Chapter 5: Prelude to Hell
As Pegasus is about to go to the Prime Minister's office building, one of his business associates, a certain Duke Devlin, manages to see the judge.
Worried, Duke said, "Mr. Pegasus! I tried contacting you earlier, but the people downstairs told me that you were in the middle of an interrogation. I fear that a grave mistake has been made: Yugi Muto was arrested for some unknown charges! Is he okay?!"
"The boy should be, but then again... Devlin, the charges against Yugi Muto are proven to be actually true. He's been arrested for attempting to overthrow the Japanese government with a shady criminal organization. I'm sorry, but I can't do anymore for him!"
Pegasus then leaves curtly, leaving an astonished Duke alone in the hall. Meanwhile, Yugi is being driven by the Commissioner to the local police station. Once there, he is ordered to walk through a long dark hall...
Shortly after, two officers escort Yugi to his prison cell, which happens to be surprisingly mostly clean. Curious, Yugi asked, "So, how long am I to be detained?" However, neither the commissioner nor the officers answer his question.
Of all the adventures he had so far, which involved manipulative and cheating businessmen (Pegasus & Gozaburo), a psychotic madman (Marik), a corrupted Atlantean King, and finally, a powerful Demon (Zorc), Yugi believed as if this was nothing. Unfortunately for him, he would soon be broken down as a person... and fall into deep depression.
Although a few hours have passed, Yugi felt them as months instead. I have to 'wait' and 'hope'! Pegasus did say that I was to remain a prisoner for a little while longer... didn't he?
It was either three or four o'clock when he entered this jail cell; darkness soon blackened the entire cell. When one's eyes are in complete darkness, one is compensated with better ears. This was the case with Muto. Whenever he heard footsteps some several meters away, the prisoner jumped up in joy, believing that he would be freed. Is that...?
But when the footsteps eventually subsided, Yugi fell back into despair once more. 'No, I guess not,' thought Yugi as he began to cry quietly. Why is this happening to me?! Isn't Pegasus a man of his word?! Sadly for the young man, the sound of footsteps would appear and reappear several times.
Several hours later, two officers from the night before begin to open the cell door. "You have come for me, officers?" asked Yugi.
The second officer answered, "Yes."
"Did Mr. Pegasus send you both?"
"I guess so, kid."
With more confidence, Yugi said, "All right, then. I'm am ready when you are."
When the young boy exited the station, he saw that a police vehicle has already been set for him...
"Am I go to go inside the car?" asked Yugi.
"Yes, now get inside the car."
Although he wanted to say a few more words, Yugi was pushed to the now opened door. When he was inside the car, the boy wondered where he would be taken to... perhaps back home? Soon after, the vehicle began to move.
The ride lasted about 30 minutes. Looking outside the window(s), Yugi noticed that the car arrived near Domino's waterfront area. Why am I here? Aren't I supposed to going home, instead?
A few moments later, Yugi was let out of the vehicle, but was led toward some mysterious boat. Even in these couple of minutes, Yugi felt quasi-freedom. Once aboard the water craft, Yugi asked one of the boat guards, "Where am I being taken to, sir?"
"You shall learn eventually, kid."
"But, why am I on this--"
"We (the guards) aren't permitted to inform you about the details regarding why and where you will be placed.
Why or where I will be placed...? What could he possibly mean by 'placed'?
Using logic, Yugi is able to decide that wherever he's being taken to is somewhere far away... given that he's not in a small-sized boat. Not being handcuffed or otherwise bound, Yugi believes that he will soon be free...
A hour passed. To Yugi, the boat ride reminded him of the time when he was going to the Shrine of the Millennium Stone with his friends. Just as Atem didn't know whether he would go into the afterlife, I too do not know where fate will place me.
The boat was about to land at some island prison, which was located somewhere between the Korean peninsula and the Japanese archipelago. Seeing this, Yugi immediately panicked. Yugi cried, "No! Why am I coming here?!"
Some of the boat guards smirked at this natural reaction.
Then, one guard said, "This island prison is notorious for incarcerating political dissidents, kid. Apparently, whatever your crime is, it has brought you here."
"But what of Mr. Pegasus' promise?" asked Yugi.
"Us guards do not know of his promise; we were just instructed to bring you here-- hey, what're you doing?!"
Yugi, both desperate and afraid, attempts to jump off the boat to escape his captors. However, because of his lack of athletic ability, the guards easily catch him. When pulled back on board, Yugi screams and cries in a violent manner.
"So, do you want me to put you out of your misery, eh, kid?" said an armed boat guard. The guard then pulled out a handgun, aimed at Yugi's head.
At first, Yugi decided to end his life like this, but he relents his risky decision at the last minute. "No," he replied.
A few minutes later, the boat landed at the docking area. As soon as he was on land again, Yugi saw several prison guards appear, seemingly out of nowhere. "Is this the political offender?" asked the supposed head of the group.
"Yes," answered the other superior.
"All right, then. Follow me, No. 34."
"Number 34, sir? Is that to be my assigned name here?" asked the young man.
"Yes, No. 34. The warden here has no time to check in on the inmates of this here prison. So, naturally... we assign you a number."
About 10 minutes later, the leader of the prison guards then led Yugi to his cell. Mutou's 'escort' then said, "Since it's almost 3 o'clock, you can go to the courtyard for some exercise, or for some fresh air. Although, I'd suggest that you go for the former option..."
After the guard left, Yugi noticed that he had a bunkmate, who was already sleeping on the top bunk.
I wonder who he is...
Deciding that he'd get some exercise, Yugi went to the courtyard... a decision he'll soon regret. Once outside, he hears someone say, "If it isn't the 'King of Games'? Hehe, didn't know dat you were gonna be in a place like this?"
Yugi sees that this stranger is some tattooed, punk-like man in his twenties. The strange man is followed by what it looks to be a pair of cronies; both tall. Yugi asked, "Why are you here?"
"Me, 'King'? Well... I'm here, 'cause I leaked some important info to some terrorist group, called Al-- something... I can't pronounce it, you feel me?"
"Not really, as I'm not actually touching you," replied Yugi naively.
"Oh! Actin' like you're some kinda wise-guy, eh?" said the tattooed man. He then nods to his cronies, giving Yugi a hint of unease.
He continued, "My friends, here... are gonna show you what happens to wise-guys here."
Involuntarily, Yugi manages to throw a quick but weak punch at the foreigner's face. Apparently shocked, the stranger stares at the seventeen year-old for a moment or two. Just as Yugi's hit was sudden, so too was the sadist's fist, albeit not a weak strike.
"Agh!"
Despite the punishments that were inflicted upon him in the numerous duels such as the shadow games and the Seal of Orichalcos, Yugi wasn't really prepared for the physical beating he's now experiencing.
As he was pummeled mercilessly, Yugi heard the voices of the rallying inmates. Much to his dismay, the teenager could not understand what the others were saying.
"Fuck the kid up!" exclaimed a Chinese prisoner.
A Korean inmate added, "Beat the midget's ass!"
But then again, it didn't really matter at all to Yugi. All he could care about were the crunching sounds of his bones being broken, the 'heavy' drops of his own blood being spilled on the crimson grass. He was about to black out when he was picked up off the ground. His attacker held him up and tossed him a couple yards away.
I felt that...
"Get up!" said the bully as he walked towards his newest victim, "Hey, I told you to get up!"
But no matter how hard he could try, Yugi's pain was too unbearable for him to move.
If these are the first of many injuries I'm to receive... I might as well die today to end my misery.
Just as the punk was about to deliver the fatal blow, one of his followers stopped him. His right-hand man then whispered something into his ear.
"All right, I think dat's enough for one day," said the 'leader'. "You're lucky, kid. Since today is Sunday, it's too sacred to spill more blood than it is now. Welcome to hell, kid!"
Now limp all over, Yugi barely uttered, "No... this is just the beginning... the prelude... damnit!"
Back to our No. 34's cell, some unknown figure appears out of a well concealed hole. That person is... No. 27...