Chapter Nine-Help in Hidden Places

Mokuba looked around the metal room. That was all he could do. The only other thing in the room to look at was a mirror. He paced up and down, contemplating his present situation. He knew he needed to get out, and fast. He didn't know what the woman had planned for him and he wasn't ready to find out.

Moreover, he realized that Little Espa needed to be saved. Since he knew the other Robas didn't know where he was, it was up to Mokuba to do it. He sat in the middle of the floor again, with a sigh. He was really tired of playing bait. For once, he hoped this wasn't some ploy to gain Kaiba Corp.

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Kaiba was having a bad morning. "Appearently, the host wants to remain anonymous." He told Espa Roba and the other duelists in the tournament. After word was received Mokuba was gone, everyone was instructed to meet in his penthouse at the top of the hotel.

"Anonymous? I wonder why." Joey muttered. His dreams had been horrible the night before. All he could hear was Lacey calling for him.

"Probably because they know their doing something downright illegal," Wevvil mused. "if those creeps put one hand on my sister…."

"Wait. The second duel is announced in ten minutes. Who do you think they'll choose?" Espa asked the unwanted question.

"Who knows….but we've all got to duel our best." Cedric spoke up quietly. "There's no room for sloppy mistakes in this."

"Hey, who are you?" Rex asked the quiet boy.

"I'm Cedric Wilson. My three sisters are in that maze as well."

"Yeah. Chris and Jon have them." Espa replied with a nod. "Cedric is right. We've all dueled each other before, but these circumstances require us to push us each other to our limits. That means everyone."

"We've got that, Roba, but if they keep knocking us out of the thing, who's going to be left to get the kiddies back?" Rex wanted to know.

"I don't know. We'll have to come up with something." Espa answered uncertainly. For once, the Roba was out of suggestions. All he could think about was Little Espa. Somehow, he had to get this tournament over with, and fast.

As Rex was about to ask another question, the PA system blared. "All remaining duelists please report to the playing field for match up."

Everyone looked at Kaiba. What would he do while they dueled?

"I'm going to get my brother back." Kaiba announced. "Don't worry, I'll see that your siblings are returned as well."

"But…Kaiba, that's crazy talk. No one can get into the House of Mirrors, and no one can get out." Joey said.

"They were warned not to mess with my little brother." Kaiba countered, before turning to go.

"Be careful, Kaiba!" Espa warned. "I think that place is full of traps."

"Stop worrying." The young CEO left without another word, leaving the remaining duelists gawking.

"Well, we better get down there and see who else is going to be eliminated." Cedric said unhappily.

"It doesn't matter. We're all in this together. They didn't count on us bonding together." Espa tried to smile reassuringly. "No matter what happens, we're all going to come out of this together." The others nodded in agreement, before going their separate ways to prepare for the coming duels.

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"We found you!" Randi squealed in delight when she saw her twin sisters. "I'm so glad you're safe!"

"Wandi!!!" One of the little girls let go of Andrew's hand and ran to her older sister. The other twin followed.

Randi scooped them up, while Christien hugged his older brother, and Jon in turned hugged both his brothers tightly. "I'm glad you two are okay as well."

Monica Raptor was filling Lacey in on what they were doing. "Hidenseek." Monica told her.

"Ooh…Tan I pway?" Lacey asked, her lavender eyes lightening up.

"We're all going to play." Jonathan announced.

"Yay!!!!!" The three youngest girls squealed in delight.

"Right, you guys. Mission number one was accomplished. We found each other. Mission number two, we find Mokuba and Little Espa."

"Where are we supposed to look, Roba?" Kenny wanted to know.

"I…I'm not sure, but it has to be at the end of the maze." Jonathan concluded. "Everyone pair off. We need to stay together, but if something happens, we each have a younger child."

"Are you sure you know what you're doing, Roba? I'm not in the mood to get anymore lost than I am." Kendra remarked.

"No, Kenny,I'm not, but if you want to see Weevil again, you're going to have to trust my instincts." Jonathan retorted irritably.

"What's your problem, Underwood? You're not the only one who's got a sibling you know." Christien echoed his older brother's annoyance. "Let's just go. We're wasting time."

As the Robas and the Wilson sisters turned to continue around the corner, Kendra watched, her eyes filling up with tears. They didn't understand, did they? Weevil didn't care what happened to her. He probably hoped she died in there.

"Tome ons, Tenny." Lacey Carlsn tugged on her arm lightly.

Kenny smiled despite how she felt, as she scooped up Wheeler's cousin. "Alright. Hide and seek…..let's see if we can't find them,hmm?"

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Marik Ishtar looked up at his sister. "I knew something wasn't right here. Look at them all, Ishizu. So young, and having to do this alone." His fury was fired up immensely. The one thing he couldn't stand after all the pain and suffering he caused, was to see innocents hurting.

"It is sad. We're going to be able to help them though. If we can keep from being caught ourselves." The Egyptian woman smiled at Marik. "It is as your dream depicted."

"No, Sister. It is worse than that. We were too late to stop them from taking the younger Kaiba." Marik replied. "I wish Rishid was here. He could certainly get us past those guards over there."

"Yes, that he could. We will have to find another way in." Ishizu slid to her feet. "Come on. We must return to our room to think this out further. We can't do anything without a plan, and those children haven't got much time for us to be captured."

Marik nodded reluctantly. All he wanted to do was get in there and help those young kids out. "You're right." He sighed, and stood as well. "Let's not take too long to do come up with a plan though. "

"We can't afford to. Don't worry." Ishizu led the way back to their hotel room.

On the way there, Marik silently recounted the events that had led them to this place. It had started the day before yesterday. Mokuba had come over, and told them about the anonymous invitation. Ishizu had warned the young Kaiba against it, but it was clear Seto Kaiba wasn't going to listen to reason. When Mokuba left for home that night, he'd reassured both Ishtars that he would be alright, but Marik had held on to his doubts. Something felt very wrong about the whole thing.

The next night, as he slept, Marik had been haunted with really wild, and sinister images. At first, he thought it was just a nightmare, but after explaining it to his older brother Rishid, it was clear he'd had what was known as a prophetic dream. Unable to let it rest, he pleaded with his two older siblings to help. Eventually, they gave in, having decided Marik was right. Whoever was behind this horrible scheme could not be allowed to succeed.

"Marik? Brother, are you alright?" Ishizu's concerned voice broke through the young boy's thoughts.

"Yes. I'm just thinking about how we can best help." Marik replied.

"We will find a way." The older Ishtar consoled. "Don't worry."

Marik smiled weakly. "I know you're right. I just hope we're not too late."