Alright, finally have a new update!
John: Glad you like that; I do too. But if you think this is good, just wait until later…
Tragic1987: Many thanks. I hope you continue to enjoy it!
Captain Obvious: You know, I never even thought of that odd coincidence. Interesting.
Demon Fan: Your guess was right, it will get interesting. But geez… your assumption about Demon Rue… you will really have to wait for a while before you understand.
Chapter 13: Duel of Torture
Larka hurriedly pulled off her Envoyant Machine, and tucked it beneath her arm as she leapt up. Holding both the Envoyant Machine and Malon was somewhat awkward, but Larka knew speed was the key thing here. She would have to bring the Envoyant Machine to save time. She ran past Hime, not hearing her say, "Larka? What's wrong?"
Then she was outside, and she leapt off the ramp to land on the ground.
"Hang on Malon! I'm going to run as fast as I can, and with luck, we'll make it in time!"
Malon barked his confirmation, but gave a whine of confusion.
"You'll see what I have in mind soon enough!" Then she took off, a white blur that zipped through the streets. Luckily, nobody was around to see her and wonder how it was possible.
-----
Neo watched Will anxiously. He was getting used to being able to tell when Will was going to say something, and now was one of those times.
"You have to tell him, Larka… he'll be able to save Brandi… I know it!"
-----
Larka sped through the hospital doors, finally slowing down a little. But she still ran as she went down the hall, ignoring the woman at the desk yelling, "What do you think you're doing?!"
"Where could he be?" Larka murmured as she sped through the hall.
She abruptly halted when she saw the door to Abby's room open a bit ahead of her. Matt stepped out of the room, and gave her a puzzled look. Lilian came out behind him.
"What's wrong? Why are you running?" Matt inquired.
"Oh, Matt, thank everything you're here!" Larka exclaimed. "You have to help us! It's Brandi…"
"What?"
"I'll give you all the details… we don't have the time now! But this is what you need to know. Brandi's being tortured in Teknisk Wereld as we speak… she could die any second, or already be dead! But the guys who took her said they wanted her to suffer for a long time, so she is probably still alive…"
"Brandi's being… tortured?" Matt said softly, eyes flashing with anger. Larka could only remember one time he had used this tone, and it was when they had discovered Ender had ripped Olympion's Soul Card. It was worse than him shouting; it was like his true anger was right below the surface, ready to erupt at any second. And that eruption would mean nothing short of death for those that got in his way.
Lilian shrank back fearfully. Once, when Matt had been like this, he had actually hit her. He had later apologized, but that incident was still in her mind. Whenever he got into this mood, she always tried to avoid him.
"Show me where," Matt growled.
"You can use the room next to this one," Lilian hurriedly said.
"Thanks," Larka replied as she rushed into the room. She lay down on the hard floor, not caring about being uncomfortable, and strapped on her Envoyant Machine. Matt had done the same.
"Where is the location?" Matt asked.
"The forest," Larka replied, turning on her Envoyant Machine. Matt followed her a second later.
-----
The group listened as Brandi's cries grew weaker. But she still did scream, and it tore at them.
"If only we could do something…" Draken said helplessly.
Zack kept his eyes on the forest. "Trust Larka. She will know what to do."
Hope looked at Zack in surprise. That's kind of odd… it doesn't seem like something Zack would say. She concentrated, bringing up his aura, and was amazed at the difference. Instead of the normal, grey aura that spoke of grimness, it was glowing slightly gold. The grey part was still there, but it was being suppressed by the gold. There was also a black part that spoke of his worry for Brandi, but she could not tell what the gold meant.
She let the aura fade. I wonder what this means?
-----
Larka and Matt came to within the forest. They leapt up instantly.
"Where is she?" Matt asked.
"I can't tell; this isn't the area I was in originally…" Larka said. "Malon! You have to lead us to her!"
Malon yelped in response, and began sniffing the air.
Then they all heard another pained, yet weak, scream.
Larka turned in the direction it had come from. "She's much worse now. If only I had been a bit faster…"
"Remorse later," Matt snarled. "Malon! Get us over there!"
With a bark, he charged into the trees, Larka and Matt following him.
The puppy made several sharp turns in different locations, but they kept up with him easily. Their worry for Brandi, reinforced by the cries that came occasionally, gave them the strength they needed to run through the forest swiftly.
Then Malon halted, growling. They stopped behind him, and looked through the trees.
The two Soul Monsters were nearby, flanking the torturers. The first one had just finished another painful lashing, and was waiting for his companion to use a magic card. In a second, the bucket he was holding was once more filled with salt water.
Brandi was hanging limply from the rope that kept her up; she was too weak to stand. Blood was coming from the numerous wounds on her back, staining her clothes and the ground it landed on. The blood loss and agony had caused her to fall into a state of half-consciousness, with the pain being the only thing that kept her from going into darkness. The only thing she looked forward to was the fact that she would soon die. She could tell, from the weakness that had taken over her whole body and the pain that lanced through her, that soon she would be dead, and finally free from the agony…
Matt watched as the second one began to lift the bucket to throw at Brandi, and he snapped. He took out his Soul Card, and Masque emerged.
Larka was amazed at his size though. He was no bigger than Malon. However, he was still fast, and leapt into the clearing, right behind the second torturer.
And in less time than Larka could blink, he had changed sizes. The seven foot Masque now towered over his victim. The unlucky man didn't even have time to scream before he was slain by Masque's deadly claws. Before the Viser Death could register what had just happened, it met the same fate.
The first torturer was a quick thinker though. He pulled out a knife and held it up to Brandi's throat.
"Call him off!" the torturer ordered.
Matt glared at him, but had no choice. "Masque, get over here!"
Masque obediently came over to him, but still faced the torturer.
"Looks like we're at a stalemate," the torturer said calmly, not seeming the least bit sorry for his dead companion.
"Not for long. Let Brandi go, or else I can guarantee that you'll be wishing you had never been born," Matt threatened.
"Big words for someone who is helpless," the torturer responded.
"Your position is no better," Matt pointed out.
"True. So perhaps we should settle this with a duel," the torturer suggested.
"If that's the way you want to die, be my guest," Matt stated, going to the opposite side of the clearing. He looked over at Brandi's pale form, and took out a card, inserting it into his Duel Disk. A red glow surrounded her for a second before vanishing.
"Compensation of Blood," Matt told the torturer before he could ask. "I'm not going to let Brandi die of blood loss while we're dueling."
"Fine," his foe said. "It gives me more time to torture her, after all."
Larka had entered the clearing to watch the duel. She looked over at Brandi, and then turned back to Matt. I've never seen Matt duel before… I hope he's as good as the others say he is. No, I need to quit doubting him. He's brilliant when it comes to making decks, and with strategies, so he has to be able to win. With Brandi's life on the line, I'm sure he'll play to the best of his ability.
-----
When no more screams came for five minutes, the rest of the group became concerned.
Hope finally could not take it anymore. "If Brandi's… well, if the torture has stopped… then there's no reason not to go, right?"
"Yeah. Let's get over there," Draken nodded.
"Mana? Can you walk?" Gaston asked.
"Yes," she replied, standing. They noticed that she limped more than walked, but did not comment on it.
With that, they set off, dreading what they might see but knowing they could wait no longer.
-----
Matt: 8000
Torturer: 8000
"I'll start this," Matt stated. "I summon Red Cyclops, (1800/1700) and lay two cards down. That's it."
The torturer smirked at his draw. "My first move will be to play Jar of Greed to draw two more cards. Then I shall activate Iron Cage of Nightmares."
Thick steel bars shot out of the ground, trapping Matt in a dome like cage with several spikes on the outside. Larka remembered when they had been imprisoned in one like it, and shivered.
"For two turns, neither of us will be able to attack. Then I lay three cards of my own, and summon Iron Demon Viser Death. (500/1200) And he will be attached to Red Cyclops."
The Viser went onto the Red Cyclops, which roared in confusion as it shook its head wildly, trying to dislodge the Viser Death.
"After three of my standby phases, your Cyclops will be instantly destroyed. For the time being, I will play one other card: Magical Bonds."
Glowing yellow chains sprang out of midair, binding themselves around both players.
"Every time we play or set a card, we lose 500 Life Points. I end my turn at that."
"I'm not going to let you get away with your Viser's effect. I sacrifice my Cyclops to summon Legend Devil! (1500/1800) That means I take 500 damage, but it will be worth it. That's all for me."
Matt: 7500
Torturer: 8000
"You would sacrifice a monster for something that weak? Pathetic! But I suppose he will be fun to play around with. So I activate my Soul Monster's ability."
The Viser Shock suddenly shot forward, and restrained the Legend Devil. Then it went back to its master's side, still holding the trapped monster.
"Your monster has been removed from play. And for each of my standby phases, you will lose Life Points equal to half of your monster's attack. Then I switch Viser Death to defense mode, and end my turn."
"Damn it…" Matt muttered. The Legend Devil would have helped him a lot more than the torturer could have known, but he wasn't about to admit that. "I summon Cursed Gyura. (1500/1200) That's it."
Matt: 7000
Torturer: 8000
"My Viser Shock's Deck Master ability activates now. You take 750 damage."
Matt: 6250
Torturer: 8000
"Then I activate my trap card, Torture Wheel, on your Cursed Gyura. It is trapped, and for each of your standby phases, you lose 500 Life Points. Then I'm done. That signals the end of my Iron Cage of Nightmares, so you are free to attack once more."
"Alright… I draw, and lose 500 Life Points to the Torture Wheel…"
Matt: 5750
Torturer: 8000
"I lay one card face down."
Matt: 5250
Torturer: 8000
"Then it's your move."
Matt: 4500
Torturer: 8000
"Let me help you on your way to defeat. I summon Executioner Makyura. (1600/1200)"
Matt: 4500
Torturer: 7500
"He attacks your face down monster."
"It's my King Goblin, (0/0)" Matt stated. "For every Demon Sub-Type on the field, besides himself, he gets 1000 more to his stats. (1000/1000)"
"That makes no difference."
"Wrong," Matt then smirked. "Masque, you know what to do."
Masque let out a hissing screech, and a mask flew out, covering Executioner Makyura. It clawed at the mask frantically, but could not get it off. Then an explosion blinded them. When they looked up again, the Makyura was gone.
"You triggered Masque's Deck Master ability," Matt explained. "When you destroy one of my monsters in battle with a monster that is higher leveled than mine, your monster is automatically destroyed."
"Gr… fine. I end my turn."
"Alright. I lose yet another 500 Life Points to Torture Wheel."
Matt: 4000
Torturer: 7500
Matt looked at his new card. "Just what kind of a theme are you playing, anyway?"
"It's basically a deck made up of any cards that have to deal with torture."
"Geez, no wonder it sucks," Matt said in disgust.
"How can you say that when it's beating you?" the torturer snickered.
He's right, Larka realized. Matt only a few turns before Viser Shock and Magical Bonds kills him. She glanced over at Brandi again, who hung weakly from the ropes. No. I have to believe in Matt. He's the only one who can save Brandi now.
Matt looked at the field. "You had me for a while, but I'm about to put an end to this duel."
"Oh, really? Fine. Show me what you can do."
"First, I activate Destruction Ring on your Viser Death! This means we each take 500 damage."
"Not quite," the torturer smirked. "I activate Curse of Pain. This instant magic card negates any damage that isn't battle damage that you do and causes you to be hurt by it instead."
Matt: 3000
Torturer: 7500
"It makes no difference," Matt told him. "I activate Cry of the Living Dead, to bring back my Goblin King! (1000/1000) Then I sacrifice him and Cursed Gyura to special summon Masked Beast Death Guardius! (3300/2500)"
Matt: 2500
Torturer: 7500
"A strong monster, but it will not be enough."
"No, he isn't. So I'll give him some help. I remove Red Cyclops, Cursed Gyura, and Goblin King from my Cemetery to special summon Dark Necrophia! (2200/2800)"
Matt: 2000
Torturer: 7500
"It is still not enough," the torturer said. But he looked nervous as he stated this.
"That's why I have one more monster to call forth," Matt said. "Masque! Come forth!"
Masque walked onto the field, giving another piercing cry. (3300/2500)
The torturer stared at the three monsters in horror.
"Necrophia, attack! Death Guardius, follow up! Masque, kill him!"
Matt: 2000
Torturer: 0
Masque plunged his claws deep into the torturer, tearing him apart into several pieces. Then, with a horrible screech, the Viser Shock was shredded by Masque as well. Then he vanished into Matt's Soul Card.
For a second, Larka stared at the sight, awed. But she quickly regained her senses and ran over to Brandi. The rope was bound too tightly to untie, so she sliced it apart easily with her claw-like fingernails, and gently helped Brandi lay on the ground, stomach to the ground due to her injured back. Malon whimpered softly as Larka tried to get Brandi to come around.
"Brandi! Can you hear me?"
"…Larka…" she managed to whisper.
"That's right. It's ok, you're safe. Matt killed those other men."
"…Matt…?"
"I'm here," he responded, kneeling beside her and looking at her back wounds. "Damn it… I don't have any cards that can heal these injuries. They're just too severe."
Malon's ears suddenly lifted. He sniffed the air a few times, and then barked happily as the rest of the group entered the clearing.
"Larka! You're here!" Hope exclaimed. "How is Brandi?"
"Not good," Larka replied worriedly.
"Matt! How did you get here?" Draken asked.
"Larka told me what happened, so I came instantly," Matt explained.
Gaston gave the corpses a disgusted look. "It looks like you weren't happy with them."
"As if I was going to let them get away with what they did," Matt said.
"How did they get torn apart like this?" Darche inquired.
"I let Masque have them as new ripping toys," was Matt's calm response. "He enjoys killing a few things now and then."
"And mutilating them, I assume," Gaston said dryly before they turned back to Brandi.
Hope was shocked over the damage that had come to her friend. "This is horrible… why must there be so many
Larka turned to Mana. "I'm glad to see you're up. Can you heal Brandi?"
"…Yes," Mana responded, lifting Brandi carefully. Then she limped off towards the trees.
"Where are you going?" Matt asked, following her.
"Go away," Mana snapped. Matt halted, watching her with surprise as she left.
"She hardly ever speaks like that… why did she do it now?" he wondered.
"I don't blame her," Hope said. "She was tortured and used as a hostage so that Brandi would be captured. And she was helpless when Brandi was going through that ordeal… she probably also feels violated by the way she was treated."
"Mana was tortured as well? Well, that explains," Matt stated. "Now I see why she seemed injured."
"So… I guess we can explain what's been happening while we're waiting for them," Draken suggested.
"Yeah, I'd like to know. For one thing, how the hell are you here?" Matt asked.
"I think we'd all like to know," Gaston commented. "What was that urgent thing you had to take care of?"
"Oh… nothing that you guys need to be concerned with," Draken replied, not looking at them. "It's over with now."
"If you say so…" Hope said doubtfully. "Then we'll tell you about everything else that occurred, Matt. By the way Larka, I'm impressed that you kept your head while that was happening."
"It was nothing," Larka replied, also choosing to avert her eyes.
"Of course it was something! Brandi would probably be dead by now if you hadn't gotten Matt. So Zack was right."
"Huh?" She gave Zack a puzzled look.
"He said to trust you, and that you would know what to do. I should have had that kind of confidence in you," Hope said.
Unable to think of anything to say to that, she turned away, hiding her now pink face.
"Quit making her feel awkward," Draken laughed. "I think it would be best if you told Matt what's happened, since I wasn't around for the whole time."
"Alright," Hope agreed.
-----
Mana kept walking, ignoring the pain from the burns that her legs had. Brandi lay still in her arms, close to being unconscious but not quite. The steady waves of pain told her that much.
Due to her slow pace, it took longer than usual for her to reach the tree at the edge of the forest, nearby the lake. But she finally arrived, and without a second of hesitation, stepped right into the trunk of it.
But instead of still standing on solid ground inside it, she fell a short distance to land on the floor of a tunnel. Landing painfully, she limped down the tunnel.
After even more walking, she made it to the end of the tunnel and leapt out.
They were on a tropical island. It wasn't a large piece of land, but it wasn't too small either. She had emerged at about the center of the island. Stepping over the beautiful green grass, she went towards a rocky shore surrounding a spring.
Mana limped over to it, looking down into the water. It was more pure and clean than any water that could be hoped to be found, whether it be in real life or in another section of Teknisk Wereld. That wasn't the only unique thing about the water though. It was also glowing a soft blue, and the energy was one that could cause anyone to relax, and know that they were safe.
Mana tossed Brandi into the spring, and then fell into it herself.
Until this point, Brandi had barely been aware of where they were. Now, as she felt the wounds on her back start to close, and her pain fade away, she recognized it. The Elemental Spring was the only place that could heal her like this, after all.
Even as the last cut vanished, leaving no scars to show of her pain, she remained in the water, cherishing the fact that she was still alive, and free of the agony that had plagued her. The crystal clear water allowed her to open her eyes. Although the bottom was nothing more than a rock floor, she still gazed at it, just relaxing.
At long last, she came up, shaking her hair out of her eyes. Mana had come as well. Brandi saw that there were no signs of the burns on her skin anymore.
But then she noticed something that made her stare in shock.
Sitting on the shore was a young girl. She had on a white dress, and her black shoes were next to her on the shore, since she had taken them off to dangle her legs in the water. Her shoulder length, dark brown hair and light blue eyes would have caused Hope, Fell, and Larka to recognize her instantly. The silver cross gleamed from the blue glow of the spring.
She laughed at Brandi's shocked expression. "Don't worry. I didn't come here to harm you. I just heard both of you coming and waited to see who you were. I've never met anyone else here."
"Neither have I…" Brandi replied, still surprised. "I thought nobody else knew about this location. Mana and I came to it accidentally, on our first day in Teknisk Wereld. We ran into a Cave Dragon, who attacked us, probably due to us entering its territory. Mana defeated it but was badly wounded. I got her to this spring though, and she healed. Ever since then, it's been our secret area. Oh, Mana's my Soul Monster. I'm Brandi."
"My name is Katrina. Don't worry; I'm probably the only one who knows of this Elemental Spring," the girl assured. "It was sealed off for a reason. This place is really important, so we can't have random people wandering in who would misuse it."
Brandi introduced, getting out of the spring to join her. Mana sat down next to her. "How can you even be in Teknisk Wereld? You can't be thirteen yet."
"I'm an exception," Katrina said brightly. Then she turned to look at the water, looking grim. "Grandpa said I shouldn't go in today, but I did anyway. He's taking this the wrong way, you know. It isn't Teknisk Wereld's fault that this is all happening."
"What do you mean?" Brandi asked.
"Well, it isn't Teknisk Wereld that's killing people. It's others that want to abuse the powers of it. So why should Teknisk Wereld be to blame?"
"I don't understand. What are you talking about?" Brandi inquired.
Katrina turned back to look at her. "He won't do anything now, but I get the feeling he eventually will. I'm worried about that happening. Brandi… when Teknisk Wereld is threatened, will you help it? Will you and your friends defend it?"
"My friends?" Brandi asked.
"Hope, Fell, Larka, and the other one… I've met them." She laughed again when Brandi gave her another thunder-struck look. "It was in the real world. I'm not quite sure about Fell… he has other things to do, doesn't he? But Hope, Larka, and you can help me, can't you?"
"But I don't understand," Brandi said.
"You will in good time," Katrina told her, as she stood up. "This place is one that should be kept secret. I know you haven't and won't tell anyone about it. Know that I will not either."
"Alright…" Brandi nodded.
"You're going to stay here?" Mana inquired.
"Yes. I haven't visited her yet," Katrina smiled.
"Her?" Brandi asked.
"You'll see," Katrina replied.
"Will we meet again?" Brandi asked.
"It's guaranteed," Katrina stated. "Whether it be here or another location. So I will see you, and your friends, later." Then she leapt into the spring.
Mana stared at the spot she had leapt. "She was strange… but I liked her."
"Yeah. She said some confusing things… I wonder what she meant?" Brandi pondered.
"We can worry about it later," Mana replied. "Let's get back to the others."
"Right," Brandi agreed. And with that, they went back towards the tunnel.
Katrina swam down, going towards the bottom. She did not worry about drowning; the Elemental Spring could not take a life in any matter, even through suffocation.
She landed, facing the rock wall. Following it, she soon came to a crystal that was embedded into the wall.
Katrina smiled sadly at the one inside the crystal. I wish I could meet you… I really do… but when you awaken, it will be a time of death. So I also wish you could sleep forever, and never have to wake up and face this. But you will have to, won't you? I know that.
Satisfied that she had done what she had come to do, she swam back up. And when the sun finally dried her, she teleported out of Teknisk Wereld.
To be continued…