I updated another story on Sunday and it's Tuesday and here we are! I ROCK! XD
Oh! Now the truth starts opening up. The next chapter will be the big bang of enlightenment for the characters! Whoot! XD I love this chapter! SPECIAL NOTE: Some of you asked about the rhyme Kek used. It's called "5 Cheeky Monkeys". Yes, it is a real children's rhyme. Disturbing no? XP And now we know who the apophis members were keeping captive. Body doubles!
Malik: Can we stop talking about that?
fine fine fine....
Flacks: New reviewer! -tackles- I'm glad you are enjoying the story so much. Minkah? I don't remember why I chose that particular name. Oh, and Afekia...I don't know where that came from. I know some people use Touzouku or however it's spelled, which is actually Japanese for "thief", something they don't realize. lol "I also love the twisty plot twists, which are twisty." Perfect description. (Minkah: O.o) "Minkah hearing the voice of his mother in his head and Afika's plan are haunting me" As well they should. BIG breakthroughs in this chapter concerning that. Arabic makes you 'lol'? :)
Duckweed: New reviewer! -tackles- Hello! I luv reviewers! XD
Memnoch's Heart: "I wanna be an Eskimo too." I hear you. lol Don't we all, deep down, want to be Eskimos? (Malik: I don't...) I didn't ask YOU! (Malik: O.o) Ummm...Ichiro was the good soldier that helped them. He didn't take anybody's shirt. I think you had him comfuzzled with Hiroki the lieutenant. (snuggles Ichiro's corpse) poor boy.
Fallin-Alone-Scared-Lost: Pure awesome, eh? Whoot! XD (Minkah: Don't encourage her!) lol
Sagira98: Yes. Yes it was a freaky ending. (puffs up with pride) The memories? Oh, you'll get your answer to that in this chapter, k? (Yami: She's actually going to answer something?!) (Minkah: A sign of the apocalypse! Ruuun!) -.-; lol You would have killed me if I'd made Niu gay? That makes me giggle. You want Afika to die already? -smirk- But things are just starting to get interesting with him! -mysterious music- (Afika: -sigh-)
Peepz: The whole army isn't dead. Just the ones at the main camp. Wonderful lieutenant hiroki is still alive and kicking. (Minkah: You mean the shirt-fetish dude?!) (Niu: Kill him!) lol Niu's eyes? -grin- I actually chose to make them like those of a girl I went to school with. Her eyes were so brown that they looked black. Seriously, it looked like pupils with no irises. That's how dark brown they were. It was a bit creepy actually. :P
dragonlady222: Oh Niu has no intention of going down without a fight. As for Afika's idea of Minkah...well...that will explain itself fairly soon, I assure you. ;)
cgflower: You flailed eh? heh. No no, the higher ups in the army are still alive. (Malik: The shirt-fetish people?) That's them. (Minkah: -panic attack-) (Ryou: Great, ferris, look what you did!) lol Don't worry. Afika gets Plenty of screen time this chapter...although I'm not sure that's a good thing. O.o "And the end! with the rhyme and the snap and the burning and the running and the awesome!!" ROFL! That was teh best description Ever! XD
Dragon-Tooth: "I was sure at first you were going to let that one private live... but it's way better that he dies. ^^ That's not cruel, is it? *grins devilishly*" You little evil thing. (Yami: YOU are the one that killed him, ferris.) I know that! And as I said in the above note: the children's rhyme is real. It's frikin' REAL! O_O Sccccary. Ah the flashback -smirk- Many of you are asking about that. good good!
This chapter shall be dedicated to Flacks and Duckweed. More of those flashbacks that were confuzzling people earlier. Also, Enter: little Minkah and his mommy! XD Daaaw! I had a LOT of fun with my arabic notes and dictionary as well as websites! (Malik: -groans- Great)
Restless
She embraced
With a smile
As she opened the door
A cold wind blows
It puts a chill
Into my heart
You have taken away the trust
You're the ghost haunting through her heart
Past and present are one in her head
You're the ghost haunting through her heart
Take my hand as I wander through
All of my life I gave to you
Take my hand as I wander through
All of my love I gave to you
(Within Temptation)
Chapter 17: Simsimti
"This doesn't involve you, slut!" one man yelled, the crowd shouting in unison.
Another shot fired into the air silencing them again. Her piercing eyes roamed over the mass, daring someone, anyone to challenge her. Meanwhile the child lay paralyzed in fear. The young woman walked over to him while looking around.
"You all will leave now. This boy is no longer of your concern."
"Hell, you know he is!" a rough teen shouted, starting forward but halting at the barrel of the gun aimed in his face.
"Not one more step," she hissed, finger on the trigger. "My father taught me in the use of firearms and self defense. Do not think a moment I will waste all the knowledge and skill he gave to me. Now scatter!"
With hesitation the hostile throng dispersed. People sent glares over their shoulders, muttering to one another.
"First a child out of wedlock and now taking in an outsider?"
"I know! What if he's…?"
"Quiet! Don't speak of them! You will bring their curse upon us!"
"Everyone avoid her and those two brats just for precautions…"
She acted as though their words bounced off a barrier around her. After looking about once more to make certain everyone had gone, she put the gun away and knelt before the child.
"You're safe now, malak. They've all gone," she assured him gently. "Look."
He didn't react. She reached to place a hand on his small shoulder only to have him shrink back.
"You're hurt," she noted especially the gash on his head from most likely a stone. "Come and I'll get those wounds treated," she continued in a calm soothing voice. When he did nothing but tremble she said: "You look tired and hungry. Let's make a deal." Brown eyes rose to view a kind smile. "You let me clean those injuries and I'll cook you a nice big meal."
(Afika's POV)
I keep my eyes focused ahead, not bothering to linger with the priceless statues and collectibles lined along both sides of the hallway like that grand art exhibition I was sent to three years ago on an assignment. Those grey eyes…I cannot allow them to distract me. I mustn't let anything veer me from my goal. I cannot be sidetracked from the mission.
Niu doesn't know, so therefore her voice should continue to tell Minkah what to do. I just need to make sure Kek doesn't contact Minkah in any way. Where my rival is at the moment remains a mystery.
As I turn a corner to the top of the marble staircase I'm met with a face. Immediately there's glass flying everywhere as my blade makes contact with the stranger's. What…? Shards embed themselves in the flesh of my hand but I ignore this minor pain. If I do that I'll be left susceptible to an attack.
I stare at the cracked remains still before me. An unfamiliar person gazes back with an agitated look. My fingers increase their grip tenfold on my knife as blood glides down my wrist and begins dripping to the floor.
"Afika?" a voice calls from the ground level. "Afika!"
A video of some kind? Now that I take a good look he does seem somewhat familiar…
"Afika!" Kasiya say loudly from behind me. He pauses to take in the scene. "What happened?"
I'm about to rebuke him for not noticing the trespasser when I see someone else appear behind the stranger. Kasiya is looking over the shorter male's shoulder at me.
"Afika?" His voice comes from behind me, not in front as I see him.
I blink, feeling the fresh throbbing in my hand for the first time. Brown eyes made of glass mimic mine uncannily.
It's me.
"Afika?" Kasiya doesn't come closer.
I slowly lower my trembling arm, clearing my throat. "Never mind. What's your report?"
(Kasiya's POV)
"I…don't have anything. There's no sign of Kek or the army," I state while trying not to gawk. "Severa's been able to figure out the security cameras…"
"That won't accomplish much," Afika replies beginning to dig pieces of glass from his skin. "Kek will be able to avoid being seen by such mediocre technology."
His bloodied hand is holding fast to the knife. Afika always has a knife despite it being a less dependable weapon. The same goes for Minkah. The younger probably following his lover's lead. It doesn't make sense though; something I've never been able to figure out.
"What are you standing around for, Kasiya?" he grounds out as if I am at fault here somehow.
I try to phrase my response carefully. "I've finished preparing my weapons. Is there anything you need me to do?"
"How about something productive?" he snaps glaring at me through our reflections in the shattered remains of the mirror hanging on the wall.
Not wanting to lose any limbs I simply turn and descend the wide stairs. Severa is waiting at the bottom, blue eyes directed upwards to Afika's location.
"I smelled blood."
"Yeah," I somewhat confirm as we walk back towards the parlor.
"He injured himself?" she inquires pushing the tall white doors open.
"Stabbed a mirror by the looks of it," I answer still in disbelief. Closing the doors behind me I look at Severa. "He seemed…crazed…like he didn't comprehend what had happened…like he didn't know it was a mirror. Of course he gave me no explanations."
"If he is unsure of something he will not mention it despite it being obvious to everyone. Admission is a sign of weakness."
I nod but cannot get that image out of my mind. The suspicious bewildered way he was staring at the remnants of the mirror. His confidence had completely vanished. What happened up there? He was by himself. Is he paranoid about Kek being on the loose?
It makes me wonder if we'll have to worry about Afika taking us out. There are two outcomes. In both his mental state will continue to degrade. He could try and kill us and fail or he could go berserk. Either way, he's losing touch with the reality he knows. That is a dangerous thing.
I settle myself back down and continue that painstaking task of loading my guns with the needles and exploding capsules. Severa sits but doesn't pick up her work. Instead she watches me intently. I'm used to her assessing my every move.
"You are doubtful about remaining here."
Not wanting to admit it, I clench my jaw as I slide a needle into place inside one of the hundreds of holes in the barrel of the gun. Such talk would get me killed. Then again, Severa isn't one to rat.
"Yes."
She shifts. "Where would you go? Lebanon?"
I look up at her in skepticism. "Why would I want to go there?"
"You lived there once. It was your home."
I snort. "Not home, Severa. We've never had homes."
"True. And yet you wish to return there?"
Do I? Taken away at the age of nine, a person would think I would remember more. There are empty pages in that chapter of my life. The foggy glimpses of the past I do have are nothing but anger and pain. Not much a different feeling than those I experienced with Apophis.
"No," I answer after contemplating. "I was thinking more along the lines of Australia. They have many venomous creatures there. Or perhaps South America. They have the same there."
"You never quit with your concoctions, do you?"
I raise my eyebrows. "And you never let up on the fire."
Yes, Australia or South America. Brazil most likely. It has the largest section of rainforest. Once you get far enough inside it is absolute seclusion from the human world. That's what I want. No more bothersome people with their rules and laws to abide by. It's not like I'll ever be left in peace if I were to try to live in 'civilized' society. They'll always be hunting me.
Up until now I've never had dreams or ambitions. I just did was I was told. But that ship has sailed. I'm not about to follow someone who is literally going insane, attacking his reflection. He's an egomaniac willing to sacrifice us. No, he plans to do so. I'm not going to stick around for that.
"May I come too?"
I gaze at Severa in astonishment. Her blue eyes look back at me. They are blank as usual. I consider her. She could become quite a nuisance, growing bored and burning the rainforest down while we're still within it. A pyromaniac to the end. If she remains here she will most certainly be eliminated. Not that I really care. Like all the assassins I've worked with, I keep from growing attached to her or anyone else. That spells disaster. She means virtually nothing to me. Perhaps I'll indulge her for now though. We can always part way later on. Just like with the revolution, it's much easier to get out of situations like this with partners or groups. Having worked with the girl, I know she is dependable and capable.
"Fine," I smirk. "But I doubt we'll be able to kill Afika even in his…state of mind."
"We will just have to get around him then with a distraction of some kind," she answers matter-of-factly.
"Easier said than done," I scoff picking up a gun again.
(Malik's POV)
"Hey Ryou," I greet entering the lounge. He's sitting by the fire. "Is that Minkah's notebook?"
"Yes," Yugi straightens up on a seat across from our friend. "You didn't notice me?"
I let loose a laugh sitting beside Ryou. "I couldn't see you over the back of the chair, shrimp. Where's everybody?"
"Downstairs," Yugi answers with a pout at the nickname. "Jou challenged Niu to a video game competition or something."
"They what?" I ask in disbelief. "Niu was just teaching us how to use those guns—what—this afternoon?"
"Well yeah," Yugi scratches the back of his neck. "But what else can we do now?"
"I don't know! But we shouldn't be sitting on our asses lollygagging when…!"
"Can you explain this, Malik?" Ryou holds out the sketchbook to me.
Confused as to what this is about, I accept it. "Just what is the significance of…?"
Those hieroglyphs. The structure of that arch. I place a shaking hand over the page, running my fingernails across it. It's all before me; that cold darkness…depraved of all natural light…chanting echoing down endless tunnels…
"It's the tombs," I murmur. "How the hells did Minkah…?"
"We raided them…probably only a year or two after you and Marik escaped," Minkah appears out of nowhere.
I don't dare remove my hand. "You…"
"The tombs contained two things Apophis sought," Minkah explains morosely as he approaches us. "Preserved ancient Egyptian artifacts…" He stops beside me. "…and children. The artifacts would be sold on the black market to fund the organization…"
"And the children were new recruits," I finish angrily. There had been many more kids of all ages in that hell than just Marik and me. They'd endured the same abuse as us. What was their fate? None of the Apophis survivors resembles any of them.
Minkah reads my thoughts. "More than that. The tomb keepers were raised in the ancient ways. Apophis wanted them to lead them to other 'sites'."
"But we didn't know about anywhere besides those tombs!" I argue slapping the page.
He looks away. "Yes…they found that out."
Ryou covers his mouth with his hand. Yugi kneels on his chair leaning towards us. Closing my eyes, I toss the notebook to Minkah.
"I'm sorry, Malik," he apologizes softly in Arabic. "I didn't tell you before because…I was rather hoping you never found out, to be perfectly honest."
"Yet another thing I want to kill Apophis for," I hiss fist clenched so tightly it hurts.
"Afika and the others beat you to it," Yugi points out timidly.
Adrenaline pumping through my body, I want to break something. Hurt someone. Kill.
"Malik, you can't think about that. Not now," Ryou entreats grabbing my arm. "Like you were lecturing us just moments ago: We should be focusing on our current situation. It's too late for those kids."
Allowing him to pull me back down on the chair next to him I bury my face in my hands. He places a hand on my back, rubbing it consolingly.
"It could have been us," I croak. "If I hadn't gotten us out of there when I did…"
"That's what all of told ourselves at the end of every training session," Minkah relates. " 'I made it through that one. Will I be a practice dummy for the others to use as a target? Or deemed too weak and used to demonstrate how to inflict long excruciating torture?'"
I lift my head to meet somber grey eyes. Better than anyone else, he understands how I feel. How many times have we cheated the ghastly fate that those around us fell to? Is this all pure chance? I don't like to believe I was more worthy than those left behind in the tombs.
"It's because we acted. We defied what others told us to do," I whisper to myself, Ryou's fingers curling around my shoulder. "That's why we're alive."
Minkah breaks eye contact. "Not me."
"Yes you did! Don't belittle yourself!" Ryou insists. "The revolution against Apophis…"
"Was Afik and the others," Minkah interjects with shame. "Afik decided to rebel. Without him none of us would have done anything." He takes several steps away from us. "Niu may understand the world better than the rest of us, but Afika was the only one of our group with enough nerve and determination to push for freedom."
"If freedom was all this is about then why did he order us to be killed?" Yugi asks in a skeptical but careful tone.
Does Afika think I'd be the one to chase them across the globe? I stop myself from thinking this as absurdity. Yes, I admit it. I would have followed them trying to liberate Minkah from them.
"You knew both of us and had seen the others. You know too much. He wouldn't trust you to keep your mouths shut…" Minkah looks at me strangely and I get it.
I crossed the boundaries. I tried to become romantically involved with Afika's lover. This guy is not the forgive and forget type. Hell, I doubt he would do either. So I'm the main reason Afika is coming after our group. Great. Another thing to feel guilty about.
"So after you had destroyed the bases and killed us: What then? Where would you go? What were you going to do?" Yugi asks.
Minkah's brow furrows. "I…"
(Minkah's POV)
"You're crazy!" I whisper at my boyfriend as we sort through a large stack of guns, determining which are worth saving.
"Is this how you want to spend the rest of your life?" Afik asks under his breath as one of the older members passes by.
Our lives will be short. I've always known that. "Is this because we won't live long?"
"Have you ever heard of a fifty-year old assassin?"
"Apophis isn't that old of an organization," I reply, wanting him to cast aside this fantasy.
"It isn't our life expectancy that bothers me," he admits while examining a cartridge holder. "It's how we live those years however few they may be."
We stop talking as several more people walk past us. I do my best to keep my hands from shaking as I work. Afika has spoken about freedom before but never like this. He doesn't talk about an actual plan unless he's determined to go through with it.
"How many of us would there be?"
"It would have to be a small group. Ten at the most."
"Ten?"I scoff at him. "Afik, you're talking about the entirety of Apophis! You honestly believe ten people could…?"
"We just need the right people," my boyfriend smirks; tossing a damaged gun into the pile that will be taken to the technology experts to separate the useful parts. "A large number would be found out. It has to be a small operation."
I shake my head in disapproval that he could consider attempting such a feat. He leans towards me so he's by my ear.
"I promise you now, Minkah. I'll get us both out of here."
"Afika…"
He grabs my chin so I'm looking into his eyes. "I'll free us both."
"He never actually said what we would do with our lives once we'd escaped that life," I confess.
It hadn't mattered. The idea of being free, no longer under Fenyang and the others', no more beatings or assignments…And Afika at my side. He promised he'd get us out. Afik never goes back on his word.
"And that's where our problems begin," Malik mutters.
(Afika's POV)
I need to get myself under control. What has shaken my confidence so? I attacked a mirror! At least Kek wasn't there to witness it. But this means I cannot trust my instincts or depend on myself. My judgment will no doubt be clouded due to this…change.
What is the underlying cause? There must be one. Glaring at the bandaged I've secured around my injured hand, I want to rip it off and cut it more with my knife as a confirmation that I purposefully inflicted wounds upon myself. Then at least it would make sense and be justified.
I lead my head against the wall of a room I've retreated to; having made certain there were no reflective objects in here. I'd spent a long while here before going off to treat my wound. There is a bathroom on this floor where the mirror is on the opposite wall of the sink. I'd first thrown water on my face before taking several large gulps to sooth my parched throat. Blood from my injured hand entered my mouth as I cupped the liquid but I'm used to the taste.
Now I'm beginning to feel ill. My body temperature is rising, I'm sweating, and have the tremors. After all this time building up my immune system…of all the times I had to get sick!
Opening the door, I head back down to the same bathroom and take another long drink, splashing cold water on my face in an effort to cool my skin. The bandage gets wet but I don't care. Pain itches its way into the wound making it sting.
Feeling worse than before, I trudge back to the bedroom and close and lock the door. Lying down on the bed I squeeze my eyes shut while holding tight to the hilt of my knife.
This is going to complicate things immensely.
"There. That's much better," the woman smiled as she finished cleaning and bandaging the child's injuries.
He'd squirmed away from her touch. When she'd bathed him she'd noted the scars covering his bony body. He was half-starved and filthy. He must have lived on the street for some time. She'd found some clothing for him to wear. It belonged to her son who was a bit younger but because of his malnourished state they fit him fine.
Gently pushing black bangs out of brown eyes she said, "Now how about that meal I promised, malak?"
His eyes didn't light up like she'd hoped. She held out her hand but he did not accept it. Sighing, she motioned for him to follow her from the bathroom into the small room with no furniture save the stove, sink, and an ancient refrigerator that hummed continuously. He watched her expectantly as she checked the stew.
Those brown eyes were old. So old. What had they seen? It saddened her when children were forced to grow up so young. Of course, hadn't she? Deciding the stew needed to boil a bit longer, she went over to the boy and knelt carefully beside him. As of late, he had not said a word.
"What's your name, malak?"
He stared at her as though he could read her thoughts. She decided the ordeal earlier had traumatized him.
"Do you have any family? A home?"
He looked down at his bare feet in a dejected sort of way that made her want to cry and hold him. Maybe having only an adult around made him nervous. He might open up better to someone around his age—something else she wasn't sure of. She lifted her head.
"Simsimah!" she called, glancing toward a door off to the right. "Come out here! There's someone I want you to meet!"
The door creaked open after a drawn out moment of hesitation. A white-haired boy peeked out at his mother and the strange child sitting on the floor wearing his clothing.
"You're being rude, simsimti!" she scolded lightly. "Come here."
He did so cautiously, obviously used to being wary of other people. Approaching the other boy, their eyes met. They stared at one another. She moved and placed a hand on each of their shoulders, the black-haired child flinching.
"This is my son. Go on, simsimah. Introduce yourself," she urged encouragingly.
He shifted awkwardly. "Hi," he murmured shyly.
Smiling sympathetically she said, "His name is Minkah. What's your name?" she tried again.
(Ryou's POV)
"Okay lessee…How about…army?" Jou said as we sit around the fire in the main room as the evening ages.
"Army: jaysh."
"So let's kick the asses of those guys in the jaysh!" the blonde cheers to which the rest of us—save Niu who doesn't catch what Jou says—groan.
"Don't you guys think we should be doing something more productive than…?" Malik begins but is ignore by the high-spirited Jounouchi.
"Gun!"
Niu smiles, shaking his head. "Musaddas."
"Excellent! We're going to use our mussadas to…!"
"You speak of one gun in that sentence," Niu informs him.
"How do I make it plural?"
"Idiot," Minkah mutters from beside me to which Yugi snickers.
"Shouldn't we be focusing on a plan…?" Malik continues in exasperation.
"Let them have some fun," a pale Yami, who has finally emerged from the bedroom, his hand wrapped practically in a ball of bandages, chuckles.
His boyfriend glowers. "They already played video games for two hours earlier."
"Oooh! Good one, Malik!" Jou cheers, turning back to Niu. "Video game."
"La'b al-vidiyo."
"Stop encouraging him," Honda grins when he enters with a tray of snacks. "Who's hungry?—besides Jou?"
The blonde pouts. "That's not fair!"
We all laugh as Honda sets the tray down in the middle. There's a bunch of fruit, crackers with slices of cheese, and a small bowl of seeds. As we all reach in and take some, Jou holds up a piece of fruit.
"Strawberry!"
"Jou, can't you just eat?" Honda asks in irritation.
Niu chews a cracker and swallows. "Faraawala. One more then stop."
Jou isn't pleased that the game is ending but makes the most of it. Looking around for something, as over the past half hour Niu has named nearly every item in the room, he frowns. Glancing down at the tray of food, Jou brightens picking up a single seed.
"How 'bout this? Sesame seed!"
Niu opens his mouth but it's not his voice that answers.
"…simsimah."
I look at Minkah to find him staring wide-eyed at the small seed. Everyone senses something wrong. Niu doesn't say anything, waiting. I take his lead as he understands my brother's reactions to things better than we do. When Minkah begins trembling it's a clear sign that this is far more momentous than we feared.
"What is it, Minkah?" Mr. Mutou finally asks gently.
"Simsimah," he repeats quietly with a dazed expression.
I look to Marik for an explanation but he shakes his head.
"What about a simsimah, Minkah?"
He looks up at us with bewildered wonder. "That's what s-she used to call me."
"She?"
My brother nods stiffly. "Um."
(Minkah's POV)
"You're remembering her for who she really was?" the old man presses.
"What I remember…she wasn't…angry," I whisper in puzzlement but also in awe at actually remembering what she looked and sounded like. It's so different from the cold hateful voice and the livid sharp eyes.
"Cannot sleep, simsimti?" she smiled warmly giving me a hug as we huddled together on the worn mattress.
"No," I answered before putting my thumb in my mouth.
"Don't do that!" she chided, taking hold of my hand and retrieving my wet thumb. "You're teeth will become all crooked like a crocodile's!" I giggled in response.
"I don't think…she hated me…"
"How about a lullaby?"
"Please!" I clapped my small hands.
"I'm so confused," I whimper holding my head in my hands. "If she didn't hate me then why…? Why do I have those other memories?"
"They were planted, no doubt," Malik growls.
"Hmm," Niu agrees. "Trust what you are finding now."
"And then what?" I ask him helplessly.
He shrugs. "See where they lead. At the end of them you might find the truth."
"Minkah?" Ryou touches my arm.
Instead of answering I rise slowly to my feet. Everyone's watching me, concerned for me. I clear my throat, hands tight in fists.
"Could I be alone for a little while? Please?" I entreat them.
Mr. Mutou nods. "Why not sit in the larger bedroom over there?" he suggests the room Yami has been resting in. "If you need anything or want to talk we'll be right here."
Not saying any more, I trudge off. I need to get away from distractions and questions. Maybe in seclusion I will discover the answers to my childhood and Um. Closing the door behind me, I stare at nothing. What Niu said bothers me: that I'll find the truth when the memories end. I know what he meant. He was referring to her death. That, I don't recall either. And I don't want to.
"Would you like a lullaby, simsimti?"
I grit my teeth. After all of these years I need to know. I owe it to Um and myself. This is something I have to face. I forgot her once already and turned her into some type of monster. I need to know why I did that. Steeling my nerves, I sit down on the bed, searching my mind for another door to open that will lead me to her again.
(Kasiya's POV)
I can't believe I'm actually making a plan for my own life. Is this what fear feels like? Agitation to be sure. We're plotting an escape from people like Afika and Kek. Our problems won't be over if we do get away. Forever hunted.
How many times have I changed my appearance to the extreme for the sake of missions? My hair is its natural black and the extra tan I gave my skin is finally fading. With my skills I could easily blend into any society I want if I study it first. There is no need for that though. As much as I like studying human emotions I myself have never experienced, I would rather live in seclusion collecting venoms and poisons. Maybe I'll use them eventually. Go into a city and try them out. I've never used animals as test subjects before. I guess some things never change.
Unlatching the next box, I do a double-take at the eight missing bottles of the third row. Oh shit! Which is it? Which is it? Which is it? Eyes roaming over the labels, I find the answer: A hallucinogen. Lysergic acid diethylamide.
Why, out of all the chemicals, would someone take that particular one? It's not toxic. If someone were to take it, especially if they didn't know the dosage, things will get ugly. It's symptoms include experiencing several emotions as once, altered perceptions, "seeing" and "hearing" things that aren't really there, and impaired thinking. It would be fairly easy to give to a person without their knowledge as it is colorless, odorless, and tasteless. This particular vial held the liquid form. The next row down are the bottles containing the tablets. Who would steal this? They would be a person trying to attack someone else but needing to make absolutely sure that person didn't know. If they made a mistake and used a poison that could be detected then…
My eyes shoot to Severa who is working on a fire grenade. Oh no. We've taken breaks and wandered the mansion separately. What was she doing in her time alone?
"Severa, did you take the LSD?"
She doesn't look up at me. "Have you drunk any of the water from the bathroom sink on the second floor?" she asks blandly before gripping the thin rope of the fuse with her teeth while tying it to the explosive. "The one that doesn't have the mirror above the sink?
I feel the color drain from my face. The girl knows plumbing. On hundreds of occasions she's tampered with all sorts of drains, sinks, etc; placing bombs inside it and mixing the water in the pipes with things like flammable liquids. The liquid LSD…Afika's on the second floor! She used his issue with mirrors to her advantage! Did she put all eight vials in that sink's plumbing?!
"Severa, we said we'd come up with a plan!"
"I did," she answers.
"You should have told me! How long has he been up there with the possibility of him drinking that contaminated water? We're supposed to be escaping!"
"It is a hallucinogen, is it not? He will be disoriented and…"
"He could also go completely psycho! Depending on how much of it he ingested there's no telling what it will do to him!" I snap, trying hastily to think up a plan.
Or what he will do to us.
(Yami's POV)
"This is awesome! Mink is remembrin' his mom!" Jou says with optimism while stuffing his face with food.
"Yes and no," Malik states gravely. "While he'll most likely find she was a loving mother, he's also going to find out what happened to her and why his image of her warped."
"He will be in a fragile condition," Grandpa concurs while turning the pages of the notebook. Her angry face glares at us again and again. "How could he have had his memories altered to such a degree?"
"Apophis made him forget," Niu decides in monotone. "They could make children forget much."
"So Apophis did this?" Yugi asks from next to me.
"I do not know."
"Brainwashing children…it's no surprise they created a past full of violence for him as 'memories'," my koi snarls. "They didn't want weepy soldiers asking for their parents. They wanted kids who hated the world. They created a mother for him that wanted him to seek vengeance."
"And it worked," Honda says scathingly.
"Leh, it did not work most times," Niu corrects him. "Most children were killed."
This sad fact sinks in. I can't imagine what it would be like. I don't even want to think about it. How many children? Probably even Niu doesn't know the answer to that one.
"It was an interesting trigger to his memories," Niu muses examining a tiny seed held between his thumb and forefinger. "Of all things and it's a sesame seed that makes him remember his mother." Coming out of his thoughts, the black teen looks around at us. "We must more be careful. Seeing Kek, Afika, Severa, and Kasiya may make worse."
"The fake memories," I have the same opinion. "They also had their memories suppressed and altered no doubt. And they, unlike Minkah, haven't broken free from those false recollections as far as we know. If they come here and he contradicts what they believe to be true there's no telling what will happen."
"Shit," Jou curses. "And here I thought Mink remembering was a good thing."
"It is a blessing. To know that she loved him…that will ease him a great deal," Grandpa says with such sadness. "And yet it's dangerous right now, as Niu and Yami have said. His comrades are not in the same state of mind. There's no telling what they believe. And if Minkah were to enlighten them how would they react?" He repeats this question in Arabic for Niu.
"I honestly have no idea," he admits apologetically, setting the seed back in the bowl with the others.
(Afika's POV)
I have to get to him first. At whatever cost I cannot let Kek corrupt him. Would he believe Kek though? I can't risk a seed of doubt being planted in Minkah's mind. I must not act too recklessly though. This must be thought through carefully. If I appear uptight Minkah will know what Kek says is true.
"How about a lullaby, malaa`ikah?"
I sit up straight. Who the hell was that? They were speaking to more than one person. My fever must be getting to me…
doha ya doha and they built the Ka'aba
and with zamzam water they put on it
my father traveled to Mecca
What is that? That voice singing…? I pull my knife from its sheath, looking around for the source. It sounds close.
he brought me a kind of cookie
the cookie is now in the storage
and the storage needs a key
Finding no radio or other such device in the room I kick open the door and look both ways down the hallway. Two directions and I cannot discern from which that soft voice is coming from.
the key is with the carpenter
and the carpenter wants money
the money is with the bride
I won't be rash like last time and do something stupid like attacking a mirror. Focus. Do I recognize the voice? Possibly. It's female. It's definitely female. I narrow my eyes. Severa? Since when does she sing? This is a religious tune. She's not spiritual. Deciding to not dwell on that, I hurry off down the hallway. I don't look at the broken mirror as I pass it by on my way to the stairs. Taking the steps three at a time, I hasten faster as she croons:
and the bride wants to have a baby boy
the boy wants milk
and the milk is with the cow
Reaching the room they've been working in, I thrust the doors open. Kasiya and Severa both stare at me, obviously having been discussing something. Or at least Kasiya has. He seems panicked.
"Is something the matter?" he inquires in a strange voice. "You're pallid."
I stare at Severa in bewilderment. The girl is currently creating mini fire bombs. At this moment she's holding a fuse between her teeth as she ties a knot to secure it. She wasn't singing.
"Afika?"
the cow wants vegetables
and the vegetables are on the mountain
the mountain wants rain
He's doing this. This is his doing! It's why I've been feeling so sick! I take out my gun and point it directly at a shocked Kasiya. Severa freezes.
"What did you poison me with?" I demand, not caring that I'm shaking. It's the poison that's to blame.
"What are you talking abou…?"
"Do not test me, Kasiya!" I shout, cocking the gun. "Where is the antidote?!"
He slowly holds up his hands, glancing at Severa as if she knew. "Afika, I swear to you: I don't know what you're…"
fall rain fall on the mountain on my niece's pumpkins
"Where is the antidote?!" I scream, finger on the trigger.
He gazes at me with wide eyes as though he knows nothing of this—as though he's innocent! He will not tell me. As I thought: they've turned against me!
"This is your last chance!" I hiss.
Swiftly he moves, snatching one of his own guns. Not quick enough. With a loud bang he slumps in his chair, a hole where his face was seconds ago. Black hair is covered in chunks of tissue and bone. Severa gapes at him, immobile. He wouldn't have given me the antidote or even named the toxin he used. I'll have to cope with the effects of the poison as best I can and hope it will subside. Severa drops her weapon and rushes to him, clutching the front of his shirt covered in blood and brain matter.
"Kasiya!"
my niece gave birth to a son
she named him Abdessamad
Unusual for her to show such emotion. I'll deal with her later. Scowling at them both, I turn on my heel and leave, slamming the doors behind me, the unknown woman's voice following.
doha ya doha and they built the Ka'aba…
"Kasiya!"
(Minkah's POV)
"You're up early," Um said cheerfully from the stove where she was making breakfast. "Did you sleep well, simsimah?
"Yes," I answered with a grin, sniffing the air as the aroma of eggs floated across the way.
"Do you have any plans for today?"
"I dunno," I replied sitting cross-legged on the hard floor.
"Minkah, sit up straight."
I slouched more to which she gave me a stern look. Glowering, I did as she told me, slouching again as soon as she'd turned back to cooking.
"You have been acting up lately. I suppose it's only normal for a boy your age. And it's nice you have someone to play with so you don't have to spend so much time with me."
She sounded almost sad, but my six-year-old mind did not process this. Instead I was…proud? Yes, I was proud by what she said. I was becoming more independent. I was doing things for myself more and more.
"You need to get a bath tonight."
"I don't want to."
Her long brown hair was so beautiful as she turned her head to look at me. Grey eyes were warning, telling me not to push my luck. They were not vicious or cold though. Why couldn't I see how gorgeous and caring she was? I hate that I treated her this way but have to remind myself I was only a child.
"Is he still sleeping?"
I shrugged, playing with a broken toy truck that was missing the back wheels. Sighing, she shook her head.
"Can he stay with us forever?" I asked hopefully.
I can tell she was smiling. "Would you like that, simsimti?"
"Yes," I answered with a grin. "Um, could you not call me that anymore?"
"Why not?"
"I'm not a baby."
Though she didn't like it, she knew this day would come. "If you don't want me to call you that, Minkah, then I won't."
I swung my small arms back and forth, impatient for breakfast. The sound of the bedroom door creaking open made me perk. What…? Someone else lived with us? Who? Um greeted this other person happily.
"Good morning, malak."
I turned my head and smiled at the black-haired boy in the doorway. His piercing brown eyes gazed at me from under jagged bangs.
My heart stops.
"Afik?!"
Oh nos! O.O
Afika: -drugged up- I'll...kill you all! -swings knife around- And then...you'll be dead! -falls flat on his face-
Ferris and characters: O.o
malak: angel
malaa ' ikah: angels
simsimah: sesame seed
simsimti: my sesame seed
Both simsimti and simsimah are nicknames that are meant to be cute like for children.
The lullaby is a popular one and one of the few I could find a translation for. I believe it's more common in Saudi Arabia but figured it still worked. :P
Big revelations next chapter that I've been itching for! XD Reviewsies please!