Khu marched purposefully down the deserted streets of Cooperstown, furiously kicking aside an abandoned mining tool. Those stupid kids and their group were here! He had seen them moaning over the death of one of their own. But that's what they got for getting in over their heads. Khu, on the other hand, knew exactly what he was getting into. He knew what Seth was capable of now and what he wanted. And since both brothers weren't really mortal anymore, they didn't have anything to fear from the ghosts inhabiting the town.
"Don't you fear the town's curse?"
He whirled at the slightly familiar, deeply accented voice. Another Egyptian stood in front of him, electricity sparking from his fingertips and black locks flowing out and framing his face. Above and under his left eye was a long, painful-looking scar from an unknown injury. His pupilless eyes were a piercing blue, boring deep into Khu's own violet orbs.
Khu's eyes narrowed. "It's true, then," he said darkly. "You did follow me here to America." He had suspected it, especially after hearing about the incident in the Ishtars' backyard, but now it was all confirmed. This man was his worst nightmare.
"Oh yes," the newcomer grinned insanely. "But not for the same reason you followed Seth and Nuru here. Why do you want to stop them, anyway? I'm sure everyone's curious. I doubt you want to do something noble like save the world." He knew Khu's personality very well and had for some time. Being a hero was probably the last thing he wanted to do.
Khu glared. "I don't have to tell you anything."
"Have it your way. I guess now you regret having a hand in my release." The stranger grinned, turning to go. As he did, he casually shot a lightning bolt into the sky. It glowed brilliantly for several moments, blinding Khu. When his vision cleared, the madman was gone.
****
Tristan watched numbly as Marik continued to bend over Duke. Now the Egyptian was struggling to loosen the noose and slip it off the other boy's neck. It seemed the last courtesy he could do for a friend.
Yugi was watching as well. He didn't want to look, but he couldn't break away. It was a very good thing that the kindhearted boy hadn't seen Duke's body hanged from the rafters. As Marik gently removed the rope and red marks became visible on the unfortunate teenager's neck, Yugi cried out in alarm. "How could anyone do this?!" He clenched his fists. "How could they?! Duke wasn't a bad person! He tried to do what was right!" It was all so much to take in.
Marik shook his head grimly. He had no answers.
"I guess . . . he's . . . he's not breathing." Tristan swallowed hard, hoping against hope.
"No," Marik replied quietly. "His neck, miraculously, isn't broken, but he was strangled." He took his hands away from Duke's throat and then bent down to listen for a heartbeat. Though he was positive Duke was dead, he knew he needed to check. Just possibly . . . possibly. . . . The Egyptian froze.
"What is it?" Téa wanted to know.
Marik didn't move. Had he heard right? He motioned for silence and again pressed his ear to Duke's chest. Yes, there it was again! A soft, barely discernable thump! Duke's heart was still beating. It was faint and slowing, but it was still there. He wasn't dead, but just barely clinging to life. If they hastened, perhaps they could still save him.
Now he looked up. "Téa, do you know how to do artificial respiration?" he asked. Oh, he knew how himself, but he didn't deny that he'd rather a girl could do it now if she would.
Téa blinked in surprise, kneeling down next to Marik. This was an odd thing to ask. Was there still a chance that Duke could be saved? Why else would Marik want to know such a thing? "Y-yeah," she admitted, "I know it."
"Then help him," Marik requested quietly.
Instantly Serenity perked up, running over. Was it possible that Duke was still alive?! Her hazel eyes lighted up hopefully, watching as Téa leaned down and attempted to breathe life into the nearly-dead boy. Duke seemed unresponsive to all her attempts, but Téa didn't give up. Again she blew into his mouth and then laid a hand on his chest, praying to feel it rise without her aid.
Please, Duke, Serenity begged silently, please don't leave us! I know there's a lot of pain behind your kind smile and emerald eyes. But there are people who care about you! We don't want you to die. Especially . . . especially I don't. I . . . I love you, Duke! I love you so much! And tears fell again from her hazel eyes, splashing onto the wood floor. There was only one thing in the world that this poor girl desired now—and that was to see the lifeless boy open his eyes and take breath.
But Duke still didn't move. Téa leaned back in despair, feeling heartsick. She had tried. What more was there she could do? Was his heart even still beating? She bent over him once more, attempting to check.
At this display, meaning Téa was certain they'd lost him, Serenity could keep her pleas silent no longer. "Come back, Duke!" she screamed, running forward to crash to her knees at his side. "PLEASE!! You have to stay with us!!!" She gripped the clammy hand in hers, longing for even so much as just a slight squeeze back.
Joey didn't try to hold her back. He knew that would only make things worse. Serenity wanted to go to Duke and he had to let her, no matter how much he really didn't want her to.
And then, seemingly out of the blue, Duke started coughing. In stunned shock those gathered close moved back to give him breathing room. No one had really expected him to survive, even though they had hoped and prayed for it. But he had survived!
Serenity's entire countenance simply brightened. "Duke!" she cried, clasping her hands with joy. She didn't know if she loved him romantically or just as a special friend, but she did know that she loved him. And that she was overjoyed to see him alive. She wouldn't have been able to bear it if he had truly perished.
Even Tristan was happy, deciding to overlook what appeared to him as Serenity being too joyous over simply a friend. He was relieved to see his rival roll onto his side and cough a bit more. He had been mentally beating himself up for wishing harm to come upon Duke and then finding him hanged.
Now Duke fell back onto the wood floor and turned his head to the side. It was obvious that his chest was rising and falling now. His breath came mostly normally but with a bit of a rasping sound due to the fact that he'd nearly been strangled to death.
"Is he conscious?" Yugi wanted to know, coming over closer.
Marik was about to reply that he didn't know when Duke's eyes slowly opened. The raven-haired boy stared ahead blankly for what seemed an eternity, never seeming to acknowledge his friends. Did he know they were there? Was Duke really completely back with them or . . . was he partially on two different planes?
This thought scared Tristan quite badly. "Hey!" he cried. "Duke!! You know you're not alone, right, buddy?! We're all here with you!" He could see the red rope marks on Duke's neck quite clearly now. The sight gave him chills. How could anyone hang a living person and not feel any sort of regret for it?! It seemed one of the very worst ways to die.
Duke groaned softly, the emerald eyes finally focusing on those nearest to their owner—Serenity, Tristan, Yugi, and Marik. A slow smirk came over his features then and he laughed weakly. "You were really worried about me, huh?" He made no attempt to get up and instead seemed content to just lay there on the floor. "It was just a bump on the head . . . nothing serious." For, as Marik had assumed, Duke didn't know that he'd been hanged. The last he recalled was being hit on the head, and for all the poor boy knew, that was all that had happened.
"Nothin' serious?!" Joey burst out. "Man, they strung you up from the ceiling!!"
That got Duke's attention. "Huh?!" he gasped, suddenly trying to sit up.
Tristan laid a hand on the other boy's shoulder. "That's right, Duke," he said quietly. "They hanged you. Maybe you should just rest and not try to get up."
Duke's eyes narrowed. "They . . . hanged me?" he repeated. Carefully a hand went to his neck and he soon discovered the rope marks. "But . . . how can I be alive?!"
"Your heart was still beating, very faintly," Marik spoke up. "Téa was able to use artificial respiration and help you to breathe again." Even so, he knew as well as all the others that it was a complete miracle Duke was alright. His neck could have been broken or his heart could have not been beating when they'd found him. Or even with the artificial respiration, he might not have come back. Yes, it was definitely a miracle.
Now Serenity threw her arms around Duke, sobbing happily as she held him close. "I thought you were gone! I thought . . . I thought I'd lost you!"
Duke smiled as the girl embraced him. Weakly he hugged back, looking as if he felt that getting hurt wasn't so bad when this sort of thing was the reward. Tristan just looked irked. But he tried to put feelings of jealousy aside.
Mokuba grinned, leaning against his brother. Duke was alright. Now if only they could get out of this terrible place! He didn't see any reason why they needed to stay. They hadn't been able to find Khu at all. Maybe he'd even already been there and left. In any case, Mokuba didn't think it was worth it to stay.
"Look out!" a voice cried suddenly. Both Kaiba brothers were grabbed from behind, but it didn't help. They and the one who had tried to warn them all plunged deep into a trap door that had suddenly opened up in the floor!
The rest of the gang could only watch helplessly as the door closed up again.
"That was Marik who fell with them!!" Ishizu burst out in horror, running over and kneeling down over where the door was supposed to be. But no matter how hard they tried, they couldn't make it budge, not even with Rishid's assistance.
"Where the heck did they go?!" Joey yelled, stamping on the floor in frustration. "Why won't the stupid door open again?!" His brown eyes flamed. As usual, one bad thing after another was happening to them. And now it seemed impossible to be able to find those missing again. "Maybe they'll all turn up hanged," he said without thinking.
Ishizu cried in alarm, clenching her fists. "Marik will not be hanged," she replied in a dangerous tone. "And neither will the Kaiba brothers. We will find them all alive and unharmed." Her voice wavered. Joey could tell she didn't really believe in her words. And he felt guilty for his thoughtless comments.
"Hey, sure we will," he told her comfortingly, a new resolve coming over him. They wouldn't be defeated by some ghost town where mortals hadn't walked for decades! They would overcome it all and come out having defeated the town! "Let's go find 'em and kick some ghosts' rear ends!" the Brooklyn boy yelled then, slamming his fist into his palm.
****
Mokuba slowly opened his eyes, trying to focus. He remembered falling . . . falling endlessly, it seemed. Seto and Marik had been with him. . . . Were they still with him?
He tried to shift his position and then realized with sickening horror that he was sprawled across two bodies. "Seto?!" the frightened child cried out. "Marik?!" He reached out a hand and it plunged into an abundance of soft hair.
A faint groan came from the one belonging to the hair and he tried to rise. "Ow," he muttered sarcastically, referring to the fall.
"Marik!" Mokuba exclaimed, scrambling down from what he then realized was Seto's form and sat between the two boys, grabbing at his brother's arm. "Seto, wake up!"
Seto gave a low grunt and also attempted to pull himself into a sitting position. "I'm awake," he assured Mokuba. "It's probably only been a couple of minutes since we fell, at the most." He ruffled the boy's hair and looked around them. All was dark. This was not helping his already dark mood any. So far this excursion had been a complete waste.
Marik slowly pulled the Rod out of his belt and made it light the way a bit. They seemed to be in some sort of cellar, but when they looked up, trying to find where they had fallen from, there was only blackness. Marik looked irritated at this. "There has to be another way out," he muttered. "Most cellars have an outside door."
A chilling laugh echoed throughout the room. "Maybe so, but you guys will never find it!" a voice with a nasty rasp retorted. "Not as long as you have us to deal with!"
The three boys froze. From out of the darkness a lantern was suddenly lit and they came face to face with their assailants. And they could barely believe it. They were met with the sight of blue uniforms and badges. Policemen!
"What's your problem?!" Mokuba burst out in stunned shock. "We're not criminals or something!!"
The policemen all laughed. "Oh, you've all been very bad," the one in the lead sneered. "Especially that one." He pointed to Marik. "The Egyptian there has been working against our little operations. Well, he and his arrogant friend."
Marik's eyes narrowed.
"We tried to have the other kid strung up, but it didn't take. So it looks like the Egyptian will have to take both that punishment and his own." A second officer sneered in a treacherous way, moving forward with his nightstick. Oh yes, they had been responsible for what had happened to Duke. But . . . they weren't working alone. They had the assistance of every lost soul that roamed through the town. The spirits were the ones who had actually done the abducting.
Marik pushed the Kaibas back. "These officers are corrupt," he said darkly. "Duke Devlin has files on all of them in his office." He held the Rod out in front of him. "Don't make me use this," he said, continuing with his dark tone. "I'm certain the Rare Hunters working with you can attest to its powers." He really didn't want to use the Rod again, but if he had to in order to protects the others, he would.
Mokuba wrenched his way around Marik and stood in front of him with outstretched arms. "Hey!" he cried. "Marik's my friend. You're gonna have to go through me to get to him!" He could feel his heart racing wildly in his chest. He knew he was doing something dangerous, but he didn't care. Marik had been hurt protecting him before. Now he wanted to protect Marik.
But Marik protested, of course. "You can't do this, Mokuba!" he said in alarm. "I won't let you be hurt when it's me they're after. That would be cowardly." He gripped the Rod tighter. "And I am not a coward."
The man with the nightstick sniggered. "Stupid brat. If he wants to be first, I don't care. Just as long as all of you wind up dead in the end." He slammed the switch against his hand repeatedly, just waiting for the first opportunity to strike at someone.
Seto stepped forward then, his eyes narrowed. "Be quiet, Mokuba. I'll handle this," he said darkly. He wasn't in the mood for a lot of nonsense. There was enough already going on. Immediately he pushed Mokuba out of the way just as the officers' clubs came down where the boy had been. They hit Seto instead. Caught off guard, the teenager was able to be thrown to the floor, whereupon the men surrounded him and continued their assault. They would beat him to death if they had to.
But Mokuba couldn't take it. He couldn't stand by and watch his brother being hurt like this! Though Seto didn't cry out, both Mokuba and Marik could see he was in pain. Angrily Mokuba grabbed an abandoned club, throwing it full force at the main man abusing Seto.
It struck him right between his beady eyes. Furiously he rose to his full height, turning to face his young attacker head-on. "You're gonna be sorry for that, punk!" he vowed. Murder gleamed in his corrupt eyes.
And instantly Marik threw his arms around the child protectively from behind. "I won't let you harm him," he declared, his voice lowering dangerously. Marik hated all forms of torment, but hurting a child made him snap. "If you try . . . you'll all meet your doom." Of course the Yami could never come out again since Marik had defeated him, but the boy still had immense anger and rage that would make him fearsome if unleashed.
Mokuba grabbed at Marik's arms. "Marik, I'm gonna be fine!" he yelled, a bit scared by his friend's tone. He hated it when the Egyptian acted as if he were about to lose control of himself, though he could understand and was happy that Marik was so intent on protecting him. Even if he felt he didn't need help.
Seto, meanwhile, was attempting again and again to struggle out from under the falling clubs. Finally he managed to take hold of one and shove it away from him. The owner stumbled back slightly at this move, enabling Seto to have an opening for escape. He took it immediately, punching and kicking at each and every man who opposed him. No matter what it took, they would get out of this alive!
But Marik was starting to feel very strange. As he was holding Mokuba back protectively, he felt as if something cold and clammy had passed through his flesh and was grabbing hold of his heart. In spite of all the pain he had experienced before, now he was feeling something new. It was taking all of his strength not to scream in agony. He felt, literally, as if the life was being squeezed out of him.
Mokuba could sense the change in the older boy's personality and looked up at him, scared. Marik's eyes were glazing over and he was breathing heavily. Beads of perspiration appeared on his forehead and he held Mokuba tighter, as if not consciously realizing what he doing and hoping that Mokuba could stop the pain. "Marik!!" the child cried out, trying to get free. "Marik, what's wrong???!!"
Finally the urgent voice pierced through to Marik's tormented mind. His eyes focused again and he released Mokuba, now grabbing hold of his chest. "I don't know," he whispered. "I think . . . I may be having a heart attack." The poor boy's vision started to darken. This can't be right! he screamed in his mind. I'm too young to have a heart attack!
An eerie laugh echoed throughout the cellar. Even the police officers froze, looking almost frightened. For they were a bit frightened of the spirits, though they wouldn't admit it. "It's not a heart attack!" a disembodied voice laughed. "It's me! And because of me your life will now end."
That was the last thing Marik heard before he fell forward onto the floor.
"Don't you fear the town's curse?"
He whirled at the slightly familiar, deeply accented voice. Another Egyptian stood in front of him, electricity sparking from his fingertips and black locks flowing out and framing his face. Above and under his left eye was a long, painful-looking scar from an unknown injury. His pupilless eyes were a piercing blue, boring deep into Khu's own violet orbs.
Khu's eyes narrowed. "It's true, then," he said darkly. "You did follow me here to America." He had suspected it, especially after hearing about the incident in the Ishtars' backyard, but now it was all confirmed. This man was his worst nightmare.
"Oh yes," the newcomer grinned insanely. "But not for the same reason you followed Seth and Nuru here. Why do you want to stop them, anyway? I'm sure everyone's curious. I doubt you want to do something noble like save the world." He knew Khu's personality very well and had for some time. Being a hero was probably the last thing he wanted to do.
Khu glared. "I don't have to tell you anything."
"Have it your way. I guess now you regret having a hand in my release." The stranger grinned, turning to go. As he did, he casually shot a lightning bolt into the sky. It glowed brilliantly for several moments, blinding Khu. When his vision cleared, the madman was gone.
****
Tristan watched numbly as Marik continued to bend over Duke. Now the Egyptian was struggling to loosen the noose and slip it off the other boy's neck. It seemed the last courtesy he could do for a friend.
Yugi was watching as well. He didn't want to look, but he couldn't break away. It was a very good thing that the kindhearted boy hadn't seen Duke's body hanged from the rafters. As Marik gently removed the rope and red marks became visible on the unfortunate teenager's neck, Yugi cried out in alarm. "How could anyone do this?!" He clenched his fists. "How could they?! Duke wasn't a bad person! He tried to do what was right!" It was all so much to take in.
Marik shook his head grimly. He had no answers.
"I guess . . . he's . . . he's not breathing." Tristan swallowed hard, hoping against hope.
"No," Marik replied quietly. "His neck, miraculously, isn't broken, but he was strangled." He took his hands away from Duke's throat and then bent down to listen for a heartbeat. Though he was positive Duke was dead, he knew he needed to check. Just possibly . . . possibly. . . . The Egyptian froze.
"What is it?" Téa wanted to know.
Marik didn't move. Had he heard right? He motioned for silence and again pressed his ear to Duke's chest. Yes, there it was again! A soft, barely discernable thump! Duke's heart was still beating. It was faint and slowing, but it was still there. He wasn't dead, but just barely clinging to life. If they hastened, perhaps they could still save him.
Now he looked up. "Téa, do you know how to do artificial respiration?" he asked. Oh, he knew how himself, but he didn't deny that he'd rather a girl could do it now if she would.
Téa blinked in surprise, kneeling down next to Marik. This was an odd thing to ask. Was there still a chance that Duke could be saved? Why else would Marik want to know such a thing? "Y-yeah," she admitted, "I know it."
"Then help him," Marik requested quietly.
Instantly Serenity perked up, running over. Was it possible that Duke was still alive?! Her hazel eyes lighted up hopefully, watching as Téa leaned down and attempted to breathe life into the nearly-dead boy. Duke seemed unresponsive to all her attempts, but Téa didn't give up. Again she blew into his mouth and then laid a hand on his chest, praying to feel it rise without her aid.
Please, Duke, Serenity begged silently, please don't leave us! I know there's a lot of pain behind your kind smile and emerald eyes. But there are people who care about you! We don't want you to die. Especially . . . especially I don't. I . . . I love you, Duke! I love you so much! And tears fell again from her hazel eyes, splashing onto the wood floor. There was only one thing in the world that this poor girl desired now—and that was to see the lifeless boy open his eyes and take breath.
But Duke still didn't move. Téa leaned back in despair, feeling heartsick. She had tried. What more was there she could do? Was his heart even still beating? She bent over him once more, attempting to check.
At this display, meaning Téa was certain they'd lost him, Serenity could keep her pleas silent no longer. "Come back, Duke!" she screamed, running forward to crash to her knees at his side. "PLEASE!! You have to stay with us!!!" She gripped the clammy hand in hers, longing for even so much as just a slight squeeze back.
Joey didn't try to hold her back. He knew that would only make things worse. Serenity wanted to go to Duke and he had to let her, no matter how much he really didn't want her to.
And then, seemingly out of the blue, Duke started coughing. In stunned shock those gathered close moved back to give him breathing room. No one had really expected him to survive, even though they had hoped and prayed for it. But he had survived!
Serenity's entire countenance simply brightened. "Duke!" she cried, clasping her hands with joy. She didn't know if she loved him romantically or just as a special friend, but she did know that she loved him. And that she was overjoyed to see him alive. She wouldn't have been able to bear it if he had truly perished.
Even Tristan was happy, deciding to overlook what appeared to him as Serenity being too joyous over simply a friend. He was relieved to see his rival roll onto his side and cough a bit more. He had been mentally beating himself up for wishing harm to come upon Duke and then finding him hanged.
Now Duke fell back onto the wood floor and turned his head to the side. It was obvious that his chest was rising and falling now. His breath came mostly normally but with a bit of a rasping sound due to the fact that he'd nearly been strangled to death.
"Is he conscious?" Yugi wanted to know, coming over closer.
Marik was about to reply that he didn't know when Duke's eyes slowly opened. The raven-haired boy stared ahead blankly for what seemed an eternity, never seeming to acknowledge his friends. Did he know they were there? Was Duke really completely back with them or . . . was he partially on two different planes?
This thought scared Tristan quite badly. "Hey!" he cried. "Duke!! You know you're not alone, right, buddy?! We're all here with you!" He could see the red rope marks on Duke's neck quite clearly now. The sight gave him chills. How could anyone hang a living person and not feel any sort of regret for it?! It seemed one of the very worst ways to die.
Duke groaned softly, the emerald eyes finally focusing on those nearest to their owner—Serenity, Tristan, Yugi, and Marik. A slow smirk came over his features then and he laughed weakly. "You were really worried about me, huh?" He made no attempt to get up and instead seemed content to just lay there on the floor. "It was just a bump on the head . . . nothing serious." For, as Marik had assumed, Duke didn't know that he'd been hanged. The last he recalled was being hit on the head, and for all the poor boy knew, that was all that had happened.
"Nothin' serious?!" Joey burst out. "Man, they strung you up from the ceiling!!"
That got Duke's attention. "Huh?!" he gasped, suddenly trying to sit up.
Tristan laid a hand on the other boy's shoulder. "That's right, Duke," he said quietly. "They hanged you. Maybe you should just rest and not try to get up."
Duke's eyes narrowed. "They . . . hanged me?" he repeated. Carefully a hand went to his neck and he soon discovered the rope marks. "But . . . how can I be alive?!"
"Your heart was still beating, very faintly," Marik spoke up. "Téa was able to use artificial respiration and help you to breathe again." Even so, he knew as well as all the others that it was a complete miracle Duke was alright. His neck could have been broken or his heart could have not been beating when they'd found him. Or even with the artificial respiration, he might not have come back. Yes, it was definitely a miracle.
Now Serenity threw her arms around Duke, sobbing happily as she held him close. "I thought you were gone! I thought . . . I thought I'd lost you!"
Duke smiled as the girl embraced him. Weakly he hugged back, looking as if he felt that getting hurt wasn't so bad when this sort of thing was the reward. Tristan just looked irked. But he tried to put feelings of jealousy aside.
Mokuba grinned, leaning against his brother. Duke was alright. Now if only they could get out of this terrible place! He didn't see any reason why they needed to stay. They hadn't been able to find Khu at all. Maybe he'd even already been there and left. In any case, Mokuba didn't think it was worth it to stay.
"Look out!" a voice cried suddenly. Both Kaiba brothers were grabbed from behind, but it didn't help. They and the one who had tried to warn them all plunged deep into a trap door that had suddenly opened up in the floor!
The rest of the gang could only watch helplessly as the door closed up again.
"That was Marik who fell with them!!" Ishizu burst out in horror, running over and kneeling down over where the door was supposed to be. But no matter how hard they tried, they couldn't make it budge, not even with Rishid's assistance.
"Where the heck did they go?!" Joey yelled, stamping on the floor in frustration. "Why won't the stupid door open again?!" His brown eyes flamed. As usual, one bad thing after another was happening to them. And now it seemed impossible to be able to find those missing again. "Maybe they'll all turn up hanged," he said without thinking.
Ishizu cried in alarm, clenching her fists. "Marik will not be hanged," she replied in a dangerous tone. "And neither will the Kaiba brothers. We will find them all alive and unharmed." Her voice wavered. Joey could tell she didn't really believe in her words. And he felt guilty for his thoughtless comments.
"Hey, sure we will," he told her comfortingly, a new resolve coming over him. They wouldn't be defeated by some ghost town where mortals hadn't walked for decades! They would overcome it all and come out having defeated the town! "Let's go find 'em and kick some ghosts' rear ends!" the Brooklyn boy yelled then, slamming his fist into his palm.
****
Mokuba slowly opened his eyes, trying to focus. He remembered falling . . . falling endlessly, it seemed. Seto and Marik had been with him. . . . Were they still with him?
He tried to shift his position and then realized with sickening horror that he was sprawled across two bodies. "Seto?!" the frightened child cried out. "Marik?!" He reached out a hand and it plunged into an abundance of soft hair.
A faint groan came from the one belonging to the hair and he tried to rise. "Ow," he muttered sarcastically, referring to the fall.
"Marik!" Mokuba exclaimed, scrambling down from what he then realized was Seto's form and sat between the two boys, grabbing at his brother's arm. "Seto, wake up!"
Seto gave a low grunt and also attempted to pull himself into a sitting position. "I'm awake," he assured Mokuba. "It's probably only been a couple of minutes since we fell, at the most." He ruffled the boy's hair and looked around them. All was dark. This was not helping his already dark mood any. So far this excursion had been a complete waste.
Marik slowly pulled the Rod out of his belt and made it light the way a bit. They seemed to be in some sort of cellar, but when they looked up, trying to find where they had fallen from, there was only blackness. Marik looked irritated at this. "There has to be another way out," he muttered. "Most cellars have an outside door."
A chilling laugh echoed throughout the room. "Maybe so, but you guys will never find it!" a voice with a nasty rasp retorted. "Not as long as you have us to deal with!"
The three boys froze. From out of the darkness a lantern was suddenly lit and they came face to face with their assailants. And they could barely believe it. They were met with the sight of blue uniforms and badges. Policemen!
"What's your problem?!" Mokuba burst out in stunned shock. "We're not criminals or something!!"
The policemen all laughed. "Oh, you've all been very bad," the one in the lead sneered. "Especially that one." He pointed to Marik. "The Egyptian there has been working against our little operations. Well, he and his arrogant friend."
Marik's eyes narrowed.
"We tried to have the other kid strung up, but it didn't take. So it looks like the Egyptian will have to take both that punishment and his own." A second officer sneered in a treacherous way, moving forward with his nightstick. Oh yes, they had been responsible for what had happened to Duke. But . . . they weren't working alone. They had the assistance of every lost soul that roamed through the town. The spirits were the ones who had actually done the abducting.
Marik pushed the Kaibas back. "These officers are corrupt," he said darkly. "Duke Devlin has files on all of them in his office." He held the Rod out in front of him. "Don't make me use this," he said, continuing with his dark tone. "I'm certain the Rare Hunters working with you can attest to its powers." He really didn't want to use the Rod again, but if he had to in order to protects the others, he would.
Mokuba wrenched his way around Marik and stood in front of him with outstretched arms. "Hey!" he cried. "Marik's my friend. You're gonna have to go through me to get to him!" He could feel his heart racing wildly in his chest. He knew he was doing something dangerous, but he didn't care. Marik had been hurt protecting him before. Now he wanted to protect Marik.
But Marik protested, of course. "You can't do this, Mokuba!" he said in alarm. "I won't let you be hurt when it's me they're after. That would be cowardly." He gripped the Rod tighter. "And I am not a coward."
The man with the nightstick sniggered. "Stupid brat. If he wants to be first, I don't care. Just as long as all of you wind up dead in the end." He slammed the switch against his hand repeatedly, just waiting for the first opportunity to strike at someone.
Seto stepped forward then, his eyes narrowed. "Be quiet, Mokuba. I'll handle this," he said darkly. He wasn't in the mood for a lot of nonsense. There was enough already going on. Immediately he pushed Mokuba out of the way just as the officers' clubs came down where the boy had been. They hit Seto instead. Caught off guard, the teenager was able to be thrown to the floor, whereupon the men surrounded him and continued their assault. They would beat him to death if they had to.
But Mokuba couldn't take it. He couldn't stand by and watch his brother being hurt like this! Though Seto didn't cry out, both Mokuba and Marik could see he was in pain. Angrily Mokuba grabbed an abandoned club, throwing it full force at the main man abusing Seto.
It struck him right between his beady eyes. Furiously he rose to his full height, turning to face his young attacker head-on. "You're gonna be sorry for that, punk!" he vowed. Murder gleamed in his corrupt eyes.
And instantly Marik threw his arms around the child protectively from behind. "I won't let you harm him," he declared, his voice lowering dangerously. Marik hated all forms of torment, but hurting a child made him snap. "If you try . . . you'll all meet your doom." Of course the Yami could never come out again since Marik had defeated him, but the boy still had immense anger and rage that would make him fearsome if unleashed.
Mokuba grabbed at Marik's arms. "Marik, I'm gonna be fine!" he yelled, a bit scared by his friend's tone. He hated it when the Egyptian acted as if he were about to lose control of himself, though he could understand and was happy that Marik was so intent on protecting him. Even if he felt he didn't need help.
Seto, meanwhile, was attempting again and again to struggle out from under the falling clubs. Finally he managed to take hold of one and shove it away from him. The owner stumbled back slightly at this move, enabling Seto to have an opening for escape. He took it immediately, punching and kicking at each and every man who opposed him. No matter what it took, they would get out of this alive!
But Marik was starting to feel very strange. As he was holding Mokuba back protectively, he felt as if something cold and clammy had passed through his flesh and was grabbing hold of his heart. In spite of all the pain he had experienced before, now he was feeling something new. It was taking all of his strength not to scream in agony. He felt, literally, as if the life was being squeezed out of him.
Mokuba could sense the change in the older boy's personality and looked up at him, scared. Marik's eyes were glazing over and he was breathing heavily. Beads of perspiration appeared on his forehead and he held Mokuba tighter, as if not consciously realizing what he doing and hoping that Mokuba could stop the pain. "Marik!!" the child cried out, trying to get free. "Marik, what's wrong???!!"
Finally the urgent voice pierced through to Marik's tormented mind. His eyes focused again and he released Mokuba, now grabbing hold of his chest. "I don't know," he whispered. "I think . . . I may be having a heart attack." The poor boy's vision started to darken. This can't be right! he screamed in his mind. I'm too young to have a heart attack!
An eerie laugh echoed throughout the cellar. Even the police officers froze, looking almost frightened. For they were a bit frightened of the spirits, though they wouldn't admit it. "It's not a heart attack!" a disembodied voice laughed. "It's me! And because of me your life will now end."
That was the last thing Marik heard before he fell forward onto the floor.