Chapter 17:

Whipped:

Alright, I've been mega busy due to star testing...it sucks really...Why the hell are we testing anyways. We already know how stupid we are...jeeze; they just want to rub it in! Anyways, this chapter might be a little short...I'm tired and cuz I want to leave you at another cliffy...I just love doing that! heh heh!

Avila was dragged down the halls. Her smile never faltered, she placed her fate in Bakura's hands and some how she knew he wouldn't let her down. "I'm counting on you Bakura...for once, don't screw up." She whispered as she squeezed her eyes shut.

"Praying for your soul, slave?" Atemu asked her as they reached the court yard. Avila's eyes popped opened and she regarded him with hate filled eyes.

"No, I'm praying for yours, because once Bakura comes, you're dead!" She smirked. Atemu glared down at her then waved her away. "Take her to her death." he ordered to his men. Avila sucked in her breath. This was the moment. Either Bakura showed up now or she and her unborn babe would die. The men slowly lead her to a post that was set in the middle of the yard. Men and woman stood in the stands cheering for the awaited entertainment. Shouts of joy filled her ears. It reminded her of the day she met Bakura. She felt tears sting at her eyes then hastily wiped them away. She wouldn't give Atemu the satisfaction of seeing her cry. The men hooked her arms to a spike in the post then tore her tunic from her body. Avila bit her lower lip to keep from crying and pressed herself into the pole. Atemu smiled with amusement then moved to his spot high in the stands.

"Avila, any last words you would like to say?" He asked once he sat comfortably on his throne. Avila regarded him with a smile.

"See you in hell!" She spat. Atemu shrugged the insult off then snapped his fingers. "Kill her." Avila knew why he chose whipping. It would take longer and it would be suffering. He wanted her to suffer, he wanted Bakura to suffer. She searched frantically in the crowd to catch a glimpse of white hair. But found none.

Avila choked back a sob and convulsed as the whip bit into her flesh. The pain streaked through her, causing her knees to shake. She bit her lip, trying to hold back a scream. She could just picture the look on Atemu's face if she screamed.

It fell on her back once again, tearing through her flesh, causing her to sag against the ropes holding her upwards. The whip fell a second, a third, a forth, a fifth, a sixth. Her mouth filled with blood as she stabbed her teeth into her lips. The pain was blurring her vision and her legs ached from trying to hold herself up. Cheers rang through the air as the whip fell again. This time Avila couldn't hold back the scream that tugged at her throat. Her voice rang in the air as the whip bit at her torn skin.

Bakura rushed down the hall, hoping he wasn't too late. But once he reached the court yard they were all ready whipping her. Anger surged through his veins as he watched her convulse in pain. Her face was twisted inagoney and her blood dripped down her legs. "Avila..." Bakurascreamed as he leaped forward. "Bakura, you can't just rush in there like that...you need a plan...they out number us." Kuni whispered while grabbing his hand. Bakura ignored her, his gaze fixed on Avila's face. The whip fell once again onto her back and this time she screamed with pain and sorrow. Somehow Bakura felt as if he had lost. That the Pharaoh had finally won against him. A mixture of emotions coursed through him as the man raised the whip onceagain. Bakura didn't think, he just did. He rushed forward and stepped in front of the whip, raising his arm to shield him and Avila. The whip wrapped around his arm and he tugged it from the man.

He pulled his dagger from its seethe then plunged it into the mans stomach. Bakura couldn't control his anger. It bubbled in him like magma, burning through his mind and flesh. He rushed to Avila's side then cut the binds that held her. She fell forward in pain but he caught her.

"Avila..." he whispered while placing her tunic over her. She screamed as the fabric touched her raw back.

"Your majesty?" A guard questioned Atemu as he touched his sword. "No, this should be interesting...let's see how the lovers react...this might be their last day on earth...I'll let you know when you can kill him."

"Is it true?" Bakura whispered as he brushed his hand across her face. Avila fought to keep her eyes open, blinking rapidly. "You came..." She sighed. He smiled weakly and brushed her hair out of her face. "Yes love, I came...now tell me...is it true?"

"What?" She asked in confusion as she gritted her teeth from the pain. Bakura stared into her emeraldeyes. "That you carry my child?" Avila smiled. "Yes..." She grabbed his hand then placed it over her stomach. "Yours..." she breathed before her eyes fluttered shut and she fell forward in his arms,unconscious. Bakura gritted his teeth then turned to look up at the amused Pharaoh. "You fucking bastard!" He roared as he clutched Avila to his chest. Atemu laughed while rising from his seat. "Well, Bakura...at last I can see you in pain...look at you, the great thief king, all sad over some girl. Haven't you killed girls like her before? Why is she so different?" Bakura narrowed his eyes at him then slowly placed Avila down.

"Kuni...take her out of here..." he whispered to the shadow lurking behind him. Kuni dashed forward and kneeled beside Avila's fallen body.

"Avy...please don't die...wake up..." She said while giving a little shake. Bakura stood his ground and glared up at Atemu.

"Atemu! You will pay dearly for what you have done! Now, face me like a man...I challenge you to a battle!"

Avy felt as if she was floating. He had come for her, he had held her close to his body. She knew then that she and her child were safe. She smiled to herself as she pictured a miniature of Bakura running around.

'But, I want to hear those words...those simple three words that I have already given him...'

She felt darkness cloud her mind. 'Does he love me? Our child?' She was so confused that her head ached even in deep sleep.

'I want those words to come from his mouth...those wonderful words...'

"Avila...don't die...please..." She heard a soft voice float through her mind. "Kuni...Where are you? Where am I?" She asked while looking around. "Avila, Bakura is going to save us...I just know it...don't die please...wake up."

Avila wished she could wake herself up, but her mind wouldn't let her.

"Bakura...I was right...you came..." Avila whispered as light now overtook the darkness.

"So? What do you say? Care to battle me?" Bakura said with a smirk. Atemu looked down at Bakura and gave a snort.

"Me...? Battle with you? You must be kidding...But just to humor you, I'll send one of my men...Seth sounds good, right?" He motioned to his High priest then smiled at Bakura. "You don't mind if I have a stand in do you? Not that it really matters, I'll beat you either way."

Bakura continued to glare at Atemu. "If you feel like hiding behind your priest then go ahead, have a stand in...It doesn't affect me in the least...I'll still have my revenge, win or lose."

Malik appeared from the shadows then andstepped up next to Bakura. "Sorry, got lost...need me for anything? Killing? Stabbing?" He asked while glancing up at the Pharaoh.

"Get Avila and Kuni out of here..." he whispered while glancing over at her fallen body. Malik looked in the direction then gave a nod. "Should we wait for you?" he asked, already knowing the answer.

"No...Leave and don't wait for me..." he said turning one more time tostare at the Pharaoh. Malik gave a nod of understanding then turned towards the girls.

"Oh, and Malik..." Bakura said over his shoulder.

"Yes Bakura?" Malik asked turning once again to face his friend. "Thank you...and if I die...tell Avila that I love her...and watch my kid for me..."

HAHAHAHAHAH...cliffy...I just love them! Ok, I did this for lost child and I feel like doing this here. A little peek into the future chapter, which one...I don't know (Grins evilly):

"He's...gone?" Avila asked as she pressed her hand to her lips. Tears slipped down her cheeks as sadness overcame her.

"Oh, Avy..." Kuni whispered as she pulled her into her embrace. Avila began to sob and buried her face into her friends shoulder. "It's not true...he can't be gone..."

Malik tried to sooth her as well but nothing helped. Nothing could stop her sorrow filled tears.

So, there you go...a little peek of what's to come...I LOVE cliff hangers...now...don't kill me and I'll give you a cookie...actually, if you kill me, then I can't update! ha ha! (Sticks out tongue)

Reviews:

Surfergurl16: But I LOVE cliffies as you can tell...I'm glad you're in love with my story...it's in love with you...don't mind me...I'm on crack!

Onigirl v: I didn't get help...nothing can help me...not even these pills, I just take them because they make me feel woozy and all calm...

Josephine...I'm going to call you JoJo! ok...It HAS to be Bakura's...I really didn't put this in my story but there was like a waiting period in-between my chapters that I never really wrote about, I thought you would all get the idea that time kind of passed...you know...right after Kunie and Malik come back...then it just jumps to the thief camp, well there was about a month in the middle where they were waiting cuz Bakura had to heal and I just didn't feel like writing about it...or I was taking those pills that make me woozy... don't worry JoJo...Bakura will be put out of his misery...just to make you happy they'll go see a voodoo woman...

I'm glad you liked the cookie...want another? (Toss cookie to Jo.) I'm not sure how long that's been in my pocket...

Zoidschick: I'm glad you like...and I'm glad you're addicted, it's just like me and these pills...

Act123: I'm updating as fast as I can...it's hard with school and everything...eh...I wish I was 18 already...but then I'd have to go to college...eh...

Poisonous lily: I'd make my updates longer, but you see, I just don't have that kind of time and patience...and as you can tell, I love cliffies!

Phersule: YOU BETTER LIKE IT! Or I'll have Bakura beat you with a stick!

Amazoness Archer: I'm glad you like it...you better like it...cuz I said so and what ever I say goes! Ha!

Arrna: why not make it more fun and have it be 3 lives? Think he'd enjoy having twins?

Bakura's kitty: AWWW...I just pictured Bakura with a little minnie of himself, sleeping on his chest while they lay under a tree...

Jacritics: um...ok...well...I'm confused...now, who wouldn't be mad if they just found out they were going to be a daddy and your enemy is beating your woman? So you know Bakura is pissed and Atemu isn't going to walk away unscathed...oh...poor Atemu...Bakura's might scar his gorgeous face...

Cataracta: Why kill such a hot man? LOL...sure go ahead...kill him, Bakura's better anyways...

I'm glad your writers block is gone...now UPDATE! UPDATE UPDATE UPDATE! oh...and I'll sick Bakura on ya again if you don't...and he won't do anything you want him to...