Chapter 9: Illusions

Marik and Aya entered Lakeside Amusement Park, the entrance had a ticket booth with broken glass and blood splattered all over it. There was also a roller coaster ride that looked like it wouldn't work anymore and there were several tourist attractions in the park such as a house of mirrors and a merry-go-round. Marik remembered going to a amusement park in Domino city once and that is where Ishizu's illness started.

**flashback**

"Okay Marik, here we are." Ishizu said and Marik took off the blindfold that he was told to wear and he saw a large sign that said "Domino City Amusement Park." in bright red words.

"So this is one of those 'amusement parks' that I've been hearing so much about." Marik said with a smile on his face and his arms folded in front of his chest.

"I promised we'd go to one of these someday and here we are." Ishizu replied.

Marik overlooked the scenery of the amusement park and they proceeded to enter. They were practically having fun in the amusement park and being like kids in a candy store. However, that would soon come to a screeching halt sooner or later.

After Marik and Ishizu got off of the roller coaster, Marik was practically laughing and panting at the same time.

"That....was....fun." He said as his tried to catch his breathe.

"I've never had that much fun before." Ishizu said, with a smile on her face. Marik remembered it and that was the first time she ever smiled since she was usually so serious and straight-forward.

"Me neither." Marik replied. His laughter then stopped when he heard Ishizu coughing like as if she was having an asthma attack. Marik rushed to her aid

"Sister, are you okay?" Marik asked, his eyes filled with a worrisome look.

"Don't worry, I'm-" she would've finished what she was about to say when she fell to the ground, unconscious.

"Sister are you okay? Please wake up." Marik said, shaking her unconscious body.

**flashback**

He would never forget that incident, it had been so emotionally painful that he too wished that he was out cold. He then shook the thought out of his head and looked at Aya.

"C'mon Marik, we'll split up and meet up later." Aya told him.

".......Okay." He replied. He then watched her go in another direction and he went in a different direction, opposite of the direction that Aya went.

*******

Marik walked through the amusement park, the wind started to pick up some scattered papers and rocks that were on the street. He then noticed something on the ground and picked it up. It was a bullet case that had bullets that would possibly work for the gun. He then placed the bullets in the clip of the pistol, knowing that he would be safe for now.

Marik was still walking through the park, with only the light from the moon as his guardian. He felt the cold air touch his bare arms again, causing a shiver to run down his spine. It didn't matter since his heart had once been cold as well. He then heard the sound of someone walking and he tried to get a good glimpse at the figure and it was practically a small person, possibly a child.

He put a tight grip on his gun and aimed at the shadow, hoping that it wouldn't be a knife wielding, child-like demon. He then heard a voice coming from the silhouette:

"Marik, it's you again."

Marik then lowered his gun, "Mark? How can you still be alive? You were killed back there by that demon. I saw you die."

"You don't care for me or my big sister, do you? You're just like mommy." Mark said.

"Wrong, I do care for her and you are not Mark, I saw you die back there. You are another illusion." Marik thought as he tried to think of other harsh, but obvious things to say to him, but he couldn't think of anything else. He knew that it wasn't Aya's cute little brother and that it was just an illusion.

"Well, do you care for Aya? If you did, you wouldn't let her go alone in this park even though she's a big girl and she can take care of herself." Mark said in a menacing tone.

Marik didn't respond since he was too overwhelmed to even speak.

Mark then started to laugh, "I was just kidding Marik, I almost had you there, now let's go meet up with my big sister."

Marik only nodded and he followed the little boy, knowing that it might be his biggest mistake yet. It was practically obvious to him that Mark was just another illusion since the real Mark got killed by that giant, gluttonous demon.

He followed Mark through the amusement park until they came to a large building that said, "Infernal Nightmare Cage" in blood red words with a cartoon-like bear with blood-stained lips opening its large mouth.

"This is it, I'll let you go in first." Mark said.

"Umm...okay." Marik replied as he entered first, but Mark didn't enter the house of horrors for some reason.

"Something's not right here, why didn't Mark enter? Was he expecting to go in or was the town itself expecting me to?" Marik thought. Then he heard the door slam and he rushed to the large, iron door, banging his fists on the door.

"Mark, what are you doing?" Marik asked, still slamming his fists on the door.

"The town will punish you for your sins. You never loved anyone at all Marik." answered Mark.

"You spoiled little brat." Marik shouted.

Mark then stood silent and tears filled his eyes.

"You....buttface." He replied and he ran off.

Marik now sat in the portion of the haunted house, his arms wrapped around his legs as he looked at his surroundings. Then he heard the sound of a figure walking and then the figure appeared in full view. It was wearing a tattered, brown robe and his flesh was starting to rot away. It also carried a large spear in its hand.

"Marik......is that you?" The figure asked as it walked up closer to him.

"F-father?" was all that Marik could say since he now met someone from his past.

To Be Continued.

A/N: Okay, I got the ninth chapter done. The Korn song that I so long promised is going to be in the next chapter once I find the lyrics to the song.