The Lone Crow

Chapter 4: Medusa, the queen of stone

It had only been a few minutes since Crow had passed out and it was already seemed like hours to everyone. They were all on the floor next to him, waiting for him to wake up.

While they were waiting, Yusei had picked up the knife that Crow had tried to kill him with and was closely inspecting it.

What suddenly got everyone's attention was a feint groan from Crow. He slowly opened his eyes and stared at up at the dark ceiling. He felt wiped out and his vision was blurry. Crow's entire body ached; he felt like he had just run for an entire day without stopping. Once his vision wasn't blurry, Crow noticed that all of his friends were in the warehouse with him. Suddenly, he sat up but he was still dizzy and nearly fell down again. Jack steadied him. Crow put his right hand on his forehead and grimaced slightly because he had a pounding headache.

"Hey, slow down Crow" said Yusei. He slipped the knife into his pocket.

Crow regained his composure and then spoke "What's going on? Why are you guys here?" he asked.

"Because someone gave us a letter... saying a certain friend of ours was in trouble" said Yusei.

"Then why did you come?" asked Crow.

"We came because you're our friend Crow" said Jack.

"... I thought I was a bother to you guys" Crow explained.

Luna smacked him on the cheek "don't think that!" everyone was a little shocked at her outburst; but for Crow, this was a wakeup call.

Crow rubbed his cheek "okay I won't" Crow began to realize that he wasn't so left out anymore and it wasn't his friends excluding him, but him excluding himself "thanks Luna, I needed that"

Luna smiled and then let out a short giggle.

"Guys, I'm sorry about what I did" said Crow "I know now that you weren't leaving me out"

"Its fine, at the moment we should be concentrating on who that woman is" said Yusei.

"Woman?" said Crow "alright, what have I missed?"

"Missed? You just tried to kill us all!" said Akiza.

Crow gave her a confused look "I did?" he thought for a moment and then remembered "oh no, I'm sorry"

"It's alright, we know you were being controlled" said Leo.

Crow breathed a sigh of relief.

"Crow, do you know who that woman is?" asked Yusei.

Crow remembered seeing her before he woke up here;

"Are you okay?" she asked.

"I'm fine" Crow replied.

She looked at his eyes and read them as if they were an open book.

"You say your fine but I can see you are worried about something" she said.

Crow looked at her with a confused expression.

"If you like I can send you to a place, where you will never have to worry about anything" she said.

"No I'm okay; I've made up my-"Crow started.

"I insist" she said.

She grabbed hold of his wrist.

Crow tried to struggle but he found that he could do nothing but stare at her.

The hooded woman held a hand up to her face and took her mask off.

The last thing Crow saw was a pair of blood red eyes.

"Red eyes..." Crow muttered.

"Crow?" said Jack.

Crow got up and swayed a little because of his head ache.

"Where is she?" Crow asked.

"She said she would be waiting in the next room" said Akiza. She hinted the door that was behind him.

Crow began to walk towards the door, he had a feeling he knew who was doing this.

"Crow, what's going on?" asked Jack.

Crow stopped but didn't turn around "do you remember who the first person was that I defeated in an official duel?"

Yusei and Jack thought for a moment "you mean Blaze? Yeah we remember her, why?" said Yusei.

"You'll see" Crow replied. He walked through the door and the others followed.

The woman was standing at the far end of the room. Unlike the previous one, this room had no windows.

The woman giggled as she saw Crow and everyone else enter.

"I'm impressed. Not only did you get past Crow but you made him remember who you were" she said.

"The game's over Blaze" said Crow "so take of the cloak and mask"

She did what Crow said; first removing the cloak to reveal that she had hip length blood red hair. She then put her right hand up to her face and took off her mask; revealing her face to be that of a young woman, with red eyes that matched her hair.

"There, is that better?" she asked in a dreamy tone.

"I want to know why you brainwashed me into almost killing my friend's" Crow spat.

"A little feisty aren't we?" said Blaze "well here's the deal; I was going to make you kill them, then snap you out of it so you could see what you had done and then watch you descend into madness"

Crow clenched his fists.

"But then I decided that you should remain with me, but not everything went to plan" she went up to him and wrapped her arms around his neck "I still like you though" Blaze said in a playful tone.

Crow pushed her away "But I don't like you, especially after what you did"

Blaze got up and jumped away from him "then I guess... I will have to turn you to stone" she said angrily.

Someone has serious personality issues Akiza thought.

Blaze's body started to glow with a black aura, her eyes lit up a brighter red than they already were and her skin began to crack. Suddenly her entire form shattered and a release of power made everyone close their eyes. Once they opened their eyes again, the gang discovered that what was standing in front of them wasn't Blaze. The creature had red eyes and snakes for hair. Her skin was a light shade of green and her hands were claw like. And she had a set of fangs. After a few seconds, the gang realized that they were staring at something that was meant to be legend.

They were staring at Medusa.

"I suppose you know who I am by now" said Medusa. She spoke with a slight echo.

"You're Medusa" said Crow "Well if you're Medusa, then why aren't we turned to stone?" Crow asked.

"A good question; legend says that you are instantly turned to stone, but it will actually take about 30 more seconds" Medusa explained.

"30 seconds... in myth Medusa only dies if..." Crow thought for the answer "she looks at her refection!"

By now the gang could already feel themselves turning to stone. Crow looked at his hand; it was already a light shade of grey, he knew he had to act fast. He looked at Yusei and saw the knife in his pocket.

"Yusei, give me the knife!" he yelled.

Yusei obeyed and threw him the knife. Crow took care not to cut himself when he caught it.

"Crow, what are going to do?" asked Jack.

Crow smiled at his friends "something clever"

Crow charged towards Medusa holding the knife tightly, but she saw it coming and used the snakes in her hair to pick him up into the air and bring him towards her. Crow tried to get free but it was no use.

"Crow!" the rest of the gang yelled in unison.

"Trying to kill me Crow? Your futile attempt barely surprised me" said Medusa. She tightened the snakes hold around Crow and he cried out in pain. He could feel his ribs cracking under her grip.

One of the snakes bit his neck and Crow had to make an enormous effort not to cry out again.

"My snake venom will kill you before you turn to stone in about 10 seconds. Any last words?" asked Medusa.

Crow managed to pull one off his arms free "Yeah, take a look at your refection" Crow's voice could only just be heard by everyone, it was obvious the snake venom was already beginning to take hold. He held the knife up in front of her face and she screamed in pain. Her skin began to turn to stone and she held her head with her claw like hands. As this was happening, Crow slowly closed his eyes and fell in to unconsciousness. The snakes from Medusa's hair released Crow; he dropped to the floor and didn't move.

Suddenly, Medusa's form shattered and the gang shielded their eyes as a bright light filled the room. When they opened them they saw that the effect of them turning to stone had been reversed by Medusa's death. But they also saw Crow was still on the ground, unconscious and not breathing. Blood poured out of the wound on his neck; his face was pale and looked a little scratched. The gang rushed over to him and Akiza put her fingers on the side of his neck to see if there was a pulse, but she didn't find one.

She looked at everyone; their eyes were filled with hope but were soon saddened when she shook her head.

The gang knelt there with shocked expressions; the twins began to cry and shortly after, everyone else did as well.

"Crow he... gave his life for us..." Yusei said, tears sliding down his cheeks. Yusei clenched his fists. He and Jack both felt the same; like they had lost a brother.

After a minute of shedding tears for her friend, Akiza found herself checking for a pulse once again; as if she was willing her friend to stay alive. She didn't want to have to watch everyone's sadness and lose a good friend. That's when luck finally kicked in; she felt a pulse. At first she thought her mind was playing tricks but she knew she could feel something. The pulse was very faint and Akiza knew they had to get Crow to a hospital soon.

"Guys, he's alive, I can feel a pulse!" Akiza cried with joy.

The others reaction to her comment was filled with joy but they knew they had to be serious and get Crow medical attention, so Jack picked Crow up and they left the warehouse as fast as they could.

Hi thanks for reading the next chap is the last :( but there is a sequel called 5D'S Ramen witch doesn't completely follow on from this but you will see how it does in the next chapter. Thanks to everyone who has reviewed so far and I will see you in the last chap ;P