Chapter Thirteen
Roar from Within
Quick breaths echoed through eternity. Black stretched on. I spun around the plane of darkness. Nothing. Despite the absence of light, I could see the details of the trenches in my palms and my Arcadia Movement robes.
Sayer lured me in so easily. He manipulated my memory for my knowledge of the Spirit World. What had he said? "This subject is as dangerous, clever, and defiant as cattle."
The correctness of the statement stabbed me. I managed to do all the perfectly wrong things to end up an Arcadia slave. Despite my confusion on where or who I was, I followed his every order.
Following orders got me thrown in the Facility, brainwashed by a madman, and tortured for hours on end. If I ever made it out of here, I swore I'd forge my own orders and never follow whoever said they're in a position above me.
Wherever "here" was. My arms crossed over my eyes. I'd been here, once, when I met Luna. She needed help, right? She and the Spirit World. I'd never allow Sayer to touch their realm.
Light spilled through the crack between my arms. I dropped them and observed the scarlet luminescence cast from a source behind me. A thud vibrated the atmosphere. My hackles rose. A warm breath from something very, very large disturbed the hair atop the crown of my head.
My heart raced. I closed my eyes for a moment, working up courage, and spun around to face whatever I'd been trapped with.
Awe numbed me.
A massive dragon towered over me. His claws, each as large as me, held him up like a panther ready to pounce. Gold, black, and ruby meandered across his hide like the crawl of molten lava. His wings tucked against his back. His lengthy tail twitched back and forth like a swimming snake, the symbol at the tip resembling a rattle. Bright, yellow eyes shone in their sockets like supernovas.
The name struck me again: the Crimson Dragon. I'd seen him soar above the Fortune Cup stadium when Yusei and Jack dueled for the title. I felt as though being so close to the Dragon should burn me to a crisp.
But I kept looking into his eyes, and he kept looking into mine.
His paw stirred. The thuds of his steps caused miniature earthquakes, and I struggled to keep a steady stance. The Dragon circled me. I remained still, but my focus followed him. Rather than a piece of meat considered by a predator, I felt like an antique appraised by a vendor.
He stopped. His head dipped so his eye level equaled mine.
Cataclysms leave their scars upon our planet, and the Earth continues thriving all the same. I find your blazing will similarly admirable, young dragon.
My breath caught. The way he lowered himself to look me in the eyes seemed like the Crimson Dragon was speaking to me. The deep voice, the words reverberating throughout my mind like my own thoughts, the reason I thought I was going insane – was the Dragon the cause?
Impossible. This must have been another dream.
Because of your belief, the voice said, you are ready for the next step. Blaze on, young dragon.
The Crimson Dragon hunched and pounced into the air. Scarlet brightened and swallowed my vision. The next time I opened my eyes, I lay flat on my back.
The sky above was an undisturbed azure. Quaint houses clustered around me. Though there were obvious signs of life, the area was dead silent. Far to the east, gold sparkled in the sky. In the west, a stone monolith dwarfed all else.
The cobblestones were cool on my palms. The last thing I recalled was seeing Yusei after the Fortune Cup. My old teammate had spurned the return of my memories. The low-roofed buildings couldn't have been New Domino City with their thatched roofs. They were kept too well to be the Satellite, either.
I pushed aside burlap sacks. The street merged into a main town square. No citizens loitered around the area. Shattered rock littered the square, the remains of a statue that had once topped the fountain.
"Is anyone there?" I called.
A door slammed open. A child shushed me. His little costume reminded me of the Dark Magician. "They'll hear you and raid the town again! I worked too hard to hide for some foolhardy monster to ruin my hiding place-"
The young spellcaster blinked several times and wiped at his eyes. "Are you a human?"
"Is that a shock? Where is this place? I've been in a difficult state of mind and can't work it out."
"This is the Spirit World," he said, "and it's not where you belong! Luna's supposed to be the only human here!"
"Spirit World," I repeated. "This is where I saw the dragon in the mountain."
"Ancient Fairy Dragon! She's my master! If she beckoned you, you must be connected to the Signers!"
"I'm supposed to protect them," I said.
The child's head drooped. "You've got your work cut out for you. Luna's trapped in this damp, dark fortress with an army of monkeys surrounding her, locking her in, scaring her, oh my! And you're just sort of a, um, person. Huh. What's the plan, Sam?"
"That's not my name. I'm Rain."
"Rain. Sam. What's the difference?"
"Quite a lot-"
"We're wasting time! How do you plan on saving Luna? Do you perhaps have a firearm you could summon from your world? I've heard they're effective! Perhaps you prefer more traditional weaponry such as the spear!"
There were no items on my person other than my duel disk. I noticed I still wore the awful Arcadia Movement uniform, and my nose crinkled. I pulled a card from the deck and faced the artwork towards the sun.
A magnificent white dragon soared into existence. His eyes tilted as he observed me. I wondered if he'd missed me. I patted the Blue-Eyes White Dragon's snout.
"Ohhhhh." The child looked from me to the dragon and back again. "Oh. I know who you are."
"Y-you do?"
"Yup! I can't tell you, though."
"Why not?"
"Ancient Fairy Dragon commanded me not to, and I cannot deny a command from my master. Look at the bright side! If you save her, I'm sure she'll withdraw the command so you can know!"
That didn't strike me as so "bright." "Whatever. Luna's the most important right now. Take us to her."
The miniature Dark Magician pointed north. Dark spires pierced the sky. Stained-glass windows ringed the gothic structure. "Ancient Fairy Dragon used to live there. The leader of the monkeys cast her out. He's been turning Duel Monsters to stone using his negative energy. I would use my tremendous abilities to save the place, but they stole my powers and trapped me in this tiny form! The only reason Luna got captured was because she protected me."
"And you went into hiding?"
"Planning my vengeance!" he swore. We scaled the mountainous path towards the church. Blue sky tapered for swirling black clouds above Ancient Fairy Dragon's former throne. "I'm Torunka, by the way."
"Torunka. What are those gold things in the sky over there?"
"That? It's the Gilded Gate! Think of it as a big ol' cage. It's a special realm created for the Legendary Knights, who saved and created this world!"
"Knights? Shouldn't they be the ones saving the Spirit World?"
Torunka fidgeted. "Yeah, but the Gilded Gate prevents them from helping. All they can do is watch."
"Some knights they are," I commented. The winding trail led to the summit. The imposing building may have worried me once upon a time. I didn't really have anything to lose anymore.
Two of the monkeys Torunka referred to guarded the front entrance. Their tan tails whipped about as though having minds of their own. Their faces and bodies were gray like steel armor, and their eyes gleamed red. They hefted gray staffs with gold tips resembling pinchers.
Torunka covered his head with his hands. In a harsh whisper, he said, "Nonono! They have Cursed Needles!"
"What now?"
"The staffs! They create the awful negative energy ruining this world. Throwing one of those at me got me stuck in this useless form in the first place! Make sure they don't touch you or your dragon. The consequences could be dire."
"Okay, I have an idea." I palmed a certain spell and approached the front doors. Ruby energy streamed upward from my feet. The monkeys hopped up and down. They threw their staffs like javelins. The weapons bounced off the rising power.
A trio of white dragons surrounded me in a delta formation. Rage with Eyes of Blue glowed white between my palms. A triple roar deafened the storm. The red energy crashed outward, and the monkeys dropped unconscious.
My legs gave. The stupid robe did me no favors; I stumbled to the earth face-first. Torunka said, "Nice going, Rain! We can walk the grounds freely now! It's not as strong nor effective as one of my spells, but it gets the job done."
"Is now r-really the time for that," I mumbled in the dirt.
"Pshaw. What do you expect me to do? I'm tiny! I can't support your normal-sized body! I'll go ahead and free Luna before you need to stand up!"
"Are you sure that's-" The pattering of his little feet ran inside the fortress. A dragon tucked his head under my chest and lifted me with the strength of his neck. I thanked the kind monster. He pawed forward slowly, supporting me all the while.
Candlelight flickered inside the cathedral. The small lobby contained two giant doors in front. Several pairs of monkeys were passed out on the ground. The kaleidoscope light of stained glass filtered from the window above the front entrance and slanted onto the dark double doors. The image appeared to be a blue dragon like the one on my blank card – the Eye of Timaeus.
A holler came from the right. Torunka's voice sounded: "I'm- getting- you- out! I've made it this far! You wouldn't believe what I've been through to reach you, Luna! I'm not leaving you behind!"
I rolled my eyes and hobbled towards the stairs. The basement area held a long hallway. The rooms appeared to be classes or secluded prayer sanctums. Torunka fruitlessly yanked at a locked door towards the end.
"I'll- save- you- oh! My dashing assistant has appeared! I've saved the day!"
I honestly didn't have the energy to complain. Blue-Eyes White Dragon checked to be sure I was safely leaned against the wall before clamping his jaws on the door handle. The dragon jerked his head back. The door tore off its hinges. A girlish scream sounded. From Torunka. "Watch where you're waving that thing!"
Small hands grasped the doorframe, and gray-gold eyes peeked out. Luna's bouncing, teal pigtails were hard to forget. She crept into the open. "Is that Rain? Oh my gosh, it is you! I can't believe it!"
She hugged my abdomen, and I rested a hand on the back of her pink jacket. She pulled a card out of her white shorts and showed me the trap, Threatening Roar. "I've kept it with me all these weeks! This is so crazy!"
Weeks? Whatever Sayer did to me must have kept me out of commission longer than I thought. I said, "Hey, friend."
The word widened her smile. "You saved me with your monsters! Are you a psychic duelist like Akiza? Is that why you can come to the Spirit World? Wait, but she can't…"
Torunka snickered. "Quite the mystery, ain't it?"
Aki? She's the girl I met yesterday at the Fortune Cup. She's a Signer, too. The same deep voice from my dream said, All four crimson threads have been woven between the souls of the Signers and the Vessel.
Crimson. Ah-ha. Ha. It had to be a dream. Justadreamjustadream. The Crimson Dragon wasn't whispering to me. I'd have to be crazy to think that! Ha.
"Are you okay, Rain?" Luna asked. "You're, um, smiling really big."
"I'm just glad you're okay!" I shouted. "And, and to see you again. Um, anyway, we should get out of here. The guards won't stay passed out forever."
"Oh, right! I'm sorry. Let's go," Luna said. Torunka led the way out. We trekked down the mountain to the town square without incident. I found myself staring at the broken statue above the silent fountain again.
"Whew! It sure is nice to have you back, Luna. I don't know what I'd do if I hadn't run into Rain here!"
Luna lowered her head so her pigtails drooped. "Yeah, but I'm still trapped in the real world. Leo and I are stuck at the Arcadia Movement thanks to Sayer."
"Well, isn't that a coincidence. I'm there, too. I'll help you."
"R-Really?" Hope lit up her face. "Why are you there?"
"Long story. How do we get back?"
I shall take you.
The soft voice rang in my ears. Wind spiraled around Luna and me. The zephyr ceased, leaving us at the base of a mountain. The fossil of a dragon was melded into the crag. Luna's jaw dropped. She said, "Ancient Fairy Dragon!"
Hello, children. Young dragon, the telepathic influence inflicting you has finally ceased. I am sorry you had to experience such an ordeal on my behalf.
"I have an oath to you, and I intend to keep it as is dutiful and honorable."
Her chuckle reminded me of windchimes. You truly are the young dragon. Have you spoken to the being residing with your soul? Last time, you were unaware of his presence.
"Eh?"
Luna said, "You've spoken to Ancient Fairy Dragon before, too?"
"In a dream a couple of times. I don't know what she's talking about now, though."
You still have not spoken to the Crimson Dragon? she said. You and he share a physical presence. You are the Crimson Dragon's Vessel, and you must support one another.
Weird laughter tumbled out of me. "I, uh, think you've made a mistake."
"That makes sense!" Luna said. "You must be able to visit the Spirit World because of him. I was able to speak to you because the Dragon let me. That's amazing! You're like a Signer, but more direct? I guess!"
"N-no," I murmured, "that can't…"
The facts added up. The first time I saw the red blur was right before I started hearing the deep voice. At the Fortune Cup, the Crimson Dragon's appearance and disappearance left me queasy.
But. But if the Crimson Dragon could speak to me and was supposed to support me, why hadn't he? Our first contact was the night my partner died. In my darkest moments, he hadn't offered a claw to help. He existed; that was it. The least he could do was explain himself and make me feel less alone. Instead, he let me feel like I was losing my mind.
Ancient Fairy Dragon said, Be certain not to reveal the Crimson Dragon is within you. That goes for you, too, Luna. The young dragon will be safer as long as the Crimson Dragon's presence is unknown, and when the time is right, it will give you the upper hand.
"Take me back to the real world," I said. "I want out of here."
The deep, booming voice was a far cry from Ancient Fairy Dragon's coo. If you so wish, I will return you.
That confirmed it, then. That torturous voice was the Crimson Dragon. The odd reaction from Aki's touch made sense now. The Crimson Dragon said, You are connected to the Signers. Your fates intertwine.
Why was he saying that now?
I am trying to undo my past wrongs. I will clarify my presence and goals to you from now on, young dragon.
The thing could hear my thoughts. The damned Crimson Dragon forced himself into my life at the worst possible time, didn't help a lick, and stole away any privacy I once had.
"Are you okay?" Luna asked. "You don't seem very excited about this."
"However I feel won't change what I need to do," I said. "I'll save you in the Arcadia Movement, got it? Count on me. I'll find you."
Luna smiled and held out her fist with her last finger extended. "It's a pinkie promise!"
"A what?"
"It's, like, a sign of a swear between us!"
"Mkay." Our pinkies hooked together. "A pinkie promise."
She giggled. A ruby glow cocooned me. My mind suspended like I was drifting upon ocean waves. Cool air rushed over my skin. I gasped awake. The top half of a pod lifted over my head. I'd been floating in sticky blue liquid.
I clambered out of the pod and grabbed a nearby towel. I was dressed in a black wetsuit. I did not want to think about who changed me. The idea refused to leave me alone, though. The other pods in the room were unoccupied.
Drawers by my pod held the stupid, puffy Arcadia robes, underclothes, and… thank the stars. My clothes, the khaki cargo pants and black one-armed shirt, were inside. My silver bracelet and Kalin's deck were safe in the pockets. I hugged the deck to my chest and thanked whatever god listened for letting me at least keep this piece of him.
My knuckles touched my forehead as I gathered my bearings. Luna was somewhere in the Arcadia Movement. Sayer must have brought me here after the Fortune Cup. I passed out when I ran into Yusei. Yusei won against Jack. My old friends were both Signers, and they'd reached New Domino City.
Do you not have more pressing matters to address, young dragon?
I snapped back, "Stop intruding! If you're some almighty dragon, why don't you explain everything?"
We will have time after you save our Signers.
"Don't lump me in with you. I never agreed to this!"
Please, young dragon. Maroon marks bled onto the pale skin of my arms. Scarlet glowed from the lines, and a ghostly red gas drifted upward. The crimson fog wove together to form a tiny, red dragon. The form was much smaller than the Crimson Dragon's true self; he was about the size of my head. He floated in front of me as he spoke.
We are one and the same. Our mind and body are shared. A long time ago, you did agree to join me and save the Signers. That was before you awoke in the Satellite. If I had access to those memories, I would tell you why you joined me. Since we reunited, I have lost them as well.
I scowled. "Then you're no use at all. You can't tell me anything! What gives you the right to tell me what to do?"
I have no right. I cannot force you to do anything. The Signers are more important than the both of us. The fate of the world rests on their shoulders. That is why we must protect them.
"The fate of the world?"
Yes. The Signers are the lone defenders able to prevent its destruction.
"Um. If they're strong enough to pull that off, why do they need a guard?"
The ghostly dragon drifted through the air as though swimming. His tiny paws clung to the top of the pod Sayer locked me in. The twitching of his nose readjusted his whiskers. His long tail, fluffy like a dog's, swung back and forth like a pendulum. They are unaware of their strength at this point. Until they comprehend the value of their lives, you are needed.
"Er, I'm not very useful, though. Why would you pick me of all people?"
If I remembered, I would be honest with you, he promised. Understand this: in the short time we've been together, you have proved yourself worthy of my power.
The words warmed me despite my desire to be cold towards him. After seeing me in my darkest hour, he claimed I was worthy? A couple of deep breaths lowered my pulse. "I'll help them because they're my friends, not because they're your Signers."
The Crimson Dragon's essence seeped into the marks on my skin, which faded. Our Signers, young dragon.
"S-stop calling me that!" I tried the door. Locked. Dunno what I expected. My duel disk extended in its sickle shape. Strong Wind Dragon broke me out. I returned the card and stalked out. The sight of the red carpet made me sick. Battling my urge to flee the Arcadia Movement, I kept onward. Someone was crying for help behind a door down the hall.
Creaking it open revealed Carly Carmine, the reporter from the Fortune Cup. "Oh, thank goodness! I thought my goose was cooked! Huh? It's you again! The shadow. Big twist! The girl on all the wanted posters is actually super nice. Too bad that's not interesting enough for an article. Another candid!"
Her camera snapped a second photo of me. I blinked the stars out of my eyes. "How do you know about the shadow title?"
"That's what it says on the wanted posters." She turned her camera to different angles as she observed the captured moment on the screen. "They said you were all scary and 'at large,' but you're a cute little thing! Lookit those cheeks!"
I squished up my right cheek with my finger. The injection of my criminal mark was colder than the rest of my skin. "What's wrong with them?"
"Okay. I'm sold. Interview. Now! Tell me about yourself, shadow!"
"Shadow," I murmured. "I used to be his shadow. Now I'm… nothing."
"Aw, hey, it's okay. You're starting to sound like Jack!"
"You know Jack?"
"Yeah!" She clasped her hands together. "We dueled together, and he was so sweet!"
I blinked. "Jack? Jack Atlas? Sweet?"
"He's a really good guy on the inside," Carly said, her stare drifting upwards as though she was speaking to herself more than me. The pink of her blush was stark against her porcelain complexion. "I know he seems really full of himself, but there's way more to him than that! I think it's just an act. With the way he treated me, there's no way he's actually- Hey! We were supposed to be talking about you, and you distracted me!"
"You kinda distracted yourself."
"I- did not!" The rose coloring her cheeks darkened to scarlet. "What did you mean about not being a shadow anymore? And what's an infamous Satellite fugitive doing with the Arcadia Movement?"
"You ask too many questions." The instant the statement passed my lips, a painful memory resurfaced, and I grimaced. "Sayer screwed with my head and turned me into his slave. That's why I'm saying you shouldn't mess with the Movement. His psychic powers are crazy strong."
"Uh, woah. Sounds like there's some shady stuff going on around here! Why would he enslave you?"
"Because I- stars above. Luna! I have to go, Carly!"
As I sprinted away, she called, "Alrighty! Thanks for the help again, shadow!"
I skidded to a stop. "My name is Rain. Stay safe, okay? You need to see Jack again."
The heat rising to her face inspired my smile. She scampered off in the opposite direction, muttering, "Hehe, okay, Rain! You and I will continue the interview next time we meet!"
I actually… hoped we did. She seemed nice. Sounded like someone finally cracked through to Jack. Ha. The burden of the deck in my back pocket weighed heavier. Maybe he'd finally understand.
"Rain? Rain, is that you?" Luna's voice sounded from the next door down. I unlocked the door. Her eyes were puffy from crying. "You really came!"
She must have been so afraid. I said, "Of course I did. We pinkie promised."
You are a kind young dragon.
I didn't think I could get more self-conscious. The Crimson Dragon's constant comments worsened the anxiety.
"I like that outfit better than the old one, by the way," she pointed out. That got me to smile. "Rain, can you help my brother? He's trapped in this glass thing. I've tried but can't get him out."
The boy laying in the encased bed resembled Luna to an unnerving degree. His same-colored hair was in a single ponytail. The style of bangs copied Luna's. His outfit matched his sister's but with blue replacing pink.
There was nothing to smash the glass with. No choice but to wing it. I balled my fist and smashed the glass. The case shattered and fell to the floor as shards. Leo wasn't harmed, but my knuckles bled. I was careful not to step on any as I stood over him. I carried him in my arms.
Why did you not call upon your monsters, young dragon?
My… oh. I totally forgot. The blood drained from my face, and the Dragon chortled. Why couldn't he keep the commentary to himself? In the meantime, Luna beamed. "Wow, nice hit!"
Aw. At least his Signers were supportive. I carried Leo towards the elevator, which was dangerously close to Sayer's office. Luna followed in my footsteps.
Loud voices rounded the corner. I tensed. The first of the two men to enter my sight was the last person I expected to see. Bolt Tanner, my friend from the Facility, matched my bewildered expression. He was with an old man, whose gray hair stuck up in all directions. Luna immediately recognized them both and said, "Bolt! Yanagi!"
"Rain? Why are you here?"
I hadn't been able to spend much time with Bolt after my partner got arrested. His shock was a gleeful sort that improved my bittersweet mood. "Glad to see we both made it to the other side."
We clasped arms as he returned the sentiment. I passed Luna's brother to him. The old man – Yanagi – gave me an inquisitive look. "What happened to Leo?"
"You'll have to ask Luna on your way out."
Luna asked, "You're not coming with us?"
"Not yet," I said. "A friend needs me. I'll meet up with you later. The elevator is that way."
Bolt, Luna, and Yanagi followed my directions. An earthquake shook the building. I grabbed the railing beside me and peeked over. In the lobby far below, debris littered the floor. People were scurrying out of the Movement in a rush.
Not good not good not good. I tried all the doors on my floor and called Aki's name. No response. Wouldn't she be with Sayer? The director's room was locked, though. I pressed my ear to the door. The tinkling of breaking glass and a woman's scream came from within.
The slamming open of the door knocked me onto my backside. Sayer filled the frame. His annoyed expression shifted to amusement. "I have a job for you, darling. Rats have infested our movement. We must exterminate them."
My fingers curled into fists. "I'm not your puppet anymore. I'm here to save Aki from you!"
"Is that so?" His lopsided smile remained as he said, "What if I were to offer you a glass of water?"
I froze. Irresistible trembling conquered my muscles. Involuntary tears built in the corners of my eyes and dripped off my chin. Sayer dropped to his knee to my right and murmured in my ear, "You have no choice. You do as you're told."
"Time for rrrrround two!"
I was more surprised by Sayer's utter shock than by the voice. He turned on his heel to face the figure in his office. Carly Carmine posted up in front of the broken window serving as the office's far wall.
She looked entirely different than the Carly I'd seen minutes ago. Dark robes with orange markings replaced her bright outfit. A black duel disk resembling a demon's wing attached to her long, black glove. Her glasses had disappeared. The whites outside her blue irises had shifted to black.
The difference that caught my attention and held it, though, was the glowing purple mark on her right forearm. The symbol reminded me of some sort of bird with a long beak. The sight raised my hackles.
The Crimson Dragon's growl rumbled my thoughts. Carly Carmine has become one of our sworn enemies. Remember this moment, young dragon. Remember your first meeting with a Dark Signer.
Enemy? Why? I was supposed to protect Signers – though in this moment it was more her protecting me. Sayer stepped towards her and shouted, "How many times do I have to kill you?"
"W-what? What did you do to Carly?" I said.
Sayer wiped his hand down his face, and his anger faded for a pleasant smile. "Darling, do me a favor and eliminate this rat for me."
"Ah ah ah!" Carly wagged her finger. Her grin unveiled a thousand desires and none of them kind. "Good eggs go free! Bad eggs get punished."
The wicked hiss darkening her words could not have been produced by the Carly I met. Dark flames encircled Carly and Sayer. The Crimson Dragon said, It may seem so now. The Dark Signers exist for the sole purpose of murdering our Signers. These are the primary entities you must protect the Signers from.
But. But Carly?
Gold flashed at Sayer's wrist. "I'll make this quicker than last time, and the puppet will stay right where she is."
I scowled and pushed to my feet. Sayer instantly whipped a card from his pocket. "Follow instructions or else! Hinotama!"
A flaming red ball of fire shot through the purple wall, exploded against my chest, and rocketed me backwards. My back slammed against the railing. A crack incited panic in me. The glass connecting the railing to the floor shattered. I fell into the empty space, which dropped hundreds of feet to the lobby. I reached up and grabbed the rail. Broken glass still attached cut my arm. I yelped and released the railing.
I couldn't look at the lobby as I plummeted. I shut my eyes and made one final prayer in hopes of seeing my angel again when I met my end.
I landed two floors below.
The walkway reached out far enough to scoop me. The twisting metal in concrete attaching the balcony to the side of the building had weakened, so the walkway leaned downward.
Metal whined as the segment of balcony snapped off the building and plummeted toward the lobby. I leapt from the ruined portion to one safely attached to the Arcadia Movement. I shimmied up and lay flat for a moment to catch my breath. Blood coated the underside of my forearm.
Drifting rose petals caught my attention. I struggled to sit up. The floor I'd landed on contained an ongoing duel between two women. The duelist closest to me was none other than Aki. Her crimson sign, the Crimson Dragon's claw, caused red to reflect off the sheen of sweat on her face. Black Rose Dragon hovered above her.
Her opponent wore garbs similar to Carly's, but emerald lines replaced the tangerine embroidering Carly's cloak and skirt. The dark mark on this person's forearm took the shape of a lizard. Her shiny, black hair made her unblemished skin appear fairer. Red facepaint accentuated her high cheekbones. I was noting the black outside her green irises when I realized she was looking at me, not Aki.
"A-am I interrupting something?" I said, my smile awkward.
"Rain?" Aki said. "You have to run. This woman her attacks are more painful than a psychic's ever could be. I know what you're thinking, and yes. She is the Misty Tredwell, famous model, but she said she's trying to kill me! She claims I did something to her brother. I've never even met him!"
"You are Rain," Misty said.
"You know her?" Aki asked me.
I clutched my bleeding arm. "No, but the way you said her name makes it seem like I should."
"You don't know Misty Tredwell?" Aki said.
The Dark Signer's focus never left me, though. Her black eyes thinned. "One of my colleagues is very interested in you."
"W-what?"
"This is what she does," Aki said. "She's been trying to confuse me and my feelings this whole duel. She hardly even plays the game. Don't let her get to you."
"Right," I murmured. "I trust you, Aki."
"He can pick up the pieces himself," Misty said under her breath. "I tribute my two Reptile Tokens! Be born unto the world for the newest war, Earthbound Immortal Ccarayhua!"
Tingles raced along my nerves. A growl developed deep in my throat. My heart pumped so fast I thought it might explode. Abnormal energy surged through my veins.
The Crimson Dragon said, That is the crimson spark, a representation of our beings merging. Your eye color changes from blue to red, and you obtain extra adrenaline. Does this explanation suffice?
Okay, yes, but, um, but why did I growl?
…A small, instinctual side effect.
A humongous neon green eye glared at us through the windows. I bit my lip to prevent my scream. The monster dwarfed the skyscraper we stood in. Aki said, "What are you doing?"
I'd hugged onto her arm. I swiftly released her, saying, "I, uh, got a little scared."
Rather than fear, she pinned the beast with a burning glare. Another screech sounded outside, and a flash of orange caught my eye. Would that have been Carly's giant monster? The building rumbled, and more rubble crashed past us. The ring of breaking glass resonated from a higher floor. A familiar limp body fell with the debris.
"Sayer?"
Aki's expression collapsed in misery, and her broken voice almost made me feel bad about what happened to him.
"Humph. It appears as though we'll have to finish this duel another time. I'll take your life the next time around – if you make it out of this hellhole. Good-by for now, Akiza Izinski."
Misty spun on her heel. The glance she tossed over her shoulder enchanted me. Made sense she was a model. The Crimson Dragon growled. Should your thoughts linger on compliments about a Dark Signer?
I- I can't help it! Look at her!
Her dark eyes searched my face. "Stay safe and hurry out of here, Rain. He'd be heartbroken if anything happened to you."
Eh?
Weeping dragged my attention away from the Dark Signer's leave. Aki whimpered, "Sayer!"
She almost leapt over the railing to die with him. I wrapped my arms around her waist to keep her back. "Aki! He wouldn't want you to go dying now, would he?"
Muffled sobs answered me. I kept an arm around her shoulders and led her to the elevator, which was blessedly operational. I shut the door and pressed the main floor button.
Tears dripped through the holes in her hands covering her face. "He's gone. He's really gone. He was the only one who understood me. How can I go on alone?"
"I… I don't know." A quake rocked the elevator. The lights flickered. When they turned back on, her red-ringed eyes focused on mine. The guy was an absolute monster, but no way would I put my feelings before hers. I did think of her as a friend.
I said, "I don't know how to go on. I felt the same about someone who passed away. I keep thinking if- if I'm the only one who can remember him for who he is, I need to keep living. His memory can't die, so I have to stay alive."
"His memory," she repeated. The doors opened. She observed the crumbling Arcadia Movement. What was once her haven lay in ruin. Her fingers touched the silver clip holding her hair back. "Am I all that's left? If that's so…"
"We reach the exit," I said. Her nod was weak. A rumble ensued. The power shut off. We picked our way through the dark, rubble-ridden lobby.
"That's- He's…"
Aki halted over Sayer's still body.
How could I get her out of here now? She was broken, and I didn't hold it against her. Maybe-
I started forward but heard an off sound. A huge concrete slab plummeted towards her. The crimson spark's adrenaline surged. I leapt forward and pushed Aki. The rock crushed my lower body. Aki moved to help me.
"Don't make this for nothing! Don't stop, don't come back! Just run!" I urged. The reluctance was obvious in her movements. A war waged in her expression. She took a step back, two, turned away from me, and disappeared behind the exit doors.
Relief washed over me despite my pain. A flash of red stole away my vision and consciousness.
A soft touch glanced my wounded forearm. An arm hooked beneath my knees and another behind my shoulders. Excruciating agony flared from my legs and tailbone. The warmth of another person flushed against me as I was carried.
It must have been death. It must have been, because I swore I heard in the soft tones of my deceased partner: "You'll be fine."