Ch. 9 In Lilliths Mind

He woke up inside a hospital ER feeling weak and groggy. The steady beep of the heart monitor met his ears, and he slowly opened his eyes. Someone had removed his sunglasses, and his vision was blurry. He moved his arms slightly, feeling multiple needles had pierced into his veins.

"Ok, someone's awake!" A female voice to his left made him groan. It was a nurse. The longer he was here, the more likely someone would recognize who he was. "You and the girl gave us quite a scare when she came dragging you in," the nurse continued. "We almost lost both of you. You had four bullets removed from your chest, and one from your arm. Your friend lost a lot of blood, but she will be fine. Mind telling me why you had two knives on you, or why you were shot? Gang fight maybe?"

Zeke shook his head. This nurse was being too curious for his liking. The more sick and out of it he acted, the more likely she would shut up. Pretending to slip back asleep, he heard the nurse sigh, and walk out of the room. He opened his eyes again, and looked to his left. Lillith was on a steady stream of transfused blood, her eyes closed. Zeke looked back up at the ceiling, and closed his eyes. His bracelet glowed, and Zeke tried to enter Lilliths mind. He felt a connection, but it wasn't firm as he heard a fragmented version of a conversation, like listening to a damaged tape.

"…The hell did you do to yourself?" Lilliths voice sounded echoed and angry.

"I…end my life…several times."

"Tried…to suicide?"

"… you call it yes…"

Zeke shook his head. The connection was starting to fade, and he didn't think he'd be able to connect a second time. He concentrated harder.

"Because my fight with Yami, I realized… protecting you like I should… it got worse…"

"You have protected me!" Lillith protested. Her voice began to fade out again. Zeke strained his mind to keep the connection going.

"Hit the vein of my wrist… the closed connection…."

"You…would die… since our connection is so strong…"

It was almost gone. Zeke had to get her to connect with his mind. He sent her a telepathic message.

"Rose? Lillith?"

He felt her respond, and the connection became stronger. "Zeke! What's going on?" he heard Rose yell.

"Give me a second. I'm going to project myself into the tiara." Zeke wasn't sure if she knew what that meant, but as long as she could hear him the connection would maintain.

His image appeared inside the ancient corridors of the tiara. A world all of its own, it was a huge maze that represented the intricacies of the mind. Zeke stood in Roses mental chamber, both her and Lillith staring at him as he appeared in front of them.

"How did you do that?" Rose asked, surprised at what just happened.

"Its hard to do, but I've sent my spirit here."

"What's happening?" she asked.

"Were in the ER. I had four shots in my chest, and one in my arm. You bled so badly that they're giving you blood.

"Did you um… Hear us talking?" Rose asked uncomfortably.

"Er… sort of. I got bits and pieces of it," he replied honestly.

Rose walked forward, and smacked him straight across his face. "It's rude to eavesdrop, you know."

"Hey! I was just trying to get a connection with you to talk, all right? Don't take it so personal."

Rose crossed her arms, still looking angry. "Ok. Who shot us, and why?"

"Three hitmen were sent after you when you went to Wheelers house," Zeke said rapidly, trying to save himself from getting smacked again. "They're after Lillith and the tiara. They are using Bakura as well."

"The hitmen hired Bakura?" Rose asked, confused.

"No, no. Sorry, some corporation hired the hitmen, and Bakura. Apparently, Bakura has been hired for about two years now."

"How did you find this out?"

"Eaves dropping," Zeke replied. Rose rolled her eyes at him.

"What about Yugi?" Lillith asked quietly.

"He was caught in the crossfire, but he only got a few cuts. He should be fine. I think he might have been a target as well though."

Zeke was suddenly tackled by a mass of silver fur. Silver Fang stood over him, bearing her teeth over his neck.

You should ask my mistress if you can intrude into her mind said the misty voice of the tiara's guardian. Its teeth were bared towards his neck.

"And you shouldn't threaten me," Zeke replied. The bracelet flashed, and Silver Fang was thrown against the wall like a rag doll. The wolf quickly got back on its feet, and leapt at Zeke once again. The wolfs' teeth caught his bracelet as he thrust his left arm in front of him to block her attack. He kneed Silver in the stomach, making her collapse to the floor, panting.

"Call off your Guardian," he said to Rose. Zeke felt a smack on his head, as Lillith ran past him, and crouched down to Silver Fang.

"You shouldn't hurt her!" she yelled, stroking Silver across the head.

"I was trying to stop her from ripping out my throat!" Zeke replied angrily. The wolf stood up once more, and jumped again. Zeke thrust out his hand, and the wolf stopped as if it had hit an invisible wall.

"Fine. I'm out of here." He disappeared out of her mind, and returned to his own body. He carefully removed all the monitors and needles from his body as he woke, and stood out of the hospital bed. His clothes were folded neatly on a chair, and he switched with the hospital robes, glad to have his jacket back on. He placed his sunglasses over his eyes, and wandered around the hospital, being careful to avoid all eyes. He found what he was looking for, a vault for police confiscations. He grabbed his knives from their place, and teleported outside.

He walked in some direction. He didn't care where he would go, he just needed to keep moving. He hated that stupid wolf. Entering her mind was the only way to talk to her, and he wasn't going to do anything else. And then Lillith. She had to take that dumb animals side? After the crap he had done for her?

He let out a long sigh. He wished Ishizu was here. He hadn't seen or talked to her for longer then a year. He had walked a considerable distance, when something cold and hard smashed against his skull, making him black out.