Blindfolds. Not content with taking their dignity, their freedom and even their speech, Higuchi now saw fit to take their sight as well.

Following the event, those that had had theirs taken off for the climax, were gagged once again, and everyone was blindfolded. They had been given nothing for their injuries, but had at least been clothed in the white robes again.

Now they found themselves being dragged through darkness, without any idea where they might be going. Higuchi had of course mentioned the so called "main facility", but Higuchi had also called auctioning them off to be raped an "initiation event", so Yami had no idea what this new place could be. The floor beneath them as they scrambled along was rough and cold, no different from the concrete they'd spend the last week on, but judging from Higuchi's mentioning of a long journey, they were nowhere near their next resting place.

Yami's bleeding had stopped, but he nevertheless felt the sickening feeling of wet blood all down his legs, and pain still pulsed through him as he moved, the sensation of having been torn open lingering. Despite the constant reminders every time he moved, he refused to let himself dwell on the cause of his discomfort. To do so would only cause depression to set in, and he needed to stay alert, he couldn't risk missing a chance for them to escape. He had failed the others once now; he couldn't let them be subjected to such a torture again.

Suddenly they stopped, and Yami heard another heavy door being pulled open. He was shocked to feel a cold breeze wash over them, accompanied by the sounds of light waves and seagulls. They seemed to be going outside, but more importantly, they seemed to be beside the ocean. The chilling air flowed around them as they were ushered out, feeling wood beneath their feet, were they in the harbour?

Yami had no time to ponder further, as they were unceremoniously lifted up by the men and flung forward, hitting a metal floor some way off the ground. Though he could not see, Yami could guess they'd been put into a van or truck. The loud rumble that began soon after seemed to confirm this notion.

He tried to sit up, but felt sharp pain from his backside as soon as he put pressure on it. He could only lie on his side, unable to see or speak, not able to tell who was next to him. The space was cramped, and from the sounds of movement, everyone was tangled into a pile, trying to get some kind of bearing.

Just as the group seemed to have straightened themselves out, the vehicle lurched forward suddenly. Without restraints, they were flung backwards, those at the back striking the locked doors, with the others crashing into them. Yami felt his head connect sharply with someone else's, and immediately his vision blurred, his mind losing clarity.

Unable to control his limbs fully, he fell back again, onto the person, who had similarly collapsed. The vehicle was moving fast, effectively pinning them down in their disorientated state. Struggling to stay conscious, Yami turned his head weakly, his face being pressed against the person's back, whose robe must have opened in the commotion, for Yami could feel skin against his cheek. It was soft, but he could also feel scars across it. Malik...

Suddenly he could no longer feel it; indeed he could feel nothing at all. He felt strange, somehow light, as though he were floating. He could still feel the movement of the vehicle, but it now felt more like air moving around him. Without warning, the darkness he had been shrouded in was illuminated by a swirl of colours, spinning all around him. They began to coalesce, forming into the shape of a hand.

Yami blinked, a hand was holding his blindfold in front of him. He was no longer in the vehicle. However, when he looked around him, he found he was once again behind the curtain on that terrible stage he had left behind less than an hour ago.

The gag still in his mouth, he could say nothing, instead he simply looked up at the person before him, Higuchi.

"The bidding's over, you have a buyer. He ended up winning the bids for everyone, actually. He ought to be finished with the other specimens now."

Yami merely stared, unable to comprehend how he was back he so quickly, but before he could give it any more thought, the curtain raised up.

He froze, a deep shock pulsing through his body at the sight.

Blood. The entire stage was drenched in crimson. Strewn across the stained wood were his companions, motionless. They were soaked with blood, mutilated, covered in deep, ugly slash and stab wounds, their eyes lifeless. In the centre was a man, his face obscured by a hood, cackling excitedly even as he held a limp, inert Malik up by the hair and drove a long, bloody knife into the Egyptian's maimed eye. Scarlet gushed out, over his hand, before he looked up, directly at Yami. He withdrew the knife and dropped Malik to the ground.

"I won the auction, I get to do what I like. And I think I'd like to see what your face looks like without all that skin"

He advanced his hands outstretched eagerly. Yami had simply stood in shock, incapable of processing the sights, but now fear and horror washed over him in full force. He tried to scramble backwards, but found his hands and feet were chained together. He felt the man seize his hair and force his face upwards. Helpless, he looked over pleadingly at Higuchi, who merely watched indifferently as the knife was lowered.

"Sorry Yami, he won the auction, there's nothing I can do about it"

Yami? Higuchi did not know his name. The blade touched his skin, but Yami did not even notice, feeling detached suddenly. Higuchi could not know his name, Higuchi....

...Higuchi.

"Up! We've no time to be wasting"

Higuchi stood in front of Yami as before, holding his blindfold. Yami's head spun around wildly. He was in a van, the others seated around him, their blindfolds removed also, and devoid of knife wounds. Yami looked back quickly, his hazy mind slowly catching up. He was drenched in sweat, his breathing fast and heavy. He was still seeing split second flashes of that horrific blood-soaked stage. What had brought on such a vivid nightmare? He never dreamt normally, but this had felt so real.

"What's the matter with you? Carsick? Get out of there"

The others were already climbing out uneasily; with their hands still handcuffed behind their backs, they could barely manoeuvre themselves out. Someone was brushing past Yami, but stopped. He turned his head, finding himself face to face with Malik. The Egyptian's eyes were worried, and seemed to be looking for some kind of confirmation from Yami.

His eyes, Yami had just seen them be put out permanently, but here they were now, as bright and brilliantly lavender as always. Yami stared into them, feeling lost once again, unable to shake the bloody images his mind had conjured up. His mind still felt slightly fuzzy, still not one hundred percent conscious.

"You two, hurry up!"

Snapping out of his uncertainty, Yami nodded reassuringly (at least he hoped it was reassuring) at Malik. His friend still looked very much concerned, but moved forward nonetheless, nearly falling out of the van.

Upon emerging himself, and being able to see outside, Yami found himself once again shocked by his surroundings.

Around the back of the van, encircling the group were Higuchi and his two ever present thugs, along with a number of other unsavoury looking men.

They seemed to be at the side of a vast back courtyard. Looking to his right, Yami saw they had stopped right behind an immense, three story house. Indeed, it could only be called a mansion. They had only a moment to take in the view, however, before Higuchi spoke again.

"Right, Carter, Blain, you know the drill. I want you up and down in ten minutes, no more"

Evidently, Carter and Blain were his two thugs, for they moved forward immediately. The other men seized the group firmly and pushed them towards the mansion. Before they entered, Yami looked around, trying to see were the mansion might be situated, but could only see a thick forest surrounding the mansion's grounds.

They were moved swiftly, passing through richly furnished hallways, and up elaborately carved staircases, before halting, on the third floor, before a series of polished oak doors.

The first door was opened, and Ryou and Bakura were pulled inside. Before any of the group could react, they were jerked along to the second door, through which Jounouchi, Otogi and Mokuba were taken. Yami, Yuugi and Malik were moved on, towards the third door.

"I've got this one, Carter"

One of the two now named thugs had spoken, Yami recognized him as the one that had beaten him and Malik with his baton their first night as captives. It seemed he was Blain, the other was Carter. With a jolt of realization, he noticed the man's voice sounded familiar also, it was the same he had heard just before passing out from the gas bomb in Yuugi's kitchen; these two were the ones that had kidnapped them. He felt silent anger welling up inside him; these two were second only to Higuchi himself for how much suffering they were responsible for.

Carter nodded and moved back towards the second door, disappearing through it. Blain opened the third door and entered. The men holding Yami, Yuugi and Malik also moved into the room, leading the boys into yet another unknown.

The room was of a medium size, with plain white walls and a wood floor. Two windows marked the opposite walls, covered over with metal bars. The room was completely empty and bare, except for three mattresses laying at equal intervals beside the wall to their left. Above each, Yami saw, his heart sinking, attached low on the wall, were chains. They seemed to be only a single chain each, only meant for one limb.

Yami was pulled over to the centre mattress. He felt the man holding him unlock his hand cuffs and quickly attach the chain to his right wrist, shoving him down, onto the mattress. The same was done to Yuugi, on the mattress to his left, but before the man holding Malik could do anything, Blain stepped over, signalling for him to let the boy go.

"I'll get him, you lot go and wait outside, and shut the door"

Looking perplexed, the men obeyed, snapping the door closed behind them.

They were not the only ones confused; the three boys were just as perturbed. Blain pushed Malik over to the mattress on Yami's right, as the others had. However, without any warning, he spun Malik to face him, seized him roughly by the throat and slammed him back against the wall.

Yami and Yuugi attempted to make noises of protest through their gags, and move to help, but the chains meant they were out of reach.

Malik's hands were still handcuffed, pinned uselessly to the wall behind him. Blain reached up with his other hand and wrenched off Malik's gag. The Egyptian immediately began to cough and splutter, Blain's large hand clamped tightly around his neck. Blain put his free hand over Malik's mouth.

"Don't cough in my fucking face, boy"

He leaned down, his face mere inches from Malik's.

"I've been waiting a week for this. I wanted to just give you a good thrashing after it, but the boss called me off. I suppose you've him to thank for this. Cause I've been thinking it was good he called me off, cause now I've got a much better way to pay you back for that disrespect you showed me."

Now Yami remembered; Malik had kicked Blain after he had hit Yami, and Higuchi had stopped him retaliating. But he had seemed furious, far beyond the anger a kick should have warranted.

Blain pressed Malik back against the wall harder, seeming to enjoy the power he had over the far smaller male. He smiled unpleasantly before speaking again.

"Next week me and Carter are off again, on the hunt for more collections, but I come by here once a week, for meetings with the boss. And every week from here on out, you're going to be sitting up here. Well, I'm not gonna let that go to waste. You'll learn your lesson the real hard way, and I'll have a lot more fun than just beating it into you. Sounds fucking win win to me."

He removed his hand from Malik's throat, and ran it down the boy's clothed chest, before grabbing his crotch forcefully. Malik's eyes widened in surprise and discomfort.

"You've got a sexy body for sure, kid, especially with all those scars on your back. I'm gonna really love taking it for a ride"

He moved even closer to Malik's face, and ran his tongue up Malik's cheek.

"And you're gonna to keep quiet about it, or I'm gonna kill you, understand?"

Abruptly, he released Malik, and shoved him down, onto the mattress. He unlocked his handcuffs and attached the chain to his wrist. He walked over to Yami and Yuugi, pulling off their gags, before crossing the room. Before he opened the door, he turned.

"The room is soundproof, so don't bother yelling."

He looked back at Malik, who was staring at him, a look of shock and horror on his tanned features.

"See ya soon"

He winked, before turning and opening the door. Then he was gone, the door shut behind him, and the room was silent.

Malik said nothing, he simply stared blankly at the floor, his expression simply disbelieving.

"Malik?"

Yuugi had spoken, Yami turned back to see his Aibou's large eyes gazing intently at Malik, filled with concern.

"Malik, are you ok? Are you hurt?"

Yami's mind finally caught on to the realisation that he could speak again. But he felt torn, not knowing which way to turn, and who to speak to, Yuugi was his highest priority, but he had been with Malik the most through all this, and the Egyptian had just been given a far worse sentence than any of the others. He felt frustration setting in, he could speak at last but he was still chained up, still restrained. He hated being constricted, but it was more than that, they needed physical reassurance, not just verbal comfort.

"Malik, please say something"

Malik finally moved his head, turning to look at his two fellow captives. He remained silent, simply staring, before suddenly bursting into tears. His head dropped into his hands as he sobbed uncontrollably.

Yami glanced back at Yuugi briefly, whose eyes were also full of tears as he watched Malik, before turning back.

"Malik, it's ok, please, calm down, it'll be fine, I promise, I won't let this happen again...please"

Malik raised his head, tears streaming down his face, his eyes gazing into Yami's.

"It...i-it hurt...it hurt so much...I didn't do any-anything...I just laid there...and it hurt...I couldn't even scream. Fuck...fuck, he raped me...r-raped me..."

Yami could feel his own shield cracking. He had shed tears during it, tears of pain, but he'd avoided any real response to his ordeal, he had built a wall against it, but now, alone with Yuugi and Malik, looking into his friend's tortured eyes, hearing his anguish; he could not contain his misery much longer.

"I know...we all were....it....it's not the end, Malik...we can get through...if we try"

"We can't! We're done...we all got raped...and it'll happen again...he's gonna rape me..a-and...and it'll happen over and over...oh god...it's going to hurt so much...he's going to rape me over and over...over and over...."

"It will be ok...it will be...I promise..."

He had to do it, he had to save them. Yami could see Malik breaking right in front of him. If he broke completely, he would never recover, he'd be destroyed permanently. Yami had to get them out of this before that happened. He needed to protect them this time.

He heard a noise behind him, and turned. Yuugi was covering his face with one hand, quietly sobbing.

"Aibou..."

He had been raped. It stood starkly at last, in complete clarity. He had been raped, and it would happen again. He could do nothing to stop it. He could not avoid the thought any longer, he couldn't just not acknowledge the ordeal, it had happened, and not just to him.

Tears began to run down Yami's face, as he remembered the vast, intense pain he had felt during it, accented with the dull, numbing pain he felt in his backside even now.

Ten seconds.

He would allow himself to wallow for ten seconds, no less, no more.

One...two...three...

He had never felt anything as blindingly excruciating as it, not in all his years.

...four...five...six...

He had done nothing to defend himself, merely lain there pathetically, and taken it.

...seven...eight...nine...

It would happen again, as Malik had said, it would never end.

...ten...

He shut his eyes. It would end, he had made a vow, and he would keep it, no matter what. He would get them out of this. He reach up and wiped away his tears; he had to be strong, and withstand anything thrown at him.

He looked back and forth between the two boys, both still crying.

"Aibou...Malik..."

If it cost him his life and his soul, he would not let this happen again, he would save them, and take revenge for them, all of them.

"It's going to be ok, I promise"

Unfortunately, he knew deep down that it was going to get a lot worse before there was any remote chance of things turning out ok. His eyes settled on Malik. The threat made to him by Blain was clearly very real, he needed to find some way of protecting his friend from this new hazard, as a priority. He was the reason Malik was here, he had a debt to him.

He looked back at his Aibou, who had stopped crying, and now simply sat, awkwardly tilted to one side, with his face buried in his crossed arms. If only he wasn't chained up, even a hug would help so much.

Just wait Aibou, I'll save you, I promise.

He curled up on the mattress, feeling sleep take him before long, waiting for the inevitable creak of the door opening again, bringing more pain.

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A/N:

Sorry for the much shorter chapter length, it's more a transitional chapter, so there's not as much to tell. Also I know it's probably not realistic for Yami to have had his nightmare, since he was unconscious rather than asleep, but I just love giving my characters mindfucks :p. Some graphic stuff coming for the next few chapters, as well, just as a warning.

I'm back to college soon, so I'm hoping to get a rough schedule for updates, maybe about one per week or so.

As always, any errors you see that I missed please point them out,and thanks for reading.