Hey everyone! Glad you liked the last chapter. Here's a new one. Enjoy!
Disclaimer: I do not own YuGiOh GX or Jess, she still belongs to ladydream-chan.
Claimer: YAY! This ENTIRE STORY IS MINE! And the one or two or three OCs that show up that aren't Jess are also mine. :)
Remaining Chapters (Excluding this one): 7
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Jaden's POV
"Jaden," Alexis called softly. I looked at her confused. We had been walking around for about an hour. I wasn't sure what we were doing exactly, sense the Skulls are hunting us, not us hunting them.
"What is it?" I whispered, looking back ahead of us.
"Hey, don't look away from me." She stopped, placing her hand on my cheek and turning me toward her; her expression was worried. "Tell me what's wrong."
I was so sick of lying, so sick of everything. I sagged slightly, closing my eyes. "Everything. Everything is wrong, Lex."
She stroked my cheek softly with her fingertips, pressing her other hand against my other cheek, whispering, "What do you mean?"
Slowly I opened my eyes. "I've never felt so helpless, Alexis. No matter what I do, no matter how hard I try, something always ends up going completely wrong." I closed my eyes again, feeling a million years old. "How did Mark do this for so long? I don't know how much more of this I can take."
"Hey, Mark left you in charge, didn't he?"
"Yeah, but he did because he thought all of this was over!" I spun around, breaking away from her. I kept my eyes together tightly, hands balled into tight fists at my sides. "Everything is going wrong! People keep dying around me, people I care about! No matter how hard I try, they just keep dying!" I collapsed to my knees, burring my face in my hands as I tried to keep my composure, even though my chest felt so tight that I couldn't even breathe. "I can't do this anymore!"
"Jaden," Alexis whispered. I felt her place her hands on my shoulders as she dropped to her knees in front of me; she pulled me toward her so she could hold me. "I don't know what I can do."
I shook my head and removed my hands from my face, reaching to take hers instead; I held both of hers between both of mine. "There isn't anything you can do. No one can do anything." I shook my head. "Even with the Pyramids and the Signers I still feel completely helpless. Nothing's going my way."
"I know, but Mark left you in charge, even if he thought this was all over." Alexis tilted my chin up with one of her hands she freed from mine. "You're doing the best you can, Jaden, better than anyone else could. Jesse can't do this, Julie can't do this, Jim can't do this, Atem can't do this, Yusei can't do this, and Mark can't do this." Her hand tightened around my chin. "You're the only one here that can. You can't keep this up. Everyone is counting on you, looking up to you. They all need you, Jaden. And you're no good to anyone like this."
"I feel like I'm no good to anyone at all." I tried to turn my face away from Alexis but she refused to let me. "Syrus is dead and I couldn't do anything!"
"Don't. Jaden, everyone here still needs you."
"SYRUS NEEDED ME!" Finally I was able to jerk away from her, standing up quickly and walking a few steps away from her. "Damn it, Alexis, he needed me and I wasn't there! I was two blocks away, I could have been there, I could have done something. I should have done something!"
Alexis grabbed my arm and jerked me back around, grabbing my face tightly between her hands. "Stop this right now, Jaden. Don't you see what you're doing to yourself? You're going to end up killing yourself unless you can understand that what happened has happened. Playing this 'what if' game isn't going to change a damn thing!" Her hands tightened around my face. "Yes, Jaden, Syrus is dead, but there are plenty of people who are still alive and still need you."
I closed my eyes, surrendering. "Yes, you're right." I opened my eyes and looked into hers. "But why Syrus, Alexis? Why him? If there was any person in this world who didn't deserve to die like that it was him, so why did he?"
She shook her head softly, tears leaking out of the corner of her eyes. "I don't know." Her voice was soft, clogged with tears. "I wish I did, Jaden, but I don't know why. All I know is that it happened and if you keep going on like this then it will happen to you too."
I took a deep breath through my nose, leaning forward to press my forehead against hers. "Okay, you win." I nodded slightly, letting out my breath. "And right, you're exactly right." I pulled her hands away from my face, holding each of them in each of mine. "Do you remember what I said before we left Duel Academy?" I looked at her.
She shook her head. "No."
"I said that I couldn't lose you." I pressed my lips to each of her hands. "And after what happened to Syrus…" I broke, releasing a shaky breath. "I realized just how true that statement." I looked deep into her eyes. "I cannot lose you, Lex. I simply wouldn't survive."
Her breath caught in her throat. "Jaden-"
"No." I cut her off, pressing my lips to hers tightly. I can't lose Alexis, and I won't.
Bring it on, Skulls. You wanted a war, you've officially got one.
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Narrative POV
"So tell me, Tony, why did you suddenly decide to place yourself on the frontline?" Julie looked at Tony, curiously. The two of them were walking down the streets, eyes quietly scanning the area.
"I messed up with Syrus. Excuse me for trying to make up for it." Tony sounded annoyed. Julie stopped walking, further grating Tony's nerves. He stopped and glared at her. "What?"
"If there's one thing I know about you Tony it's that you don't try to make up for anything." She took a step toward him, getting on her toes to look right into his eyes. "Just what the hell are you up to?"
Tony ground his teeth together. "What the hell is up with you?" He leaned toward her, forcing her to back down. "Everyone else seems to trust me, except for you."
"I've been fooled before, Tony. My trust is earned, not given out." She turned on her heel and started to walk away.
Tony caught her arm, jerking her back. "And what do I have to do to earn your trust?" His temper was visibly thin.
Julie gave him a cool look. "Nothing." She jerked her arm free and kept walking. Tony stood back there, fuming. She stopped and called over her shoulder, "Come along, Tony. I'm not waiting all day for you."
He ground his teeth together but hurried to catch up with her. "I'll get your trust, Julie."
"Good luck with that. The last person who said that is still trying to get it." She flipped her hair over her shoulder. Tony simply glared at her, annoyed beyond belief. This girl was the only person who could grate his nerves this way. The only reason he volunteered to come along with her was so he could help his brother who was on the verge of a mental and emotional breakdown. The least she could do is at least fake like she appreciated it.
The two of them continued to walk, scanning the streets, for a few minutes longer. Julie remained cool and silent while Tony kept grinding his teeth. Finally, the silence taking it's final on him, he said, "Listen, Julie, there's something we need to hash out if we're going to continue working together like this."
Julie looked up at him, raising an eyebrow. "Oh, really? And what exactly is that?"
"Julie-"
She slapped his chest, pressing a finger to her lips when he looked ready to scream at her. "Hold that thought." Slowly, she turned around, eyes narrowed as she scanned the streets.
"What is it?" Tony placed a hand on her shoulder, fingers tightening when she tried to jerk away. "Don't ignore me!" he snarled.
"Camula," she whispered, hands curling into fists. Tony's head snapped up and he looked around but couldn't find the green haired skull.
"I don't see her."
Julie shook her head. "Neither do I."
Tony glared at her. "Damn it, Julie! Don't play games with me!"
Julie slapped her hand over his mouth, jerking his face down so she could glare at him. "Shut up! You're going to make her run!"
"She's not even here!" he barked, voice muffled by her hand. She pulled his face closer to hers.
"She's behind you," she whispered. The hair on the back of his neck stood on end. Slowly he turned around, expecting to see a blood-thirsty, but was met with nothing.
He whirled around, ripping Julie's hand from his mouth. "Are you trying to give me a heart attack!"
Julie punched him in the stomach, wrapping her other arm around his neck when he doppled forward. She kicked his ligs out underneath him and pulled him to the ground. Just as they hit the ground, a knife imbedded itself in the sidewalk just a foot away fromhis face. Had Julie not forced him to the ground when she did, that knife would be in him.
"I suppose you'd like a thank you," he wheezed, as the breath had been knocked out of him.
She rolled her eyes and patted his cheek. "You're welcome." She jumped up and pulled him to his feet. They turned around just in time to see green hair flying around the corner. Without missing a beat, Julie took off. Tony was right on her heels.
"She's heading toward the abandoned residential district!" Tony yelled. Julie nodded. Both of them could see Camula only a dozen feet away from them. Julie grabbed Tony's arm and pulled him to a stop. He looked at her confused but she spoke before he could.
"Cut through those Alley's over there and cut her off outside of the St. Paul Church on the Corner of Grace and Plymoth. She ripped his walkie off of hi8s belt and thrust it into his hands. "Contact the others and let them know what's going on."
"You know I don't like being bossed around," he said slowly, refusing to take back his talkie.
"Tony!"
He sighed and took the talkie. "Fine, but be careful. Something tells me Camula isn't hunting you by herself."
Julie nodded. "I've had that feeling ever since we left the house."
Tony's eyebrows drew together in a worried scowl but he hurried down the alleys Julie pointed out, playing with his walkie-talkie. Julie watched him until he was out of site. Once she could no longer see him, Julie took a deep breath and grabbed her own walkie-talkie from her belt.
"Sorry, guys," she whispered, staring down at it. She let out her breath and then threw her talkie as far as she could. "But you guys will only get in my way." Of course she knew she was being stupid and once Jesse found out what she did then she'd be in some serious trouble. But that was the least of her worries. Right now all that mattered was catching the green-haired bitch that killed her best friend.
Julie turned around quickly and began running down the street, in the direction that Camula had run. Once she rounded the corner of the dead-end road, Julie slowed to a walk, body tense as she strained to hear any sign of the vampire mistress.
"There aren't many places for her to hide," Julie murmured, looking around the barren and broken down streets and buildings.
"Who says I'm hiding?"
Julie whirled around just in time to be tackled to the ground. She and her assailant slammed against the cool, grating pavement, sliding across the road before coming to a rough stop. Julie gasped for breath as she stared up into the murderous eyes of the bloodthirsty vampire before her.
"Camula," she wheezed, the breath knocked out of her.
The vampire smiled. "Julie." Camula opened her mouth wide, incisors glistening with her intent. Julie ground her teeth together and slammed her head forward, her forehead colliding with Camula's. The vampire became disoriented, enough for Julie to force her off. Camula rolled a few feet, trying to get her bearings as Julie stood up, shaking away the dizziness.
"You sent your backup away," Camula said, standing up slowly. "What a foolish thing to do."
Julie glared at her. "Foolish how?"
"My dear, now you are all alone. Your backup is running for help in the opposite direction of here, you've abandoned your friends, and you're all alone." Camula smiled wickedly. "So now no one will hear your screams!" She launched herself at Julie, who jumped out of the way, tumbling until she was able to stop in a crouched position.
"You think it's foolish? I think it's smart." Julie stood up, staring at the murderous fiend before her. "Now no one will get in my way while I kill you."
"Just try it my dear. You won't even get close."
"We'll see about that." Julie ducked her head and tackled Camula to the ground. The pair rolled back across the street, hands barely leaving the other as they fought. Eventually they rolled to the stoops of St. Paul's Church, Julie on top. She leaned back and punched Camula square in the face, causing her head to snap back against the sidewalk. She moaned in pain but quickly regained her composure, reaching up to dig her nails into Julie's shoulder, drawing blood.
"Bitch!" she yelled, forcing Julie off of her while forcibly ripping her fingers from her shoulders. Julie slammed against the ground, crying out in pain. Camula scrambled to her feet. Julie looked up at Camula and kicked her in the knee. The force of Julie's kick caused her knee to bend in the opposite direction. Camula cried out in pain, collapsing against the steps of the church. Julie rolled onto her back and jumped to her feet, ripping her gun from where she had it hidden. "Wait!" Camula yelled as Julie pointed the gun at her.
"I've waited long enough!" Julie turned off the safety, gun aimed at Camula.
"But I can help you!" Camula was scrambling backwards up the steps the church. Julie reached forward and grabbed the bottom her dress, yanking her back down the steps. She leaned forward and pressed the gun right to Camula's chest, where her heart would be.
"You can't help me or yourself!"
"But I'm not like the other Skulls!" Camula tried to roll away from Julie, but was stopped when Julie crushed her chest with her knee, pinning her in place.
"You're exactly like them if not worse!"
"But I know who the leader is!"
Julie froze, wavering. Camula took this as a chance to try and explain her way into Julie's favor, and to hopefully save her life. "He took favor in me! He personally saved me from the shadows!"
"What shadows?" Julie's voice was hard but she hadn't tried to pull the trigger of her gun. In fact, she removed her finger from the trigger, but only slightly.
"The shadows that consumed me after I lost my duel to your leader! The shadows that I sacrificed my very soul to!"
"You don't have a soul." Her finger returned to the trigger.
"Wait!" Camula grabbed Julie's hand but released it when she felt it go instantly rigid. "I can tell you who the leader is! Just spare my life!"
Julie stared into Camula's very frightened eyes. This person she had pinned against the stone steps of the St. Paul's Church killed her best friend without batting an eye; she tried to kill her and Jesse. So why did she hesitate? All because she could tell her who the leader was?
'She's lying!' Julie narrowed her eyes and saw pure terror in the ones she stared at. Even if she was lying, the mere chance that they could know who the leader was…Julie would be an idiot if she let even the slightest hint at his true identity slip through her fingers, even if she had to spare the very person who murdered her best friend.
"Tell me who he is and maybe I'll spare you!" Julie spat, her free hand clutching Camula's dress.
"He's-" Camula began but she wasn't able to continue. Suddenly a gun was fired, right next to Julie's ear. She flinched away from the gun but was suddenly knocked on the back of her head at the base of her skull. She saw stars as she fell backwards off the steps. She groaned at the bottom of the steps, trying to figure out what just happened. Through the slits of her eyes, she saw blood running down the steps of the church, Camula's blood.
"But I didn't…" Julie muttered, trying to figure out what was going on.
"No, I did."
Hands wound their way into Julie's hair, yanking her up and jerking her head back. A gun was pressed to the center of her forehead. Though disoriented, Julie stared right up at the man before her.
The leader of the Skulls.
Julie gasped. "You!"
The man smiled. "Yes, me."
Off in the distance, Julie heard someone calling her name. 'Tony…!'
And the leader pulled the trigger.
xXx
This. Took. FOREVER! X.X
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-x-Anime-Queen-2011-x-
-o-Mel-o-
