Greetings, all! It has recently come to my atention thanks to Amazoness Archer that my story would be easier to follow had it lines to separate the scenes. The reason why I haven't put lines in to separate the scenes is because fanfiction is being weird about it. I've been uploading my files as Word Documents, and they have already had the lines in there to separate the scenes, and somehow they have disappeared into nothingness between my computer and the server. Ah, well. I shall go back and correct these grievous mistakes in time, but until then, I'll simply quickly revise the fic and put the lines in via fanfiction. Also, there are times when a character in the story will say something ending in '!' and fanfiction will for reasons unknown omit the question mark. Just thought I'd point that out. And now, to respond to my reviewers!
Xover-girl: Okay!
DarkElf6: Ya got three more chapters to look forward to, then! Lol, glad you're enjoying it.
Jellybob 15: Wait, since it's established that we hate each other, that means we're allowed to flame each other! Your reviews are crap because they don't have any Yami and Tea in the same bed in them! Nyah! Okay, I'm done flaming. I've been getting praise from people for my representation of Joey, and I'm real happy to hear that I'm doing a good job with him. He is a favorite character of mine, ya know!
Amazoness Archer: It's so weird... I never intended there to be any romance... It just kinda happened. Everything was going and then as soon as Dolimus and Serenity saw eh other for the first time, I thought to myself, "Uh-oh. This is gonna make things lots more interesting."
Rice Kracker: Glad to hear you approve my rendering of Joey! Really boosts my confidence, eh? There are some questions rising about Dolimus, but I have this entire fic so intricately mapped out that all questions regarding his character will be answered in due time. Until then! ...And don't worry, future chapters will show that you have nothing to fear in regards to Tristan. ;)
DarkElf6: It's weird how things are working between the two, ain't it? I seriously never saw it coming.
Alright, anyways, that concludes this chapter's responses. Again, everyone, thanks for reading, thanks even more for reviewing! This is Baron, over and out! Enjoy!
"Darkness Absolute"
By: Von Stupor
Chapter 5
The following day, an interesting subject was brought up in English, fourth period. Dolimus, Yugi, Tristan, and Joey all shared this class.
"I'm sure you've all heard of the epidemic and panic that has been spreading around?" the teacher asked the class.
"Who hasn't?" answered a student. "The strange illness?"
"Exactly. Doctors have noticed an oddly large amount of strange cases in which kids around your ages are developing increasingly photosensitive skin, and getting sick from any food they eat. Their physical strength increases, and thusly doctor's are suggesting that the illness is acting as some sort of steroid hormone, which would fool the immune system into not attacking it. That means that theoretically, if you catch this illness, you cannot get rid of it. What doctors are finding strange is that in every case that this is occurring, there are two odd puncture marks typically on the side of their neck or collar. They believe it may be a strange new form of rabies being spread by a wild animal."
"Why don't they just ask the victims about it?" Tristan asked.
"Normally they would, but the victims don't remember a thing from the previous night. Not a single one has a clue."
"Dis is weird! Sounds almost like a vampire's loose in Domino!" Joey joked. The entire class laughed with him.
Yugi looked behind him and noticed Dolimus. He simply sat there with an eyebrow cocked, watching the teacher.
"Mr. Wheeler, I'm sure there aren't any vampires here in Domino," the teacher patronized him.
Joey then also noticed Dolimus not laughing.
"Hey, Dolimus, why ain't ya laughing? It's funny! You're actin like you're da vampire, ha ha ha! Ya sure are pale enough for it!" he continued.
Dolimus turned to him and said, "Tell me Joey, if you are Japanese, then why is your accent stereotypically attributed to New York, in America?"
The class laughed harder, and Joey gave him a very straight face.
"Dat's not funny," he stated. Dolimus gave him a smirk as he turned back around.
Later on, in Social Studies, sixth period, one of the students presented their current events report. They had chosen the article about the disease moving around Domino. As another student ventured to the front of the class, their teacher spoke.
"What is your report about?" she asked him.
"I chose the recent robbery of the hospital," he replied.
"You know, that's a very interesting story, I skimmed over that the other day. Go ahead."
Clearing his throat, the boy began.
"Recently, police were investigating a recent break-in at the hospital in which many pints of blood were stolen from the blood bank. They couldn't find any sort of evidence to track down the perpetrator with, and can't find any witnesses."
The boy continued on for some time, whereupon as he finished, he received a round of applause.
"What do you all think could be a possible motive for stealing blood from the blood bank?" the teacher asked the class.
"A vampire!" shouted Joey from outside the classroom, walking by with a hall pass.
Yugi snickered with the class.
Yami, are you alright? thought Yugi to the nameless pharaoh as he ambled home from school.
Why do you ask? he replied.
Well, you've been very quiet lately.
I've just been thinking…
About what?
About recent events, really. The attacks, the robbery at the bank…
Oh, about the animal?
No, not the animal, Yugi. You may call me crazy, but I do think there is a vampire lurking nearby.
What? Don't be silly! Vampires aren't real, ha ha ha!
Yugi, trust me on that they indeed do exist. They are here, only in shadow.
What? But they're just movie monsters…
Yugi, vampires are an actual myth that cannot be proven either true or false to this very day. However, I do know the truth.
But Yami, how could you know if you lost your memories?
As we come closer to unlocking the secret of the Millennium Puzzle, visions have been coming to me, but not always during our duels. Every so often, I will be reminded with a glimpse of the past. Much of it is still shrouded in mystery, but one of my visions did include a vampire attack. I remember that long ago vampires had migrated into Egypt and began an infestation. It took many years, but over time, we were able to successfully weed them all out.
So you think there's a vampire loose in Domino?
I'm pretty sure. The descriptions match perfectly, and the fact that the attacks started out small and are increasing with number over time support that only one or two vampires have come here.
I see… but what could we do about it?
The reason why vampires are thought to have never existed is because they were all thought to be destroyed. Apparently, not all of them had been vanquished. None of the others would believe us, so while we could try to tell them, I doubt we'd receive much support.
Okay… well, I suppose we could start with Joey.
That would be a good bet. His fear of the supernatural may help sway him to our side.
Alright! But wait, what can we do about it? I mean, if you're right about the whole vampire thing, then I'm sure they'll be pretty dangerous.
They are. However, I couldn't help but notice some facts about them that aren't exactly true. The only supernatural powers that they possess is amazing strength, the ability to hypnotize, and their bodies can take hundreds of years before they finally start to break down and die of old age.
So they can't turn into bats or terrifying creatures?
That's all story and movie magic, I'm happy to say.
Okay, then!
Vampires' brains also tend to develop at an alarming rate. As a result, a lot of them can be dastardly intelligent and cunning. That will make them even harder to extinguish by ourselves.
Okay, so should I call Joey after my homework's done?
That could work.