Finding Family
Chapter 27 - The Journy: Part 2
"LET ME OUT OF HERE!" Amber screamed. Yugi, Mokuba, and Joey rushed into the room. Amber was wrapped up in her blankets. Yugi quickly untangled her but she still struggled.
The vines slowly started to wrap around her legs causing her to cry out in pain. She felt so weak. "Maybe I do need to relax and just think of happy things?" Amber closed her eyes and allowed the vines to leave her body once more. Amber stood up and looked around. "Hmm...where next?"
She decided that she should leave this paticular area. She followed a long path. She felt the black liquid drip from her body and hair. She gagged but kept moving. Looking around again she found she was in a long black hallway. It's corridoors were dimly lit and paintings hung on the wall. She walked up to one of them and found that there was no image in the frame.
Amber stroked the frame lightly with her fingers and moved her finger according to the design. A foggy image was coming into the frame. It was of her when she was little, living with her foster family. All the pain in that image hit Amber hard dragging her down to the floor. She watched the image become clearer.
Flashback
Amber as a ten year old stood completely still for fear of moving.
"Amber! Bring me another beer!" The small little girl nodded her head and she ran into the kitchen and hid underneath the counter. "AMBER I SAID NOW! DON'T MAKE ME COME IN THERE!" The little girl started shake badly. A large hand came out and pinned her to the wall. "When I say get me a beer...GET ME A BEER!" The little girl nodded as she was thrown into the kitchen table.
End Flashback
Amber felt hot tears run down her face. She ran away from the painting and ran into another. It blocked her path.
"You must watch this to face your fear."
"No! I left those memories behind!" Amber covered her eyes and sank down to her knees, "No..."
"You must view them..."
"No!"
"You must!" Amber was forced to stand as the frames empty space filled up.
Yugi was holding Amber's hand tightly. He didn't notice anything except Amber.
Yami...is she going to be okay?
I don't know my aibou. I just don't know. Yami paced around the room.
Why is she crying? Yugi looked at Amber's face. There was fresh tears running down it.
I don't know...it's odd though. What kind of journy is she going through?
"NO! No more...please..." Amber pleaded, "I can't take anymore. The memories hurt." Vines twisted up her ankles but she broke free. "No more! Please...no more..."
"Look at you." Amber looked up, "Begging me to stop the images. I can't stop them only you can."
"What...whqat do you mean?" Amber fell to her knees as more thorns wrapped around her legs.
"It's simple if you think about it."
"Think about it..." Amber closed her eyes, "These are just memories. Nothing more. Past events in my life but good thoughts...like Yugi and I meeting each other...holding hands..." the paintings, one by one disappeared from the hall. "They're...gone."
"Good job. That's one obsticle taken care of."
"One?" Amber fell to the floor, her energy gone. She closed her eyes and fell asleep.
"What was that just about?" Joey asked to no one in paticular. "Come on Amber. Wake up soon."
In another part of domino, at a coffe shop two men sat in matching business suits.
"So, what are we going to do? This girl and her friends have proved...how do you say...they're a nuisence in my neck!"
"You mean a thorn in your neck." The other man glared.
"Yes. That's what I mean. What shall we do? They are most likely at the Kaiba mansion." The man folded his hands in his lap.
"Yes, but how are we going to get in? That place has a barrier on it."
"Well...Kita is diong her research now. I sacked the others."
"Given them a one way trip to the shadows?" Aroga asked with a curious and evil smile.
"Yes...ah, here comes Kita now." A young woman with long red hair tied in a high pony walked up. She wore a long black dress with no sleaves and on her neck was a black choker with Eriks company logo on it. "Kita, what news do you have for us?"
"May I sit down? It won't look as suspicious."
"I suppose. Now, what news do you have?"
Kita looked into Eriks cold grey eyes. Her own dark green ones gazed into the depths of Eriks eyes.
"Well...aparently Miss Kaiba is trapped in a dream world. One she can't escape from and must fight to get out of. Her body is currently stuck in bed. I was so close to hearing the protection spell placed over her but I was spotted." Kita sighed but kept smiling.
"You're still smiling because..."
"Because I konw someone who can invade dreams. The only problem is getting them to work for us. I expect they'll be asking for a generous sum."
"Money is no issue." Erik took out his wallet to show what he meant. "What else?"
"Well...they're close to one of the group. Can you garuntee his safety?"
"Who is the person in question?" Aroga put his coffee down, "How people can stand to drink this crap is beyond my knowledge."
"Well...it's someone you have a general dis-like of I'm afraid."
"Oh, not that ancient fool. Not him. Tell me it's not him!"
"Okay, I won't. Now if you gentlemen will excuse me I have a very important meeting to attend to." Kita walked away after tossing a folder on the table, "You'll find this information very useful." Kita was gone.
"She is good."
"I know, isn't she?" Erik laughed and opened the folder, "Yes, this will be very usefull indeed."
Yugi let his head fall onto his pillow. He couldn't stop staring at the ceiling.
Yami...I'm worried that someone might attack Amber.
Yes...I have an ominous feeling as well Yugi. Something must be done. Should we contact Kaiba? Yami sat down on the bed.
Yeah, butI tried him three minutes ago. He's still in a meeting. What can we do?
What about Joey? He's staying with the Kaiba's.
He's in a meeting too and I can't get a hold of Mokuba. He seems to be sleeping. Yugi sighed and rolled over. I wish we could do more but the security there is monsterous and we can only get in if Kaiba, Joey, Amber, or Mokuba let us in.
Yes...this is a problem. I can't seem to contact Amara or Seth. We're in trouble.
Yeah...but maybe it's just a feeling cause I'm worried about her? Maybe I just need some sleep?
Yes. Get some sleep...I'm going to stay up and investigate. Yugi nodded and curled up under the covers.
"Where am I?" Yugi woke up on a hard surface. He looked up and regonized the tree he'd seen before in his dream.
"Please help us?" A sweet voice begged, "We emplore you."
"Who's out there?"
"Us." Two girls stepped out, the two girls Yugi had met before.
"Why do you need my help?" Yugi asked kindly.
"Amber, she is in danger. Someone has entered her realm...her test. We need you to go in there and help. We have gotten some help in other areas as well...please, others will join you."
"I'll do it. Yami?"
"Yes my light?"
"AH!" Yugi jumped, "Don't come up from behind me. We have work to do."
"I heard. Let's go."
"Okay." Yugi and Yami looked at the tree then at the girls, "How do we get in?"
"You pick up the blakc liquid and wait."
"For what?" Yugi asked as both picked up the liquid. They felt their bodies being tugged at.
"That." Both girls laughed and their voices died away in a swirl of black. They tumbled and crashed. Once they landed they fell unconscious. When they woke up the thorns around their bodies left them. Yugi winced and stumbled as he got up finding he had lost a lot of blood. Yami was real up to a point where the blood did not flow so he still had his energy. Yami carefully helped Yugi to his feet but he found he couldn't stand. Yami, after deciding they needed to move faster, helped Yugi walk.
"Yami...if I'm like this then the others could be too."
"Yes, you're right."
"Yeah...I always am." Yugi stuck his tongue out at Yami who shook his head and smirked. "What?" Yugi gave a playful 'I'm just joking' grin and they continued.
Kaiba slowly was falling asleep with Joey cuddled on his chest. The two teens didn't notice the time. Kaiba checked the clock causing Joey to stir.
"What time is...it?" Joey looked up, "Wow, 3 am. Lucky the schools closed for the month." Joey spoke between yawns.
"Yeah...lucky. We better get some more sleep." Joey nodded and cuddled right back against Kaiba's chest. Soon both teens were asleep once more.
Joey and Kaiba woke up and found they were intangled in vines.
"Where are we? We have to get out of these vines!" Joey squirmed as the thorns dug into his skin. He let a small wimper escape his lips as he felt his blood come out. Kaiba waited paitently and the vines dispersed. Joey wouldn't stop squirming.
"Calm down puppy?"
"How'd you get out! AH!" Joey felt his strength slowly decrease. Kaiba finally just blasted them away. He caught Joey as he fell and helped him to stand. Once Joey got the movement of his legs back they left the vines.
"Where are we?" Joey looked around, "Last I remember we were in your bed." Kaiba blushed and noticed the undressed state both teens were in. Their tops were gone but at least they hadpants on.Joey just seemed to notice and blushed as well.
"Wherever we are," Kaiba replied, suddenly serious, "It seems dangerous to get scared or feel angry."
"So any negative emotions and those creepy vines come and in trap you...not bad for an evil layer but somehow..."
"What?"
"I don't think this place is evil." Joey bent down and picked up some of the black water in his hands, "And something tells me this water has a lot to do with why we're here."
"I think you're right. We should keep moving." Kaiba looked around, "Something tells me we're not alone."
"Good not alone or bad not alone?" Joey questioned.
"Both." Joey shivered.
"Just great."
"Is anyone out there!" Two familure voices called.
"Kaiba," Kaiba turned around to face Seth, "We have a problem."
"What is it?"
"Well-"
"Hold that thought. Motou and his spirit just joined us," Kaiba spoke with utter distaste.
"We're not alone here." Seth spoke in an erie tone, "And it's not the good kind..."
To Be Continued
