Happy Friday the 13th people!
Sage: You believe in that crap?
No, but considering how this chapter ends, I thought it would be fitting to update today.
Sage: Wait-what's that suppose to mean?
You'll see. You'll all see...I should probably go hide now before they get to the end.
Sage: Oh dear.
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Yami didn't know how to react when his car suddenly lurched forward. Even though he had his seat belt on, his body was flung forward and he hit his head on the steering wheel. He managed to pull his car over to the side of the road and examined it.
He had been at a stop light, and had allowed a man to cross in front of him. The man had been fairly close to his car, but Yami had thought nothing of it. It was when the light turned green and he pressed his foot to the gas that the car suddenly became an out of control machine. Yami grabbed a flashlight out of the glove compartment and stepped out of his car.
The light shone down onto his front right tire, and Yami was shocked to see a large gash in it. He put his hand over the wound and felt the air rushing out in a hissing noise.
The gash was at the front of the tire. Yami hadn't run over something. His tires had been slashed. And the only possibly explanation was that they were slashed by that man who had walked in front of him.
Yami looked around for the perpetrator, but he was out of sight, long gone. Yami hadn't even paid enough attention as to what he looked like, and would not be able to tell the police anything about him. Yami groaned.
It was too late to call a tow truck, and he didn't have a spare tire. He would have to wait until morning. At first Yami was tempted to just sleep in his car, but then he looked around the area he was in. It wasn't a good idea, he thought. Maybe Yugi and Joey will let me spend the night with them. Or, he could always look around for a hotel. There had to be one nearby.
Then again…this wasn't exactly the safest place to spend the night. Yami groaned again. He would try Yugi's place first. If he wasn't wanted, he would understand. He could stand a hotel if it was absolutely necessary, but if there was a second option, he would prefer that.
Yami began the few mile walk, sticking his hands into his pockets. He hoped his car would be alright for the night. He was nervous leaving it alone, and even considered sleeping in there. But, that probably wasn't the safest idea either. Yami hoped what he was doing would be the wisest choice; he didn't want to do anything to put himself, or anyone else, in danger.
After a few more minutes, Yami had managed to make it to the apartment complex. He walked the several stairs and made it to the door, hesitating for a moment before knocking on the door. He heard shuffling from the other side, and the sound of someone flipping a deadbolt. Then, the door opened and Joey was standing on the other side.
"Uh…" Joey began, rubbing his eyes, "can I help you?"
"My car has a flat. I was wondering if I could crash with you until I can call a tow truck?"
Joey sighed and stepped aside, motioning for Yami to come in. The older man did so, and stood anxiously in the living room. He looked around and was once again reminded of the living conditions the two teenagers lived in. He bit his lip. He knew there was something he could do, but he didn't know how to say it. He didn't want to risk upsetting Joey, or offending him. But it was obvious he and Yugi needed financial help. They were both high school drop outs working minimum wage jobs. They would never be able to get out of this apartment.
Joey came out with a large blanket and a pillow in his hand. "Will you be fine sleeping on the couch?" He asked, setting the stuff down on the worn piece of furniture.
Yami nodded his head. "Yeah, that's fine. Better than sleeping in my car. Thanks for letting me."
"I can't let you sleep outside with a clean conscience."
Somewhere in the distance, Yami was able to hear multiple sirens. He shuddered.
"So, what exactly happened?" Joey asked, sitting down.
"I was at a stop light and someone came up and slashed my tires."
Joey whistled. "Man, seems like we're all having bad luck."
"What do you mean?"
"First I get attacked, then Anzu is buried under boxes at work, and now you. Seems like the universe is just out to get us."
"I suppose."
The sirens grew louder as they neared their destination. Joey seemed unfazed by it, as though it was something he heard every day. And it was possible that he did hear it every day.
"Yugi's sleeping, just so you know." Joey said. "And just so you know, I have a gun. You're a smart man, I think you can put two and two together, or do I need to explain what I'm getting at?"
Yami shook his head. "I won't bother Yugi. But, can you stop with the death threats? I thought we were good."
Joey smirked. "We are."
"Then why constantly threaten me?"
"It wouldn't be much fun if I didn't."
Yami rolled his eyes, but felt a smile form at the corner of his lips. "Is that all I am? A form of amusement for you?"
"Pretty much. Life gets pretty boring around here. All we do is wake up, go to work, come home, go to sleep. The repetition is killing me!"
Yami exhaled deeply. His conscience was screaming at him. He knew what he needed to do, how he could help these two young men out. He only hoped they would accept it; it was obvious Joey was very proud. But, this offer would be helping Yugi out as well, and it was obvious the brotherly love Joey had for Yugi would greatly influence his decision.
"I have an idea on how you can change things around here…" Yami said slowly, trying to figure out how to word this.
"Yeah, how?"
"My boss—Kaiba-,"
Joey smirked at the memory of Yugi defeating the national champion.
"He's been setting aside some money for me, to hire an assistant. And I've been procrastinating on that. I figure it's time I get started on it."
Joey's smile fell and he began to lean forward.
"It's obvious…I don't mean to offend, but you and Yugi need help. I want to hire you to be my assistant."
"Me?" Joey said, a look of disbelief on his face. "Work at KaibaCorp? I don't even have a GED, and I can get a job at KaibaCorp like that?"
"It's yours if you want it."
Joey was silent for a moment, and his eyes grew wide as he realized Yami was sincere. "Wow." He said leaning back into the sofa. He couldn't met Yami's gaze anymore; it was too awkward. But, he still managed to speak. There were no words to express his gratitude. This man just saved him from bankruptcy…what could he say? In the end, Joey found he could only go with the most simple. They seemed to hold more meaning that anything else he could think of.
"Thank you."
"You can start work anytime."
Joey scoffed. "I'll start the moment I tell my boss to shove it. Old bastard…" Joey stood up and reached out his hand. "Hey, let's get a drink."
Yami raised his eyebrow. "Aren't you a little young for that?"
"I'm taller than you; nobody cards me. Let's go! We have to celebrate being coworkers!"
"I'm in; but what about Yugi?"
Joey waved his hand. "He'll be fine. He's stayed alone at night before."
"Okay then." Yami said, following Joey out the door. But, he had a feeling that maybe going out wasn't the best idea. He ignored that voice inside his head, though. He wanted some fun, and it was a time to celebrate.
He and Joey exited the house without a second thought.
-0-0-0-0-
"Let me out, let me out, let me out!" He screamed and continued to bang his hand against the door. He could feel it already beginning to bruise and throb, but he ignored it. He needed to make noise to get out; the walls of the closet were already starting to close in on him, making him claustrophobic.
Yugi forced himself to take in deep, but shaky, breaths. He knew he had to calm himself down. But, it was easier said than done. Yugi couldn't even remember how he had gotten into the closet this time. He must have done something to upset Jack, but what? It was as though he had just woken up in here.
"I had to have done something." Yugi said quietly, resting his forehead against the door. He knew he had to be careful of what he said and did around Jack. The man was extremely short-tempered and could go off on about anything. But still…
Suddenly, Yugi could hear short breaths behind him. He spun around and was surprised to see two girls, about his age, sitting down on the floor. One was blonde and the other brunette. Both were pretty, Yugi thought. Until he noticed their eyes. Their eyes were wide and empty; the pupil was nonexistent. Yugi got the feeling that they were looking into his very soul, and it gave him goose bumps. How did they get in here, he wondered. He had never seen them before.
"Who-who are you?" He asked, his voice shaky. The two girls turned to each other, and some silent message was exchanged. The blonde girl turned her head towards Yugi and spoke.
"We are friends." Her voice was soft and sweet, not at all matching her somewhat demonic appearance.
"We want to help you." The brunette interjected. Her voice was also caring and sincere.
"Help me? With what?" Yugi asked, blinking.
"With whatever it is you need help with." The blonde answered cryptically.
"What do you mean?"
"It is obvious the dilemma you are in." The brunette said coming closer. "We understand; we were once in the same position."
"Can you please answer me straightforward?"
The two girls were silent for a moment, before the blonde spoke once more.
"Very well. Ask us a question and we shall answer it."
"What are your names?"
The brunette spoke first this time. "My name is Jackie."
"And I'm Amanda."
Yugi nodded his head in understanding. "Okay…are you ghosts?" He asked next, fearing the answer. What other explanation could explain their empty, soulless eyes? They did seem to mean him harm, but how could he be sure? He'd met a lot of people in his life who seemed not to mean him any harm. All he had to do was look around to see how that had ended up.
"We are." The two girls said in perfect sync, as though they had practiced it before several times.
Yugi blinked and bit his lip, fearing the answer to his next question. "How did you die?"
Amanda titled her head to the side to reveal her neck. Yugi couldn't hold back a gasp when he saw it. The circumference of her neck was completely black and indented.
"He choked me." She said.
Jackie ran a hand through her dark hair and pulled it out. She pushed the appendage near Yugi's face and he nearly vomited when he saw it. Her hand was completely covered in blood, and as he looked up, he saw the crimson fluid running from her head down her face, eventually dripping down her cheek.
"He beat me." Jackie said without any emotion. It sounded like she was talking about the weather; not how she had died.
Yugi thought about what the two girls had just said, replaying it over in his mind. They both had said, "He". Yugi once again nearly vomited as he came to a dark conclusion: they had been murdered. Yugi hesitated to ask his one last question, but something inside him wouldn't let him not ask it. He needed to know, he wanted to know.
"Who?" Was all he could manage to say, but it was enough. The girls looked at each other.
"Jack." They said in unison.
Amanda scooted closer to Yugi and put her hand on his shoulder, forcing the boy to look into her eyes.
"He killed us and he wanted to kill you."
"What?"
"He chooses his victims months before he kills them. He tells them he loves them, but then he gets violent. But he doesn't let you go because he loves the control. He'll keep you on a leash and anytime you fight back, he punishes you. He doesn't like losing that control."
"But you," Jackie said, coming closer, "you made him lose that control. He tried to kill you, but you survived. That night Jack lost his control, his power. But now he wants it back."
"He-he," Yugi stuttered, remembering things that didn't quite make sense; Joey with his head bleeding, Anzu buried under boxes at work, and a man he recognized but whose name he couldn't remember walking home alone in the dark. "He hurt them." Yugi said.
"He knows they're important to you." Jackie said. "He's figured out that's how he can get his control back."
"He'll kill them." Yugi said in realization. He looked down at his hands and saw that they were red and moist. They were covered in blood; the blood of his friends if he didn't do something. "He'll kill them, won't he?"
The two girls nodded their heads.
"Wh-what do I do?"
"Whatever you need to do." Amanda said, as she began to become fuzzy. Yugi had to squint to make out her image.
"He won't stop until he gets his control back. And even then, there's no saying there won't be another." Jackie said and she too, became harder to see.
"Please," Yugi begged, "what do I do to stop him? To save my friends?"
"Beat him at his own game." Jackie said. "Take the control away again."
And the two girls disappeared.
-0-0-0-0-0-
Yugi shot up in bed, cold sweat sticking to his head. His breaths were deep and ragged and for a moment he forget where he was.
"Let me out, let me out, let me out." He whispered, clutching tightly to the blanket on top of him. But he soon realized he was in his bed, in his own apartment. He could see the window adjacent to his bed, and see the lights of the city.
He relaxed some and lay back into the pillow, clamping his eyes shut.
"It was all a dream." He whispered. "Just a dream."
In the darkness of his eyelids, he saw Jackie and Amanda, with their lifeless eyes. He trembled at the sight. No, it wasn't just a dream. There was something more to it. Why would he just imagine two girls he'd never met? Why would he imagine them saying Jack killed them?
…Why would he imagine them saying Jack wanted to kill him?
It had all seemed so real, especially the blood he had seen. The blood of his friends…
Yugi pushed himself out of bed. He wasn't going to let Jack hurt his friends. But, how could he stop the man? He remembered how much stronger Jack was than he was. And he didn't know how well Joey, or the police, would take to his admittance that he had been in contact with the man and kept it secret.
Yugi walked across the hall towards Joey's door. He had a bad feeling about Joey. He knocked rapidly, wincing as he remembered the late hour. He felt stupid for even trying to wake up Joey. He felt childish for it. It was just a bad dream, he should be able to deal with it on his own.
After the incident, he had become so dependent on Joey. His memory problems had become a handicap, and Joey was his link to his old life. But, Yugi's memory had been getting better, he thought. He hadn't forgotten anything vital in weeks, and he had just now noticed that. Yugi bit the inside of his lip. Why would he suddenly be getting better?
He had received no answer from Joey, so Yugi knocked again and proceeded to open the door. "Joey?" He called, and got no answer. Yugi flipped on the light and saw that Joey's bed was still made, and he wasn't in it. Yugi felt his heart drop into his stomach. Where was Joey?
Something on the edge of the bed caught Yugi's attention and he felt drawn towards it. He walked over and picked up a small folder, flipping through it. It didn't take long for him to realize it was a police file. And his name was on it. Yugi began to read through it.
"…11:30, Friday, June 17…" He remembered the date instantly, and unconsciously reached up and touched his head, still feeling traces of raised skin from a scar that had formed. This was a police file on him.
Yugi kept the folder in his hand and walked towards the living room, still reading it. He had gotten to the part with Joey talking to the investigator and felt tears pricking at his eyes. These recorded words from Joey were so real, so full of emotion. Yugi could feel Joey's pain just by reading them. He wanted to find Joey—wherever he was—and tell him how sorry he was. He had caused them nothing but pain these last few years.
He sat down on the couch and continued to read. "…matched the DNA on several crime scenes…" Yugi's speech slowed down, and he felt his throat close up. "…scenes of animal torture…and two murders…" He had re-read the names in the file several times over to verify them. They couldn't be real; they had to be his mind playing tricks on him. It had to be some hallucination, or even still: he was still dreaming. This was all still a dream.
Yugi bit on his tongue, but flinched. He had felt it. This wasn't a dream. He opened his mouth slightly. "Amanda Smith and Jackie Sawyers." The names of the girls from his dream. They said Jack had killed them. And so did the evidence. Jack had tried to kill him.
And he was going to kill his friends to get revenge for Yugi surviving.
Yugi shut the folder close and threw it onto the couch, letting tears fall. His friends were going to be killed unless he did something. And he had to do something quick. Joey wasn't home, now would be the perfect time to give Jack what he wanted.
Yugi reached for his phone that had been sitting on the coffee table. He typed up a message and sent it within just a few seconds.
I know what you want. Meet me in our 'special' place in an hour. This ends tonight.
Yugi only had to wait a few moments before he received a reply.
Indeed it does.
-0-0-0-0-0-
Yugi knew this alley all too well. A year ago he had almost died in this alley. And he knew that he would more than likely die in this alley. But he had to do it; he had to protect his friends. They had done more than enough for him these last two years. It was time he repaid the favor.
He hoped they wouldn't be too made at him. He remembered how mad Joey had been when he had asked Ushio to kill him. And that was what he was doing now, wasn't it? It was a suicide mission. He knew Jack was going to kill him, like he tried a year ago. But his friends hadn't been involved then. They were now.
Yugi would do what he needed to keep them safe. They would forgive him eventually. He knew it would probably take a few years, but they would. He wished he would be able to tell them how sorry he was, but he knew he never would. He said a silent prayer, asking whatever God was watching over him to protect them. He told God he was sorry too; he didn't want to go to Hell, but he would if it meant keeping his friends safe.
He heard footsteps coming from behind him. Yugi wrapped his arms around himself, feeling a cold gust of wind hit him.
'Please,' he prayed, 'don't let it hurt.'
Jack walked up to him and in front. Yugi kept his eyes down, but felt Jack's hand wrap around his chin and force his head up. He stared into the eyes of his attacker. They were cold and dark; they had lost the light in them they had when Yugi first met him. And his hair…
"You dyed your hair." Yugi commented, staring at the brown locks. They had been blonde when they met.
"I've needed an identity change." Jack responded cruelly, taking his spare hand and moving Yugi's hair behind his ears. Yugi flinched at the action.
"You killed two girls." He saw their empty eyes once more, the blood falling from them.
"I did." Jack responded with no emotion.
"Why? What did they do to you?"
"Nothing." Jack said, as he began to pet Yugi's hair.
"Then why did you kill them?" Yugi whispered painfully.
Jack mused for a moment on what he was going to say. "It's interesting. Having a person's life in the palm of your hands. It is interesting know that every little thing you do will affect them in some way. It's interesting seeing a person give up and surrender. But, the most interesting thing of all is seeing their eyes as you do it. You can take someone's eyes, and no matter how bright they are, no matter how optimistic they seem, and break them. Some take longer than others, but eventually they break."
The soulless eyes, the broken eyes.
"That was what attracted me to you. Your damn eyes. They're beautiful, alluring. I wanted to see them break. I wanted to see you give up. You were by far my greatest challenge, but one I managed. I saw those eyes crumble right before me. And they stayed like that for a while."
"You were watching me."
"For a long time. I saw how those eyes stayed broken." He brought the hand on Yugi's chin up to his face and began to trace the scar around his eye. Yugi stiffened at the action, but remained as still as possible.
"Until that man came into your life. Once he came in, your eyes started to heal, they started to get bright again. I couldn't let that happen. I couldn't let you turn back all the damage I had done."
"So you started hurting my friends."
"I wouldn't say hurt. The only one who got hurt was that dumb blonde friend of yours. The others were merely…inconvenienced. The whore of a boss was not harmed, and neither was the man."
"You went after Yami?" Yugi said, surprised. When had this happened?
"He is not hurt, don't worry about him. You should be worried about yourself."
Yugi shivered slightly, but forced himself to inhale deeply. "I want to make a deal with you." His voice was shaken, and he cursed himself for it.
Jack smirked. "What kind of deal?"
"Do what you want with me, but leave my friends alone."
"If I do what I want with you, then how will you know if I leave your friends alone?"
"Because," Yugi said, his voice becoming spiteful, "if you ever come near them again, I'll haunt you for the rest of your life."
Jack's eyes darkened. "Very well, Yugi. We have a deal. Let's finished what we started. After all, like you said, this ends tonight."
He reached behind him, into his back pocket. Yugi trembled, knowing what was going to happen.
'Don't let it hurt.' He begged, feeling tears fall out of his eyes. He didn't feel the blade piercing his skin, but he felt it when Jack pulled it out. Yugi was unable to make any noise save for a small groan, and he saw Jack standing in front of him, a bloodied knife in hand.
Yugi placed his hands against his torso where he felt the warm blood spilling out from. His vision became blurry and his knees buckled. He fell to the ground, coughing and spitting, still alive, and in pain. He had been stabbed. He was going to die.
He saw Jack walk away quietly before his eyelids became heavy and closed, engulfing him in darkness.
-0-0-0-0-0-
Well...Um...eh...don't...kill me? Please?
Sage: Kill her, kill her, kill her.
Yeah, I'm gonna...go now...*flees into darkness*