QoH: ^0^ You guys are so wonderful, I swear! Thanks a bunch 4 the support *huggles everyone* I really appreciate it!
Chapter 12: Guardian Angel
Groaning, she raised herself on her elbow and looked blearily around, rubbing her throbbing head. Where am I....? Serenity squinted, trying to see in the near-total darkness. Her eyes adjusted a little then, helped by the small amount of light from dingy windows high above her, and she was able to make out large machinery all around her. A factory...?
"Oh, look, our captive's awake," the slimy voice emitted from somewhere in the shadows off to her right.
She sat up sharply and scrambled warily back against the wall, noticing her ankle was chained to the wall with a very thick chain, "What are you going to do with me?"
Dark, diseased chuckles resounded from all sides as he emerged from behind a small, rusted crane, "Isn't it obvious? I," he paused slightly when his flunkies made sullen noises, "that is, we are going to teach you what it's like to be with a real man."
She knew this was what he'd say, but she gasped a little anyway, afraid now that the threat was about to become a reality. Gathering her composure, she looked at him drolly, "And what does your 'girl' have to say about this? Surely, she doesn't like it when she's not the center of your attention."
He strode forward, glaring down at her as the others closed in, still laughing like rabid hyenas. Bending forward, he jerked her roughly up close to his face, "I'm really going to enjoy knocking you off that high-and-mighty horse of yours."
Crushing her lips against his, he somehow managed to force his tongue past her clenched teeth and plunder her mouth thoroughly, making her want to puke. One steel-like arm held her in place as he rudely explored her body with the other. When he was satisified, he threw her against the wall, displaying once again his cruel strength as she fell painfully to the dirty concrete floor. Panic began to overwhelm her as he came nearer to her, his cronies circling around, as carnivorous as starved vultures. All semblance of control fled when he reached for her. She squeezed her eyes shut, letting out the most piercing scream of her life.
Suddenly, it was as though the very sun had come to her rescue when the door was flung open and shone through the darkness that had become her life. A blur of color broke through the stunned group toward her, roaring, "Don't you touch her!" Yugi, somehow, had managed to find her, and was now standing protectively in front of her. Serenity stared in wonder, her heart soaring as she watched him face off against incredible odds without a second thought, all for her. The light from the nearby doorway flowed over him, making it seem like he were an avenging angel, ready to do battle. By his stance alone, it was obvious he meant to fight to the very end, if it became necessary. She breathed his name in a private incantation of hope, "Yugi..."
~ She's a fool.~
Vaguely hearing the faint sound, he looked over his shoulder and smiled reassuringly, "Don't worry. Everything's going to be all right." She nodded slightly up at him, her wide eyes searching his face, wondering he were actually real. Am I dreaming? Is this just some hallucination my brain is making up so I can deal with what these freaks plan to do with me?
"Says you, runt. Make tracks,or you'll get it, too," their enemy growled, cracking his knuckles with a malevolent smirk, "again." Serenity sucked in a quick breath, aghast. He's done this to Yugi before? I remember how he casually talked about it... She mentally kicked herself. I should have figured that it wasn't the first time!
Yugi turned his gaze back to him, "I don't care, Naraku! Do what you want with me, but I won't let you hurt her!"
"Oh, look guys! It's Christ on his second coming," the man called Naraku laughed and glanced around, "and he's pint-sized!" The brainless maggots, naturally, sniggered like this was the funniest joke ever made.
"I don't care if I'm four foot seven, or seven foot four, I'll still protect her!" Yugi retorted, backing closer to her with his arms outstretched. She stared at him sheer amazement as he stood proud, continuing, "And as for the 'religous' comment, that was just beyond crude and disrespectful. You've hit a new high, congratulations."
Out of nowhere, Naraku's huge fist struck Yugi's jaw and slammed back him against her, knocking the wind out of them both. As he stood up, he turned to examine her as quickly as he could, "Serenity, are you all right?"
Serenity tried to catch her breath, her eyes stinging with held-back tears, "I'm more worried about you than me right now! You're standing against all these thugs, alone! You shouldn't be risking yourself like this, not for just me!"
"Isn't this touching..." their nemesis sneered over them, "The shrimp and the shrimpette; it's like a made-for-TV movie." With that, he caught Yugi in the gut with a wicked kick, sending him to the floor again instantly.
One of the nameless idiots stumbled against his nearest comrade in his fit of laughter, "Yeah, if you were going to Captain D's or Long John Silver's afterward!" They all crowded around them, delivering more insults and the occasional punch or kick to her courageous defender.
She muttered furiously under her breath as she glared at the floor, her arms twisting in the shackles that bound her tight, helpless to do anything but watch him get pummeled. Her fingernails were digging holes in the palms of her balled fists, but she didn't care in the least. She had to do something to keep her temper in check; she didn't want make the situation any worse than she already had. Ooh, if I could just get at them, I swear I'd leave them with less body mass than they started out with! How dare they do that to Yugi! No one deserves such treatment, least of all him! What in Kami's name gives them the right?!
Again and again, Yugi somehow managed to regain his feet, only to be hurled to the ground every time. Serenity's heart jumped painfully whenever he went down, afraid he wouldn't be getting back up. On many occasions, one of them tried to reach for her, though what sort of treament she was to recieve, she never knew, because he never let them get to her. Every time they even remotely came near her, he was there to take the blow, shielding her from whatever they had in mind. By now, all eight of them were eagerly into the beating. Unfortunately, the human body can only handle so much, and it makes no difference how hard you struggle. Sheer force of will, no matter how powerful, no matter the cause, can only take you so far.
After what felt like an eternity in the realm just this side of Hades, the shrill ring of a cell phone nearly jolted her out of her skin. "Naraku" gave some sort of signal, and they all backed away as he went a few feet away to answer the call. With them out of her way, she finally was able to see her rescuer clearly. She fell to her knees, gasping for breath around the gigantic knot in her throat as tears rained freely down her cheeks. She'd known it would be horrible, but this...
Yugi, surely unconscious (or, at least, she prayed he was), lay on his stomach on the cement before her. His crimson countenance was turned toward her, but he was hardly recognizable. If she hadn't seen it happen with her own eyes, she knew she'd probably be in denial that this was even him. His spiky, tri-colored hair was matted across his face and around his shoulders, drenched in sweat and blood so that it was all one sickening dark red. Every bit of skin visible, even his fingers and the torn places in his clothing, was entirely discolored and already swelling terribly. Didn't I promise myself just today (is it still today?) that he'd never get hurt because of me, and now look!
"Heh, I guess you're lucky, little girl." Naraku stood over them, a satisfied smirk on his face, "We've got business to take care of, so you two lovebirds can 'rest' here until we..." he glanced at the others as his twisted smile widened, prodding his handiwork roughly with the toe of his boot, "see fit to return. That is, if we do..."
Without so much as a glance back, they all walked out and pushed it closed behind them, plunging Serenity and Yugi into near-total darkness once again. They've left us here to die!
QoH: *dives under her desk yet again, thinking nuclear weapons are in the process of being aimed at her house* Ok, I just know you're all gonna hate me for this one, but really! Did you expect him to do any less than nearly give his life to save her? I mean, this is Yugi! *holds up hands* Don't hate me! That's just how it turned out! I really did detest hurting him... *sniffs, hugging her substitute Yugi plushie (aka her pillow)* Trust me, Tea & Co will be getting theirs *eyes narrow* Oh, they most assuredly will...