Double Kill

Marik and Tea finally arrived at Domino City Hospital. Being able to find a good parking space, the two jumped out of the car and ran down the hallways to the room Serenity was placed in. Tea's eyes widened as she saw only Yugi and Joey.

"Hey wait," Tea looked at the two. "Where…where's Yami?"

Yugi gave Tea a quizzical look. "What do you mean?"

"Well," Tea scratched her head. "Ishizu dropped him off to the hospital a couple of hours ago."

"Whatever it is, he never showed up." Joey brushed his fingers through his sister's hair. "I called him earlier and he said he couldn't make it tonight. Something about finishing his novel. I'm surprised he's into this writing thing. Lucky guy getting his own apartment."

Tea nodded. Yami had been working on some sort of novel but when she asked him what was it about, he'd make a face and tell her it's a secret.

"By the way," Marik leaned against the wall. "What's Yami's little story about? Fighting during the ancient past?" he chuckled.

"He's been so secretive about it." Yugi sat on one of the chairs. "Marik, Ishizu's two doors down from here if you wanna visit her."

Nodding in agreement, Marik left the room leaving Tea, Yugi and Joey there.

"How's Serenity droing?" Tea looked over Joey's sister.

Yugi shook his head. "She's still not doing so well."

Five minutes later, Marik returned, his face red, his breathing heavy. Suddenly, his arm snapped, pounding his fist onto the wall.

Startled, the three looked up at Marik. The air in the room seemed to grow dense.

Tea slowly approached Marik, taking her steps cautiously. "Marik…are you feeling all right? How…how's Ishizu?"

Marik leaned against the wall, his hand on his forehead. "She lost too much blood. Her skull cracked…damaged badly."

"This has gone out of control." Joey shook his head.

"That fucking traitor." Marik muttered.

All was silent for a few minutes before Joey gave him a suspicious look. "What did you just say?"

"Nothing." Marik replied.

"I heard exactly what he said." Yugi stood up. He then took Joey by the wrist. "Come on Joey."

"Huh? Where are we going?" Joey tried to keep up with his friend as they left the room.

Tea looked over Serenity, pulling a chair beside the bed. "This isn't good. One week left and so many people…"

Marik placed a hand on her shoulder. "I can safely say nothing will happen." he tossed a blanket over her. "Get some sleep. I'll wake you up when Joey and Yugi return."

"But I'm not even sleepy." Tea gave Marik a strange look.

"Try me." he smirked.

Though an hour did pass by and Tea slowly succumbed to the power of sleep.

~*~*~*~

"Yugi, I don't get you sometimes." Joey leaned against the wall.

"Look, don't you think it's strange on what Marik just said? It's like he knows who's behind this Saint Nick gig."

"Even if he did know, it wouldn't be easy to coax it out of him. But I agree with you Yug. I think Marik has a part in this sick game. He never mentions about his girlfriend and quite frankly, he never seems to worry a lot."

"If you're so sure about all this," Yugi looked around. "Why don't we go visit his house right now? We can just stay there for a few minutes then come back here to stay with your sister."

To this, Joey agreed with his friend. "I'm sure Tea willk eep her company." the two then made their way to the parking lot.

"Hey wait," Yugi stopped in his tracks. "She's with Marik. Suppose if he tried to put any moves on her."

"Don't worry," Joey hopped on his motorcycle. "If I know Tea, she'd give him an ass kicking. Besides, the two used to go out. What could happen?"

Suddenly, the sound of clapping sounded off the empty parking lot. A familiar stranger stepped out of the shadows, a smirk played its lips. "It's about time you have some sense into your head."

"Say what?" Joey looked on a the shadowed figure. "What the hell does that supposed to mean?"

"Not everything has a perspective." the stranger slowly came into full view. "Not everything is what they seem to be."

Yugi's eyes widened as he watched the stranger step forward. "No! This can't be right! It's not…"

"So," Joey was as shocked as Yugi. "It was you who's Santa Claus for Tea?"

"I knew I managed to pick a perfect kid for good old Santa. He's not always the jolly fat ass we all know and love. Everyone has an evil side." the stranger took out a knife dripping with fresh blood. Its tongue sticking out, licking off the blood. "You never expected me to turn into something dark and evil now did you?"

"You're sick!" Joey gritted his teeth. "How could you do this to your own friends? How could you do this to my sister you BITCH?!? If you ask me, I think Santa shoved a bucket of coal up your ass!"

"Joey?" Yugi was surprised to hear Joey talk like that.

The stranger chuckled. "You got a lot of mouth Joey. You always do from the moment I first met you." the stranger reached into its pocket taking out a handgun. "Too bad things turned for the worst now that you know the real person behind all this."

"You've gone insane!" he then turned to Yugi. "Come on Yugi, get on!"

Yugi hopped on the back, hanging onto Joey as he sped away.

The stranger chuckled, watching Joey speeding off. Clucking its tongue, its finger rested on the trigger. "Poor Joey, there's no reason for you to be in such a rush." the stranger then pulled onto the trigger, shooting right for the tire. Managing to strike it, the stranger could hear the tires screeching and a huge crash sounded off.

The smile never left the stranger's face. With hands in its pockets, silent footsteps dragged along the concrete to where the motorcycle laid. Joey's body sprawled between two parked cars. Yugi's body was pinned underneath the motorcycle.

Joey groaned, slowly getting himself to crawl towards Yugi. "Yugi…" he then tried to pull Yugi out of the motorcycle. "Come on, you'll be all right."

"Forget it Joey," the stranger smirked. "He's good as dead."

"Shutup!" Joey glared at the stranger.

"Trust me. He won't make it." he pointed his gun to Yugi shooting him once on the chest, the other to his head.

"YUGI!!" Joey was shocked, unable to believe what he was seeing. His eyes could not rip away from the blood gushing out of his friend's body. "No! This…this can't be happening!" he looked up at the familiar stranger, nearly in tears. "You son of a bitch, WHY?!?"

"I couldn't let you tell anyone my secret now could I?" the stranger smiled.

"All right, that's it!!" Joey raged. "You went too far this time! I'm going to make sure you don't survive this night or any night!" he then ran towards the stranger, his fist clenching ready to attack.

Smirking, the stranger watched on as Joey came running forward. As he approached, his attacker slowly withdrew the knife he had earlier, holding it straight out. Before Joey could stop himself, it was all too late. His stomach met with the blade, the sharp twisted metal jammed itself inside his flesh.

Joey's eyes widened as he felt the blade go through his body, blood shooting once out of his mouth. He fell to his knees, feeling his own blood seeping through his shirt. His body collapsed to the ground, lying in a pool of his own blood.

The stranger approached him, yanking the sword out of him. "Hmph, pathetic. I didn't hurt you enough to kill you." once again, it started to shuffle away from the two bodies.

~*~*~*~

The sun slowly shined through the window of the hospital room. Tea's eyes opened slowly, feeling the sun shine on her face. She also felt something her shoulder. Shifting her gaze towards her shoulder, she saw Marik resting his head on her. He was sitting on a chair that was pressed back to back with hers. Another chair was across from him in which he used it to place his feet.

"Well," a doctor walked in, looking down at Tea and a sleeping Marik. "Will you just look at you two. Two teenage kids trying to spend the night with each other."

"Uh…well…" Tea slowly sat up. "We're not going out."

The doctor made his way towards Serenity, checking on her. "Still not responding."

"Is she going to be okay doc?" Tea stood up, her elbow nudging Marik on the head with her elbow in an attempt to wake him up.

"Doctor," one of the nurses called out. You better come quick!" the sounds of stretchers wheeled past the room. "There are two bodies found in the parking lot. Both of hem…" her voice trailed off.

The doctor took a peek out of the door. "Oh Jesus!" the doctor placed a hand over his mouth.

"Doctor?" Tea's face etched with worry. "What's wrong?"

The doctor turned back to Tea. "Kid, I hate to tell you this but your two blonde headed friends. You know, the tall arrogant one and the small shy one? Their bodies have been found in the parking lot."

"Joey and Yugi?" Tea was shocked. But the doctor didn't reply as he left the room.

Marik placed his hand on Tea's shoulder. "Maybe you should check it out. I'll catch up with you. Need to make a phone call." he watched Tea leaving the room. Taking out his cell phone, he pushed a few buttons. "Hello? You…so it was you who did it to Joey and Yugi…I know it was you…Look, what kind of sick bastard are you trying to go after my sister…what the hell does that supposed to mean?"

"Marik, who are you talking to?"

Marik slowly looked up seeing Yami stepping in the room. Their gazes fixed onto each other for a long time. Finally he stod up, brushing past Yami.

Yami turned towards Marik, watching him. "You know who's behind this killing spree, don't you Marik?"

Marik sneered at Yami, his hand rested on the door frame. His eyes gazed at Yami for a long moment. "I believe I should ask you the same question."

"What does that supposed to mean?" Yami clenched his fist, staring down at Marik.

But Marik didn't reply as he left the hospital.

~*~*~*~

To Be Continued