Chapter Sixteen- The Darkness Within
"I reveal my trap," Atticus declared. "Negate Attack." The attack hit a shield and dissipated.
"I play this face-down. Looks like you're safe for now." His voice took on a taunting tone again. "Still in control, Atticus or are the shadows starting to take over your mind?"
Atticus scowled. "See for yourself," she snapped. She drew a card and a familiar sounding voice sounded in her head: Night Shroud.
"You can't hide from me, Atticus. You and I are one and the same. Embrace the darkness."
She shook her head to focus on the duel. "Time to bring my A-game. Later, pal," she said to Red-Eyes. "I summon Red-Eyes Darkness Dragon." As her dragon vanished, she heard Night Shroud remark, "A wise choice. It was only a matter of time." She saw the dark aura from her cards starting to circle her body. Okay, now I'm worried, but I can't focus on that.
"Since Red-Eyes is in my graveyard, my Darkness Dragon gains 300 more attack points. Cyberdark Horn is going down. Red-Eyes Darkness Dragon attack with Inferno Darkfire!" Her monster attacked and when it cleared, Zane's monsters was still there, but the Black Chick was gone. Of course I knew that, but I did take 300 points off Zane's life points, bringing it to 1300.
"Cyberdark Horn is unharmed," Zane said.
"I know. But now that my Black Chick is in my graveyard, my dragon's attack climbs to 3,000. Next, I play the spell Super Rejuvenation. I draw a card for every dragon that was sacrificed." She drew a card and heard Night Shroud laugh; she just didn't know why.
"I assume you're finished. I switch Cyberdark Horn to defense mode and I summon Cyberdark Edge. My new monster is also allowed to go grave robbing. So, I'll be taking your Red-Eyes Black Chick again."
She watched as her monster was once again taken, dropping her dragon's attack by 300 and Edge's attack rose to 1600. Zane continued, "Cyberdark Edge has another effect. By cutting its attack in half, it can attack you directly." Atticus' eyes widened as Edge attacked and dropped her points to 3200. "I play one card face-down and end my turn."
"You'll pay for that! Mark my words." Atticus saw a dark aura outlining her body as she drew. "I activate Dragonheart. I can't summon a monster this turn, but by sending three dragons from my deck to the graveyard, my Darkness Dragon's attack increases by a thousand. Plus, since three dragon are in the graveyard, my dragon gains nine hundred more attack points.
As her dragon's attack rose to 4600, the darkness around her and the deck surged through her body and attempted to take over. She cried out in pain and she saw alarm flash across Zane's face. "Help me," she pleaded. "The shadows are too strong. They're taking over."
But this may be the only way to save Zane, she thought. If his mind is clouded by darkness, I may be able to break through to him if I'm in the shadows. Well, there's only one way to find out. "Darkness Dragon, attack Cyberdark Edge. Inferno Darkfire." As her dragon attacked, she saw Jaden, Hassleberry, and Syrus appear on the sidelines. She saw the Black Chick destroyed, but that didn't change one important fact.
"Even though your Cyberdark Edge wasn't destroyed, you still lose 3,000 life points," she said.
"You might want to check your math," Zane countered, triggering a card. "Cause I play this and toss out most of my deck."
"You, what?" Atticus whispered, stunned.
"It's called Power Wall. I can activate it when a monster threatens my life points. Then, for each card I scrap, Power Wall decreased the damage by one hundred points. And since I discarded thirty cards, I get to keep the 3,000 points you tried to take away."
Atticus was still stunned by what Zane had done. She also felt Night Shroud trying to take over. She pushed him aside as she said, "But, but you treated your cards like trash. Why, Zane? In the old days, you respected the cards in your deck. I guess I can't get through to you at all."
She felt herself being pushed aside and restrained as Night Shroud took over and said, "Not without my help. Atticus has left the building. But not to worry, Night Shroud is here." Night Shroud's mask had appeared and though it covered the eyes, everyone saw the fingers fly to the slightly parted mouth and then the throat. "What have you done, Atticus?" she muttered to herself. She looked down at her female body and ran a hand down her long hair. "What the-? I'm a woman now?" she gasped.
Zane felt amused at Night Shroud's shock. He, I mean she apparently wasn't aware that Atticus was female until now. Funny; one would think she'd know before taking over. "Atticus found a magical necklace not too long after you were defeated. He put it on and over a two week period first started thinking like a girl, then sounding like one, and finally being one in body. There is no way to reverse it. You have two options: Either leave Atticus' body for good or continue this duel. So, what's your choice?"
Night Shroud scowled before holding up a card. "I play Dragon's Gunfire to destroy a monster with eight hundred defense points or less and I choose Cyberdark Edge. I end my turn. With only three cards left in your deck, there's not much you can do." Hmph, it doesn't matter what gender Atticus is; I can adapt just as she did. We are the same so it makes sense that I would end up female since Atticus is too. Hmm, I could get to like being a girl.
She was brought out of her thoughts by Zane saying, "You'd be surprised, Night Shroud. I reveal my face-down card, Call of the Haunted to bring Cyberdark Edge back from the graveyard. I summon Cyberdark Keel. Next, I play Polymerization to combine Cyberdark Horn, Cyberdark Edge, and Cyberdark Keel to form Cyberdark Dragon. Next, my dragon will tak a monster from your graveyard and drain its attack points. So, hand over your Red-Eyes Black Dragon."
Night Shroud watched as her dragon was equipped to Zane's monster and its attack rose to 3400 while her monster had 3600 despite losing 300 points. She smirked. "All that and my dragon's still stronger."
"There's one more thing you should know. Cyberdark Dragon gains one hundred points for each card in my graveyard."
"What?" Night Shroud gasped, having watched the duel the entire time. "But there are thirty-seven cards in your graveyard. That means your monster has 7100 points."
"Correct. Cyberdark Dragon, attack Darkness Dragon and end this duel." Cyberdark Dragon attacked and as Darkness Dragon dissolved, Zane added. "It's over, Night Shroud. Get out of Atticus' body and don't come back!"
Atticus felt Night Shroud being expelled from her body and she dropped to one knee as she took control again and became aware of Jaden and Hassleberry beside her. "Atticus?" Jaden asked almost cautiously.
She looked at him and smiled slightly. "I'm fine. Night Shroud's gone for good." She got to her feet and headed toward Zane. "Good duel. Guess these three medals are yours." She started to reach into her coat.
"I don't want those worthless trinkets," Zane sneered. "All I care about is victory."
"That's a lie," she retorted as she reached Zane and took his arms in each of her hands. "You care about Syrus and me. I loved the guy you were and I want that guy back." She threw her arms around his neck and gave him the deepest most passionate kiss she ever gave. She felt Zane wrap his arms around her waist and pull her closer. She parted, but Zane brought their lips together again.
He's kissing me, she thought as her fingers ran over his hair. Does this mean I got through to him? Zane pulled back and Atticus saw the love and compassion she used to see in his eyes and face. "Zane?" she asked softly, hoping.
"Atticus, you were right. One doesn't have to forget respect and compassion to be a winner. As long as I have you and Syrus, I'll always be a winner." He held out an arm toward Syrus who ran to them and embraced Zane.
"I'm so glad you're back," Syrus said.
"Me too, little brother. Atticus, a few things. First, give Sheppard the Underworld deck. Second, change your clothes. Three, I'll take those medals after all."
Atticus laughed as she exchanged her medals for the deck. She didn't care that she was out of the tournament. She had her boyfriend back to his old self and all was right with her world.
The End