KimyouTeki: Damn, it's been way too long since I updated this!

InsaneShadowFan, I don't know much about doppelgangers, but basically, it's seeing your own ghost as a sign that you're going to die. I read about it in a book called Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark when I was a kid. Actually, that book was the start of my fascination with ghost stories and death. I guess you can thank/blame Alvin schwartz for these stories.

Thanks for reviewing also go to Samantha B, Mana-the-Authoress, Zacura, marikslildevil, and dragonlady222!

Nine
Grasp

Monday Morning

Anzu could not stay still, and she couldn't stop looking over her shoulder every few seconds. When the sliding door chimed, she jumped.

The electronic door slid open, and Seto Kaiba entered, sweeping over to his desk and sitting in his tall-backed black leather chair, regarding Anzu with cool blue eyes.

"I'm surprised to see you here alone. Did the Geek Squad have a falling out?"

"They're still at Crawford's complex. I need your help, Kaiba."

Kaiba sighed through his nose. "I warned you idiots about Pegasus, and you still waltzed into his den. So, now that you've walked into the trap, you want me to help you out? Did you crave fame and fortune that badly?"

Anzu growled, "That's not it at all, Kaiba! Joey's going to win the prize money so he can pay for his sister's surgery!"

Kaiba's eyes widened. He hadn't known anything about Jouno's family.

"We went with him to show our support, but now they're in big trouble! Will you help me or not?"

Kaiba's expression became thoughtful.

"... Tell me what you need."

"Find out what you can about the family that lived in there. I know the basics, but there must be more to the story. We need to figure out what's wrong with that house before midnight tonight. That's when they'll send Honda in."

o o o

The elevators were taking forever. Anzu was impatiently bouncing on the soles of her feet, looking like she had to pee.

I hope Kaiba finds out something that will shed light on this situation. He didn't seem to believe what I told him about the shower... Maybe I should've kept my mouth shut.

The incident in question had occurred during her shower earlier that morning. She'd been lathering up her hair, when she felt something on her head that tickled. She reached to scratch it, and had found something on her head, round and fleshy, cold, yet animate. A hand. Just when Anzu had realized what it was, the fingers had come alive and grasped her hand. She'd yelped and whirled around to see who or what was in her shower, but there had been nothing there.

I think I lost some credibility there. I thought it would light a fire under him, but I guess it may have had the opposite effect. I'll need to look up all I can on the internet. Thank goodness for Google...

Ding!

One of the elevators opened, and Anzu ran to its doors. She faltered when she saw a large man already standing inside.

He was large in height and girth, wearing a flannel shirt and khaki pants. His skin was slick, sweaty-looking. His hair was oily and mussed. His eyes were narrow and mean. He didn't look at her for more than a second, so she reluctantly went in.

She pressed the button for the ground floor, then stood back, in the opposite corner, facing forward.

The man stank of vodka and tequila. Anzu scrunched her nose, hoping for a quick descent.

She looked up at the numbers. They were on the 93rd floor.

Damn, this is gonna take forever, and this guy's way creepy! She pouted.

I guess it's a good thing I didn't tell Kaiba about seeing my doppelganger. She shook her head. Malik could be wrong. Maybe she just resembled me. I mean, I only saw her for a few seconds. It's not like I was taking notes--

CLICK. CLICK.

Anzu jolted and looked at the source of the sudden noise.

It was the man. He was biting his nails.

CLICK. CLICK. CLICK.

He showed no sign of stopping.

Anzu sweatdropped. Man, he's really chomping down. Hope he doesn't bite his fingers off. Gross...

She looked up at the floor numbers, hoping they were close. They were only on floor 90 now.

Oh, man, just my luck, getting on the world's slowest elevator with the world's creepiest guy!

She felt a tickle on the back of her head.

Thrashing her head back and forth, she slapped at the source, grunting frightfully. She didn't feel anything odd. Once she'd calmed down, she glanced over at the man, but he gave no sign that he'd noticed. He seemed to be in love with his nails.

CLICK. CLICK. CLICK.

He can't do that forever...

She sighed and faced forward again. The elevator was steadily moving closer to the street.

Not much longer...

"Whore."

Anzu blinked and looked at the man. He was still chomping on his nails, completely oblivious.

But I heard someone speak!

"Excuse me, did you just say something? ... Sir?"

He didn't acknowledge her.

I must've been hearing things. How could he say anything around his fingers? They were on the 85th floor now, so Anzu reached for the button marked 84.

Before she could touch it, she felt it on the back of her head again-- a hand.

She froze, eyes wide. This was not the same hand. The hand in the shower had been small and slender; a woman's hand. This was a large, clumsy man's hand that radiated heat through her scalp. The heat caused an alarming tingling sensation on her skin that spread over her body, like hot goosebumps. This hand was squeezing, as if to crush her skull.

She cried out and whirled around to ask the man what the hell he was doing.

There he stood in the corner, far out of arm's reach, still biting his nails. However, he was now glaring at her, and his fingers were bleeding profusely.

She had nowhere to run. She screamed and fought as his hands flew around her neck, but he was too strong, and her cries were soon cut off.

o o o

Kaiba strode out of his executive elevator and rounded a corner to meet up with Roland, who was waiting amidst security and medical personnel.

"What is going on here?"

Roland led Kaiba to one of the elevators.

Kaiba's eyes widened and sweat broke out on his skin when he saw what was inside.

She was leaning against the wall, her body wrapped in plastic, blood painting her lips. Her pupils were the most disturbing part-- they'd gone white, as if her eyeballs were filled with spiderwebs.

Anzu...

9
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