AN: I'm sorry that Chapter 5 took me a while, but I was a bit stuck with Marik's and Jesara's conversation in this chapter. But I really love how this chapter turned out. In this one I'll reveal a lot of details of their past and their connection. But trust me, there are a lot of more details that will be revealed in later chapters :P I love breadcrumbs!

In this chapter I also have to warn you: It contains a bit of physical violence and If you don't like blood... don't read it. You have been warned, guys.

Also a big thank you for the reviews & the favouring of the story! I'll try to update soon!

And now: Enjoy this chapter and let me know what you think! pls review :-)

Chapter V

Like Lights & Shadows

And then, there was only silence in the pitch black darkness.

A flickering warm light enhanced the blackness and revealed a long, dark corridor. The walls and the floor were made from ancient bricks, in some spots they were decorated with old egyptian symbols and hieroglyphs.

Piercing cries shot through the lonely hallways - nothing else filled the darkness within them, just the fire torches every 20 meters enhanced it and dipped them into a yellow, glimmering light. The painful echoes could be heard in the whole complex for hours.

Odion's hands and cloak were stained with dark red liquid when he soaked a piece of medicated cotton in pure alcohol to disinfect the deep wounds which covered Jesara's back. Regret was written to his olive eyes and he was well aware of the fact that everytime he touched her would cause her more pain. He didn't want to hurt her, but there was obviously no other way to help her right now. Once more he dabbed the saturated piece of wool on her back, followed by another painful cry as the alcohol burned like fire in her wounds.

Jesara buried her face into her pillows and clenched her teeth, hoping it would cover her screams just a little. She never felt such a sharp pain in her life. Her bare back was covered with dried blood while fresh red liquid ran down her sides. She laid on her bed, belly down and nothing but her blood covered her tanned skin.

"I'm sorry, Miss Jesara…" Odion muttered in a low voice, sorrow resonated in the undertone. "I've never seen Master Marik losing control like this before…"

"Don't apologise, Odion… Especially not for him. It's not your fault. If I want to hear an apologise I want to hear it from his mouth…" Jesara gasped in pain between heavy breaths. "But it wouldn't change anything… there's nothing he or you can say to change what happened. Things won't ever be like they were from now on…"

"Then I apologise for my mistakes, which caused this…mess." He said in the same low, regretful tone. For a second he paused cleaning her wounds. "But I also thank you for your courage to do what've done for me. You didn't need to…"

"Odion, please… Don't apologise…" she whined when the alcohol touched her wounds again, making her feel a burning pain. Strands of her dark hair were soaked with dried blood, covering half of her face when her pain filled eyes met Odion's. The look in her irises told everything.

"I didn't expect he'd really… punish me… like he would have punished you, or his other servants… But it's ok, you're safe and that's all that counts…" she sighed painfully and buried her face into her stained pillows again.

Again piercing cries filled the dark underground place they were in. They lasted for 3 more hours. Odion tried his best to stitch her deep wounds as carefully as possible - but to no avail. He could do nothing to ease her pain right now.

After three hours which felt like an eternity he finished stitching and started to wrap Jesara's upper body with bandages. Her hands clinched into the bed sheets, which were made from luxurious Egyptian silk, stained with lots of blood. She never felt so exhausted, helpless and bruised - physically and mentally. Jesara wasn't sure which wounds would take longer to heal; those on her skin or those on her soul.

"Odion…" she murmured when he was almost finished with covering her wounds with bandages.

"Yes, Miss Jesara?" He replied in a gentle, respectful voice.

"Odion please… stop calling me Miss. You know I hate that…" she sighed when she hung her head in frazzle. "I need you to do me a favor… it won't be easy, but I beg you with all my heart. Could you promise me that?"

Odion's eyes met the back of Jesara's head, not sure what to expect next. He wasn't sure about what her favor might be. "What is it… Jesara?"

"Don't tell anyone about this, especially not Marik." She stuttered and blinked at Odion over her bandaged shoulder. "I want you to help me to get away from here. As far away as possible. Please help me to escape unnoticed and make the necessary arrangements… Whatever it takes. Money won't be the problem."

His eyes locked with her in dismay. Right now he didn't really know what to respond to her plea, but how could he be miffed about her idea to leave and never return.. For a few seconds there was only silence between the two Egyptians.

"Please, Odion. I can't stay here… and you know that…" she said softly. "Even if that means we'll never see each other again."

"Are you sure…Jesara? Do you really want to do that?" Odion whispered, he really didn't want anybody to hear them talking about Jesara's possible getaway. "He would be out of his mind when he finds out..."

Her gaze darkened. "I really don't care for that, Odion. No more..."

"You should get some sleep and rest… I'll do my best to make the arrangements for you." He whispered again and then cleaned up the mess of blood stained cotton and first aid accessories that clustered the cold floor beneath his feet. "I'll let you know when everything's ready…"

Odion then stood up and went towards the exit of her room, looking over his shoulder to meet her pain filled eyes once again. He saw gratitude and the hint of a smile in her gaze. But he already started to miss her. He promised to always take care and look after her and Marik with all his might and even death wasn't a threat for him as long as he knew they both were safe. It made him sick that he was about to break that promise.

"Thank you, Odion…" she whispered and slowly lay herself down in cautious moves, her whole body still hurt and felt sore like hell. With a click she knew Odion just left the room and left her to herself.

Jesara closed her tear filled eyes and after only a few minutes she drifted off into a deep slumber. Again everything around her went black slowly.

/

She inhaled deeply when she awoke from her dream and lifted upright from where she way lying, panting for air like she'd just finished a marathon. Her vision was still a bit blurry and all Jesara was able to see were her slight fingers clasping the soft material that covered the bottom half of her body in her hands. It was fine egyptian silk, nothing in this world felt better on the skin like this material. It's been years that she felt that unmistakable softness on her skin. Where was she? This didn't feel like her bedsheets, it didn't even smell like it… Her eyes were still trying to focus as she scanned her blurry surroundings.

"How are you?" A familiar voice asked from across the room.

Jesara knew to whom this voice belonged and her heart skipped a beat when those three words met her ears. Slowly she lifted her head and tried to focus on the corner to her right side, which she was sure the voice came from. And there he was. Shoulder-long sandy blonde hair, perfectly tanned skin and his piercing lavender orbs stared into hers. Slowly her vision got sharper and a soft growl escaped from her throat as she realised who pleased her with his company. Marik was sitting in a modern, deep violet lounge chair with his legs crossed elegantly. His hand held a glass with amber coloured liquid and ice cubes. His expression was firm, she didn't detect any emotion written in it. The softness in his gaze from earlier had vanished completely.

"Don't tell me you even care…Marik." Jesara muttered when her eyes narrowed at him, giving him a displeased glare.

"And if I told you I do care?" Marik answered still in a severe tone, his well defined face now wore a slight smirk and his pointed golden earrings jiggled dainty along his jawline when he tilted his head a bit to the right, his lavender eyes still locked with hers.

At this Jesara clenched her teeth and exhaled a deep sigh when her slight fingers touched her forehead in pain. Her head hurt like a speed train hit her twice or even worse. "Oh Ra..." She moaned under her breath.

Marik lifted himself up from the fancy chair and took three well calculated steps towards her. Suddenly she felt like he sat down on the bed beside her. Jesara stiffened; every centimetre less distance between them filled her with more unease.

"Chloroform could be tricky, the headache must be a living hell. I'm sorry for that, but it was necessary." Marik said in the same cool tone and handed her a glass of water from the nightstand and a little baby-blue pill. "You should take one of these pain killers, it will get you rid of the headache in no time."

Her amber-olive eyes met his lavender ones once more, fret still filled her expression. But there was also another emotion inside of her that intensified with every second that passed by: fury.

"Where am I?" She asked with sharpness in her tone, ignoring his offering of water and pain killers.

"In my quarters… where're you're actually supposed to be." He returned like it was absolutely obvious and not a big deal.

"Don't mess with me, Marik… where exactly am I?" She asked again and added more emphasis to her words. Her amber-olive eyes galred daggers at the blonde beside her.

"Stop asking and take these…" Marik replied, discounting her question. He held the glass of water and the pill closer to her.

Within a second Jesara slapped it out of his hand and the glass shuttered into hundreds of shards, leaving a dark wet stain on the carpeted floor. Marik's eyes narrowed dangerously at her lack of respect.

"Where am I? Where are my friends!?" she shouted at him, close to loosing control about her words. "Don't you dare to hurt them!"

"They're doing well…" he explained in a stern tone, crossing his arms in front of his chest. "…so far. Their fate is in the hands of the Pharaoh."

"What do you mean by that? What sick plan of yours is this!? Let them go! Right now!" Jesara spat in fury when she leaped to her feet, but she nearly lost her balance. Of course she was still a bit dizzy from the chemicals because of his stupid idea to kidnap her.

But then Jesara felt warm hands on her shoulders, providing her with enough balance to prevent her from tumbling down to the floor. The warmth of his bare hands awoke memories of their past in her, times in which she loved to be touched by him like this. Goosebumps rose on her skin.

"Don't touch me…" she growled and balled her hands into fists.

"You became very demanding, my dear Jesara." Marik's voice now seemed a lot closer to her ears than before, too close.

Jesara felt every single negative emotion of the last two years rising within her throat as she slapped away his hands from her upper arms and shoved him away from her, forcing him to take one step backwards.

"YOU'RE NOT TELLING ME WHAT TO DO OR NOT TO DO! AFTER ALL YOU'VE PUT ME THROUGH YOU REALLY HAVE THE GUTS TO KIDNAP, CHLOROFORM ME AND TEASE ME WITH YOUR LACK OF MANNERS? I'M NOT YOUR TOY ANYMORE AND I WILL WALK OUT OF THIS DOOR RIGHT NOW! LET MY FRIENDS GO AND THEN I NEVER WANT TO SEE YOUR VISAGE AGAIN!" She screamed at the top of her lungs and shoved him out of her way, heading for the room's door and grabbing for the doorhandle. But then she felt his hand around her wrist, holding her back and forcing her to stop.

"Jesara, I-" he said in a more soft tone, but he was immediately cut short by her as Jesara turned around and shoved him away again - but without success.

"NO! I DON'T EVEN WANT TO TALK TO YOU! YOU NEARLY WRECKED ME, YOU'RE POISON TO ME! YOU NEVER EVEN APOLOGISED FOR WHAT YOU'VE DONE TO ME!" She shrieked and looked straight into his lavender eyes with distaste. There was far to less distance between them. A lot of emotions were mixed up in her gaze; hate, fear, sadness, disappointment.

"…because you never gave me the chance to do so." Marik explained in a calm tone, his warm hand still had a strong grasp around her wrist. His whole body seemed to be tensed right now. Although Jesara was trembling because of that endless fear and hate, there was another emotion within her she didn't expect to feel in his presence every again. That touch of his hand filled her with… comfort? Warmth? Jesara felt how her cheeks started to burn.

For a moment they just stood there looking into each others eyes, not sure of what to say next.

"After you ran away my brother felt sorry for what he did to you when he lost control and deeply regretted his actions. My necklace showed my everything and I know that he still feels deeply for you, although it's buried under anger and hate…" Ishizu's words were ghosting through her head while their eyes were still locked intensively. It was like time stood still for a moment. Did Ishizu tell her the truth? For her it was too hard to believe.

"I'm sorry…" Marik whispered, still firm, when he slowly loosened the grip on her wrist.

It took Jesara a while before she could finally collect her thoughts before she started to loose it.

„You're sorry!? That's all!? You broke every fucking promise you gave me! You lashed me! You made me look like a fool in front of all jerks in your dumb organisation! And you didn't give a shit about it! And all you have to say now is ‚I'm sorry'!? What do you expect now!? Do you really think I'd throw myself back into your arms and help you to fulfill your dorky I-will-rule-the-world-destiny like nothing ever happened!? YOU MUST BE KIDDING ME!" Jesara yelled at the top of her lungs and shot her hands up in the air for more emphasis.

When she realised tears gathered in the corners of her eyes she covered them with her hands, hiding her face from him. Deep within her she wished teleportation was a real thing - from all situations she could image this one was the least and absolute worst she wanted to find herself in. After her breakout there was only silence and again Jesara stared into nothing but black when her hands covered her eyes and rosy cheeks.

All she heard then was Marik clearing his throat and his slow, calculated footsteps coming closer to her. Jesara gasped when she felt the warmth of his skin and breath close to her right cheek when he whispered slowly, his nose was almost touching her ear.

"I AM sorry for what I did to you, accept it or not…"

Marik's tone was stern, nothing in it made Jesara really feel his so said 'sorrow' and she knew his former softness and kindness was long gone. She took a step back to increase the distance between them, crossing her arms in front of her chest to make herself look and feel more confident. Her heart beat a million miles per minute when she looked up to face him again, but… wait… He's gone?

Jesara cringed when she heard his voice behind her again.

"Get some rest. We'll talk later - but first I have to teach little Yugi a lesson."

And with that Marik left the room and locked the door behind him. Jesara's fists met the door just a second after he closed it, pounding wild against it. What did he mean by 'teaching little Yugi a lesson'? Was he just about to hurt her friends? Fear rose within her - she knew he was capable of many things but she wasn't sure how far Marik would go to get what he wants. Almost two years had passed, who knows how much he had changed for the worse. What if he would murder somebody to make sure his plan would work out? In this particular moment she wasn't sure if she'd see her friends ever again - she only felt fear.

"OPEN THE DOOR!" She commanded screaming at the top of her lungs. "DON'T DARE YOU TO HURT THEM! LET ME OUT, YOU MANIAC! DON'T HURT THEM!"

Soon she lost her strength to continue to hit against the wooden door, her hands were already aching and bruised. What to do now? Just waiting for him to return and tell her he just murdered all her loved ones? Tears fell down her cheeks when she started to blame everything on herself. What if she told them right away about Marik? What if she didn't pay attention to an anonymous letter she found in her flat? Why didn't she blow up Marik's cover when they met before? She was sure IF she did, her friends would be safe and Yugi could kick his butt.

Jesara sat down on the bed where she lay unconscious before and buried her face in her bruised hands, crying. Why didn't she? Even if Ishizu told her to keep quiet, she must have seen this coming. How could she let this happen?

'You're so naive, Jess… Why don't you make decisions on your own?'

She thought back to the days before she ran away; back to the time when she was a part of Marik's life. Marik lost himself in his rage. Once he was an innocent child, laughing and crying like every other young boy. She thought back to the day of his tomb keeper initiation; it was the day that changed everything. They were only kids when Marik lost all happiness in his life and after the murder of his father he refused to fulfil his duty as a tomb keeper. Jesara sobbed wildly, tears ran down her wrists and her non-waterproof mascara started to burn in her eyes - making her to cry more.

The one day before her runaway came across her mind; the day when he punished her in front of his whole organisation. It still felt like it happened yesterday when the noise of the whip echoed in her mind. The noise when the whip touched her skin, slashing through it like a knife, it gave her goosebumps.

How could someone so kind turn in into someone so cruel?

Three gentle knocks on the door interrupted her thoughts. A tall, bulky man dressed in a typical Rare Hunter cloak in deep purple stepped in. His skin was a bit darker than Marik's and Jesara stared at him in disbelief.

"Odion…" she murmured. "You're here…"

Odion made some more steps towards her and nodded before he stopped about one meter in front of tearstained Jesara. Within a second she leaped to her feet and took the bulky Egyptian into a tight hug, burying her still wet face in his deep purple cloak.

"I missed you, Odion. I- I was sure I'd never see you again…" she whimpered into his chest.

"So did I, miss Jesara." He said in his usual gentle tone. Odion placed his big hands on her shoulder and signalled her with his eyes to sit back down to the bed. He then sat down close beside her to provide her some comfort; she looked like she could use some right now.

"Odion, how are my friends…? What is Marik doing to them?" Jesara's eyes were still burning and red from all the crying, but Odion's presence soothed her nerves a bit.

"Master Marik is determined to claim the Pharaoh's power for himself… To do so it takes the three almighty god cards and the millennium puzzle, which is in the possession of your little friend Yugi. And with completing the puzzle Yugi became a vessel to the Pharaoh's soul. Because if this Marik tracked him down to defeat him…" he explained worried, his olive green eyes piercing into hers.

"I already know that, Odion… Ishizu is here and she told me about his so called… plans." Jesara muttered. Her palms rested in her knees, slightly burying her fingers into the soft black material of her skinny jeans. "She told me that he's coming for him, and she also begged me to bring his good side back to the surface… however this should work. Yugi and my friends don't know about our connection… And I think it's the best not to do so until I have a solution for this whole mess… And somebody doesn't want me to tell them, I still don't know who but I found a anonymous letter in my flat that said 'don't tell them'. Oh Ra, things got so fucked up the last few days…"

Odion groaned slightly when he again placed a hand on her shoulder. "Miss Jesara, I wrote the letter."

She blinked at him in surprise. "You? It was yours? B-But how did you even know I was in Domino and a friend of Yugi? You didn't know where I'd go…"

He gave her a kind smile, which she missed so much over the years. Odion was the only reason how she could stand the time at Marik's side in the past.

"Social Media…" he winked at her. "…and a talented hacker in our organisation found you. We never told Marik about your whereabouts. I always knew where you are and how you're doing. I swore to take care of the family which saved me as a baby, this duty doesn't end just because one of them runs away. But when Marik found out about the puzzle, it's wielder and Yugi… Well, let's say I knew you gonna be standing in the bench." Odion explained, tapping his hand on her shoulder again and again to calm her down like he always did years ago.

Jesara raised a brow at him. Did a servant of an old Egyptian clan just told her he tracked her down with social media? Things are getting weirder and weirder by the minute.

"And why shouldn't I warn my friends…?" She asked with a voice filled with curiosity.

"Well… long story short. Master Marik first was out of his mind when he found at that you were gone without a trace. But then I saw sorrow and grief - emotions I didn't see in him for years and you know best how his own anger possessed him. Master Marik's feelings for you are still there, although they're well covered under his hate. But when he hurt you and you left I saw them crawling back to the surface. So I thought…" Odion explained to her, giving her a warming glance, but then she cut him off.

"So you though when we see each other again our reunion could make him giving up on his plans and bring his good side back…" Jesara continued for him and he answered with a stern nod. "But such things require two… Even if Marik still have such things like feelings for me, what makes you think that I still feel for him?"

"I know you do." Odion said and his words hit her like a wrecking ball. Did she? She never really thought about it. "When he still feels for you, how couldn't you? A lot happened between both of you, and both of you feel a lot of hate. But hate can't exist without love. It's like lights and shadows."

Jesara sighed, saying nothing. Right now she tried to look deep down into her heart & soul. Was he telling the truth? Could he really know more about her feelings than she did? Jesara tried to recall the past days, from the moment when she was sure that Marik was the reason for the attacks on her friends. She tried to recall what she felt in those moments. The room was filled with silence, only Jesara's and Odion's breaths were to be heard.

'I don't know. How could I still feel for someone who punished me the way he did? When we crossed paths again I felt only fear; I felt hate and disgust… but…" her gaze turned back to Odion, who still examined her with his olive green eyes, waiting for her to speak. 'I also felt some kind of…warmth. I'm so confused right now…'

"I don't know, Odion…" she sighed.

"But you're not saying that you don't." He blinked at her again. "You said Ishizu already told you that you could bring his gentle side back to life again… the millennium necklace must've shown her that. So I have high hopes that my thoughts are right… that you really could be the key to what slumbers under tons of anger."

"If you say so…" Jesara muttered, lost for words.

Odion lifted himself from the bed and made his way towards the door, opening it almost without a sound. He stood beside the wide opened door like he held it open just for her to escape. "Now that you know what you might be capable of… I think your friends need you now."

"You help me to… escape? But when Marik finds out he might…" she stuttered when she mustered him with widened eyes from the bedside.

"He won't find out… I'll make sure he won't. He still doesn't know that I helped you to escape two years ago." Another smile crossed his face, giving her a reassuring nod.

"Thank you… once again, Odion." Jesara cracked a smile at him and strode though the door, after she gave Odion one more thankful glare, she started to run.

She found herself in long corridors, which looked like those you might find on a yacht or a boat. Right, left, staircase up, right again and again. Jesara wasn't really sure where she was running exactly, but thankful that she didn't ran into one of Marik's cloaked jerks.

AN: Ahhh, so much happened in this chapter. It was hard to find a point for the ending... sorry for the bad cut here :P
Tell me what you think and leave me a review! thanks for reading! :-)