A/N: I do not own Yu-gi-oh… I'm just a bored worker today, thank my boss for this quickie update. Thankfully I brought my laptop or heaven knows what mischief I would find myself in.

Chapter 18

Serenity sat in the bed staring at Kaiba as he left the room. Why didn't he at least look at her one last time? The taste of him still lingered on her lips, his warmth hadn't left her body yet. She could still smell his cologne in the very air around her. How could this be happening? It was insane. Even minutes after his departure she found herself still watching the door in disbelief.

Slowly the short man beside her smiled wickedly.

"I don't think I'll kill you just yet," he licked his lips as his eyes explored her curves through her hospital gown. She tugged the blankets up tighter around her. The urge to retch filled her slim frame. She knew she'd aim whatever erupted in his direction.

"I've wanted you for a long time and now it seems my fondest desire will be fulfilled. Tell me…how intimate did you get with that rich bastard? Was he your first or second?" His hand snaked out to stroke her cheek. She cringed noticeably at his touch. He was despicable. She slapped his hand away.

"You can make this easy on yourself, or you could struggle. Either way I'll get what I'm after and seeing as it will be the last time you experience the pleasures of the flesh I would advise you to lie still." He grabbed her by the throat and pushed her down onto the bed. His hand started ripping at the gown, clawing at her skin. In desperation she swatted at him with her hand, driving four deep scratches into his cheek. If he wanted her he would have to use extreme force. He jerked back at the searing pain.

"Bitch!" He slapped her hard, her head rocked back and forth in the pillow.

"You better reconsider you jerk. If anything happens to me you'll be ruined!" She croaked at him. He throat was on fire as she fought his, once again grabbing, hands. He climbed on the bed and straddled her hips. She was going to slam her knee into his groin, but he wasn't in the right position...damn!

"Kaiba is hardly in a position to save you. I'm not one to let a good piece of ass get away because of a girl's threat." He sneered at her. Holding her wrists in his one hand over her head. He was shocked to see her eyes narrow on him. Where was the fear? He liked it when women feared him. The power that came from breaking a woman's will was delicious.

"I know what you did at the museum!" She managed, which stopped his advances.

"I had a feeling I wasn't alone in the warehouse that day, but I never could be sure." He smiled, an evil wicked smile that made her skin crawl. "You know I have to kill you, especially after that confession my sweet. If I leave you alive I'm as good as convicted." He licked her cheek and she let out a stifled scream, once again clawing at his hand that held her wrists captive.

"If you kill me or harm me in any way the pictures I took that day will find their way to the authorities…" She continued to struggle against him as he tried to rip her gown off.

"What pictures!" He yelped as he pulled away, settling on his knees, which were on either side of her hips. She used her freedom to yank the gown back up over her right shoulder."What the hell are you talking about!" He grabbed her shoulders and shook her violently.

"I took pictures of the murder you committed. I left instructions that they be given to the police if anything happened to me." She had lied, but he didn't know that. It was her one shot at saving herself. If she got through this she could go and find Seto and save him too. However, she had to survive.

Slowly the man turned from her. He had heard something that day, some strange noise that he couldn't identify…a clicking…could she be telling the truth? Could he risk not believing her? He turned his attention back to the girl who was laying under him in the hospital bed, mocking his authority. Bitch…

"Where are the pictures?" He demanded. He grabbed her throat, squeezing it enough to make tears form in her eyes.

"You think I'm stupid?" She seethed, her voice cracking even more in anger. Her nails dug into his fleshy hands. He released her throat, she quickly gasped for air.

"If you give them to me I'll make your death pleasant, you won't feel the pain…"

"You'll feel pain if you touch me again, I hear the electric chair is quite the horrific way to go. The death sentence is bestowed upon those who commit murder in the first degree, or have the laws changed!" She glared at him. Gone was her fear, seemingly transferred to his beady eyes.

"What do you want?" He growled at her. He then relased her as he stood beside the bed, no longer was he touching her...

She had him.

"In two days time I'll come to the museum with the pictures to show you the proof. Obviously I won't bring the negatives or else how could I ensure my safety?" She coughed, her raw throat felt on fire. "At that time you will tell me where Seto is and you will aid me in getting to him."

"Where he is going there is no way to reach him." He smiled at her. "If you need a replacement I volunteer." He licked his lips in a manner that reminded her of a reptile.

"Do you want to save your own ass?" She hissed.

"Yes," he affirmed. He was well aware that disloyalty was a death sentence, but once he had the pictures he'd turn the table on her again. Eventually he'd finish the act he started this night...eventually.

"Then get out and meet me at the museum in two days…noon." She waited for him to leave before she started to cry. She managed to get up and struggled her way over to the door. She had to get to the nurse's station. She needed help. Where was the guard? She knew he was outside the door. He was there, she noted, slumped in his chair. To a passerby he appeared to be asleep, but she knew he was,at least, out cold.

Slowly she shook his shoulder, but received no response. Her tears fell faster, she knew this man. Was he dead? A soft groan caused her to sigh in relief.

"What are you doing out of bed?" A nurse's voice scolded her.

"This is insane," Kaiba muttered as he was pushed through the door of the stairwell.

"Just keep walking hotshot," Max warned.

"How did you manage to get the gun in here?" Kaiba asked dryly.

"There are no metal detectors in here and at this hour only a ghost shift is on. We timed it perfect rich boy." Kaiba walked slowly down the stairs. If he could get away he would be able to get back to the room and save her. He couldn't even look at her as he left the room. He was on the verge of insanity at that moment, leaving her alone with that animal was the hardest thing he ever did. He had saved Mokuba several times, feared that he had lost him as well, but never had he left him in the hands of a known enemy. Not like this, not in her delicate condition.That goon looked like he would rip her apart, and he had left her alone with him, on the word of a criminal. Had he lost his mind?

If there is a higher power, please keep her safe until I can figure something out…

"I could pay you more than…" he started.

"I don't want your money. In this business loyalty is everything. If you're found to be disloyal you die, I'm in no mood to die." He gave Kaiba a savage push towards the exit. When the door opened they were out in the night air.

He was forced into the car, the driver's seat, to insure the gun could be trained on him at all times. They started driving, the hospital getting smaller and smaller in the rear view mirror. She was back there, hopefully still alive.

When they finally arrived at a large gate Max instructed Kaiba to turn in. They drove up a long driveway that led to a huge mansion.

"Where the hell are we?" Kaiba asked, growing agitated.

"You don't remember do you?" Max asked smiling at the confused look on the CEO's face.

"You were here once, long ago with Gozaburo. He was too stupid to sell then, you're too stupid to sell now. So, it is with sheer delight I welcome you to the last place you will be alive in. It's hostile take over time Seto Kaiba." Max snickered as they exited the vehicle. He was led up the front steps and through a maze of hallways to a single door.

Max opened it and bowed to Kaiba, "your luxury suite awaits you, Mr.Esteemed CEO."

Kaiba entered the room. It was quite plain. Only a bed, a dresser, a table, chair, and a computer were in sight. There was no window. A bathroom opened off of the room. So, this was his cell, for now. He had gotten out of worse places before; it was just a matter of timing and skill.

"Make the call," he suddenly demanded.

"What call?" Max teased.

Kaiba turned on him, eyes colder than one could imagine. "Call your goon off of Serenity…now! I listened and now I'm here. Let her go."

Two other guards appeared behind Max.

"Tsk…tsk…you should have known better Seto. You never trust the enemy. She's probably dead by now, if not she's wishing it. You see…he has quite the appetite for inflicting pain…"

Kaiba lunged forward, but was quickly grabbed and beaten down. He was strong, but three on one, (especially when the one had been through so many traumas) is never a fair fight. The men left the bloody CEO on the floor, collapsed.

"Sleep it off Seto, in the morning phase two begins…" Max chuckled.

He remained motionless until he heard the door click closed. He struggled to his knees then to his feet. He wiped at his mouth, which was bleeding and stumbled into the bathroom. He was a mess. Where the hell had his guard been? How the hell had this happened? Then it all hit him. It had been a trap. They planned on locking Serenity in the boathouse to set it on fire. They had called the fire department and the ambulance. That's why help had arrived so fast...even before Roland could place the call. They had orchestrated this to get them out of his safe place.

He dropped his head, with all of his security, money and intelligence he hadn't seen it coming. He wondered if she was all right. He pitied the man who hurt her…he would be the first man Kaiba would kill when he escaped…

Serenity made a frantic phone call to Joey when she got back into bed. The nurse had told her the phone lines were blocked at 11pm to ensure quite in the hospital setting, but she had managed to swipe the phone from the unconscious guard.

After getting read the riot act, because Joey didn't know where the hell she had been all this time, he said he was on his way. She quickly hung up and scanned the phone numbers looking for Roland's. She hit the speed dial and was connected instantly. She explained what had happened and he said he was on his way too. When Roland arrived she would have to make the hardest call of all…to Mokuba.

Slowly she shut the phone off and clicked it shut.

A/N: So, what did you all think? Do you like Serenity thinking on her feet, or should she crumble and be wimpy? I kind of like her with a back bone myself… Please read and review…thank you. The next chapter should reveal the bad guy's true identity...any guesses?