Finally, an update! Thanks for your patience, minna-san! Enjoy!
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Shizuka had been napping when she thought she heard the door open. Briefly, she considered pretending she was still asleep…maybe the nurse would leave her alone just for another few minutes. One thing she had found out about hospital life: there was virtually no privacy. The staff did what they could to make her comfortable, but it seemed like someone came to do some sort of test every twenty minutes. She sighed to herself. Patience. Patience is a virtue. She rolled over slowly to face the door and felt the blood drain from her face.
It wasn't a nurse. It was him – the face from her nightmares. She felt the panic rising in her chest as he locked eyes with her. How on earth did he find me?! Somehow she found enough strength to summon her voice. "No," she croaked. "Go away!!"
The young man sneered in response; his eyes were terrifyingly blank. "I'm afraid you have no choice," he laughed. And then Shizuka saw the small but bright blade in his hand.
"NO!!" she shrieked. Her hand fumbled for the button to call the nurse, but she had barely reached it when he pounced on her arm.
"I wouldn't do that if I were you…" he hissed. His grip was tight and cold, and Shizuka whimpered. "What's the matter?" he mocked, watching how the girl's wide eyes followed the blade. "Something wrong?"
"Let go of me," she said, sounding braver than she felt. "Now."
The man's eyes narrowed as he frowned. "I told you," he said, eyeing the marks on her arm, "you have no choice. You cannot refuse." She shivered as he brought the scalpel up to slice away a bandage. When he spoke again, his voice was even darker than before. "Do you know what happens to those who refuse?"
"Stop," she whispered. "Please stop."
He laughed out loud, drawing the blade down her injured arm. "Pretty bird…we haven't even started yet…"
Just then, there was a sudden knock on the door. "Miss Jounouchi?" A nurse opened the door to look in. "Did you call—" Her eyes widened as she took in the scene in front of her. "Oh, my God…" The young man with the blade leapt to his feet, snarling, but she slammed the door shut before he could reach her. "Oh, my God," she repeated, voice and hands shaking. She turned to yell down the busy corridor, trying to stay calm but failing. "Quickly!" she yelled, her throat tight with panic. "Somebody call the police!"
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Captain Sumeragi answered his phone on the second ring. "Sumeragi."
"Captain? We have a call coming in from Domino general…"
The captain took a sip from his coffee mug; he knew he shouldn't really have caffeine after noon, but it was a habit. Probably one he had picked up from Honda. "What's the word?" he asked.
"Hostage taker, sir. A nurse found a young man wielding a scalpel in a patient's room – she managed to get out of the room and call us before the guy could stop her."
"Ah, fuck," he grumbled, switching the phone to his other ear. "Is this whole city goin' nuts, or what?" the captain remarked, already pulling on his jacket.
"I couldn't say, sir."
Sumeragi rolled his eyes. "It was a rhetorical question, kid. Never mind. Get the word out – we need units to the hospital as soon as possible."
"Yes, sir."
Captain Sumeragi grabbed his holster as he headed out the door. Forget the caffeine, he thought wryly. This job is enough excitement for me…
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Rishid was only a block away from the hospital when he got the call – a young man with a knife was at Domino City hospital. The lieutenant swore in every language he knew.
At least I'm almost there, he thought, gripping the steering wheel. It was only a few minutes later that he reached the hospital parking lot and ran inside. He reached the front desk, heart racing already.
"Lieutenant Rishid Ishtar, Domino City Police," he said, flashing his badge for the secretary. "We got a call about a young man—"
"—with a knife," the secretary finished. "Room 2612. Didn't you bring anyone with you?" she asked, incredulous.
"More people are on the way," he assured her, before dashing down the hall. And hopefully they won't be too late.
Rishid reached Room 2612 in record time, steeling himself for the worst. Please, Gods…help me… He tried the door – locked. Damn. He didn't hesitate as he threw his weight against the door. Knowing the Creature, there was no time to lose…
The first thing he saw when he burst into the room was blood – blood on the sheets, blood on the floor, and blood on his brother's hands. The Creature was already at her bedside. When he noticed Rishid, he grabbed the girl and held her bloody form against his chest, a blade at her throat. "Not another step, servant," he rasped.
Fucking hell. "Malik," he said, keeping his voice steady. "Malik. Brother. Listen to me…" As he spoke, he slowly drew his gun. He would use it if he had to, Gods help him.
The not-Malik threw back his head, laughing; the sound made the hairs on the back of Rishid's neck rise. "Do us all a favor, servant. Just put that gun to your own head and end this now. You wouldn't shoot your dear brother, now, would you?" He smirked, tightening his grip on the terrified girl as he moved her to shield himself.
"Shizuka," Rishid said quietly, "Shizuka, listen." He felt a moment of relief when she moved her eyes to look at him. "Just stay calm, Shizuka…" Keeping his gun in front of him, he looked toward the Creature again. "You. You will leave my brother. Now."
The Creature bared his teeth at Rishid, a mad dog. "No!" he snarled.
Damn. He would have to try another way, and fast. Shizuka's arms were shaky and bleeding, and she looked as though she might go into shock soon. "Malik. Listen to me, brother! You can fight this. I know you can. Come back, Malik…please."
The Creature's face twisted in response. "Stop it," he spat. "Stop now." He shook his head as though trying to clear it. "Shut up!"
Rishid risked another step. "Malik…look at me, brother…"
"NO!" the Creature barked. "Back off!" But then a change came over his voice, and a strangled cry left his lips. "Rishid!"
Rishid's heart lifted – perhaps his brother was not too far gone. "Malik! I hear you…Please, just let go of her and talk to me…" He tried to keep his voice soothing as he inched closer. That knife was too close to the girl's throat for his comfort.
"Stop him, Rishid!" Malik cried. But another spasm of tension seemed to seize him, and he suddenly gripped the girl tighter. "Shut up! Shut the fuck up!"
Shizuka was crying now, and Rishid felt the situation starting to slip out of control. "Malik!" he said sharply. "Stop this, brother! Come back!" He took another step – he was almost within arm's reach of him now.
Malik screwed his eyes shut, an inhuman growl escaping his throat. "Go away!" he rasped. "Get out…away…" The hand clenching the scalpel began to move down towards his side now, away from the Shizuka's throat. Rishid moved a hand out to the girl as quickly as he dared, intent on pulling her to safety. But the Creature had other ideas.
Just as Rishid reached Shizuka's arm, Malik's eyes snapped open. But they were not his brother's eyes – these eyes were blank yet focused, and riveted on his. "Go to hell, servant," he hissed, and lunged at his throat.
Shizuka screamed, and Rishid pushed her out of harm's way. "Stay back!" he ordered, turning quickly to sidestep the blade coming at him. Unfortunately he was not fast enough – the short blade bit through his jacket and sank into his shoulder. Rishid yelled as the Creature gnashed his teeth in frustration, turning the blade in his shoulder. He was too close now to get a safe shot off with his gun. Forgive me, Malik… Gritting his teeth, he punched his brother as hard as he could in the stomach.
The Creature howled and staggered back, the breath knocked out of him. Ignoring the pain in his shoulder, Rishid quickly hauled his brother up by the collar and pushed him hard against the wall. "Malik!" he growled, "you can fight this! Please, brother…come back…" He winced as the pain in his shoulder flared. He wasn't sure how long he could keep this up.
Pinned against the wall, the Creature thrashed ineffectually, his speech frenzied. "Unhand me, slave!" he spat, then just as quickly, "Stop him! Stop him, Rishid!" He kicked his legs, trying to escape. "Rishid!...Fuck you! FUCK YOU! Let go, you bastard!!...Brother…help…" He spat and hissed, but his strength seemed to be ebbing. Suddenly, Rishid saw his brother's true eyes; "Rishid…" he managed, but he could not continue. Malik's eyes rolled back in his head as he slumped exhausted toward the floor.
Gods have mercy. Rishid supported Malik under his arms, moving him to the floor. His brother was silent, but Rishid was breathing hard. He jumped involuntarily as he heard a noise behind him.
"Ishtar! Are you alright?" It was Captain Sumeragi. He and several other policemen stood at the doorway, guns drawn.
Rishid stood, wincing. "I'm fine. He's unconscious. I think she needs a doctor, though," he said, gesturing towards Shizuka, who was still crouched behind the bed, shivering. He took a deep breath, trying to calm himself, but his hands were shaking. That had been too close.
"Looks like we need a doctor for you, too." Sumeragi squinted at the dark bloodstain on the lieutenant's jacket. "Good God. Were you shot?" he asked, alarmed.
"Stabbed," Rishid corrected, indicating the bloodied scalpel on the floor. Next to the blade, Malik moaned and stirred. In an instant, Sumeragi's gun was leveled at the boy, and there was a series of clicks as the other policemen followed suit. "Get back, Ishtar…looks like he's waking up."
But instead of backing up, Rishid approached the barely-conscious boy, crouching next to him. "Malik…" he said quietly, "are you awake?" He could hear Sumeragi's surprise behind him. "How do you know his name?"
Rishid placed a hand on the boy's arm, not looking back at the captain. "He's my brother," he said quietly.
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Ooh – suspenseful stabbity! Hopefully I'll have an epilogue chapter or two soon to wrap things up. In the meantime, feel free to zing a review my way! Reviews help fuel my ego! I mean…creativity. They help to fuel my creativity...yesss…