Title: Lullaby Killer

By: Morgan Johnson

Disclaimer: In Profile

A/N: This is the second update today because I feel inspired to update it thanks to my boyfriend, Rhadamanthys, thanks sweety…

Chapter Six: Unwinding Thread

Kaiba made his way through the abandoned city clutching his .38 in his left hand (A/N: Don't know if he's right handed or not so I placed him as left handed like my bf) more as a need to remain clear headed than for protection. He knew that even if someone was left around these parts that they wouldn't be coming after him unless they were the killer and he had a hunch that a simple bullet wouldn't be able to kill him.

The guy had entered enclosed areas without being noticed, had murdered people within minutes without minimal force and had yet to be caught. They guy was either truly skilled or possessed something that others didn't. He wasn't going to start believing in the whole millennium crap, like he pretended to during the last battle, but he had to admit that something weird was going on.

Kaiba had absolutely no idea who was responsible for the whole mess and he had no way of getting in touch with the private investigator. Kaiba Corp was all the way across town and even if he managed to get there before sundown he still wouldn't get anything done. Bakura had vanished, Marik had been missing for months and no one else could have possibly murdered his brother, let alone all the other people. Dozens of people were dead and no one would be held responsible for their deaths, sometime life sucked.

As far as he could see there was nothing left for him, nothing at all. He had no family; no friends (not that he wanted them), no love interest (not that he needed it) and his little brother had been taken away from him. The only thing that he did have was money, if, and that was a big if, he managed to keep Kaiba Corp afloat after the whole mess was cleaned up if it was even possible to do so. His stock must've plummeted completely by now, with no workers, no staff, and no board of directors. Kaiba clutched the gun even tighter as thoughts of nothingness begun to circle in his head.

The killer was obviously targeting people who had once been involved one way or another with Yugi so it was easy to say that he was on the hit list. And who gave the killer the right to decide when he was going to be taken out. No one controlled Seto Kaiba's destiny but himself. He wouldn't give the bastard the satisfaction of seeing him crumble. With a final look around he pointed the gun to his head and thought of Mokuba on last time.

Tristan looked at his surroundings wondering how he could have gotten himself lost in his own neighborhood. He must have taken a wrong turn somewhere near his own house. The houses there seemed all alike as of then, the front doors barricaded, garages empty of vehicles and all lights turned off and he wasn't thinking very clearly.

Serenity had gone insane and now he had even less of a chance to be with her. His parents were already dead and his friends were on their way to being so as well. The only thing he could do was stay as far away from them as possible and maybe that way he would survive. He finally noticed his own alleyway and turned in there not noticing an eerie glow right behind him.

Joey's eyes were bloodshot and Yugi wasn't the all better. The closet had been completely empty; the shimmer he had seen had been merely a figment of his imagination. He supposed that it made sense, seeing as he was under so much stress. He wondered about his grandfather and if he would ever get to see him again.

He began remembering all the times he had wished for friends and now that he ha finally gotten them they were being taken away from him one at a time by some sick psycho who had nothing better to do but torment innocent people. It wasn't his fault that he had been the pharaoh's reincarnation and that everyone had once targeted him. But that was all in the past, the ceremonial duel had been done with months ago.

He looked over at Joey and told him to let go of Mai. She was dead and there was nothing that they could do about it but keep living and try to catch the bastard who had destroyed their lives. Joey nodded and kissed Mai's forehead one last time. They began to descend the stairs and finally noticed that Serenity was nowhere to be found. Joey became frantic and ran out the door towards Tristan's apartment; maybe he would help them find Serenity.

Yugi finally noticed something that he hadn't before. The killer had begun his spree by killing people while they slept but he was no longer doing that. Now he was simply picking them off one by one, whoever was alone and was convenient enough to kill while they were alone. He just wished that they got to Serenity before that happened to her. He hugged his jacket tightly as the wind began to pick up. It was almost nine now and the streets were bare. They resembled those that are usual in horror movies after the monsters attack the city.

Shivers ran up Joey's spine at the thought of what happened to Mai happening to his sister and increased his pace. Yugi was now jogging just to keep up with him and was beginning to feel the pains of hunger and thirst. Yugi pleaded with Joey and finally convinced him to stop at a convenience store to get something to eat.

When they had chosen a few items, they had almost aid for them but remembering that no one was there and that it wouldn't make a difference they left. Their meal consisted of some bags of chips and warm soda as not many articles had been available at the store. It seemed to have been one of the stores that had tried to remain open after everyone had begun to leave, but had eventually closed as well.

They ate as they walked over to Tristan's which wasn't far from where they had stopped for food. When they arrived they saw that there was a bright light coming from inside the home and ran in. They found Tristan or what was left of him sitting in front of the TV where what appeared to be a generator was on. His eyes had been taken out and were replaced with TV knobs, as his television had been a very old one as Joey's was since they were not as fortunate as others to have much money.

Yugi felt the chips threatening to come out of his mouth at the horrid sight. Joey simply looked uninterested and pulled Yugi out of the apartment. His main concern was to find Serenity before she was the next one on the list.

Misery: So like it? Tell me but remember no flames. My second update today…Yay… There have been a few clues as to who is the killer through out the story; just to give a little hint but the real revelation won't be until almost the end which isn't that far away. I might keep it at ten chapters, so review…