Chapter II: The Nightmares

"The mysterious, untimely, and rather gruesome death of Professor Hiro Shinto, who died late last night, has become a top priority for all police officials in the county. Along with the murder of Hiro Shinto was also the burglary of Domino Museum, where a just-discovered artifact from Egypt was stolen, a gold amulet shaped like an eye that was found by Mr. Shinto. If anyone has any information as to who might have done this dastardly crime, please inform local officials-"

The screen then went black as four feet away a girl clicked a red button at the top of a small black remote. She sat on the couch, her long, slender legs propped up in front of her face, her silver eyes staring ahead at the television. She couldn't believe what she had just discovered. Her short black hair with red streaks lingered over her face, which held no emotion or smile, nor a frown of regret. Just, blank and dark. She sat up, looking out the window in the living room. She sighed, then walked away. This was to be expected some day. She had only lived with her Uncle Hiro for two years, several months after her parents passed away. Being only thirteen when they did, she repressed the memories out of her mind, knowing that if she ever thought of them, her face would fall wet. That's why she changed the way she did. She made sure there was no more emotion in her soul. She made sure there was nothing in the world to make her smile, nor anything to make her cry. This death meant nothing to her. Just proved the fact that no one lives forever.

Rika sinked her fingers into her jeans pockets, her thumbs out and resting on the hem of the pockets. She didn't feel anything anymore. She didn't feel sad for the death of her Uncle Hiro Shinto. She didn't feel unhappy by the fact she had lost the amulet he planned to give her. She didn't feel distraught that she had lost the last relative to look after her, and now she'd be sent to Foster Care. She really didn't care at all. All of this was nonsense, and in her opinion, worthless. She had enough money to support herself and two other people. Combine that together, she'd have a pretty good life. But what was her opinion of good? Nothing. She'd rather be dead now.

As she thought of this, staring out into the dull and gray morning, the sun just barely rising over the horizon, she thought about what Anna Marie would say. She was a thirty-year-old virgin that lived next door to them with her mother, and Rika was rather surprised to hear she was a virgin, especially with someone that looked as beautiful as Anna Marie did. A beautiful woman, her long red hair always straight and in some sort of style every day. Her green eyes were beautiful, resembling the leaves of a tree. Her face was fare and delicate, yet her figure was perfect. Rika could just imagine what she would say when she came over that morning to talk to her.

"Oh, my dear Rika, you must be devastated! He was like your father, wasn't he? Poor girl, I feel for you!"

What a total fake wench. She didn't care for Rika or anyone else. Just herself and her looks. Rika smirked at how she planned to make Anna Marie pay. Her and her selfish mother. Those fools didn't know what pain was, didn't know what the true meaning of Hell could be. Rika had lived through it, she's been in it. She's even gone through purgatory. She couldn't wait to take out her revenge on the poor and selfish souls of this world.

Suddenly, an image came to mind. An image of a boy, a bit older than herself, with spiked, golden blond hair that sparkled in the sunlight, dark skin that was framed by his blond hair, dark, empty, emotionless amethyst eyes, and a dark, evil posture that sent shivers down her back. She closed her eyes, trying to remember where she's seen such a stranger. Then it hit her. Yesterday, when she was at the museum, she had met that dark stranger. They talked, more of insulted each other, but something about him intrigued her. He was dark and had this murderous gaze in his eyes. She liked that look. It reminded her of….

As she looked into the glass, seeing her reflection, she saw another reflection. One she did not recognize, and it was so faint, the only thing she could make out was a golden eagle behind her. The moment she saw it, she turned around, hoping to see what it was she saw. But there was nothing there. No gold eagle. Nothing but what was familiar to her and the room. Whatever it was she saw, she must have imagined, or it disappeared. Ignoring it, she returned to look out the window.

"Did you guys hear about that break-in at the museum?" Anzu asked her friends that day at school. Yugi looked up at her and nodded, knowing this was going to turn into an evident conversation throughout the day.

"Yeah. That's messed up. It must've been pretty nasty when they won't say what happened to him," Jonouchi spoke. Yugi was then strongly reminded of someone just then.

"That sounds like the same tactics that someone did. Someone we knew…." Yugi thought. Then the thought hit him hard. "You guys don't think…that maybe…."

"What, Yugi?" Jonouchi asked.

"What if…what if Malik Ishtar is back? His dark side, that is? What if it never was gone?" Yugi asked. Jonouchi let out a laugh.

"Come on, Yugi, don't scare us like that. That freak can't be back. You banished him, and pretty good, too. You destroyed him, man!" Jonouchi yelled excitedly.

"Yeah, I guess. I don't know, something just doesn't feel right," Yugi spoke. And he knew his other, the pharaoh, knew also. He sensed it more than anyone. Something wasn't right. Something horrible was coming, and he didn't know whether he could stop it or not, like before. Everything felt so confusing now. They knew something evil was out there in the world, something that could possibly endanger them all. But when he sensed it, it was like two wonderful sensations in his head. A beautiful, light cloud would fill his head, carrying him away to the skies, while another warm sensation covered his mind, blinding him, hiding him the protection of darkness. He was blinded by these sensations to truly pinpoint what he sensed.

Yugi looked up when he felt a piercing, cold stab in his body, which was quickly replaced with a warm and flowing sensation, like water, into his body. He looked up to see Rika watching them, her cold gray eyes holding this deadly, murderous gaze within their depths. Yet from that gaze, Yugi felt more warmth enter his body, yet slight shivers ran down his spine. He knew one day she would be nicer to them, open up more, and maybe even become his friend. He decided to try that afternoon after school.

He found her by the exit of the grounds, staring at the streets in this dark, yet dreaming way. She was deep in thought when he approached her and touched her arm. Her eyes widened, the glass of thought in her eyes shattering quickly, and she looked down at Yugi. She nodded, not really giving a smile, but walked away. However, he caught up to her.

"Why are you following me?" she asked him, continuing her pace down the street towards her home.

"I wanted to walk with you. My grandfather's shop is right down here, anyways," Yugi spoke. She didn't say anything. She just stared ahead at the traffic passing them by. Yugi then thought by starting a conversation with her.

"Do you like games?" he asked.

"Depends what kind. Like childish ones, like Shoots and Ladders, no. I prefer card games, like the Torah, or even Magic and Wizards. I'm much better at Torah, though," Rika spoke, no emotion or resent in her voice, but Yugi heard this bit of proud ness in her voice.

"Torah? You mean like that psychic card game where you predict future, past, and present?" he asked. She nodded.

"I also like RPG's. You know," she hinted. Yugi then remembered Ryou Bakura in his class, who was also a fan of Role Playing Games, also.

"Oh, really? A friend of mine does. Ryou Bakura? He made us play one when we first met him. But, then, it got kind of…a little too exciting," Yugi spoke. He remembered when they did first play an RPG with Bakura, they first met his yami, an ancient spirit of a thief that resided in the Millennium Ring Bakura owned. His yami sealed Yugi's and his friends' souls within their characters and had to play throughout the game, hoping not to die in it. That was when they first met Bakura, though.

"How interesting. Maybe I would like to play a game with this 'Ryou Bakura,'" Rika spoke. Yugi didn't know whether she was being serious or sarcastic about it. Whatever she was, he felt that they were getting on the good terms now. But he knew that she didn't like him, still. She walked off quickly towards the end of the street, leaving Yugi behind, questioning this girl's thoughts. But his own were broken when he heard a familiar voice call out to him.

"Yugi! Yugi, I'm so glad I found you!"

Yugi turned to see an older woman approach him from the street, her beautiful, long black sunlight shimmering hair framing her elegant, dark face. Her beautiful sapphire eyes looked at the younger boy filled with concern and misery. She was quite elegant and beautiful, one of the most beautiful people Yugi knew. Because of this, he immediately recognized her.

"Isis Ishtar! What are you doing here?" he asked.

"There's some horrible news I have to tell you. I've already contacted your friends, they're meeting us at the museum. I really need to talk to you," Isis spoke, and as she did, Yugi saw a fear tears fill up in her eyes.

"Isis, what is it? What's wrong?" Yugi asked.

"Yugi Motou, it's my brother, Malik…he's had another battle against his evil side….And he lost," Isis whimpered. Yugi gasped, fearing filling his heart.

That pathetic fool Hiro Shinto didn't have a clue what this thing could do, thought Yami no Malik, staring at the gold and black amulet in his hand. He stood on the edge of a building, staring down at the unsuspecting souls below in the streets and back alleys. They had no clue what darkness was waiting hidden within him, ready to spread over this tiny and pathetic city. He wasn't going to cause a riot between good and evil, because their will be no good. With this amulet, he would find where Horus was hiding, he'll find his power, and he'll destroy Horus, obtaining the power of light. No one would dare challenge him, not even the Pharaoh.

He gripped the metal chain of the necklace and held his arm out, dangling the black eye over the edge of the building. The power of the Eye of Horus could only be activated when its true owner was nearby. The black opal must be united with the gold diamond to unleash the almighty power they possessed. The gold diamond being the spirit of Horus himself.

Yami no Malik held out the opal over the edge, hoping it would glow, letting him know that Horus was below. Suddenly, though, a familiar voice yelled out below. Yami no Malik looked down to see a girl running along the streets, her short black hair sparkling due to the red streaks that ran through it. Her silver eyes found the building he was on top of, and then stopped at the door. He had seen that girl before, but from where? Suddenly, he realized this house was her home. That was interesting.

Before she entered, though, two strangers approached her. One was an older woman with long red hair that was straight, but curled up into a braid, her green, plant like eyes smiling at the younger girl. Beside her was an older man with wavy blond hair that dazzled in the sunlight and excited brown eyes.

"Rika, hi! This is Horo, my new boyfriend," the red head spoke, introducing the man to the girl.

"That's great, Anna Marie," the girl spoke. They then started a conversation of the Professor that Yami no Malik murdered last night. Suddenly, gripped in his hand, the black opal began glowing a brilliant glow, while an echoing siren filled the air. He looked at it, and gasped. Horus must be close by. He stared down at the three conversing strangers, and gripped the amulet in his hand. He hovered it over them, and then the sirening became louder, almost earsplitting. He couldn't believe it. That boy down there must be Horus. It had to be.

At that moment, Yami no Malik began scheming a plan to corner that little mouse into a corner. His prey would not suspect it. He would not even see it coming. He watched as the three of them entered the building. He was ready to pounce, ready to capture his prey.

FD: That's all for now, I'm a bit tired. I've been working on trying to get some gore into this chapter, but then thought otherwise, show you the confusion that Yami no Malik will go through. It's confusing for him, but also somewhat stupid to think of it. Until next chapter!