yelped, as he,Espa and Weevil watched from stands.

"Trust him. Wheeler's got a better head on his shoulders than the last time we dueled him." Espa replied. He returned to the duel at present. "Look! He's played Skull Dice!" The three former rivals watched, hanging on the edge of their seats, as Skull Dice landed on six. "Alright! Way to go,Wheeler!" Espa cheered. "Good move!"

"Wow….I underestimated him. Well played!" Rex called out.

"Espa, who do you think will have to duel him if Joey wins?" Weevil asked suddenly.

"I'm not sure. It doesn't matter, really. I've gotten all the duelists on one side. So, whoever loses, will still get their siblings back." Espa watched as Joey wrapped up the duel by powering up his Red Eyes Black Dragon with Graceful dice, and finishing Kaiba off.

"That wraps up day one. The officials in the back will show you to your rooms. Good night,and we will see everyone bright an early tomorrow morning." The annoying announcer blared from the speakers.

Once they were let into their rooms, the four friends met in Espa's room for a meeting. "I don't like this one bit. The hotel here locks all it's doors."

"That's because this really isn't a hotel." Kaiba stood in the doorway, dressed in his usual manner.

"Back for more, are you?" Joey asked. "I'm ready."

"No, you fool. I came to see what the big fuss was about. They said I will never see my little brother again." Kaiba looked really distraught. "What do they do to the children of the duelists who lose?"

"I'm not sure." Espa replied softly. "I'm afraid to find out, as ominous as this has all begun." Sudden, his hands flew to his temples, as a long awaited vision came to him. "Oh no! E!" He nearly missed the chair behind him, as his legs buckled.

"Espa! Are you okay?" Joey asked, helping him. "What was that all about?"

"It was a premonition. My littlest brother has been taken." Espa said, still in a haze.

"Taken where?" Joey asked.

"I'm not sure. It didn't show. But he is terrified. I can feel it, even now." Espa buried his face in his hands. "The problem is, I haven't even dueled yet. So I don't even wanna think about what they've got planned for Mokuba."

Kaiba grunted, and turned to go. "I will see what is going on."

Espa looked up at Joey, Rex and Weevil. They were all gawking at him. "What?"

"You…..you're really psychic?!" Rex sputtered.

"Yeah…..as of last year, right after Battle City. Strange, huh?" Espa smiled a little. "I never use it to duel though. Too painful. " He yawned, before going to lie down. "We'll see if Kaiba intends to help us or not in the morning."

His friends nodded, and left him to rest, and Espa fell asleep, worried for his brothers' safety.