Past the Point of No Return

Chapter 2: The Fires of Hell

"Hey Malik! Odeon!"

"Hey, Jamil. What's up?" Malik asked as he and Odeon approached the group of boys out on their favorite pier.

"Not much. Ali finally got a Raigeki magic card and he's really excited about it."

"Well, I guess that's good. Maybe he'll be able to beat his little sister now." Malik joked. "So who wants to try and beat me today?"

Jamil was about to challenge him when another voice answered from the far end of the pier.

"I will."

All of the boys gathered there turned their heads to look at the new arrival. It was a teenage girl. She was on the slim side and about five foot ten. She had shoulder length red hair and emerald green eyes. She wore a pair of Capri jeans and a black halter top. Her red hair was swept off of her face by a black bandana. She wouldn't have seemed like anything special were it not for the fact that she had a KC duel disk strapped to her arm.

"And just who do you think you are? This is our hang out!" one of the teen boys shouted to the girl.

"Oh, my mistake. I thought you boys wanted to duel."

"Who said we didn't? But you've got a lot of nerve comin' out here. Who are you anyway?" Jamil asked her.

"You can call me Raksha."

"Raksha? Raksha, as in 'the demon'?" Odeon asked.

"That's right. Now, back to business." she said coldly as she began to walk towards the group. "Which one of you boys is Malik Ishtar?"

Malik made a move to step forward but Odeon quickly put a hand on his shoulder and shook his head no.

"Who wants to know?" Odeon asked her.

"I already told you. The name's Raksha. What's it to you?" the girl shot back impatiently. She'd finally reached the group and was facing Odeon. He was at least two heads taller than her but this didn't seem to phase her.

"That's not good enough. Who are you?"

"That's none of your business…Odeon."

Both Malik and Odeon looked shocked but Malik was again stopped from speaking. Jamil stepped forward this time.

"How do you know his name?"

"Again, it's none of your business. And don't bother trying to hide him, you idiots. I can see him perfectly well." Raksha taunted, discouraging the rest of the boys from trying to stand in front of Malik.

The entire group stood back, except for Odeon, when Raksha came to stand before Malik.

"No point in denying it. I know that you are Malik."

"Then why did you bother asking in the first place?" Malik hissed back.

"Because I at least need to pretend that I'm as ignorant as the rest of you." she mocked.

Malik narrowed his eyes and glared at Raksha.

"Get out of here." he ordered.

"But I thought the great Malik never turned down a challenge."

"Fine. I'll duel you. But only if you'll leave once I beat you." Malik said as he locked his deck into his own duel disk.

"Oh, but that really depends on whether or not you do defeat me. You see Malik, you have something that I want and I intend to take it." Raksha replied with a smirk.

"What do you mean by that?" Odeon asked fearfully as the two duelists moved to opposite ends of the pier in order to begin their duel.

"You'll know soon enough."

"LET'S DUEL!" Malik and Raksha shouted as one. Then they each drew five cards.

"To start things off, I'll play The Thing in the Crater (1000/1200) in attack mode. And with that I'll end my turn." Raksha said as she laid the monster card in face up attack position on her duel disk. A crater filled with lava appeared before her. A dark creature could be seen lurking just below the surface.

"All right then, Raksha. I'll start by summoning Mystic Tomato (1400/1100) in attack mode. And I'll place one card face down. That does it for me." Malik declared as the giant tomato appeared on the field. The tomato glared across the field at Raksha.

"How cute. A vicious vegetable." Raksha laughed at the monster as she drew her next card. Once she had added it to her hand, a plan quickly came together in her mind. She'd have Malik eating out of her hands.

"I'll place two cards face down and end my turn." Raksha said as she laid down the two trap cards.

All right, Malik thought to himself as he pondered his next move. Those two cards are probably traps. So I'll use my Nobleman of Extermination to destroy one of them and then attack.

"Are you going to stand there stalling all day? The point of the duel is to make a move before your opponent dies of old age! Now make a move!" Raksha shouted impatiently.

"You really shouldn't have left yourself open like that, Raksha. I activate my face down card, Nobleman of Extermination. It allows me to destroy one of your traps."

A huge knight rose from Malik's face down card and crossed the field. It brought it's broad sword down on one of Raksha's face down cards. When the holographic card vanished a small purple imp appeared in its place. It held a small piece of parchment with the word 'false' written on it. The imp laughed maniacally as it vanished from the field."What was that?" "That was the trap card, Fake Trap. It led you to waste a magic card on something that wasn't really a trap." Raksha answered smugly. "All right, no matter! I can still attack. Mystic Tomato… attack the Thing in the Crater!" Malik commanded.

The Mystic Tomato bounced across the field and stretched its long tongue into the pit of lava. It came up with a strange black-shrouded figure and devoured it in one bite. The tomato licked its lips and bounced back to its place on Malik's side of the field.

Malik(4000): Raksha(3600)

"Take that!" Malik shouted.

"Why thank you. I believe I will." Raksha chuckled.

"What's so funny?"

"You've played right into my hands, Malik. I needed that monster destroyed. When the Thing in the Crater is sent to the graveyard I can special summon another pyro type monster from my hand. So I summon Darkfire Soldier(1700/1150) to the field in attack mode. And I'll also summon Solar Flare Dragon(1500/1000) in attack mode. Next I'll equip my dragon with the magic card Ring of Magnetism. It takes away 500 attack and defense points but now you can only attack the Solar Flare Dragon. I'll also equip him with the Black Pendant. It gives me back the 500 attack points that were taken. And for my next move I'll activate my other face down card, Just Desserts."

"No!"

"Yes! Obviously you are familiar with the card's effect. 500 life points for each monster on the field. That's three monsters for a grand total of 1500 life points."

Malik(2500): Raksha(3600)

"Now, I think I'll attack. Solar Flare Dragon…attack his Mystic Tomato!"

With that, the snake-like dragon sprung up from its place on the field and swept down up on the Mystic Tomato. The dragon released a burst of fiery breath and the tomato shattered into a thousand pieces.

"Now, Darkfire Soldier, ATTACK HIS LIFE POINTS DIRECTLY!!" Raksha commanded her second monster.

The flame-wreathed warrior leapt across the field and brought his holographic sword down on Malik's head. Malik stumbled backwards in shock as the life point count dropped.

Malik(700): Raksha(3600)

Malik growled low in his throat. This girl was much better than he'd expected.

"Oh yes, did I forget to mention Solar Flare Dragon's special ability? At the end of my turn he automatically takes 500 additional life points from you."

The dragon released another burst of flame and it traveled across the field and engulfed Malik. The blonde teen collapsed to his knees as the life point count dropped yet again.

Malik(200): Raksha(3600)

"By the way, I end my turn," Raksha stated mockingly. "All it took was one turn, and you're out. Next turn my dragon will take 500 more life points."

Malik tried but he couldn't seem to get to his feet. He clutched at his chest, trying to slow his frantic breathing. He lifted his head up to look into the eyes of his opponent. For the first time since Battle City, he knew real fear.

"What do you want with me?" he asked in a breathless whisper.

"I want you."

"WHAT?!" both Odeon and Jamil asked at the same time. The other boys had long since fled from the pier.

"You once wielded the power of the Millennium Rod, did you not?"

"Yes. But how could you know about that?" Malik asked, still confused.

"I come as an emissary of the rod's new possessor. She needs your help."

Malik gasped in shock. The rod's new possessor? But that meant that- No! It was too horrible to even think.

"And what if I refuse to help her? What then?"

"I'm afraid it's no longer your choice. You are down to your last 200 life points!"

"But why does this new possessor need me?"

"The ancient scriptures carved into your back. Those are what she needs."

"What do they have to do with anything? They are the Pharaoh's secrets!" Odeon exclaimed with outrage.

"Have you ever actually read them? Those writings are so much more than that. They hold the key to ultimate power!"

"But the words of the scriptures are no good without the Egyptian God cards and they are safe in the hands of the Pharaoh!" Malik said as he struggled to his feet.

"Are they? Yesterday you would have said the same thing about the Millennium Rod. The God cards are not the only path to power." Raksha explained, growing more impatient by the minute.

"What do you mean?" asked Malik.

"That is why we need you. The Pharaoh's secrets aren't the only things written on your back. The key to his destruction is there as well. The key to awakening the most powerful force the universe has ever known!"

I can't lose! There's too much at stake! Malik thought frantically as he drew his next card. He breathed a sigh of relief when he saw what he'd drawn.

"This could save me." he whispered.

"Sorry to spoil your plans, Raksha. But I'm afraid I can't let you win. I summon Makiora the Destructor(1600/1200) to the field!"

As Malik slammed the card down on his duel disk the one-eyed ninja beast appeared on the field.

I can't attack Darkfire Soldier because of the Ring of Magnetism. But if I can take out the Solar Flare Dragon then its effect will be gone too.

"Next I'll play the magic card Ookazi. It deducts 800 of your life points."

Malik(200): Raksha(2800)

"Then I'll attack your monster. MAKIORA! ATTACK HER SOLAR FLARE DRAGON!!"

Makiora leapt forward and was about to smash his fist into the dragon but he met with a force field instead.

"No! That's not possible!"

"Wrong again, Malik! You see, Solar Flare Dragon has another special ability. As long as there's another pyro type monster on my side of the field then Solar Flare Dragon can't be attacked."

"No." Malik whispered.

"You might as well end your turn. There's nothing you can do to stop me!"

"Don't listen to her, Malik! Don't give up!" Jamil called to him from where he and Odeon stood on the sidelines.

"But she's right. There's no move that I can make. None of the cards in my hand can save me." Malik sighed in defeat. "I switch Makiora to defense mode and end my turn."

"Well, there's no use in prolonging your misery, though I really, really want to, so I'll just pass this turn and let my dragon's special effect do the rest." Raksha crowed.

Solar Flare Dragon's special effect immediately went into action.

Malik(0): Raksha(2800)

The holograms disappeared as Raksha approached her prey. Malik slumped to his knees. He was beaten.

"We had a deal, Malik. You must come with me."

"NO! I won't let this happen!" Odeon said, running forward.

"MASTER MALIK!"

Raksha turned to see Odeon running towards them. Her green eyes flashed with annoyance. She quickly raised her hand and a stream of fire shot out of nowhere, heading straight for Odeon. Odeon saw the flames coming towards him and tried to dodge but he wasn't fast enough and they grazed his left shoulder. Odeon collapsed to the pier with a cry of pain.

"Odeon! No!" Malik shouted, leaping to his feet and running to his brother.

But Raksha wasn't going to allow him to escape so easily. She raised both of her hands and shot bursts of flame at Malik. The fire struck him in the back and he fell, inches from Odeon. He writhed about on the pier, trying to put the fire out. But it did him no good. Once the flames had died down Raksha fired at him again. Malik couldn't suppress his screams of pain as the searing flames burnt through his clothes and into his skin.

"You shouldn't have tried to run. I won't be held responsible for any damage done to you!"

Malik was just barely clinging to consciousness as he rolled over onto his back. Raksha stood over him, hands raised for another attack. Once again, Malik felt the pain of the fire licking at his limbs. Raksha just laughed at his weakness. He couldn't bear it much longer.

Malik blacked out from the pain.

XxX

Ishizu paced the living room of the Ishtar home anxiously. It was dark out and a storm was coming in.

"Where could those two be? They should have been back hours ago."

Ishizu was more nervous than ever now. What with the thefts from the museum and trying to figure out a discreet way to reach the Pharaoh, she really didn't need her brothers scaring her out of her wits. They were in for an ear-full when they got home!

Suddenly Ishizu heard something banging on the door.

"ISHIZU! Are you in there?! Please, unlock the door! It's Odeon!"

Ishizu rushed to unlock the door and prepared to give her brothers a good talking-to. But everything changed when she swung the door open and saw the look on Odeon's face.

Odeon rushed into the living room. Jamil, one of Malik's friends, was hot on his heels. Odeon was carrying a rather large bundle wrapped in his black cloak. The stench of burnt flesh pierced Ishizu's nostrils.

"Odeon, what's wrong? Where's Malik?"

Odeon didn't answer her questions right away. He brushed past her and laid his bundle on the couch. When he stood up again, Ishizu noticed the burn on his shoulder.

"You're hurt!"

"I'm fine, Ishizu. But there's no time to explain. She'll find us soon. We have to get out of here."

"Who'll find us? What's going on, Odeon?"

Again, Odeon didn't answer. He simply bent over the bundle and pulled back the cloak. Ishizu cried out in shock and dropped to her knees, unable to support her own weight. She crawled weakly forward on all fours and stared down at the lifeless face of her little brother.

"What happened to him?" she asked, on the verge of tears.

"We were attacked at the pier. Some girl with red hair challenged Malik to a duel and he lost. She said something about the new owner of some rod needing the writing on his back. Odeon tried to stop her from taking him but she shot fire out of her hands at him. Malik tried to step in but she attacked him with her fire. He was hurt really badly. We've been running from her all afternoon." Jamil explained.

Ishizu tenderly reached out one hand to touch Malik's face, but when her hand brushed against his scorched forehead his mouth opened in a silent scream and he pulled away from her in his sleep.

"It's why I had to wrap him in my cloak. Touching his skin hurts him." Odeon told her.

"These burns could kill him. We have to get him to a hospital." Ishizu reasoned.

"No. It's too dangerous. If we took him to a hospital then she would find us and she'd take him. Maybe even kill him once he'd served his purpose for them." Odeon whispered to her.

Ishizu turned to face him, silent tears streaming down her face.

"But what can we do? I won't see him die."

"There's only one safe place. We must get to the Pharaoh. He can help."

"But…that's all the way over in Japan. Malik would never survive the journey!" Ishizu cried out hysterically.

Odeon gently grabbed his sister's shoulders in an attempt to calm her.

"Ishizu, there's nothing else we can do. If we take him anywhere else she'll find him."

"There must be another way."

"There is no other way." Odeon tried to reason with her.

Ishizu bowed her head, finally consenting to Odeon's plan. This was the only way that they could save Malik's life.

"What's going on here?" Jamil asked, obviously bewildered.

Odeon sighed and turned to the young teen.

"Jamil, I'm sorry to do this to you but you have to come with us. Raksha saw you and it's not safe for you in Cairo anymore. We have to leave now."

Jamil's eyes widened in fright for a moment before returning to normal. He steeled his face and stood before Odeon and Ishizu.

"You can count on me. Anything for a friend."

"All right. We've got to get ready. The sooner we leave, the better." Odeon said.

Without even waiting for him to finish, Ishizu went to gather supplies for their journey. They would have to travel as refugees. She gathered a bit of food, some extra clothing for the four of them, cloaks for her, Odeon, and Jamil, and a few other things that might be needed.

While Ishizu bustled about gathering things together, Odeon and Jamil remained in the living room, watching over Malik.

"What about my parents?" Jamil asked.

"I'm sorry, but we won't be able to contact them until we reach Japan. It's too risky. For now we must-"

Odeon was cut off by a giant fireball flying through the front window. He grabbed Jamil and pulled him away from the blaze. The two ducked behind the couch just as Ishizu raced into the room with two full knap sacks. She dropped them at her feet when she saw the room in flames. More fireballs came shooting into the room. Ishizu screamed in fear when she saw the flames reach the couch and start to climb up towards Malik.

Odeon leapt up and lifted Malik as gently as he could. He pulled the cloak back over his head in order to protect him from the fire. Jamil lifted the two knap sacks from the floor. The living room was all ablaze and there was no way they could have made it out the front. They were just about to turn and make a run for the back door when the cause of the hell storm entered.

Raksha came in through the shattered front window. She walked through the flames as if she didn't feel them at all.

"Give him to me!" she demanded.

"Never!" Odeon shouted.

"Odeon, take Malik and Jamil and run. I'll catch up with you." Ishizu said calmly as Raksha came ever closer.

"I'm not leaving you here, Ishizu."

"You must. I can't carry Malik on my own and you need a distraction to get away."

Odeon was about to protest but he finally saw the wisdom in Ishizu's words. He hugged Malik's limp body to his chest and led Jamil back through the house. Raksha made a move to follow but Ishizu blocked her path.

"Don't you dare harm them!"

"Stand aside, you fool. You meddle in things that do not concern you."

"You almost killing my brother concerns me."

"Do not stand between the demon and her prey." Raksha hissed dangerously.

Ishizu still refused to move. Raksha sighed in frustration.

"Looks like we're going to have to do this the hard way."

Raksha raised her hands and two balls of fire formed above them. Then she threw them at the entrance to the kitchen. There was no way out.

"You're trapped, Ishizu. There's no way for you to escape this room alive. You've sealed your fate." Raksha said as she walked through the wall of fire she'd just created in pursuit of Malik, Odeon, and Jamil.

Ishizu stood in the center of the flaming living room. The heat was beginning to get to her. She started to cough violently as she slumped to the floor.

Too much smoke! Heat! Needed air!

Suddenly she heard a crashing sound and a dark shadow was hunching over her. Her oxygen-deprived brain wouldn't work with her eyes. She couldn't see who it was that lifted her from the ground and held her to his body as he went crashing through the wall of fire again.

But suddenly she felt the snap of fresh air pouring into her lungs. She hacked a few more times and was finally able to breath normally again. She felt dizzy when she was pulled to her feet but her eyes started to work again and she saw Odeon standing before her, helping her stand.

"Ishizu, can you walk? We must get out of here." he said.

Ishizu didn't answer. She couldn't. She was still in shock.

"Jamil, help her. We can't stay here another minute!"

Jamil hefted the two knap sacks onto his left shoulder and took Ishizu's hand with his right hand. Odeon lifted the unconscious Malik from where he lay in the street and the small party stumbled away from the burning house and into the night.

Raksha walked out of the house a few minutes later. She scanned the street and shouted in frustration when she found no trace of them. She created another huge fireball and lobbed it at the smoldering house.

When she was finally able to clear her head she pulled a small radio from a pouch in her belt.

"This is Raksha. Are you alone?"

"Yes." came a voice from the other end of the line.

"They escaped again."

"Raksha, I'm beginning to grow impatient."

"Give me another chance!"

"All right. But Raksha, there can be no mistakes this time. I need those inscriptions. And please, don't kill anyone this time."

Raksha looked back at the burning house as she switched off the radio and tucked it back into her belt.

"Oops."

XxX