Why Me?
Chapter 7
"The Millenium Rod?" Isis asked incredulously, "I thought it was destroyed."
"I did too," Ryou said, "but there was a rumour."
"What rumour?" Isis demanded.
"That because of all the people it controlled," Bakura started, "that this millennium item was starting to develop a mind of it's own, feelings and…a pseudo soul," he revealed, "one made up of bitterness and hatred, a dark shadow soul," he stated, "one that would need hosts to survive."
"A pseudo soul?" Isis asked in disbelief, "if only my Millenium Necklace would've told me," she said angrily.
"Your necklace shows past and near futures that can only be altered by Millenium items," Bakura reminded her, "obviously, this situation needs human intervention," he added.
"So when the rod was destroyed…" Isis started.
"That thing escaped," Bakura said, "no one could've guessed it would cause such grief," he said, "it's not even related to the shadow games."
"But it is related to Marik," Isis pointed out, "he used the rod a lot while he was evil," she reminded Bakura, "and it took control of him earlier today."
"While that Detective was around," Bakura said frowning, "it may be gaining power," he realized, "it can limitedly control minds, but to know that the detective…"
"It's regaining telekinesis!" Isis realized, "Bakura, we need to find this thing and destroy it!"
"Easier said than done," Bakura said, "especially if it's gaining back the powers it had as a rod," he said, "but the good news is that he can't create a body, he needs a host," he noted, "hosts if my assumption about its state is correct."
"What assumption is that?" Isis asked.
"Since he's a pseudo soul and is filled with such dark energy," Bakura said, "I don't think any human could take it inside them beyond a certain period of time."
"So he has a group," Isis deduced, "but that means he could be in any of them," she whined.
"And they may not even be aware of what they're doing," Bakura said somberly, "few things are worse than committing a crime you didn't know you did, especially through mind control."
"We have to find them," Isis said urgently, "before he does more damage."
"He's already taken revenge on Malik since he was able to overcome Marik back when he was his evil side," Bakura decided, "Joey fought Marik while he was evil, Weevil…he played but never…wait, the detective said the person who invited him already had his shirt off when he…shit."
"What?" Isis asked.
"The person desired him…Weevil told Ryou he said he understood Weevil's decision to not do homosexual ac…" Bakura recalled, "crap, he's from the Dueling Tournament that Pegasus organized."
"How do you get that?" Isis asked completely lost.
"Weevil went to Ryou because he was in the Dueling Tournament," Bakura said, "he and Ryou didn't have much contact," he remembered, "obviously Weevil's social life beyond hiding his sexuality is almost a total dud."
"Probably scared to let it slip out," Isis offered.
"Possible," Bakura agreed, "then this rape must be a sick game to that pseudo soul," he said, "just for kicks."
"I don't think so," Isis disagreed, "he's raping for a reason."
"Well I'm stomped," Bakura said, "I'm going to check on Marik," he said and left Isis with her thoughts.
Bakura found Marik on the roof.
"You didn't scare Malik, someone took you over," Bakura told him.
"What if I did?" Marik countered, "I've been evil before."
"But not the brain puppet of a rapist," Bakura said.
Marik sighed.
Bakura sat beside him.
"Let me tell you a story."
(11:45 a.m. at an Exclusive Hospital)
Weevil sat up in his hospital bed and ate slowly. He was glad his mother had brought him lunch. He hated hospital food.
His cell phone suddenly rang. He froze. He had two different cells. The one stolen had the other's number listed on it. He answered carefully.
"Weevil?" Rex asked.
Weevil made a deep weeze.
"Listen to me; you're in danger," Rex said, "leave, now."
"What?" Weevil asked.
"That thing can't take you over when you're more than three adult arm length away," Rex explained, "he's coming to the hospital by taxi, you need to go now," he said, "I'm not letting him get to me again, I'm leaving town."
"I…I don't understand," Weevil said upset.
"Ugh!" Rex shouted, "the person who made me rape you is headed for you!" he roared.
Weevil screamed and dropped the cell.
A plain clothed officer ran in.
"Get me and my mother out," Weevil said, "someone from the rape is coming here."
(Noon at a Local Park)
I sat in the park with Mai. I never thought I could face her again. But after everything that's happened, it's better now than never.
"I never told you how much I appreciated you coming to visit me," I told her.
"If women waited for men to tell them their thoughts they'd die of old age," Mai responded simply causing me to go red, "I know you're grateful Joey, it's just the crazy stuff that's made you unable to say it."
"Still, that's no excuse," I added.
Mai took my face in her hands.
"Listen Joey," Mai said, "you've been through a lot," she told him, "I know you want to feel and act the same, but you won't," she said, "your healings' a process, don't sweat the small stuff and let it happen," she said with a kind smile.
I could feel tears streaming down my face.
"Thank you Mai," I barely choked out.
Mai put her arms around me and placed my head on her shoulder. Her gentle caress through my hair made me sigh contently despite my tears. She just kept stroking.
I was finally able to pull back and she let me go. I was shocked to see that she's been crying too but she smiled and dismissed it.
"You're with us now," Mai said gently, "no one will change that."
And for the first time, I actually believed that.
(Meanwhile at an Exclusive Hospital)
A dark skinned man entered the hospital. It was in chaos.
"Everyone please stay calm," a lady in a white shirt and blue jeans said, "damn it, everyone's in a panic."
"What's going on?" the man asked.
"Wha…oh um," the lady said, "it was supposed to be secret but the cat's long out of the bag," she said in an annoyed tone, "an attacker might be coming to this hospital to visit a victim."
"Are you serious?" the man asked surprised, "no wonder everyone's so frightened."
"Well I only came to confirm an appointment," the man said turning to leave, "I'll just do that over the phone."
"Wait, you dropped your I.D.," the lady said, "wow I wouldn't have recognized you with the bleached hair and sunglasses," she gushed.
"Recognize me?" he asked.
"You were in the duel tournaments," the lady reminded him, "I recognized you when I saw your I.D., Mako Tsunami," she said handing it back to him.
"Oh yes," Mako said with a laugh, "I go by the name Magic now," he told her.
"Magic?" the lady laugh, "that's like me calling myself donut because I'm a cop," she said.
Both laughed.
"Hey," Mako said, "how about I give you an autograph?" he suggested suddenly.
"Really?" the lady asked, "here," she said handing him a pink index card, "make it out to Rita Yardez."
Mako suddenly grabbed her hand.
"Hey that hurts!" Rita cried, "let go," she ordered, her blue eyes flaring.
Mako stroked her long raven hair.
"No one can see us," Mako whispered and she looked around to see that no one seemed to notice them, "it's hard for me to do my magic in crowded places," he said, "I need the subject to be closer than usual," he stated.
"For what?" Rita asked fearfully.
"This!" Mako shouted and his eyes suddenly became dark empty sockets.
Rita screamed and tried to look away. But she couldn't. Soon her eyes mirrored his.
"I'm here to serve Master Magic," Rita said obediently.
"Follow me to my car and tell me everything about this 'victim,'" Mako instructed.
(Midnight at the Mazaki Residence)
Anzu sat at the kitchen table with a glass of water. She had sworn Joey to secrecy about the threat made against her. She didn't want to worry her family. But she still couldn't sleep.
"I need to do something," Anzu said, "Mom's starting to worry."
Anzu thought hard about everything thing. It was funny. She had expected Joey to be the first to lose his virginity in their little gang of four. Unfortunately she never suspected it would be in such a horrific manner.
"Anzu?" Mrs. Mazaki asked.
"Just getting some water mom," Anzu said and rose to her feet carefully.
"You need to get your sleep dear," Mrs. Mazaki admonished entering the kitchen, "and don't tell me you slept already, I see the tiredness in your eyes," she snapped.
Anzu knew better than to argue with her mother when she hit one of her moods.
"Is this about Joey?" Mrs. Mazaki asked.
Anzu looked away.
"Listen dear," Mrs. Mazaki began, "this world is made up of many types of people," she said, "unfortunately some of the vilest of them can end up on your door step," she stated, "darling the world is flooded with dangers and if we forget about the beauty of this world, we'll drown in sorrow," she continued, "I understand this is scary dear, but you need to sleep."
"I can't," Anzu said, "mom, if I tell you something, can you promise not to let it leave this house?"
"What's wrong?" Mrs. Mazaki asked taking her hand in hers.
Anzu's courage deflated.
"Um, Joey said he saw a car that looked kind of like the one that night," Anzu said, "I never saw it," she lied, "he told me about it when I met him at an ice-cream shop,"
Anzu looked away in shame and hoped her mother wouldn't notice.
"My poor baby," Mrs. Mazaki said and hugged her, "that must've given you nightmares," she said, "tomorrow I'll take you to Dr. Collin, he'll give you something 'til you can sleep again," she told Anzu.
Anzu placed a small smile on her face.
Oh, I'm a horrible person. But I couldn't tell her. Look at how she's reacted to me not sleeping. If I told her the truth she'd die of a heart attack. I'm doing the right thing. But why do I feel so lousy? – Anzu
End Chapter 7
Today is July 19, 2009.