Penny: I'm glad SOMEone appreciates the cliffies! I try my best.
Wolf: Yep, Ankhutenshi is a great inspiration to us all. Batman-esque? I'd not really considered Jade to be like that... but now that you mention it, she IS the one that strikes fear in the hearts of mortal men... *grin*
Skraku: Had to show what was happening with Zack sooner or later, didn't I? And I'm glad you appreciate the finer qualities of my female characters. Just don't ask questions like that around Jade, she's liable to beat you down with her Labyrinth Brother and not care how many colors you turn!
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The Next Day
--
Kyle marched into the card shop after school. Nobody else was there, and from the looks of things, Zack was bored out of his mind while in the midst of reading a college textbook. Kyle made sure the door was securely shut before approaching the counter.
Before Zack could even say anything, Kyle fixed him with a hard stare and spoke first. "When were you going to tell me you have a Labyrinth Brother?"
At this, Zack's head immediately snapped up, and the expression on his face – one of a deer caught in the headlights – was all Kyle needed to know his feeling had been right.
The cashier slowly closed his textbook and set it down before looking back at Kyle and lacing his fingers together. A look of resigned curiosity was on his face. "How did you find out?"
"I met the girl you told me about yesterday. She said she wanted Gate Guardian. She showed me her piece of it."
Zack raised his eyebrow at Kyle, but Kyle continued. "Yeah, she showed me. Kazejin. Impressive card, impressive effect. Then I realized that you'd never actually told me what it was she wanted. You were so careful not to say that what she wanted from you wasn't something you had available for sale. You said you didn't want her to have access to what you had, and that can just as easily apply to anything else you own."
Kyle leaned over the counter. "She was terse with you at the tournament. Didn't even bother to give you her name. Not that it mattered to her, because she was more than ready to duel you, which is why she was there. To duel you specifically. She was ready to reveal to you that she knew you had a Labyrinth Brother. Somehow she knew it."
"You don't know that," Zack responded.
"It doesn't matter. You have one, and she believes you have one. Right?"
He sighed and nodded.
"What did she say?"
"That she knew I had one, and the next time I came to a tournament, she'd make sure to be there." He glared in disgust at the memory. "I saw the lust in her eyes. The way she looked at me was something like a sprinter looking at a hurdle. I'm in the way, and she plans to jump right over me to achieve her goal. She seemed about as impatient as a sprinter, too."
Kyle sighed. "Zack... I'm not your friend for no reason. I want to help."
"I don't see how you can. Her problem is with me, not you."
"Maybe you can make her my problem and not yours. Then you wouldn't have to worry about her, if she scares you that much."
"Who's scared?"
"You are, obviously. You won't go to tournaments, you won't even engage in friendly private duels. What's she going to do if she sees your Labyrinth Brother? Wrench it from your hand and run off with it?"
"The thought had occurred to me. Maybe it's occurred to her, too."
"She didn't seem to me to be that kind of person when I talked to her yesterday. Seems to me that she would play a Duel Monsters game fair and square."
"Yeah, but she would put stakes to it. Some duelists do that, you know. They offer a card as an ante. Or they challenge an opponent to offer a card as an ante. She'd challenge me for Sanga."
"For what?"
"Sanga of the Thunder. My Labyrinth Brother." Zack pulled a deck tin out of his pocket. He opened the small container and flipped through the cards inside until he found the one he was searching for. He flashed it at Kyle, who inspected it for a moment. This one, unlike the green Kazejin Jade had shown to him the previous day, was red and gold, and its features were markedly different from those of its brother. A flash of lightning was in the background of the picture.
Sanga of the Thunder. Light attribute. Level 7. [Thunder / Effect] Reduce the ATK of an opponent's monster attacking this card to 0. This effect can only be used once. The card's owner chooses when to activate this effect. (2600/2200)
"Effect's still the same, but this one's stronger," Kyle noted.
"It's the strongest of the three Labyrinth Brothers. But none of them compares to Gate Guardian itself."
"And this is why she's after you."
Zack nodded.
"Have you seen her since that tournament?"
"Several times. Like when I'm out on casual business. I'll spot her out of the corner of my eye. She's always there, watching me. Like she's chasing me. I'm surprised she hasn't come strolling in here and just flat-out demanded a duel for it yet, if she wants it so badly."
"Probably the intimidation she wants first," Kyle suggested. "And it seems to be working."
"It does, at that. Think I could get a restraining order on her?"
"Doubtful, if she hasn't made any aggressive moves."
"Too bad." Zack put the card back into his deck and stuffed the deck tin back in his pocket. "I'll deal with her. Don't worry about it."
"I can't help worrying about it, especially when you don't seem to be handling it all that well. Ignore her. If she approaches, ignore her. If she challenges you, ignore her. You've got no reason to put your card on the line. It's yours. However you acquired it, I'm sure you did so fair and square. So that's that. There've got to be others out there she can chase down."
"Yeah, two others," Zack snorted. "But if she doesn't know where those are, she's going to stick with me."
Kyle shrugged. "Then she'll stick with you until the cows come home. But that doesn't mean you have to accept any price or challenge she offers. If you want to keep it, keep it. It's just that simple."
"Thanks for the advice. Is there anything else, or did you come in here purely to berate me for not telling you something you didn't need to know anyway?"
Kyle fought down a glare. "No, I'm done. I'll be on my way, then."
--
"Monica, you got a letter today."
"I get tons of letters, Mom. What makes this one so special?"
"No return address. Only has your first name across it." Her mother harrumphed. "Yet another one of your secret admirers, I'm sure... too cowardly to make his case publicly known... at least that Xander boy is doing well for you."
She winced involuntarily at the mention of her current boyfriend's – boyfriend? Not anymore, Mom just wishes he was – name. The one thing that made the pain of her bruises worse was the knowledge that her mother was completely clueless as to what happened behind her back... and she didn't have the guts to tell her.
She snatched the letter from her mother's grasp and made her way to her room, subsequently slamming the door shut and locking it. As her mother had said, the only thing on the envelope was the name "Monica".
Curious, she opened it up and unfolded the letter inside.
Monica,
My life's already been made miserable, so your threats ring hollow to me – there's not much you can do to make it worse. I'm not sure what I'm supposed to do with what I saw. Morally, it's right that I should tell somebody, and yet you don't want me to say anything. To respect your wishes, I won't say anything, but if things keep going the way they look like they've been going... well, I'm going to have to do something. I do know, however, that you need to do something about it now, before things get worse. You don't deserve whatever treatment you've been getting, and you have the power to make it stop. Even if you can't tell your parents about it, you can still tell a teacher, or someone you trust. Sorry I'm not on that list, but someone who is can help you. Please, get help for yourself if you can't handle something like this alone.
Her heart panged several times in her chest as she read the letter over and over. It's McCraine... he knows... the bastard, he knows what's happening... I gave the killer hint to him when I left him that note, and now he's put it all together and knows.
She sat down on her bed and tried to breathe. What do I do now? If I don't tell someone, and he sees another bruise on me, he's going to get the word out... I just know it. But if I do tell someone, I'll get hurt even more...
She glanced at her homework desk, then sighed. I'll have to write another note to him. Tell him not to get in the way. Don't bother me. I can take care of myself, I didn't ask him to worry about me.
She blinked. Worry about me? McCraine? Good God, what's happening to this world? Hell must be freezing over.
She finally got up, went over to the desk, and sat down to write a note. I'll have to drop this off tonight, while he's sleeping. Last thing I need is for him to catch me at that shabby apartment complex.
But he's right I need to find a way out of this hell. I don't know why he's so hot on seeing that happen, I thought he'd enjoy watching me squirm. But whether he actually believes all this bull or not, he's right.
As she began to write the note, she glanced up through the window.
She saw his car parked across the street. He was staring at her.
She shuddered, then closed the curtains and wrote the letter up. I'm not going out with you, Xander go away
--
His car had been there virtually all evening. And of course, he had been, too.
She'd stood him up. Again. Even after he'd tried to show her how futile that would be.
He sighed disappointedly. He'd really have to teach her some respect. He wouldn't like it, and neither would she, but it needed to be done.
--
12:40 A.M.
The pendant about his neck shimmered.
His body moved in slow, deliberate motions. At first, they wouldn't have been noticeable to anyone else in the room; nevertheless, they were occurring. His body rolled incrementally towards the edge of the couch and teetered over the one-foot cliff, until gravity finally took its toll and dumped him unceremoniously on the ground.
His eyes were clenched shut. He didn't want to try to see, just yet. More than anything, he wanted to feel.
He was almost completely nude. That gave him the opportunity to feel the cloth of the sleeping bag wrapped around him. The cloth was of a softness that he'd almost forgotten, so much time had passed. It was a softness he vaguely recognized. Not a single piece of clothing he'd ever possessed had been this soft...
Only... her... Tamin...
But... Tamin... you are not here...
Tamin... you are gone... as is Salatis... as is Abana... as is my home...
A tear dripped down his cheek. Slowly, but surely, it trickled down to his lips.
He tasted the tear.
Bitter. As I am.
He did not succumb to the innate desire to open his eyes. He wasn't sure what he would see in this brave new world, nor was he sure that he wanted to see anything all that badly.
He struggled for several moments to pull out of the soft, wraparound covering. He found himself feeling another layer of softness; something not quite as soft as the bag had been... rather itchy, as a matter of fact... but it was still better than some of the materials he had known before.
He pushed against the material... gently at first – he didn't know how well his newfound muscles would work for him – and then progressively more firmly. He pushed and pushed, until he could push no further; then he began to pull, using the muscles in his back and his sense of balance to guide his way.
He was now standing on his knees, swaying slightly as he gained more control over his body. There he remained for a few moments, tasting and smelling the air around him. He grimaced. Foul bitter dead
A hand reached out tentatively for purchase, and found it on his left side. It was the elevated place on which he'd been sleeping moments earlier. It was softer than any bed he'd ever known, and he was tempted to climb back onto it and lie there for an indeterminate period of time.
But he knew that if he did that, he would succumb to sleep, and who knew when he would awaken again?
So instead, he pushed at the soft platform and brought one leg up. He slowly, but surely, got to his feet, still with eyes closed, still buried in the darkness of sightless oblivion.
His ears perceived several unfamiliar noises. A strange hum seemed to echo through the chamber, and it caused the floor to vibrate just slightly. Another hum of higher pitch was to the right side, and while it didn't shake the floor, it most certainly made him wonder what was causing it.
And then his ears perceived a noise that was familiar, even after his long slumber.
It was a scream. A scream of fright. Of terror.
Instinctively, his eyes snapped open, and he was forced to survey this new world around him.
A mixture of awe and terror struck him. This setting seemed strangely familiar, and yet so alien he wasn't sure if he could hope to identify anything here besides four walls, a floor, and a ceiling. The soft platform looked like a bed, but was too narrow to be one. The humming being made was coming from a pair of of
The closest description he could think of was "container", two containers made of some alloy he couldn't identify. One was bright white, while the other was grayish and dark brown. The walls around him were white, and definitely were not of stone and mortar. The same could be said for the ceiling, which had a strange, transparent orb hanging from the center of it. It looked as though it were cut from crystal.
I am in the home of a sorcerer?
In one of the walls was an opening to the outside. He approached it cautiously, seeing that there was more to this portal than simply an opening. There was some form of dirt hanging in the center of it. Upon closer inspection, he realized that it was yet more crystal providing a barrier between this chamber and the outside world. Around it was a black border, the boundary of this particular object.
Perhaps an illusion what should happen if I moved this barrier aside? Am I even able to?
He noted that there was some sort of mechanism on the right edge of the border; it appeared to be a handle. Perhaps this is meant to help move the barrier He placed his hand in it, and tentatively pulled at it.
The barrier slid to the left, seemingly going inside the wall on the left side. He blinked. Fascinating He continued to pull, until the barrier would move no further.
Beyond the barrier was exactly what he'd seen through it. There was more metal. It was a series of metal landings and ladders; there was a landing directly beyond the barrier. He stepped out onto the landing and surveyed it. He was reminded of the architect platforms of his day. Had they been made of metal, they would not have required such maintenance as they did but who would have such vast resources of metal?
He heard another scream. This one was louder; he surmised the last one had been muffled by the crystal barrier. He bristled, and his eyes darted about, ready to find whatever was threatening a peaceful night and fight it off.
Ready to protect.
That was his purpose. To protect.
A girl was running through the alley between the building he was outside and another building opposite. The road she ran on was paved, which only served to further baffle him – why would there be a paved road between a pair of residential buildings? The only pavement he'd ever seen was the pavement to the palace, and from the look of this place, there seemed to be no palace at either end of this road.
He tossed his confusion aside, though, when he saw that a young man was chasing after the girl, a clear look of mania on his face.
He glared. He would seek justice against this young man who dared threaten a woman.
He called out to the young man below and issued a challenge.
--
As soon as she'd left her car to go into the complex's lobby, she'd spotted him pulling up directly behind her. Without hesitation, Monica had begun to run as fast as she possibly could, around the side of the building in the hopes of losing him – or at least finding someone who could help her.
I don't even care if it's McCraine anymore! she thought desperately. Just someone, help! Her screaming reflected her fear, but it didn't form itself into any coherent words. It was just pure, terrified screaming.
"Come back here!" he yelled.
No! I know what you'll do to me if I do! "Leave me alone!" she screamed.
"Stop running, you bitch!"
Then she heard a shout. Someone was yelling down at the both of them. But she couldn't understand whatever language that person was using.
Yet it sounded clear to her that someone knew what was going on. Someone who might be able to block him, to help her, whatever... someone who would do something. She looked around wildly for the source of the shout.
Her eyes landed on a nearly naked Kyle McCraine standing on a second-floor fire escape. All he seemed to be wearing was a pair of shorts and that weird necklace he'd taken to wearing a while back.
But the pendant on the necklace was glowing.
And so was his forehead.
She hesitated for a split second. What the hell–?! It was undoubtedly he who had yelled, she knew his voice well enough to realize that now, but whatever he'd said hadn't made any sense to her. And seeing glowing objects on his person wasn't helping her sanity much, either.
That must be it, I'm just going insane, nothing's really glowing, I'm just losing my mind because I'm scared. Get up there, Monica, ignore the glowing crap and just get up there, he'll help you out, he has to, he HAS to...
She made for the fire escape ladder and leapt up it as quickly as she possibly could. Next thing she knew, she was standing right next to Kyle, and her pursuer hadn't slowed his pace, but was likewise ascending the ladder.
She squeaked and looked around for another way to get away from him. She saw that Kyle had left the fire escape door open, and she bounded through it and searched for the bathroom. If I can at least find a locking door without a window...!
She emitted a yelp as her eyes landed on it, and she raced through the door and slammed it shut, locking it tightly behind her. Beyond the door she could hear muffled words.
"Real cute light effects, dude. Now get out of my way. I said get out of my way, punk. Hey! The hell? Get your goddamn hands off me and get out of my way! Okay, you asked– ooh! Kuh! Ugh!"
The clattering of metal struts being jostled.
"Aaaah!"
CLANG-thump-bump-thu-thump-THUD.
"...unhhh..."
More words from Kyle, in a tongue she didn't recognize. She wasn't even sure it was a language. Insanity. Total and complete insanity. My mind must be distorting words, tuning everyone else out and focusing on him...
--
Kyle blinked. And blinked again. What the hell am I doing standing on the fire escape in my underwear–?! He grabbed his upper arms, shuddered with cold and embarrassment, and jumped back through the door and slammed it shut behind him.
"Jesus," he muttered. I must have been sleepwalking. Hope no one saw me. God, it's cold out there. I'm gonna need a CAT scan soon, I swear... but first I need to take a leak.
He made his way over to the bathroom, and frowned when he saw the door closed. I never close the bathroom door. Don't think I'd do that even if I was sleepwalking. When he reached the door, he grabbed the knob and tried to twist it – but it was securely locked.
He heard heavy, labored breathing inside as soon as he tried to open the door, and his frown deepened. "Who's in there?"
"McCraine?"
His jaw dropped. "Monica? What're you doing in my bathroom?"
"I had to get away from him! I'm sorry I ever came here, but I had to keep him away!"
Confusion contorted his features. "What? What're you talking about? You mean Xander?"
"I heard you fighting... he's gone now, right?"
"What?"
"Xander, you brainless ass! Is he gone?"
"I don't know what you're talking about. He's never been here."
There was a moment of silence, and then the door opened a crack, revealing a slit of a suspicious eye. "What the hell are you driving at, McCraine? It sounded like you beat the crap out of him. Unless those were his fists all over you, and you don't look hurt to me. He was right there on the fire escape with you, or is your drug-doped memory too short-term to be of any help here?"
"The fire escape...?"
"Yes, the goddamned fire escape!" she yelled. "You're standing here, so unless you're going to go back on what precious little value you gained for yourself writing that stupid letter, he's not here anymore."
"If he was here, I didn't see him. Monica, I'm serious, I honestly don't know what you're talking about."
"You don't remember shouting down at him when he was chasing me down that alley?"
His frown deepened further. "No..."
"You don't remember me coming up that ladder? And him right after me?"
"No..."
She slammed the door shut again and locked it. "I knew it. You're on something. I'm not leaving this bathroom until you're asleep."
"Then you're going to be there a pretty long time, because I'm not going to sleep with you in my bathroom. I have to pee."
"Do it in the kitchen sink."
"I don't have a kitchen."
"Then go over the fire escape rail, for God's sake! Just leave me alone! Let me have some space!"
"You want space in my home? There's a first." Kyle scoffed. Crazy woman... but I do have to go. Hope no one's watching.
As he was preparing to release, though, he took the opportunity to look through the alley, one way and the other. There seemed to be no evidence of anyone there.
What's she talking about? Fire escape. She said she came up it, and him right after. That would explain how she got into the bathroom. He was chasing her. Why? He snorted. Probably don't have to think too hard on that one. But why did she even come here in the first place? And what does she mean, I beat the crap out of him? I'm not a good fighter; I'm much better at bullying. Standing toe-to-toe with someone, especially someone like Xander, I just don't do well.
So what's going on here?
And for once... the mysterious voice in his head remained silent.
-------
Hm, I wonder where it went! How'd you like this chapter? Sorry to you duel enthusiasts, I'd nothing for you this time around, but fear not, there's PLENTY more dueling coming. Next up, Kyle's apartment: the morning after, and his preparation for summer courses at college. Also, Zack discovers his stalker knows a lot more than he can afford for her to know, forcing him to make a hard choice. Stay tuned!