Whew! Sorry about the tiny hiatus there, but with classes up again and Lena at a new and quite professional job, we're some busy authoresses as of late.Don't worry, though, cause we're still up to speed. This chappie just took longer due to its length and the content … you'll see what I mean. *g* But hey, we got lots of reviews, and that always make us happy. Thanks so much to everyone who's been so kind to respond and encourage, and particularly thanks to those who've been regular supporters – we couldn't do it without you. *smoochies*
Queen-of-Demon-Dragons – Heard someone laughing outside, huh? You don't happen to have a copy of Kaiba's scrapbook, do you? That might explain a few things. If we're driving you mad we must certainly be producing some good horror material, but the best you've ever read? Surely you jest. *g*
Rinaidran Warrior – Hehe… glad you liked Joey's wacky freaked-out thoughts! And no, we won't be bashing tea too much since Buki's been reading volume one of her Yugioh manga and has discovered that *gasp* Tea's really not that bad after all. Of course she might do some stupid things, but that's just cause she's Tea. *wink* Definitely not as cool as Seto (or Pegasus!) Oh, and the LotR cast are always welcome to drop by. Lena's got a major thing for the hot Prince of Mirkwood.
Tornado 666 – Odd? Oh, like the hedge animals? Yeah well, they're in Stephen King's novel and we really thought they were too fun to be left out. Thanks for the compliments dear, and don't worry … you'll see poor, poor Kaiba in this very chapter *shakes her head* Yes, poor Kaiba indeed.
DarkFoxy – Hey no, no apologizing for long reviews! We always appreciate them! The more detailed the better, says I. *s* Thanks for complimenting us so much, though I'm sure you're exaggerating. Yes, the hotel likes to find weak points in its victims … *shakes head again* oh, poor Kaiba!
Saisaishi – When the couch re-upholsters its owners? Hmm … now there's a thought. *g* But you really must care about how/if they manage to survive, Sasaishi … that's the best part! And as for Yami, well, I ain't saying a word about it! *g* That'd be cheating.
angelohaku – Yeah, Joey could have probably gotten a worse job, but not much worse. Poor guy, even we writers are starting to feel bad for him, but at least he's not as abused as Kaiba. That poor man is about to snap! You're so sweet to think that we're original, but remember this is a crossover. The hedge animals were originally Mr. King's idea. *s*
darklight – You're quite welcome! We didn't mean to be late again, but this was a challenging chapter. Much key information here and we had to edit carefully.*s* I'm afraid Duke and Joey aren't in this chapter, but they'll return next time, don't worry. *s* The dead bird is an awful omen, isn't it? It does signal an arrival of sorts …
Mimiru – Hehehe … the guy in the dogsuit? He'd have been hilarious, but poor old Joey has to be the weed whacker for a while I'm afraid.
Demoniac Spirit – Oh yes … really … really … long … but we've enjoyed every moment of it! And yes, Lena and I both work on it. We live in the same house so we sit down at the laptop together and read it all aloud and rework everything as carefully as we can. We're glad you're enjoying it so far. *s*
Wingweaver Hope – Yeah, that was perhaps the most surrealistic chapter yet! *g* But then, horror is almost always surreal. More Mokuba, huh? Hmm … we might be able to manage that for the next installment … *g*
lily22 – Well, after reading the manga version a bit we kind of decided she should be both ways at once, caring but subtly determined. Besides, she's thinking of Yugi and really does want him to feel better, even if it's only for a while. The reasoning makes perfect sense to her. Yeah, we figured a delirious Joey would be quite a funny sight! *L* But what do you mean about Pegasus? Aren't those the glowing eyes of more hedge monsters? *s* You never know…
Vyctori – We're just trying top keep you on your toes, that's all! *L* It's ok, we know you mean well and we forgive you. *g* You came back after all, so we must not have scarred you too badly. Hehehe … Pegasus fan? Me? What could have possibly given that away? *g* He's manipulative by nature, that's part of what makes him so scrumptious! But we can't just stop the cliffhangers you know. They have support groups for that sort of thing and I'm afraid we never attend. We're such terrible delinquents. Blame Mr. King for the hedge animals, but blame us for siccing them on poor Joey. I'll be the first o admit that working on that scene was loads of fun! Peachshipping maybe hinted at, but we're of the logic that anyone can be paired up with anyone – just not in this fic. We don't want too many hormonal imbalances as a result of this after all … it'd be a distraction. Yami and Pegasus may be able to help, but will they come in time? *evil grin* And don't we dare do what? *blinks confused* I'm sure I have no idea what you're talking about.
SW – And we love you right back! *returns massive hug* Yes if Joey'd been attacked by evil rose bushes he'd really be in for it! We don't mind if the review is slightly warped or incoherent, dear, so long as we hear from you. We're starved for attention, you know. But really, we'd never screw with your head. We're far too innocent and pure to even think of doing such a thing. *screws the light bulb into her halo*
Firewing – Firstly, thanks for reviewing chapter by chapter as you caught up with us! We do so appreciate it! *hugs* We're glad you're liking the development of Mokuba's character. He's a strange kid, and not just because he's Seto's little brother. The two have a lot in common but are still very different. Hopefully the mix will help our bushy-haired friend. *g* We are trying to tear down Seto's sanity, but with a guy like him its hard to do! You'd think it'd be easy, but … well, you've seen him in action. Poor Duke was smart to run and hide from a pissed off Seto. We just feel terrible about leaving Joey out there in the snow, but I'm sure we don't feel half as bad as Joey does about it. Poor guy, maybe Yugi can give him a few Scooby snacks or something … if they find each other! Muahahahaaa! You have a scene like the door-kicking one in your story? Cool! Why are you apologizing? The collective unconscious moves in mysterious ways …
Dragana Vey – Belated reviews are always welcome, no need to fret. I'm always being delayed by things that seem important at the time. It's the nature of RL, I suppose. Another Shining fan? Yea! Mr. King can produce on heckuva read, can't he? Our poor little chars don't know what they're in for. *wicked grin* Thanks so much for the encouragement! We always love to hear what the fan of the original book think of our strange adaptation. *g*
ShadowChild5 – By Ra, you read the whole thing in a single day?! Amazing! Somebody give this reader a prize! That's what I call determination, dear. Yeah, we miss the wacky little Tomb Robber too, but he just wouldn't fit in with this group. He'd help the hotel or something. Very un-schway, that's for sure. *g* There's no update for poor Joey in this chappie, but we do visit Seto. Boy oh boy does he have – well, I just can't say anymore. *s* My lips are sealed!
BlackHoleSun – Hehehe… Tea on prozac … now there's a funny image. *L* What can we say? Joey's too trusting. I mean, hasn't he ever seen Little Shop of Horrors? Sheesh, Joey, wake up and smell the Miracle Grow!
Gatochu – Oh, a lurker, huh? Well, I guess we can't boil you in oil for that sort of thing. We're quite sophisticated psychos, thank you very much. *g* Glad to see you finally reviewed, though. We're always glad to have the lurkers come out from under the bed. It gets crowded down there you know. Wow, another mass reader! You guys should form a speeders club or something. Dangit, I'd never be able to get through this fic in a day or two. It'd probably make my eyes cross after a while … especially with so little Pegasus in it. *sniffle* We're glad you laughed, dear! The hedge scene was hilarious when we wrote it, though probably confusing and weird if you haven't read the book/seen the miniseries. Joey's just plain fun to torment. *g* Though it might be fun to kick Tea (we're just too damn lazy to add accents), she's really just trying to be helpful. She just has a bad sense of tact. You're not the only one going through YWS, there's plenty of folks who miss the bondage pharaoh around these parts. Kaiba, the Overlook, and all the rest of your questions will be answered soon enough (and nothing's ever junk in a review like this, dear. You have valid questions and we'll all too happily answer them in future installments. Your questions help us understand how well we're explaining things and what we have yet to introduce so far. Never be afraid to ask! *g*). We're glad you like the characterizations of Pegasus (waves her fangirl flag), Mokuba, and especially Duke/Tristan. If this were a lemon we'd have them hitting on each other, though it's arguable they're doing that already. It all depends on how you want to read it, after all. *smile* And thanks for the cheesecake! How'd you know that was my fav dessert? *munching happily*
Hirotani – Thanks so much, dear! Yes, we're pulling all sorts of surprises out of our bag o' tricks this ficcie. And oh yes, plant creatures can indeed do damage! In The Shining Jack Torrance and Dick Halloran are both attacked by the hedge animals and take some bad wounds. Imagine jagged sticks and rose thorns beging dragged across skin – that's bound to draw blood, right? And holly leaves hurt like hell, I know that from experience. *blush* Of course we're modest! We work on each chapter for weeks and weeks. But to call this flawless? I doubt that, seriously, but thanks anyways. *g*
DarkKoomrie – Heehee, thanks for dropping by with the gang to review! *g* Pegasus? What do your mean? No, no, you must be mistaken. *licks her cheesecake with a smile then sees Kuwabara in a nightie* Oh man, now I've lost my appetite! Eewww! *turns to Hiei* Can you take care of him, please???
soccerGoalie – Yep, if only Joey'd thought to bring along some weed killer he might have been fine. *g* About Seto, though, you may be more right than you think. *evil smile*
And that does it for this round, ladies and gents! Now sit back and hold on as we enter a dimension of sight, a dimenion of sound, a dimension of mind … Oh if only Rod Serling were here! Enjoy and don't forget to comment! Make your writers happy, pwetty please!
Kabuki & Lena
**
Chapter 19:
It felt as though hours had passed in utter silence as Seto Kaiba stood transfixed by the sexless shadow of a human form behind the pale shower curtain, lounging in the bathtub seemingly oblivious to the stunned onlooker. Kaiba struggled to swallow as his mind struggled to grasp the impossible, but he found that the dryness of his throat refused to allow such a motion and for an instant he gagged. A tiny part of him, the part which maintained a child-like perspective whispered that it could only be a ghost and that such an explanation was all that remained; but Seto had been raised to quell such responses and rely solely upon reason. He didn't believe in spooks, magic, or anything else that couldn't be explained by logic or science. It had to be a trick, and Kaiba was going to discover it. There was no other possible explanation. He didn't know how Pegasus had done it, but Kaiba was determined to find the strings that the madman pulled to control this hotel.
As he stood debating the reality of his situation there was a sound, as though of a body sloshing about gently in water, and the silhouette of a thin-fingered hand was lifted, stretching for the edge of the curtain. Kaiba stared, his mind a jumble of confused synapses and responses as the curtain was pulled back to reveal a woman, her blonde hair slicked with water against her scalp. Her green eyes were wide, but not surprised as she smirked at her unexpected visitor and stood, the water dripping from her nimble legs and slim belly. "I've been waiting for you." Her full lips pulled into a graceful smile, her sultry voice smooth as mink.
"Waiting? Who are you? How did you get in here …" Although Seto had intended to use his usual forceful tone, he only managed a hoarse whisper. Kaiba could feel his heart pounding in his chest as he stared at the stranger, the humidity of the room making it difficult to breathe. The impulse to escape was difficult to resist, but Kaiba remained rooted in place, stubbornly ignoring the terrified pull in his gut and determined to deny his screaming instincts. The woman laughed low in her throat, her gaze never leaving Kaiba's as she stepped from the tub, the fluorescent lights catching every inch of her well-tanned flesh as she advanced. Her feet were long, not tiny or delicate as Kaiba might have imagined, the bronze-painted toenails glistening as first one then the other foot settled on the white bathmat. Kaiba blinked, unsure of how to react. The woman was completely unclothed and Seto was torn in indecision as to whether he should be excited by this realization or disturbingly intrigued. The situation only managed to throw him even more off balance.
The woman advanced slowly, her long legs stretching out with crane-like grace along the tile, leaving tiny puddles wherever she stepped. Unwillingly Kaiba's gaze rove over her bare skin, her pouting lips, and her perfectly manicured fingernails as desire swept over him. He felt the temperature of the room rise further as his face flustered; his nostrils filled with a strong flowery scent that reminded him of ammonia more than perfume. How could this woman be here? Why hadn't he seen her before? The tiny voice of Seto's younger years whispered in urgency within his mind, trying to pull the frozen body into action, but Kaiba was spellbound by the woman's beauty, her perfection, and he purposefully ignored the naïve child.
The blonde draped her arms over the boy's shoulders, her skin moist but cold against his bare neck making him shudder. Kaiba's body tingled with fear – though his rational mind couldn't understand why. Her green eyes flashed momentarily as she moved closer, her cold pink lips pressing against his own. Her dripping hair fell onto his shoulders as she pulled him into an embrace – how could he possibly refuse? Like an eager schoolboy experiencing his first lover, Kaiba leaned into the kiss, wrapping his own arms around the woman's slim torso, her moist back and shoulders, the heat of his body making her skin feel all the colder.
He nearly lost himself in the kiss, the closest physical contact he'd had in a long time. He felt a comforting vertigo embrace him as her slim experienced hands moved under his trench coat and slid their way under the back of his shirt. She massaged the tired, bruised muscles, fingers trailing up and down in a sweet rhythm. A cold slice of pain ripped down his spine as the woman dug her delicate pink nails into his back, raking them down his vulnerable flesh. Disoriented, he took a step back, thrusting the woman away, though somehow her cold wet skin felt softer than before, like a fish that had been left in a refrigerator for too long.
He reeled back, reflexively pulling his coat tighter around his broad shoulders, gritting his teeth in defiance as he growled at her. "What the hell was that about you crazy bitch? What are you trying …?"
His throat constricted into a tight knot as he looked up, his eyes flying open in shock. The beautiful form of the naked woman that had been standing in front of him just a moment ago had transformed into a hideous creature. Her youth lost, she was reduced to a bloated corpse, green and slimy from age and decay, like a dead rat left to float in a bay for a month. The overwhelming flowery scent left him as though it had been hiding a bad breeze, and the reeking aroma that infiltrated his senses now threatened to knock him to his knees. Seto gazed into the hollow depths of the two bare eye sockets that gleamed with sick moisture. The lips were no longer the tiny petals that had graced him a moment ago and now were drawn back in a hideous snarl revealing blackened gums and a decayed tongue as she cackled at him. Unable to speak Seto groaned, low and primal, the sound wrenched from his rapidly working throat.
Kaiba's legs felt weak as he gazed at his hands, not wanting to believe what he'd just done. His fingers were covered in pieces of her green and mushy flesh, and he couldn't even imagine what his mouth looked like, what his eager tongue had been exploring. In a sudden mixture of fear and disgust, he lurched backwards, his back knocking painfully into the handle of the bathroom door which slammed shut against his weight. His mind whirled with hideous realization that he had not only felt attracted to the decayed thing, but had even kissed it! Like a small child attempting to hide the evidence of his error, Seto wiped at his mouth with the back of his sleeve over and over again, trying to cleanse himself of the rot and fear that covered him like the cold sweat clung to his skin. His mouth felt like it was filled with mothballs and his tongue had gone numb, refusing to acknowledge what his mind was rapidly trying to deny.
"You saw my sculpture, didn't you? Did you like it?" The creature cocked its head backwards, limp stringy hair flying over its sagging shoulders and cackled into the thick air again. The grotesque gurgling sound that Kaiba would expect to come from a frog made him wince as the woman came toward him again; her putrid smell assaulting his nostrils like a plague. Seto reached one hand behind him; unable to pull his eyes away from the walking corpse as he tried to turn the handle with his slick and shaking fingers which suddenly refused to obey. The woman's feet made squishing sounds on the white ceramic tile as the weight of her body squeezed green water from her long-dead pores. Seto's eyes stared behind the creature in horror as he glimpsed the bathtub that was filled with the same putrid shade of green, tiny trails of blood were caked on the outside of the porcelain tub. A tiny razor blade, rusted and forgotten, lay on the floor nearby. "I called it Misery once, for dear Roger, but then I renamed it Passion at the last minute … poor Roger, he never saw me coming. Like a dead leaf crunched against the pavement." She held out one hand, the fingers wet and bloated like hotdogs, the fingernails green with flecks of decayed bronze polish. "You're so young, so strong, just what I need to while away the hours. I'll bet you've never had a ride like me before. There's a bed in the next room … I'll show you how nice I can be for a soft little man like you."
For a moment, Kaiba told himself that he should not scream – he couldn't scream, it was against everything he believed in. This woman was not real, she couldn't hurt him, this was a figment of his imagination, but then she grasped his shoulder with her mottled hand and Seto screamed with all his might, a shrieking childlike cry that echoed throughout the long-vacant bathroom. Her cold putrid breath hit his face as she leaned in for another kiss and in one quick motion Kaiba pushed her back and pulled the door open with all his might. He ran into the next room, nearly tripping over a chair and crashing into the bed in his haste. His legs felt as obedient as wet noodles as he turned and pulled the bathroom door closed with a slam moments before he doubled over and vomited on the plush carpet, his hands still firmly holding the door shut.
He leaned up slowly, his eyes resting upon the white paint of the door. He gasped for breath to calm his shaky nerves. After the hot steamy air of the bathroom, Seto suddenly felt flushed with fever as his heart rattled away in his chest like the drumbeats of vicious cannibals. He willed his body to relax, focusing on the doorknob and the feeling of the smooth surface against his hand. It couldn't have been real, it simply wasn't possible. His fingers clutched the ivory doorknob with frantic desperation for nearly five minutes until he forced himself to step away. He backed slowly out of the room, his eyes never leaving the closed bathroom door. What if she came out again? What if she followed him into the hallway? What if she tried to attack Mokuba? No wonder the poor child had become comatose! Seto wiped his mouth with the back of his coat sleeve, not even allowing his wide eyes to blink as he watched the door.
He backed away cautiously, his breath coming in sharp bursts as he struggled not to panic. When he had nearly reached the end of the bed, he fancied he could see the doorknob twisting ever so slightly, as though the decayed thing were trying to grip the pale knob in slippery fingers, the traction long worn away from too long in the water as the skin bloated and loosened.
Seto shook his head slowly from side to side, "No … no way … can't be happening … not real …" He rubbed his hands together nervously, shaking his head in disbelief and fear. Still backing away, his feet unexpectedly collided with the remains of the bedroom door that he'd smashed in earlier, through which he'd forced Duke only moments ago. It was the final assault on his shattered nerves and Seto cried out in terror, leaping into the hallway and running for the elevator doors with a speed he'd never have thought possible.
*****
Room 308 had been a disaster area, but it had paled in comparison to Rooms 306 and 304 where a part of the roof had fallen in. The snow had mounded throughout the rooms, heedless of expensive paintings and richly carved furniture. After all the scrubbing and dusting in the first room, Tea and Yugi had simply passed the pair of deteriorated suites, writing them off as sacrifices to Mother Nature. All told the pair was making decent time, and though Room 302 had been less than pristine, the sheer volume of Lysol, furniture polish, and Windex they used made the atmosphere seem far more inviting. Yugi had discovered a crumbling squirrel's nest beneath a queen-sized bed, and Tea had found a metal strongbox rusted shut. They'd debated over whether or not to keep their treasures and, deciding a little fantasy adventure was better than worrying, they brought their pilfered goods into the hallway along with the cleaning supplies, now well worn in their bucket.
Tea swiped a stray strand of brown hair from her eyes and nodded down the hallway. "Looks like this was the last one on this side of the hall. Should we stop after this one and go check on everyone else?"
"Yeah, I think we've done more than enough cleaning for one day. This is harder than I thought!" Yugi nudged the fragile nest carefully. "What should I do with this? I don't want it to get in the way, but Mokuba would love to see it. It might cheer him up, especially since there's nothing else to do around here for fun. Surely he's awake by now."
Tea nodded. "Why don't you leave it in the hallway? Here, put this weird metal box beside it. We won't forget them that way."
"We'll probably trip over them as it is." Yugi knelt, placing the two relics aside as though they were ancient artifacts from a forgotten tomb. "I hope we can get your box open."
"It'll be something fun to take home after this is all over with, to remind us of the horrible weekend we spent here in the mountains."
"Yeah, I guess it'll do that at least." Yugi stood, brushing dust from his blue pants. "So this is the last one, huh?"
Tea nodded, a sly smile crossing her face. "Unless you want to do more. I mean, if your heart's set on it –"
"No, that's ok!"
"Good, because I'm sick of cleaning. Let's finish up this last one then get back downstairs. I really need a shower!" Tea polished the shiny brass doorknob and the plate depicting the room number in large etched numerals. "Room 300, here we come!"
Yugi smiled at his energetic friend and nodded. After all the cleaning he and Tea had accomplished together he was feeling much better about the entire situation. He was certain that he would be able to find Yami, and believed that in fact the spirit wasn't lost, only trying to understand the Overlook in a way he wouldn't be able to were he still confined to the Millennium Puzzle. He clung to the optimism like a life jacket, the growing knowledge that it wouldn't last and that difficult times were sure to come eating at the back of his mind. A feeling of dread had slowly been building all weekend, but the sensation had grown so great of late that Yugi wanted the tension to break at any cost. As Tea turned the freshly-polished doorknob a strange sense of foreboding flared in the boy's mind, and he knew with utmost certainly that danger lay in the room beyond, though how he knew such a thing he could not explain. He sucked in a breath as the door swung open into darkness sliced by the white light of a snow-filled sky. The room was on the corner of the hotel, and the wind howled around the edge of the building, echoing all through the suite mournfully.
The two students stood perfectly still in the doorway, mesmerized by the rise and fall of the hollow cry until Tea shook herself and shrugged. "It's only the wind, Yugi. Come on, let's find the light switch and get cleaning. The sooner we get done here, the sooner we can get downstairs to check on Joey and the others, right?"
Yugi swallowed the dry lump which had inexplicably formed in his throat. "Right." He lifted the bucket, following the girl warily. "I don't like this room. There's something –"
"Don't be silly, Yugi, it's only a room." She smiled brazenly into the foreboding darkness. "Ah, there's the light! How's that? Better?"
Tea was still facing Yugi, expecting the boy's features to lighten with the addition of the electricity beaming throughout the room, but was rather dismayed to watch her friend's eyes widen with surprise and disgust as his gaze lay on some unknown scene behind the girl. Tea wasn't sure if she wanted to turn around or not, but as she watched Yugi's complexion grow paler by the moment, she knew she couldn't contain her curiosity any longer. She turned around slowly, a question forming on her lips, "Yugi, what's wrong?" But as she turned to look she answered her own question. The scent hit her nose as soon as she saw the vision, a sharp coppery odor, one she instantly associated with a lost tooth.
The furniture was covered in white sheets that seemed to waver in a chilling breeze that entered from a small hole near the floor of the opposite side of the room. The mattresses were covered as all the others had been in thick plastic, stripped of their sheets and bare of their cushions. It wasn't the furniture which disturbed the pair, nor the fact that a blistery wind fell across their faces. In fact, the room was in fairly good condition except for the fact that the far wall of the right side bedroom was splattered crimson. It took a moment for the scene to register, but as soon as it did Tea felt her heart literally stop for a moment before it fell into her stomach. "Yugi? That's not … real blood, is it?"
Yugi didn't immediately respond, clutching the Puzzle instinctively as he reached to grab Tea's arm. "Come on, we've got to get out of here quick!" Before either of them could react further, a sharp ricocheting sound of what must have been gunfire suddenly rang out from the bedroom. Tea covered her ears and screamed, ducking instinctively to avoid any possible flying bullets.
Yugi fell to his knees as well, glancing to Tea nervously and attempting to calm his friend. "Tea, it's okay! It's not real!"
The nimble dancer wouldn't listen, however, and only screamed the harder as a dark shadow covered the bloody bedroom doorway. "Where did he come from?!"
Deciding that it was best to be cautious, Yugi yanked the panicking Tea to her feet and bolted out the door intent on the elevators. As he exited the room, she screamed again when she saw two bodies slumped on either side of the doorway, the head of one nearly obliterated. Gray spongy white material was splattered on the wall behind his slouched form. "They weren't here a minute ago, who are these guys?!"
Yugi only gave the gruesome sight a brief glance as he hauled Tea down the hallway, determined not to allow any harm to befall his lagging friend. "Stay with me, Tea, I'll get us out of here!" Yugi reached for the elevator button, mashing it with all his might again and again as the shadow from the bedroom fell across the open door to Room 300. He looked above the aged brass doors to see that the elevator was already occupied by some other person headed towards the first floor. "Who in the world is using this thing?"
"Yugi, he's coming!" On the floor, the two bodies had turned their heads to watch the panicking pair with the detached interest of gawking bystanders in a busy intersection. The one corpse with the mutilated head attempted to speak, but only spilled more blood on his white undershirt. Tea began clawing at Yugi's arm, trying to pull him away from the elevator, "We can take the stairs, come on!"
"No, Tea, we can't! We're on the third floor, Duke nearly died from the second floor!"
"Well what are we gonna do!" Tea moaned, her breath hitching through her tears as a tall man dressed all in black appeared in the doorway, a shiny Tommy Gun clutched in his hands and a ferocious grin spread across his face. His eyes were hidden behind large black sunglasses and a wide-brimmed gray hat, pulled down over his greased hair.
The tall man's voice was emotionless, low and like the humming of a large engine. "Mr. Durwent sends his regards." Yugi couldn't help but wonder who Mr. Durwent was for a brief instant before gunfire rang out again, barely missing the two students.
Tea screamed again, breaking free of Yugi's slackened grip on her wrist and fleeing toward the darkened staircase. Yugi could only call out a single warning before he watched his friend mount the decrepit and squeaking stairs. There was a loud groan and for a moment she froze realizing her mistake as the stairs gave way. Yugi made a mad dash for the stairway, falling to the floor and sliding across the thick red carpet with one arm outstretched. Tea screamed as she began to fall when suddenly Yugi grabbed hold of her wrist, suspending the girl precariously over the yawning abyss. Below her feet, Tea watched in horror as the entire stairway collapsed onto itself, and tons of debris fell through to the first floor in a resounding crash. For an instant she thought she heard laughter emanating from the very walls of the stoic Overlook Hotel. Warily, she looked up to see Yugi's straining face, his eyes wide and terrified as he held her hand tightly. "Tea, hang on! I'm gonna try and pull you up!"
"Oh, Yugi, I'm so sorry!"
"It's alright," Yugi grunted, his arm shaking as he tried to stand up and began to attempt to pull the girl to safety. It wasn't that Yugi was terribly weak or that Tea was heavy, but between Yugi's short stature and the fact that he had to lift Tea's full body weight with the threat of a gunman behind him made the task a bit more complicated. Yugi threw his other arm over the edge, his body tensing with the heavy footfalls of the gunman that resounded through the hallway floor. Yugi thought that if it was ever a time to prove that he was capable of strength without the Millennium Puzzle, now would be it. For an instant he wished that Joey was there to help or that Tristan could come lend a hand, but then all that faded away in light of his task. Yugi grit his teeth and pulled, dragging his friend upwards until she could pull her other hand onto the ledge. Together they managed to pull her to safety. But even though the two of them were safe from falling, they still had an unexplainable gunman to contend with.
Yugi didn't waste a minute and wrenched Tea to her feet, leaving the poor girl disoriented and confused as more gunfire rang out, louder this time and accompanied by mad laughter. Tea ducked her head, her eyes wide as she watched the bullets whiz by and make indentions in the opposite wall. It was a grim reminder of the reality of the situation and of the danger they were in. Yugi still held her tight though, and pulled her into the giant glass room. Tea looked around for a moment, trying to spot anything that would help against their assailant. She spied the painting of the man that had disturbed her so, finding that the position of the figure had indeed changed as she had suspected earlier. The man was openly leering at her now, a riding crop clutched in one white gloved hand. She looked closer and spotted the brass name plate that she for some reason hadn't noticed before. It read in etched italics – "Mr. Harold A. Durwent, Our Beloved Founder, The Overlook Lives For You." Tea couldn't help but scowl, glaring at the smug man in distaste.
Yugi was scrambling around the room in a panic. "What are we gonna do?" He was breathless, "Tea, I don't know how we're gonna get out of here! Should I use my puzzle? It worked in the meat locker!"
Tea shook her head, "I've got a better idea, just stand back!"
Bewildered, Yugi nodded and obediently backed away as Tea lifted an antique teakwood chair. Yugi made a step toward her, one arm outstretched as he watched her in confusion. "Tea, what are you doing? I don't think a chair is going to stop him!"
Tea gave the shorter boy an exasperated look. "I know that! Look, just trust me, Yugi, please? I know what I'm doing. There's no other way down from here!"
Yugi looked at her, and then looked toward the windows, his eyes going wide as he realized her intent. "B-but Tea! Are you crazy? If a fall from the stairs would kill us, then a fall outside would –"
"I know, Yugi!" Without listening to any more of Yugi's argument, Tea carried the antique chair to the glass window, looking over it closely for a moment as though searching for something. She smiled as she spotted the tiny crack left by the bird that had flown into it earlier. Tea had to silently thank the courageous winged friend for its sacrifice, and with all her might she threw the wooden chair at the weak point. She expected to hear the tinkling of shattered glass, but the chair only bounced back onto the floor, making a loud clattering as one of the legs broke. She moved closer to the window, inspecting the much larger crack that now marred the thick glass. "Yugi, you say this place is pretty old, huh? Well, why in the world is this glass so hard to break?"
Yugi walked up next to his friend, trailing a finger over the crack curiously. A loud cry interrupted them as the gunman entered the large glass room. He clutched the Tommy Gun to his chest and smiled, his face reminding Yugi of all the black and white photographs he'd ever seen of mafia members. He hitched the gun into his underarm and Yugi pulled Tea to the floor as the mysterious man let out another round of bullets, making a half-moon arc around the room. Despite his seeming ferocity, he never actually aimed the gun at the two students huddled openly against the glass window; a fact which confused them both.
"What's wrong? We should be dead," Tea wondered.
"I don't know. It's almost like he's trying to miss us."
"But why would he do that? We don't have any place to hide, what's he doing?"
"Maybe," Yugi looked up at the glass again, his brow furrowing as he saw the numerous bullet holes which had actually penetrated the thick glass. His eyes widened in understanding as a plan began to form in his mind. "Maybe he's trying to distract us."
Tea watched him curiously, "Distract us from what?"
"We've got to get out of here, Tea. We have to help the others. I'm sure they're in trouble now." Yugi leapt to his feet and waved his arms in the air, making as much noise as he could while Tea only stared at him as though he'd lost his mind.
"What are you doing? Are you trying to bring him over here?"
"Actually, Tea, that's exactly my plan!" The King of Games smiled knowingly at Tea, "Now it's your turn to trust me." Tea could only nod in mute agreement; there really was nothing else she could do – if Yugi'd lost his mind. The gunman hitched his weapon into the crook of his underarm again, and Yugi ducked to the floor as another round of bullets arced through the room. Yugi watched in disappointment as the window received more bullet holes yet remained intact.
"Well, if you're trying to get him to shoot a way out for us, he's going to have to shoot all his ammunition over here, not just spray the room at random!" Tea pointed above her head to the cracked window. "The glass is too thick; it won't break unless we hit it with a lot of force. He has to shoot into the glass heavily at one weak spot – that one where the bird made a crack should do it! If the glass is weak enough there for a bird to damage it, then his gunshots should do the trick."
Yugi shrugged, "I'm trying, but it's like he's avoiding that spot deliberately!"
Tea thought for a moment, placing a single finger against her lips as Yugi once again tried to tempt the gunman to shooting out the weak point, but once again the plan failed. "He's distracting us from something. He wants us here, out of the way. We can't let him, Tea! The others must be in danger."
Tea thought back to Joey outside, the ferocious blizzard that she and Yugi were now trying to enter. Her eyes unintentionally fell back onto the portrait of Mr. Durwent, the cocky man's snide smile, his gloved fingers, his attitude of a snooty pervert enjoying a show. Well she wasn't about to let him enjoy himself for much longer. Tea was sick of performing like a circus animal, being herded around by a gun. She crawled to her feet, eying the painting once more before she began an assault on her own terms.
"I think Mr. Durwent is an idiot," she cried, cupping her hands around her mouth. Immediately the gunfire ceased and a frown formed on the gunman's pallid lips as he clutched the butt of the gun in shock. Tea smiled, glancing at the portrait of Durwent which had suddenly shifted to mute outrage. "The décor is atrocious, the grounds are unkempt, and the rooms are falling apart. Nothing works in this decrepit dump! You'd think that if Mr. Durwent was so great he'd keep his hotel spick and span. I think the Overlook deserves to rot!" Tea had gotten so involved in her critique of the hotel that she barely noticed when Yugi had to pull down on her skirt to save her from the furious gunfire.
"Well, that certainly got his attention. How'd you know to do that?" Yugi cried to his friend as the glass behind them shattered, letting in a shower of glass and a howling cold wind as the blizzard gleefully found its way into the hotel. Yugi pulled Tea to her feet as the gunfire paused, and before hesitating to discover why, he took Tea's hand and climbed out the window, feeling along the side of the sheer angles of the Overlook.
"Just a girl's intuition, I guess," Tea smiled nervously as she struggled to hold her billowing skirt in place.
The wind swept across Yugi's face and hands in a torrential rush, and he was forced to shut his eyes tight against its ferocity for a moment. He turned his head back to Tea, her hand firmly clasped within his as he watched the girl's terrified features. His friend had already been freezing within the confines of the drafty Overlook hotel, but here clinging to the side of the great building with bare legs and naked arms, Tea's teeth were chattering with the chill. Yugi swallowed hard as he watched a dark shadow fall over the broken window they had just escaped through and then recede with curious speed. The gunman still had the upper hand. "Come on, Tea," he called to her with the wind beating against the back of his neck. "We've got to get down!"
Tea nodded her eyes wide and frightened as her slim fingers clutched the harsh cold stone. Yugi turned his face again into the breeze, forcing his eyes to stay open as they once again filled with tears in the blasting wind. His hands moved slowly across the stone, the fingertips white from gripping so hard. Tea moved close behind, following Yugi's steps carefully with her own. She couldn't help but allow her eyes to drift beneath them – the snow swirled in an endless whirlwind against the sheer face of the Overlook Hotel. She tried not to panic, not to let the vertigo take hold of her, but her heart was still pounding wildly in her chest as she feared what a single misplaced hand could mean for either her or Yugi. This was not how she expected to spend the weekend – clinging to the side of the Overlook and running from a madman with a gun.
They passed by window after window, eventually being forced to pass by what could only be Room 300, Yugi recognized it immediately by the small hole that had allowed the gusting breeze into the corner suite. He swallowed hard and hoped Tea wouldn't notice as they rounded the corner. As Yugi precariously pulled his weight around the edge, he spied an old-fashioned drain pipe running down the side of the building. His somber mood lightened immediately.
He had feared that they would be forced to stay up on the ledge until the others began wondering where they had gone. Knowing how distraught the gang had been after Mokuba's fit, that might have been a long time to wait in the freezing wind with poor Tea dressed in naught but a thin school uniform. Yugi's clothes weren't exactly made for such extreme temperatures either, but at least he had a jacket to help keep him warm. He only wished he'd thought to lend it to Tea earlier before they'd escaped through the broken glass. He turned his head back to his friend; Tea only now was making it around the edge of the building, her arms and legs shaking violently with the cold more than with fear.
"There's a drainpipe just up here, Tea. We can climb down to the second level and we should be right in front of where Mokuba and Tristan are staying." Yugi called back to her, his hair blowing in the continuous wind that seemed to steal his voice from him. Tea nodded once, finally pulling her body to the opposite wall and crawling next to Yugi. The shorter boy smiled, his grin an attempt to ease his friend's worries – and then he felt a tug at his ankle. Bewildered, he looked down to see a gravely familiar gloved hand poking through the crack in the wall clutching his ankle with a strength that made the boy's bones ache. "Aahh! Tea, he's got me!"
Tea made a few kicks at the hand – there wasn't much she could do before the man shoved his arm outwards, knocking Yugi's leg back on the ledge and making him lose his balance. His arms pin wheeled for a few moments as he tried to right himself, his eyes wide and terrified as he began to fall backwards.
"Yugi, no!" Tea cried as she attempted to lunge forward without falling off of the ledge herself. She flung out an arm to grasp Yugi's hand in her own and as the shorter boy fell, she found herself barely supporting her friend's full weight with a single hand which was locked at her side. She felt her shoes slipping slightly in the snow and she grunted with the effort it took to hang on, her other hand clutching the stone wall desperately as she tried to keep them both from falling. "Yugi, hang on!"
"Tea!" Yugi cried as he tried to find some type of ledge or foothold to climb back onto the ledge. "Don't fall! Whatever you do, don't let go of that wall!" Yugi looked about frantically searching for some type of object he could use to save himself. The drain pipe he had seen earlier was situated in the middle of the wall of the Overlook, situated between two windows and too far away from his reach. The ledge was above him, but try as he might there was no way he could grab hold of it.
"Yugi!" Tea's eyes were filled with tears and Yugi couldn't quite tell if it was from the wind or from fear. "Yugi, you're slipping! I – I can't hold onto you! You've got to find a way to pull yourself up!"
"I'm trying, Tea, I'm trying! There's nothing to hang onto!" He tried to grasp her hand, but Yugi simply wasn't strong enough to pull himself up from the edge of the building. At first he wondered at the strange fatigue, at how very heavy he seemed to himself, but then the pull at his throat reminded him – the puzzle was weighing him down. It felt more like a ton of bricks than the simple golden Puzzle that had accompanied him since that day long ago when he'd put the ancient pieces together. "Tea, it's the Puzzle! It – it's weighing me down!"
"Then toss it!" Tea hated to tell him to do it, but it was the only way she could pull him up. Her shoulder ached with his weight and her eyes kept darting to the hole in the wall of Room 300, expecting the gloved hand to dart out once more to push her off the edge as well.
"I can't get rid of my Puzzle!" Yugi's eyes were wide in fear as his fingers began to slip from Tea's grasp.
"You've got to, Yugi! I can't hold both of you!"
Yugi stared at his friend in sheer terror, clutching the Puzzle with his free hand. Even though Yami was no longer within, there was no way that he would betray his ghostly counterpart. It all seemed too coincidental for Yami to be pushed from the confines of Yugi's mind, and now for the hotel to force him to drop the Millennium Puzzle into the snowy abyss that hung beneath his feet. The Puzzle was a danger to the Overlook somehow, even though Yugi had no idea why. He stared into the swirling snow below, felt the desperate grip of Tea's hand, and he knew he had to make a sacrifice. He couldn't see through the snow to judge the distance, but he knew that it would be a long drop. The hotel had forced him to make a decision -- it was either the Puzzle or his life. He stared into Tea's giant sea-foam eyes with regret for a few moments before speaking in a whisper, "I'm sorry, Tea."
Tea's eyes grew even wider once she heard his words, and she regretted ever asking the poor boy to drop his beloved Puzzle. "Yugi, no! Don't even think about it! I'll pull you up somehow!" Her hand clasped his all the harder, but even with Tea's desperate grip she still couldn't hang on to the King of Games as he released his hand and fell into the swirling white void. He didn't make a sound as he fell, but held Tea's gaze with such a look of sorrow that for a moment she thought she was dreaming. Her heart leaped into her throat as her eyes filled with fresh warm tears.