Oh my gosh everyone! Thank you so much for the amazing reviews! Seeing all of the kind words gave me the will to start writing the next chapter the very next day. I have up to chapter eight planned out, so hey, I can start writing any time. You guys reviewed, so I had to be a good sport and update quickly. Right? This story just seems to be getting better and better.

RESPONSE~

i – Thank you so much for your wonderful support and all of your help. Truly, I strive to improve my writing and become as great as I can, and with help like this I can accomplish just that. Of course, I will always listen to suggestions and your opinions are never tossed away. I sat for two hours and stared at the previous chapter just fixing and editing after your review. I tried my best, and re-uploaded the previous chapter. Is it up to great standards? xD So, thank you once again for you constructive criticism and kind words, and I do hope that you continue to enjoy the story. :)

So, everyone! I do hope you all like this chapter, and remember that help is always appreciated.

Enjoy!

Secrets Underground

Chapter 4

With a start my eyes shot open, my heart feeling as if it was going to pop out of my chest as soon as I awoke. Blinking slowly I noticed that my vision was dark despite the fact that my eyes were half opened, and as I tried to focus so that I could see something, all I ended up seeing were bright dots that clouded my mind. Feeling a sudden throb in my head the more I tried to focus, I let out a groan and laid back down on to the soft thing I had been laying on. My body felt lifeless, and absolutely weak. I could barely feel my arms and legs from how numb my form felt. Clenching my teeth as hard as I could, I desperately tried to force myself to move. I couldn't stay here. That ghost, who knows what he was going to do to me. He took me to who knows where and why. He had probably done something to me, that's why I couldn't move. But no. I can't let this happen.

Forcing my eyes open again, I snapped it back shut as soon as a bright light hit me. It was so white. Was I dead? Did the ghost take me to the afterlife? Panic began to settle in my mind, and I made my eyes open once more. The light was still there, but this time there was a dark shadow looming above me. I took quick breaths, breathing deeply as I stared up at the thing that towered over my face through my half-lidded eyes. Who was this? Was this the ghost? Wh-Where am I?

"Yugi…"

My breaths started to come out even faster as I heard my name resonating around me. How does it know my name? I tried very hard to move my arms and legs, the urge to leave this place getting increasingly stronger. I could sense that my limbs were moving, however I could barely feel them. A feeble cry escaped my lips as I felt the person above me holding my hands and touching my face, and I struggled even more to get them away from me.

"N-No, stay away…" I managed to say, and I clenched my eyes shut and turned my head.

"Yugi... Yugi calm down," the voice said, and it rubbed my head gently, smoothing out my hair in a comforting manner. Feeling the familiar warmth, I slowly ceased my movements.

"Yugi, it's me, Grandpa. Calm down, you're okay," the voice said again, and it was then when the familiarity sunk in.

"Grandpa..?" I questioned hesitantly, and I opened my eyes and turned back to look up at the person. I saw them nod their head, and seeing warm purple eyes shining down at me, I calmed down immediately, relief flooding my system.

"Grandpa," I said, this time more firmly and out of relief. The person nodded again.

"Yes. Grandpa."

As if it was a password, slowly I began to feel my arms and legs again and my vision quickly began to clear up. In no time I stared up at my Grandpa who struggled to hold back tears, immense worry clearly plastered on his face.

"What happened?" I asked unsurely, and I watched as he blinked a few times. I knew what happened to me, but the question as to why I was still here bothered me a lot. I remembered that the ghost was in the house and wanted to take me with him, and then I fainted from fear only to now wake up in my bed. Why? Truly, I'm glad that the ghost didn't take me with him, but it was all too confusing to even understand why he didn't even though he wanted me.

"Well, we were talking on the phone and you were telling me that you were going home, when you suddenly, dropped the phone and started screaming." I watched sadly as Grandpa shivered, looking down at his lap as he sat next to the side of the bed. He looked back up at me, and it was there when I saw fear hidden behind his strong, confident and adventurous eyes. He continued, "Hearing no reply from you, immediately I rushed here to see what had happened, and when I entered I saw you passed out on the floor next to the bookcase."

"Son, you gave us quite a scare when we came and saw you on the floor like that." Hearing the new voice, I looked up and finally noticed Professor Arthur standing next to the foot of the bed. "You were so pale that for a second we thought you were dead. Thankfully it wasn't so."

"We were ready to rush you to the hospital, that's how bad you looked," Grandpa said, and I felt him clasp his big hands around my left one. "You were only unconscious, and there were no injury, so we brought you to the bed and you've been out since then. It's three in the morning now."

"Three?" I repeated, shocked at the time. It had only been early this afternoon when I saw the ghost. I've been out for more than twelve hours?

"Yugi, tell us, what happened?" Professor Arthur then asked, and it was then when my eyes dropped to stare at my feet which were covered with the white blanket. I stayed quiet, not sure how to reply to their question. Grandpa had the same curious expression on his face, clearly waiting to hear the answer, but…

"I saw the ghost."

Looking up, I stared at the two surprised expressions that were thrown at me. Neither of them said a word, and I mentally berated myself for saying anything at all. I had nothing to explain my screams to them, so the truth was all I got.

"What, ghost?" Grandpa asked slowly, and at that I sighed.

"The ghost I saw in the tomb that day. He was here," I replied softly, and it was Grandpa's turn to sigh.

"Yugi…"

"No, Grandpa. I'm serious. I did see the ghost. He wanted to take me with him somewhere," I tried to explain. I knew what he was going to say. He was going to tell me that I was just imagining everything. Well I wasn't! I know what I saw, and it wasn't just my mind playing tricks on me. Ugh, I should have just kept quiet.

"Yugi, what did this ghost look like?" Not expecting such a question, I looked back up to stare at Professor Arthur. He was looking at me seriously.

"Arthur, please, you don't have to-" Grandpa began, but he was cut off with an assuring look from the Professor.

"Calm down, Solomon. You know it as well as I do. In our field of work, sightings of spirits are not uncommon. Surely there must be some truth to what Yugi claims to have seen," Professor Arthur said, and it was then when I was even more intrigued by what he was saying. "So Yugi, tell me who you saw."

I was cautious at first to tell him, but in the end I decided to just say it. I've already said more than I should have so I might as well say the rest. Or, some of the rest. No need for them to ship me off to an asylum so early.

"Well, he was tall and tanned, looked Egyptian, and he wore a white robe with a white turban over his head." I paused for a moment, trying to think of what else to say when Professor Arthur asked me another question.

"What did he want, Yugi?"

At this my breath got caught in my throat. I could feel myself going white, and uneasily I glanced up to look into Professor Arthur's eyes. Seeing the expression, he asked me again, and this time I just let the breath out and answered.

"He said that he was waiting for me," I said, and at that Grandpa and Professor Arthur fell silent yet again, dumbstruck.

"Who's waiting?" Grandpa asked slowly, and I turned to him, then answered.

"The Nameless Pharaoh."

"The Nameless Pharaoh?" Grandpa repeated, looking very surprised, and I just nodded, clenching the blanket tightly.

"The curse…" Professor Arthur said to no one in particular, but Grandpa and I looked up at him.

"C'mon Arthur, don't tell me that you believe in curses too," Grandpa said, looking quite bemused by the Professor's thought. However, the Professor looked up and nodded.

"Don't you see, Solomon?" he began, stepping closer to Grandpa. "Maybe Yugi is the one who is to fulfill the prophecy of the Pharaoh. The Pharaoh chose him, maybe that's why the guardian is trying to get Yugi to go to him."

"Guardian? What guardian?" I asked, the thought of putting a name to the mysterious man sounding very promising.

"The guardian who guards the Pharaoh's. He helps them in the afterlife," Professor Arthur told me, and I leaned back, quite surprised. Why was he coming after me then?

Grandpa stood up and shook his head frantically. "No, that can't be Arthur. The curse isn't real. It can't be real. Besides, what would the Pharaoh want with my grandson? That man had plunged the world into absolute darkness, and was destroyed by it. Seth was one of the greatest rulers there ever was. He stopped his evil reign and put an end to that chaos. I refuse to allow my Grandson anywhere near him."

"But Grandpa…" I began, and Grandpa broke away from arguing with the Professor to look at me. "Even if you keep me away, he will still find me. He found me today, in the hotel room. He will find me no matter where I go. I can't run from him."

My heart pained as I admitted the truth to myself out loud, and it was then when I understood how trapped I was. No matter where I went, he would find me and try to take me with him. It was as if I was cursed. I am cursed. But why? Why me? Why not someone else, and why only now?

"Yugi does look a lot like the Pharaoh, Solomon," Professor Arthur continued. "Maybe that's why the Nameless Pharaoh wants him. The prophecy said of someone coming to save him. Maybe he wants a new vessel, and when Yugi entered his tomb the curse was activated."

"Arthur, enough. I'm sorry, but I don't want my grandson being a vessel for no evil spirit, and I really don't want him anywhere near that tomb," Grandpa ranted. "Besides, it may not even be real. So stop scaring him and worrying me unnecessarily."

"C'mon Solomon, you don't really believe that," Professor Arthur asked, but Grandpa just looked away. Sighing in defeat, Professor Arthur fell silent for a while before speaking again.

"You know what, maybe you're right. It may not be real, and I hope that your theory becomes true. Because, if this is real, I don't know how we can stop it from happening."

Grandpa turned to Professor Arthur and gave a small smile. "We'll figure it out," he said, and then turned towards me. "I won't let anything happen to Yugi. Nothing will harm or possess him as long as we're together. Okay?"

I smiled, and nodded.

"Well then," Professor Arthur said, this time sighing in relief. Picking up his coat and hat, he walked towards the door. "I hope everything works out. Yugi, you take care of yourself, alright?" I nodded. "I'll be off then."

"I'll walk you to the door," Grandpa said, but before he followed him he turned to me. "Should I get you some tea, Yugi?" he asked, and the thought of something hot running down my throat sounded very filling, so I nodded. "Okay, I'll be right back." And with that, I watched as the two left the room.

Now that I was alone, I leaned back on the bedrest and pulled my legs up to my up a bit to my chest. This was all so stressful. What was I to do or even believe? The prophecy of the Nameless Pharaoh states that someone would come and save him, and Professor Arthur thinks that I may be that someone. It makes sense as to why the guardian may be after me, but why? I don't want to fulfill this prophecy. And magic? Ghosts? This was all just crazy. No sane person would believe this. Dark magic was something that was used thousands of years ago. No one believes in it these days. Most aren't even aware. But what I've seen isn't a trick of the mind, and it's a fact that I can't run. So, what should I do? How can I get out of this?

I leaned forward when Grandpa walked back into the room with a cup filled with steaming tea, prepared just the way I liked it. One spoon sugar, no milk. Bringing it up to my nose and smelling the calming aroma, I watched as smoke from the heat of the tea swirled up into the air. Hearing shuffling, I looked up to see Grandpa sitting down on the bed before me, a creak following.

"Are you sure you're okay, Yugi?" Grandpa asked again, and I nodded.

"As great as I'll ever be," I replied, and hesitantly I went took a sip only to pull back as the heat threatened to burn my lip off. Deciding to just change the topic, I looked up at Grandpa.

"So, tell me about the excavation. What did you find?" Grandpa shifted in his seat and gazed at me with concern, only to nod and answer my question.

"Well, the only thing we found in there was the slab. It was a small room, but as soon as we stepped in the slab was before us." He coughed, his brow wrinkling as he sniffed deeply before continuing. "It was quite interesting."

"What was on it?" I pushed on, remembering the two people and the various monsters.

"The slab, from what we uncovered so far, depicts a battle between the Nameless Pharaoh and one of his priests, his cousin, Seth. That right there was fascinating to us." Grandpa paused, staring at his hands before looking up to meet my interested gaze. "Apparently that is how Seth became Pharaoh. Since it seems the Nameless Pharaoh died before he could produce an heir, Seth took his place as King seeing as they were blood."

"How did the Nameless Pharaoh die?" I questioned. I doubt he had an answer this early on in through their research, and from whatever the slab could say, but it was still worth a shot. The Pharaoh must have been pretty young yet if he wasn't able to have an heir for the throne.

"He died because Set defeated him in a Shadow Game," Grandpa said, and I rose a brow.

"A Shadow Game?"

He nodded. "I'm not too sure about the details, but it was a fierce battle. Set had his monsters, and the Nameless Pharaoh had the Egyptian Gods on his side. The three monsters at the top of the slab shows the three of them. From assumptions, and seeing as Set came out a winner, it must have been a duel for Egypt. Life and death type of thing. We could be wrong, but I highly doubt it. The Nameless Pharaoh was evil. Why else would Set readily walk into a battle where it seemed that he would lose?"

It was my turn to nod, understanding a bit more of the situation. As I learned more however, the more nervous I got about my own predicament. Set after all was a great Pharaoh. He was noble, fair, righteous, and from what Grandpa was saying he battled his cousin for Egypt. He won too, so that has to say something about the Nameless Pharaoh's character. There had to be a good reason, but is that reason really because the Nameless Pharaoh was evil?

"We're trying to decode more of the secrets of that tomb. I still believe that the Nameless Pharaoh's resting place is still hidden somewhere. We just have to find it," Grandpa continued to say, and without looking at his in the eye I nodded distractedly.

"He looks a lot like me, Gramps," I said slowly. "Are you really sure that the prophecy isn't about me?"

Grandpa sighed and stood up, patting my head. "Don't worry, Yugi. He may look like you, but that is just a coincidence. Nothing more. And don't worry about anything. We'll figure this out, alright?"

I bobbed my head once and stared at the bedsheet, only to look back at my hands and realise that my tea had gone cold. Absentmindedly I stared at the cup, smoothing my left thumb across the green designs that circled the edge.

"He has red eyes…" I said under my breath, not even aware that I had said it until Grandpa glanced at me.

"What did you say, Yugi?"

"Oh, nothing," I said quickly, smiling at him. He gave me a long look before speaking once again.

"Are you sure you want to go home? This is a great opportunity for you regarding your career, and things like these don't happen very often. But, if you think that you still can't stay, I won't force you to."

I sighed, giving him my cold cup. "I just don't know what to do anymore, Gramps. It's all too confusing to even try to make sense of."

Grandpa nodded, taking the cup from me. "Alright then. You get some rest, okay. We'll talk more tomorrow. I have to call Sabrina and tell her that you've woken up. She was worried about you, so I'll come to bed soon," Grandpa said, and without fuss I nodded.

"Okay. Goodnight, Gramps."

"Goodnight, Yugi," and the door clicked shut.

Leaning back into the bed before sinking down between the sheets, it was when I my head hit the soft pillow did I realise how exhausted and mentally drained I was. I glanced up when the door opened, Grandpa stepping outside. He paused and gave me another reassuring smile, and then turned off the lights, plunging the room into darkness. From the faint glow around the room I turned my head to stare out the window. It was dark out, a blue tint to the sky as this side of the earth turned towards the sun. It would be morning soon, so I might as well get some proper sleep. I don't think passing out is a form of sleep. Might be, but hey, I'm not a doctor, or… whatever those people are called who deals with sleep related, things.

Allowing my eyes to slip shut, it didn't take long for me to fall asleep, only to get carried off once again by a vision. This one was less violent than the other, but it caught my interest none the less.

I was dropped into a garden where the boiling sun blared down throughout the entire area where only a certain amount of very decorative canopies produced some shade. As I looked around the place, exotic flowers bloomed, some that I haven't even seen before in my entire life.

"How's my little son today? You want to play, don't you?"

"Father, play!"

Looking up, I watched as a door opened to see a man dressed in a white tunic with a purple jacket on top, decked in gold jewellery stepped outside, not the least bit bothered by the rays of the sun. In his arms was a little boy who looked to be the age of around six years old, and I held my breath as the boy's appearance looked exactly the same to a baby picture of myself. However, this boy was tanned just like the man, but the hair styles were different. While the child's hair was multi-coloured like mine, the man had brown short hair with a short beard, and brown eyes while the boy had blood red ones that I knew all too well.

"The Nameless Pharaoh…" I thought to myself, and looking at the man only one person came to my mind as to who he may be. Was he Pharaoh Aknamkanon? And if so, was I seeing a clip of the past?!

"Father, father, catch me!" the boy yelled, running around his father, and seeing the Pharaoh laugh out loud and try to catch the boy warmed my heart. The Nameless Pharaoh looked so innocent. How could he possibly be evil? Unfortunately the moment was short lived because soon a couple of guards emerged from presumably the palace, and walked straight up to the Pharaoh. Dropping to a knee, they spoke.

"My Pharaoh, the priests are waiting for you in the throne room. An important matter needs to be discussed," one said, and while the Pharaoh talked to them, I watched his son who paused and watched them with a saddened, and very disappointed expression. And when Pharaoh Aknamkanon turned around, the boy looked at him with disappointment as if he knew what he was going to say.

"I'm sorry, son," Pharaoh Aknamkanon said, and I mentally screamed when he didn't say his name. "I have important work to attend to." He then reached down and picked to boy up, poking him on the nose which caused the boy to squirm. "I promise, we'll play later, okay?"

From his expression alone I knew that the young Pharaoh wasn't convinced at all, but nodded and watched as his father walked away with the guards. I looked on with a sunken heart as the boy stood there and stayed still, staring at the ground. His bangs covered his face so I was unable to see his expression, but from the way he remained as still as a statue worried me. I wanted to go up and comfort him, but I looked up when the door opened again. He did too, and it was then when I saw the tears that streamed down his face.

"Mama…" he whimpered, and I watched as the woman walked towards him. She was elegant, and looking at her I could see where the young boy got his looks from. However, the eyes weren't the same. Hers were a light pink colour. Not blood red.

As she stepped closer to him, my eyes fell back to the boy, only to have my heart jump to my throat when I saw a thick cloud of black dust, or was it mist, moving together in random patterns across the sandy stones that made up the ground. The cloud was wrapping itself around the boy, circling his legs, and he remained oblivious to the shadow. I stared, unable to shout when the shadow-like thing in a blink of an eye, rose up and swallowed the boy, disappearing within him. And I stood there horror struck when the boy instantly stopped crying. His mother was also confused by this for she too stopped walked, and looked curiously at her son who bent down and picked up a rock, and threw it at her.

"Go away!" he screamed, picking more up and flinging them. "Go away! Go away!" he shrieked, and helpless and worried I watched as she tried to defend herself from the oncoming rocks, but also stepped closer to get to her son. "I hate you! Go away!" he continued to yell, and angry tears ran down his cheeks.

"Love, baby, what's wrong? What's happening? Please, stop," she pleaded, and she just looked at him, allowing a rock to hit her cheek. In no time blood oozed out, and seeing this I watched as the sight of the blood caused the frantic boy to stop. He stilled, watching the blood with wide, teary eyes, and it didn't take long for the dark shadow to get catapulted out of his body. I say catapulted because the shadow was pushed far away from the boy, and lingering a bit longer, I watched as it ran away like a wounded dog.

"Mama… Mama!" the boy shouted, and he ran towards her, wrapping his small arms around her legs. "I'm sorry," he sobbed, and she picked him up, wiping his tears.

"It's okay. It's okay, love," she soothed, patting his back. "I love you. I won't ever leave you." And hearing the boy's hiccups and his mother's promises, it was then when everything became foggy.

Opening my eyes, I sat up on the bed and looked around the room, my heart pounding hard against my chest. A soft glow shone through the room, signalling that the sun was rising, and looking beside me I saw Grandpa sleeping soundly. Trying to be quiet and not make too much movement, I brushed my hair back and laid back down on the bed.

That dream… What did it mean? Was it part of what I had to do? Did it have something to do with the prophecy? Of course, maybe that was why I was having them. I had to save the Nameless Pharaoh, so they were giving me little bits and pieces about his life. Or, maybe I was having them because the ghost wasn't to scare me? Staring up at the ceiling, I mentally groaned. This was definitely getting even more frustrating as the days went on, and surely they would get worse if I don't do something. But what should I do? Staring at the ceiling as hundreds of thoughts swarmed around in my head, only one answer stood out from them all.

I'll have to go back.

Wowza! This is a long chapter. Thought it would have been the shortest, but, look! That's good then. Long chapters are good. So I hope you all liked it, and I hope that it wasn't too confusing. I must have re-read this many times because I was confused myself. I hope it's fine.

Oh and, yes, I know the slab says that the Pharaoh wins the battle in the original series, but hey! This is my story and I will change whatever I want! xD

Please review! And thanks for reading. :)