Chapter 3

Found in Danger

Anna left her house near midnight to find her close friend. Yugi followed suit, as well as Takuya, who was still fuming about losing Elizabeth.

Anna and the others first went to the store that Elizabeth was in and couldn't believe what they saw. The store was in ruins and was unrecognizable for those who didn't live in the area; food and other items were scattered across the remains of the store. They found a trail of purple scales that led to a nearby forest.

"That snake's mine when I get there," Takuya mumbled to himself while clenching his fists. Yugi flinched away from Takuya, feeling the fire around Takuya grow stronger. Anna calmed Yugi, reminding him that Takuya was upset about losing Elizabeth.

"We need to head for the forest, everyone have what they need? We won't be coming back," Anna reminded the others. Takuya and Yugi nodded once, and the three went into the unknown.


"Settle down with the food, Takuya, or you'll annihilate our food supply," Yugi pleaded with Takuya. It had been a couple hours since the three entered the forest, and the rumbling stomachs couldn't last long after the entrance.

"I can't help it," Takuya grumbled, finishing the last of his bread. Anna, too, finished only a small amount of food, conserving it for later. Yugi hardly ate anything and he remained full.

"We're close, Takuya. The number of scales is increasing, so we're almost there," Anna informed the others. Dawn was approaching fast, and if the three didn't find Elizabeth in that time, their cover would be blown and they would need to hide.

"C'mon guys, we need to hurry before the sun comes up," Yugi urged, packing his things. Anna and Takuya also packed, and they were off again.

Anna was right about the closeness of where Elizabeth was. A few minutes after the three were on the move, they found a door where the trail ended.

"Great, now what do we do? The door's impenetrable!" Yugi and Anna cried when they couldn't open the door.

"Allow me," Takuya offered. Yugi and Anna took several steps away from Takuya. Takuya cracked his knuckles, digivolved into Aldamon, and destroyed the door in one move. Anna and Yugi, stunted, moved along after Takuya nagged them about getting Elizabeth.

The three went down the dark, musty, and moist tunnel into the main cave, following the scales the whole time. However, the three discovered that the scales split into two different tunnels.

"Anna, you and Yugi go to the tunnel on the right, I'll go the left," Takuya suggested to the others in his gruff voice.

"No, Yugi should go with you," Anna disagreed, knowing that Takuya was still looking out for the both of them.

"Listen, I want the two of you to go down that path, since I have a feeling that they're waiting for Anna to come along," Takuya told to the others, a little more fiercely than before.

"He's right, Anna. They'll be looking for you, and if you do get captured, at least I'll be able to warn Takuya about where you might be," Yugi voiced the others his concerns.

"Fine," Anna grumbled in defeat.

Yugi and Anna went to the right while Takuya went to the left, knowing that they were right in the enemy's territory.


Takuya continued to wander aimlessly down the path that seemed to go on forever. However, he forced himself down the path, knowing what he might ultimately find at the end. Suddenly, Takuya could hear human, some inhuman, voices just up ahead. Takuya quietly went to the door, his heart hammering the rib cage the whole time.

"We can't offer you anything else for your offer." Takuya guessed that it was that Kabuto who spoke up. Takuya's heart skipped a beat when he heard the next voice.

"Look, I want my friends and family to be safe from you first, and then I'll perform my end of the bargain." Takuya was relieved that Elizabeth was safe and sound. However, Takuya was mad at the bargain struck up by the people inside.

"That can be done, my dear, but you must fulfill your promise after we do our part." Takuya hissed under his breath. It was Orochimaru who had spoken.

"You know what'll happen if you don't cooperate." Takuya snarled at Bakura for his threat. A scream was heard from inside the room, making Takuya jump.

"Leave them alone!" Elizabeth's voice pleaded.

"We will, but you have to agree to our terms, first." Takuya clenched his fist, hoping not to burn the door and go straight for Marik. Takuya felt the tension in the next room swell. A second later, Takuya got a link from Anna.

Well, we're waiting for you, Takuya. Where are you? Did you find Elizabeth? Anna asked inside the link. Takuya filled Anna in on the situation.

Thanks for the information. We'll be there shortly, Yugi replied, panting in his mind. Takuya could hardly stand not knowing what was inside of the room, but he had to wait for the others.

It felt like an eternity before Anna and Yugi showed up. Elizabeth was most likely still thinking about her response. Anna gave the signal and Takuya went headfirst into the room where his girlfriend was held.

The room was small, but like the rest of the cave, it was all rock with very little wood. Elizabeth glared at Takuya for interrupting the conversation by barging in on them. Elizabeth's family was in the darker corner of the room, as well as her godparents. The four wicked men turned and stared at Takuya at his arrival for a second; then they all grinned evilly at him.

"I knew the one who stole Elizabeth would find us," Orochimaru hissed. Takuya gulped and waited for what to do now that he was in.