Chapter Twelve

"Oh my gosh!" Téa shrieked.

"Marik!" Mokuba grabbed his friend's shoulders, shaking him. "Marik, wake up!"

Seto ran over and knelt down, feeling for a pulse. "What was he doing here?" he frowned. "Didn't he go to bed with everyone else?"

"He did! I saw him go in the room with Rishid!" Mokuba wailed. "Is he alive, Seto?!"

"He's alive," Seto said, "but I don't know what happened to him. I can't find any indication of physical trauma."

"What are we going to do?!" Téa cried.

"I'm going to take him downstairs to the doctor," Seto said, lifting Marik into his arms. "Maybe some of the rest of you should start investigating that secret passageway for answers."

Joey was already running for the passageway to see. "There's nothing in here except some stairs going down."

"Well, then let's see what's down there!" Tristan said, pushing Joey into the passage.

Téa stood by, her eyes filled with worry. "I'm sure Marik will be alright, Mokuba," she tried to say, but it sounded hollow. The way things were going, how could she really say that?

Mokuba gripped Marik's limp hand. "He's gotta be," he whispered. "He was just fine last night, and he was going to bed. . . . How did this happen?!"

No one had any answers.

Seto hurried downstairs as fast as he could go without running the risk of tripping. Mokuba chased behind him, his heart wildly thumping in his chest. Seto wished he could say something as encouraging as Téa had, but he really couldn't. What had happened was absolutely baffling, and Marik showed no signs of waking up.

"Maybe I should get Ishizu and Rishid," Mokuba sobbed as they reached the second floor.

"Let's wait a few minutes and see what the doctor says," Seto said. He carried Marik down one more flight of stairs and located the room on the ground floor where his medical team had settled.

"Good grief! Another one?!" the head doctor exclaimed when Seto appeared in the doorway.

"We found him in a secret passageway in the attic," Seto reported. He laid Marik on the nearest couch. "I can't find any blood or bumps."

The team set about examining Marik. Mokuba stood by, eyes wide, desperately praying for good news. Seto laid a hand on his shoulder.

Finally the head doctor looked up. "It looks like he was chloroformed," he announced.

"What?!" Seto exclaimed.

Mokuba stared. "But he'll be okay, right?!"

"He'll probably have a horrible headache when he wakes up," the doctor said. "Chloroform has that effect. But yes, he should be alright."

Mokuba bit his lip. "I hope he won't wake up not remembering Rishid or Ishizu . . . or me. . . ."

"Unfortunately, I can't offer any help with that, except to say that chloroform doesn't work that way." The doctor shook his head. "But in this house, none of the normal rules seem to apply!"

Seto couldn't argue with that. He reached down, picking Marik up again. "I'll take him up to his room and tell his siblings. When do you think he might wake up?"

"An hour . . . two. . . . It really depends on when the chloroform was administered, and how much," was the reply.

". . . What if too much was used?" Mokuba worried.

"There's no need to think about that," the doctor said uncomfortably. "I have every reason to believe he'll recover."

Seto was nevertheless grim as they headed back to the stairs. "Marik was probably investigating something again and someone overpowered him," he said. "If you wander off again, Mokuba, you could be next!"

Mokuba looked down. Seto definitely hadn't been happy that Mokuba had decided to investigate last night, although he had been relieved that Mokuba hadn't been alone. But if Marik couldn't take care of himself, he couldn't take care of Mokuba, or that was likely how Seto's logic was working right now.

"Marik's always protected me when we've been together," he said. "Of course, I don't want him to have to. . . . I want to be able to be strong and take care of myself, so people won't get hurt trying to save me. But I mean, Marik's never let me down, Seto!"

"I know." Seto arrived back on the second floor and quickly found the right room. Ishizu and Rishid were both inside talking, but they looked up with a start when Seto came to the doorway.

"Marik!" Ishizu cried in horror.

"What happened?!" Rishid demanded. "We were just wondering where Marik was!"

"We found him in a secret passageway in the attic," Seto said again.

"The doctor says he was chloroformed!" Mokuba added.

Ishizu was stunned, while Rishid looked ready to deal out judgment on whoever had done such a thing.

"He should be alright," Seto said. He laid Marik on the bed in the room that was unmade. "But so you don't know how he left the room or why?"

"No," Rishid insisted. "We were both ready to go to sleep, and we did!"

Ishizu walked over to the wardrobe and opened it, frowning thoughtfully. As she pushed aside the clothes, she gasped. "Oh!"

"Ishizu?!" Rishid had been at Marik's side, but now he looked up with a jerk. "We checked there! The backing isn't made of paper!"

"No, but apparently it wasn't normal either," Ishizu said. She stepped aside so they could see. The entire back had swung 180 degrees, allowing them to see through to the drop-off and the pipes beyond.

Seto ran over. "Somehow, Marik either found this or his assailant came through this way," he mused.

"But if that creep came through there, how would he drug Marik and then carry him back through if there's nothing solid and he had to climb pipes?" Mokuba wondered.

"Maybe he didn't," Seto said. "Maybe he started coming through and Marik woke up and saw him and gave chase."

"But why wouldn't I have woke up?" Rishid exclaimed.

"For the same reason none of us saw Yugi and Nesbitt lying on the floor, maybe?" Mokuba said softly. "Maybe Marik tried to wake you up and the ghosts . . . just wouldn't let you hear him."

"I don't know what I believe," Seto said in disgust, "but I'm going through there and see where it leads."

"Seto!" Mokuba jumped up in horror.

"I'll be okay, kid," Seto insisted. "That person couldn't still be in there."

"Hey, what the heck?!" came a sudden voice echoing through the strange passageway. "What is this place?!"

"Joey, don't fall!" Tristan cried.

"Do you realize what a stupid thing that is to say?!" Joey yelled. "If you're gonna fall, you won't be able to stop yourself because someone tells you to!"

Seto leaned into the wardrobe. "Wheeler? Tristan? What are you doing? Is this really where the passage in the attic comes out?"

"It sure is," Tristan called down. "But . . . where's that?!"

"I'm standing in Marik and Rishid's room," Seto said.

"Are you serious?!" Joey leaned farther in, trying to see. "We went down several flights of stairs, and then all of a sudden there's nothing but a pipe floating in space! What the heck?!"

"It looks like an unfinished project," Seto said.

"And how's Marik, by the way?!" Joey asked. "Do you know yet?!"

"He was chloroformed," Seto said. "Our guess is that someone came through this passage and he woke up and chased them. Then they chloroformed him at the top of the stairs."

"Freaky!" Joey gasped. "Do you think it was that sleaze from the club?"

"I don't know," Seto frowned.

"Would he really dare to come back here after what Crump and Yami Bakura said to him?" Tristan wondered.

"He might," Seto said. "He might think it was worth the risk to try to get that recording off Crump's phone. The district attorney was going to have the police pick him up, though. He should be in custody by now."

"That doesn't mean he is," Tristan said.

"And if he is, that means we've got some other living creep to worry about!" Joey exclaimed.

"There's that business about the family treasure too," Seto said. "There could be someone in the family trying to get hold of that."

"Evangeline would sure believe it," Tristan said bitterly, "and I can't say I blame her."

". . . Are you two going to come down, or are you going to go back to the attic and come down on the regular stairs?" Seto asked.

Tristan eyed the drop. ". . . I think we'll go around the long way," he said. "It might be the shortest way in the long run."

Seto watched them turn and run back up the stairs. Then, frowning, he took out his phone and shined its flashlight into the abyss. The stairs couldn't be suspended in mid-air, after all; something had to be supporting them down below. And maybe that meant the drop to the floor wasn't as great as it looked.

Sure enough, the floor was visible on what was likely the level of the ground floor of the house. Seto nodded in approval. He intended to go down there and take a look, once he had a rope.

"Hey, I just thought of something," Mokuba spoke. "What if the ghosts are all trying to protect the family treasure? Maybe that's why the ghosts in the North wing are so nasty. Maybe that's where it is."

"It's supposed to be in the cemetery," Seto said as he drew back into the room.

"Well, then maybe the passageway to get to it is in the North wing," Mokuba suggested.

"If it is, then the spirits can keep it," Ishizu said with uncharacteristic bitterness. She smoothed Marik's bangs back. "And I'm quite sure Evangeline would feel the same way."

"You can tell Evangeline your theory and see what she thinks," Seto said. "I need to find a rope so I can go down there."

"But Seto!" Mokuba cried in alarm. "You might get hurt too!"

"I'll be careful," Seto promised as he left the room.

"Yeah. . . ." Mokuba looked down at his friend. "I'm sure Marik tried to be careful too. . . ." He reached and took Marik's hand. "Please wake up. . . . And be okay. . . ."

Marik was silent, and Rishid sadly laid a hand on his shoulder.

xxxx

The next time Nesbitt stirred, Lector was waking up too. "Good morning," Lector greeted him.

"Morning." Nesbitt went a bit red, and slowly started to move out from under Lector's protecting arm. "Gansley, er . . . said why you decided to sleep on this bed. . . ."

Lector sat up. "You were extremely active in your sleep, as usual."

"Well . . . thanks." Nesbitt sat on the edge of the bed, raising a hand to his head. "The last thing I needed was to fall and hit my head again. But I could have ended up rolling off anyway, and taking you with me."

"I was willing to chance it," Lector shrugged. "How are you feeling?"

"I don't remember anything more," Nesbitt said. "But I don't have as bad a headache today." He got off the bed. "I remember Gansley saying some of the group was going to go into the attic. I wonder if they had any luck."

"What were they looking for?" Lector wondered.

"Secret passages or clues," Nesbitt said. He headed for the closet where the clothes had been relocated. "I'm going to get dressed and then maybe we should go find out if they succeeded."

"Very well." Lector got up too. "My clothes are still next-door. I'll see you in a few minutes."

He stepped out into the hall. He wasn't expecting to see anything going on there, and it startled him when he nearly bumped into Téa running down from the third floor.

"Miss Gardner?!" he exclaimed. "What's going on?"

"Oh . . . Lector!" Téa blinked back tears. "Marik's hurt! We found him in a secret passage in the attic and Joey and Tristan said the doctor says he was chloroformed! I was coming down now to check on him."

"What on Earth?!" Lector exclaimed.

"And that creep from the club should have been arrested, so if it wasn't him, that means somebody else is wandering around the house too!" Téa continued.

"Does Evangeline know?" Lector demanded.

"We haven't found her yet," Téa said. "She's not in her room, or Angelique's. . . ."

"I'll hurry and get dressed and look for her," Lector said. He wondered if she might be in the yard. She had always loved the outdoors, and as she said, the yard was her favorite part of this property. When by now she was so upset at everything happening in what she had hoped would be a happy place to live, she might very well go to the yard to think.

"By the way, where are Gansley, Crump, and Johnson?" he asked Téa.

"They're still looking around in the attic with some of the others," Téa said. "Who knows what other horrible discoveries we're going to make!"

Lector was worried about that as well. "I hope Mr. Ishtar will be alright," he said before ducking into his room.

"Me too," Téa said softly.

Nesbitt was coming out of his room several minutes later, around the same time Lector emerged from his. "I heard the Gardner girl in the hall," he frowned.

"Yes," Lector said. "I'm going to look for Evangeline right now. I'm worried that no one's seen her."

"I'll help you look then," Nesbitt said, feeling a bit awkward yet wanting to help.

Lector smiled a bit. "Alright."

They went downstairs and Lector immediately went to the French doors opening into the backyard. At first there wasn't any sign of his sister, but as he and Nesbitt walked deeper into the yard, they found her leaning on the base of the fountain with folded arms.

"Evangeline?" Lector called.

She turned. "Démas. . . . Mr. Nesbitt. . . ." She smiled. "How are you?"

"Well . . . I still don't remember," Nesbitt said awkwardly.

"But he's feeling a little better physically," Lector interjected.

"Oh, that's good." Evangeline sighed, leaning backwards against the fountain now. "I'm planning on calling an exorcist today. Maybe once these horrible spirits are gone, we'll be able to return to life as we know it. Maybe it will even release the block on Mr. Nesbitt's memories."

"I don't think it will be that simple," Nesbitt said, "but considering everything that's been happening, I guess anything's worth a try."

Lector sighed. "I hate to bring more bad news, but something's gone wrong in the house again."

"Oh no." Evangeline pushed away from the fountain. "What now?"

Lector quickly explained what Téa had told him. Evangeline listened, growing more horrified and indignant as the explanation went on.

"Do we know for sure that man has been arrested?" she demanded at the conclusion.

"I called on the way down," Lector said. "Yes, he's in custody. They arrested him early this morning. He was working at the club until he was arrested; everyone saw him."

Evangeline clenched a fist. "Then there really is someone else," she said darkly. "Someone in the family, maybe. I wonder who; everyone's a suspect. Well, except little Gabriel, of course."

"You really think the family is capable of chloroforming some guiltless kid?" Nesbitt frowned.

"Oh, they're capable of far worse," Evangeline sneered. She paused, cocking her head to the side as she studied Nesbitt. "Mr. Nesbitt, since you don't remember Démas, do you remember anything about me?"

". . . I only remember what I've been told," Nesbitt said awkwardly. "When I first woke up not remembering, I knew we were in New Orleans, at this house, but I couldn't remember anything about who you are. It was more like you were just the owner of this . . . bed and breakfast we're all staying at. I know that isn't actually the truth, but that's how it seemed to me when I woke up."

"I see," Evangeline said with a small and sad smile. "Well, I hope to correct that." She headed for the house. "I'm calling that exorcist."

Lector and Nesbitt chased after her. "Don't you think someone in the family has probably already tried that in the past, Evangeline?" Lector said.

"Maybe," Evangeline said, "unless they felt like they didn't have the right to kick the spirits out. I felt like that myself, until I saw what they were really capable of." She paused as they stepped onto the patio. "I feel so lost right now, like I'm drowning in anger and bitterness. I have every right to feel that way, but . . . I miss when I didn't know how cruel the world really is."

Lector laid a hand on her shoulder. "So do I," he said quietly.

Evangeline turned and hugged him. "Oh Démas. . . ."

Nesbitt looked away, wanting to let them have a sibling moment without him hovering there. He moved closer to the French doors and started to open them. To his surprise, Johnson was inside, standing and staring at his phone.

"Johnson?!" Nesbitt hurried over to him. "What's going on? I thought you were in the attic!"

Johnson looked up, and Nesbitt drew back. He was sheet-white and looked downright ill. "Look," he rasped, and held up his phone. "This is from the man they arrested today."

Nesbitt leaned in to look at the text message.

So they got me. Don't start celebrating yet, Johnson. My silent partner

is still at large, and you won't catch him as easily. I hope he succeeds

in killing all of your friends and leaving you alive to suffer!