Climbing up onto the only solid piece of ground within miles, Joey panted heavily and collapsed immediately. However, the hissing continued and the burning sensation got worse.

Hugging his sides, the blonde started to scream, and then roll around slightly, desperately wanting the effects to wear off. When they finally did so, he opened his eyes to look around but was immediately discouraged at the fact that... he couldn't see! Everything was blurry. He forced his eyes closed and started to tremble, laying there silently. Regardless of his situation, he soon fell into a soft slumber, and his trembling stopped.

Yet as soon as he awoke again, his trembling started up as he remembered where he was and how doomed his situation was. He opened his eyes and his trembling quieted a little as he was relieved to find that he could see again, yet his vision was still slightly askew. Getting up slowly, his skin and muscles aching, the blonde looked up at the bush he had seen before, and walked over, pulling the red fabric from it.

Yugi's. Yugi's red sweatshirt. He blinked at it and stared hard, trying to remember or figure out what this meant. After a moment, he suddenly had a flashback.

"It's alright, Tea... I'm okay..." Yugi said, softly. "You don't need to worry anymore." Tea nodded, wiping away her tears. Tristen blinked, looking down at Yugi's foot. Joey, noticing Tristen, looked where he was looking.

Yugi's shoe seemed... burned, as strange as it sounds. Joey leaned forward, touching his shoe slightly.

"Yug, what happened?" He asked, a confused expression settling on his face. Yugi looked down at his foot where Joey was looking. Tea looked as well, and she got a shocked look in her eyes.

"Um... I don't... remember, really..." Yugi replied. He sounded completely honest.

"You don't remember?" Tristen repeated. Yugi nodded. Joey blinked, looking at his friend's face.

"You see, Yami took control of me while we were out there... I went unconscious, I guess... I don't remember much... only getting the water and the Komodo Dragons swarming me..." Yugi said.

And also, now that he thought about it, Yugi's sweatshirt had been missing when he came back! So this meant, this is where Yugi and Yami had ended up at one point in their journey to find Joey some water.

...But how did they get out with only a small burn?

Speaking of burns, Joey looked down at his clothes. They looked like bleach had leaked onto them and soaked in, tearing holes and making the material fragile. His backpack was in much the same shape. The now ragged shirt and jeans also looked like they had been burned, and when Joey looked at his skin, he noticed how raw it was and how horribly hurt he must be. Yet he didn't feel it. And actually, his black arm didn't hurt too much. He lifted his shirt to take a look at his torso, and even though it was still black, it didn't look burned at all. But his other hand looked all raw, and his skin was bright red. He could slightly sense the pain but it didn't feel all that bad. His legs were feeling a bit like jello again, so he sat down against the tree and sighed, looking around to see if he could figure a way out.

After all, Yami did. Why couldn't he? ... oh wait yes... he was the 'stupid one' of the group.

So hours he sat, watching idly as time disappeared. He knew he had to get out of there soon, though, because otherwise the others would come into the sanctuary looking for him, and that he desperately didn't want. So, getting up and rubbing his stiff skin and joints, he looked around more, and then decided to climb the tree to see if he saw anything helpful to his situation.

Looking out past the deep sapphire water that surrounded the tiny island, he could only see one area of land a bit to the right of the island that looked like he'd be able to climb up onto it. However, he was still confused as to how the heck he would get over there without having to go through the water again.

Climbing down from the tree, Joey tore a branch from it and walked to the water, thrusting it in. When he pulled it out, none of the part he had put in was left, and this made him worried, and realization crept over him that this wasn't some water; this was acid.

Now, how acid got into a sanctuary full of snakes and even more so deep into the forest and surrounding only one small island, was way beyond Joey's comprehension.

After a while of thinking, Joey decided it might be a good idea to sleep. It seemed to be getting dark, and that was the only thing that would do him some good right about now.

Positioning himself in a comfortable position, on his side facing the closest shore, he went to close his eyes.

But that was when IT caught his eyes.

Right there, through the acid, was a plain path that went to the other side of the lake. That hadn't been there before! ... Did this relate to the moon? High Tide or something?

But it wasn't time for asking questions. Joey immediately climbed to his feet, and even though they felt horribly numb, he forced his legs to move forward and he went as fast as he could over the path, limping. A hissing tinged his ears once again, and a burning sensation greeted his feet. The path was disappearing! Already! Maybe this is what happened to Yugi...

Once close enough, Joey hopped onto land, glad to see it, and panting heavily. His legs felt like lead and his feet burned. The blonde curled up in a ball, trying to wait out the immense pain. He started to rock as tears filled his eyes. He just wanted to be okay. He didn't want to die... he didn't want to be in pain... he just wanted to be at home, hanging out with his friends, eating pizza. But to be like that, he needed to be keep going. So, up he got, and he forced himself forward, no matter how much it hurt, and no matter how much he thought he desperately needed sleep. He needed to get out of here, he needed to get home... he needed to get an antidote.

Looking around and assessing the situation, Joey thought it best to try and find a way up, considering he obviously fell down into something. He soon found a nice hill to hike up, even though it killed his legs, it seemed like the only way. Joey was relieved to find that no snakes came after him still, and that his backpack was a lot lighter than when he'd first had it, because those snakes had gotten into all that stuff back at the pond, and he obviously couldn't have gone back for it.

However, Joey had this strong itching that he would see that gigantic snake again. He almost knew it was out there waiting for him.

The blonde trekked up the hill and into forestry. He went on searching for the road as to find a way to the doors. He figured he would just go backward, that is, unless he found that he was too far the other way, then it would be most likely futile to try and go back to the beginning.

Yet, luck seemed to be on Joey's side, because as soon as he walked out onto the road, he spotted the golf cart sort of car that he had ridden in the first time he came into Reptile Cove. He felt a sense of accomplishment come over him, accompanied by relief, at knowing that he was almost there.

Joey turned and sort of jogged towards the exit, away from the cart and the way it was facing. His heart raced. He was almost home. He was almost out of there, and he was almost safe. Oh, please, let him get there safely. That's all he wished for. To be safe, to be safe in his home, in his bed, in his house, away from these DAMNED SNAKES!

He made it to the door. With that symbol of freedom in his sights, his hope rose. It was right there! Right there, ready to be opened, ready to let him out, ready to let him live.

And there it was.

The large snake reared its ugly head right out of the bushes and landed on the ground in front of Joey with a hiss so loud, Joey had to block his ears. Without hesitating, the snake shot down, and everything blurred together.

-grins maliciously- Yes, I am aware that this is a short chapter... but you'll be glad, and most likely a little sad, to hear that the next chapter is the last.

It's also the introduction to the sequel.

-grins-

hope you're looking forward to it.