~Susy~
Susy opened her eyes and grunted. She wondered if she rejected this reality it would disappear. 'Nope…guess not.'
Thoughts of the previous day came to her mind. After her and Marik's round-off the rest of the day was spent avoiding each other and stealing occasional glances. Susy wasn't sure what to expect from today, given the boy's unusually quiet behavior prior to.
The hope of getting any more sleep vanished with the mention of said teen. Sleep was something that she would have to give up if she wanted to get ahead. So, with deep regret, Susy pulled herself out of bed.
A nice surprise rewarded her for her decision. On the table next to her were some folded clothes. She picked them up and laid them out on the bed. They consisted on a black T-shirt, jean shorts, socks, and undergarments. She inspected the bra and was a little creeped out that it was her exact size; and it was the same with the sports bra. "Mind games." She mumbled, shaking her head.
She took a shower and changed into everything and admittedly felt much better. Those clothes she had on before were starting to stink from all the sweat and dirt gathered from the past few days. "Alright, now what's going to be the cost for something nice?" She said rolling her eyes.
Going to the door she tried the knob. Her eyes widened when it was actually unlocked. Suspicious, she walked into the hall. 'Another good deed? This must be worse than I thought.'
Voices could be heard from the distance. Without a guide, Susy decided to follow the noise. After a few turns came the doors to the dining hall. She quickly considered her chances of making it out if she ran now. 'Nah, it would just be a replay of last time.' A blush spread over her cheeks and she opened the doors.
Just as usual the room was very noisy. Voices of all different low octaves surrounded her. 'Aren't these guys supposed to be mindless?' she thought as she made her way to the table. Finding a spot she sat down and ignored the looks from the men beside her. Pancakes and sausage soon filled her plate and were quickly vanishing when Marik called out.
"Silence!"
Everyone immediately shut up and turned their attention to him.
"Today some of you will be doing a special job for me. I have some ruins that need scavenging so I've selected those of you who I want to do it." He looked around and held up his rod. "You will know who you are. I will supervise this job myself so I expect no screw-ups."
Around the room the eye symbol appeared on some choice servants and disappeared. Those who had it stood up and all walked out of the room.
'Ok…creepy.' She thought. Once she finished her food she made for the door as quick as possible. She walked into the hallway and closed the doors, shutting out the noise.
"Finally quiet again." Susy sighed and started walking. She felt that she had figured out the way to and from her room, so she followed her memory. As she was walking a strange feeling crept through her. It felt as though she was being…watched. Stopping she turned around and looked. Nothing was there so she turned back around and jumped with scream.
"God dammit Marik! What parts of STOP don't you understand?!" Susy yelled with her hand over her chest.
Marik just laughed and looked at her. "Is that how you thank me for this morning?" he sighed, "And here I thought you could actually have manners."
"I do have manners, just not for you."
He crossed his arms. "Tsk Tsk, such ungratefulness. I didn't have to do that you know. Count yourself lucky I didn't give you anything dirty, or say too small." A smirk tugged at the corners of his lips. "Not to mention let you roam free. I may just have to revoke that privilege when we return."
Susy just glared at him and rolled her eyes. "Yeah, I'll make sure to tremble in fear until your return."
"Lucky for you, you won't have to wait."
"What do you mean?"
Marik walked up to her and put his arm around her. "What else could I mean? You've acted so special that I've picked you to come with us."
Susy knew that the word 'special' had a different connation then what she wished it was. "And if I were to decline?"
He pulled out his Millennium Rod. "Then I have other ways of convincing you."
She sighed. "Alright Marik, so be it. Not like I had anything better to do anyway."
"I knew you would see it my way." he grinned, "Follow me."
And so with another roll of the eyes she did. The farther they went the brighter it seemed to get. The brown stone walls were starting to look less ominous and more welcoming. These halls looked a lot better kept than wherever they came from before. 'Geez, wouldn't mind being kept prisoner in these parts.'
Soon after a minute or so of walking they came to some open double doors. In the room beyond everything was breathtaking. It was as big as the dining hall and pillars outlined the hieroglyph decorated walls. Through the middle of the room a red carpet led to a regal gold-colored throne. The chair was bedazzled with jewels of all different colors and was topped with a velvet purple cushion. In short, the whole room looked like it would belong to a king.
Susy was overcome with the initial shock of the room. She just stood there speechless as Marik just waltzed right into it. He realized Susy had stopped and motioned for her to follow.
"Come on Susy."
She snapped back to reality and put on a grudge. 'I would expect nothing less from Marik.'
"Are you sure now's the time to be stubborn?" He flashed the Rod again.
Susy glared at him and continued walking. "Quite a big room you got here."
"I deserve only the best." He boasted with a grin.
"You sure you're not compensating for something?" She snickered. Marik gave her a 'Is that a challenge' look and was about to say something when a servant came up to them.
"Master Marik, everything is prepared as per your request."
"Good. You are dismissed."
"Yes sir." The guy then ran off.
With the conversation lost the two rivals made their way to another pair of double doors that the red carpet extended from. Once there Marik turned to Susy and held out his hand.
"Give me your arm."
"Why?"
"Because I said to."
Susy didn't feel like fighting so she gave up her right hand. Marik took hold of it and placed a gold bracelet around her upper arm.
"What's that?"
"It's your security. With my command this band will emit a pulse of my choice through you. I could use…" he grabbed the Millennium Rod, "for example pain."
Susy suddenly felt throbs of pain pierce through her. She yelped then fell against the wall and gritted her teeth as she tried not to scream. It disappeared as quick as it came and relief flooded through her.
"Or I could use sleepiness…"
Waves of grogginess began to sway through her. She yawned and began to close her eyes when it quickly wore off.
"Basically, I can send any mental or physical pulse into you via that band." He smiled, "Just think of it as my back-up control. As long as you don't act up, I won't have to use it against you."
A glare was Susy's only response.
"Good. Now follow."
Marik opened the doors and Susy doubled back while shielding her eyes. Daylight spilled out from the door and threatened Susy's eyes who hadn't seen proper light for at least a few days. Marik, on the other hand, seemed perfectly fine. Not being able to bear it otherwise, she kept her eyes shielded as she walked on with Marik into the light.
The outside seemed so foreign to her as she walked up the steps. Being underground for so long does things to a girl. She didn't realize until now just how isolating it was in her dusty cell. Never will she take a window for granted again.
They reached the top and Susy again was taken by awe. Before her lay the vast desert. Sand surrounded them from all sides, rising and dipping creating random placed dunes. Above them in the clear sky the sun shone bright bringing with it a dry heat. It was definitely a sight to be seen.
"Wow…just wow." Susy sputtered.
"Yeah, it's home." Marik shrugged then walked toward some nearby trucks. She followed him but once they got off the stone she immediately knew the sand was not going to be her friend. The heat was also already starting to bear its fangs much to Susy's discomfort. She put her hair up in a bun then caught up to Marik.
"You'll be riding with me." He instructed as he walked toward the front truck. Susy could see the servants from before already packed in the vehicles. 'Must be good to be mindless in this heat.' She thought as she started to fan herself.
They reached the car and got in. To her surprise Marik himself was going to drive. "You can actually drive?" She joked. 'Or even do something for that matter?' Her thoughts added.
He gave her a smile. "I haven't lived in a tomb for all my life." Marik started the engine and they took off.
The driving-teen's window rolled down and the wind whirled in. Marik's hair whipped around but he didn't seem to care. A look of enjoyment spread over his face, bringing to his lips a content smile.
'He's really enjoying this. I guess I would love the wind too if I had lived in a tomb for so long.' Susy thought, 'He looks so calm. And that sun makes his skin practically glow. The light even makes his eyes sparkle and really, really brings out his complexions. Wow, those puny torches and lights don't do him justice. He just looks…amazing.' Her inner fangirl thoughts surfaced and began to boil.
"Just how long are you planning to stare at me?" Marik asked looking at her from the corner of his eyes.
Susy's eyes went wide and she blushed. She hadn't realized she had been staring. Her head turned away and she tried to hide the redness on her face. Caught red handed.
The rest of the ride was silent. Susy managed to calm herself down and relax. Marik had turned on the air-conditioning, thank goodness, so she was able to peacefully take in the scenery. There was a couple of cacti and ruins here and there but other than that just endless sand. Must not be a tourist spot.
Eventually Susy spotted their most-likely destination. In front of them spread out a small abandoned temple. It didn't seem to be too old, but still old enough to be ruined, and surrounding it were crumbled stone houses and shacks.
They drove up to the buildings and parked in front of them. The other two trucks behind them stopped along side. Everybody unloaded and walked toward the building.
"Time for the fun." Marik said then got out himself. Susy grunted and reluctantly left the air-conditioned cab. The heat was momentarily bearable but that feeling quickly receded as the coolness on her skin wore off. She followed Marik and started her fanning again.
"So what are we doing here exactly?"
"Recently there was a sandstorm that uncovered this temple. I had a scout check it out and there is salvage available. We are going to find everything so I can sell it."
"But this stuff belongs in a museum." She argued.
"Don't worry, it always makes its way there eventually."
Susy sighed, knowing there was no point in arguing. "Ok then."
The servants in front of them had already set to work. They were scurrying in and out of the temple, bringing with them gold and shiny objects.
'Maybe it will be cooler in there.' She thought as she wiped her forehead. She started to jog toward the shaded structure when Marik called out to her.
"Just where do you think you're going?"
"Uh, to the temple."
"I never said you were going in there." He grinned, "Your work is out here. Start looking through the rubble." Marik pointed to the collapsed houses and stones.
"What? There isn't going to be anything in that!" She whined.
He waved his finger. "Ah, but I think that band says otherwise."
Susy looked to her arm and grunted. This band was going to become very annoying very quickly. She watched as Marik nodded and walked toward the temple. Glaring at him she set off to work.
Hot. The desert was hot. Not just a 'normal summer's day' hot, more like a 'help I'm trapped in an oven' hot. It had only been about 10 minutes and Susy was sweating like a pig. What made it worse was that all of her work was for nothing. She knew that there was nothing in here. She also knew that this was just part of his plan to break her.
"Hustle girly!" A servant called out. Susy turned around and gave him the middle finger. Marik caught her eye as he exited the temple. He had thrown another surprise out there and was actually working. Not just walking with the servants either. He was carrying boxes and everything. Susy would have never believed it if she hadn't seen it herself. She also would've never believed how hot he looked doing it.
Marik was taking a toll from the heat too although not as bad as the others. Sweat gleamed off his face, but he made it look good. The sun's light outlined the defined muscles that were straining against the weight of the objects. To top it all off the look of concentration on his face was drop-dead sexy. His eyes were dead-focused ahead of him and occasionally he would bite his bottom lip. Although this heat was making her sick, she had to admit that being able to see Marik right now was almost worth it.
Susy had been sneaking peeks at him since they started but it was getting harder and harder to look away. This was one of those sights that were just so damn rare that she, and her inner fangirl, had to take in. Suddenly Marik looked over at her. She instantly turned her head and went back to work. Colorful vocabulary occupied her mind.
A couple minutes later was when the real fun began. "Ugh, it's so hot!" Marik cried out, drawing Susy's attention.
She grinned and crossed her arms. "Well you don't say?"
He glanced at her and smirked. "Oh, I just have to cool off!" Marik took a hold of his shirt and started to take it off. Susy's mouth dropped as he pulled it over his head, revealing his very well-toned torso. He threw his shirt to a servant who took it without question.
If Susy thought she had it bad before, she was wrong. She couldn't help but stare at the now-shirtless Marik. The half-nude boy looked at her with satisfaction. "You'll catch flies with your mouth like that." He called to her.
A blush spread across her face and she closed her mouth. "You'd like that wouldn't you." She grumbled.
"Now now, no need to be snippy just because you love what you see." He laughed and went back to his chores.
"Bastard." She cursed silently. The now-revealed tattoos on his back caught her attention. They didn't look that bad…actually they looked pretty cool. Ripping her attention from him, she set back to work.
'So this was his move, huh?' Susy questioned herself. 'Bring me all the way out here to first frustrate me then look pretty. And the bad part is that it's working. I have to find some way to turn the tables or at least even the playing field.'
She picked up a huge brick and moved it to the side. Afterwards she took the bottom of her shirt and wiped her face. Once again, a light-bulb moment struck her. 'That's it! If this is how he's going to play, then so will I.'
"Oh my gosh, this sun is absolutely brutal!" Susy whined out, attracting everybody's attention. She smiled when Marik looked. "This is unbearable! I need relief." She started to pull her own shirt up, earning stares from the guys. Peeling it off her body she revealed her black sports bra over her other bra. 'This is no different than going to the gym.' She told herself as she threw her shirt over a nearby rock.
All of the guys' eyes were tracked on her, but all she cared about was Marik's face. To her great satisfaction, he looked just like she did. His eyes scaled up and down her body, surprise and awe a very vivid expression on his face.
'Gotchya.' She smirked and strode up to him. "Is something wrong Marik?"
"What? Wha-No. Nothing is wrong." He stuttered looking away. "Don't just stand there, get to work!" he yelled at his servants. They did as told and resumed.
She now stood a couple feet in front of him, posed with her hands behind her back. "Are you sure? You look a little tense."
Marik regained his composure and grinned. "Yes, I'm quite sure. I don't know why you would think otherwise."
Susy started to circle around him. "Hmm, must've been my imagination." She toyed.
"Wouldn't be surprised. You are awfully distracted after all."
"Don't flatter yourself sunshine." She stopped in front of him. "You aren't that good."
He raised an eyebrow. "Oh really now?"
"Don't believe me?"
"No, actually, I don't."
She frowned. "You are being awfully tricky today, you know that?"
"Well thank you, I try." He smiled at her.
'Since when are you so smart?' She thought. "Fine, be childish. Now if you'll excuse me, I'm busy." She walked away, making sure to give him something to look at.
Marik shrugged and went back into the temple. While he was in there, Susy ran into the shade behind the structure. Leaning against the wall, she pouted. This was already becoming an annoyance. Marik didn't want to budge. What could she do? One thing was for sure, he was succeeding in giving her a headache.
Susy sat against the wall and started to think. Marik was better than she anticipated. She needed a strategy. Going in blind wasn't going to cut it with him.
As if to prove her point, Marik appeared around the corner. "Disobeying orders again? You realize I may have to punish you."
"I'm so scared." She remarked sarcastically.
"Giving up already?"
"Not a chance."
"You got will, I'll give you that."
"Trust me Binky Boy, I've got more than that."
"Remembering your place seems to be really hard for you."
"Funny, I was about to say the same to you."
She glared at him with annoyance while he just looked at her with amusement.
He walked up to her. "Angry?"
She pinched her fingers. "Just a little."
"Hmm, I'm feeling pretty generous right now." He grabbed his rod. "Let me give you a hand."
Susy felt something weird going through her. It was sort of a…happy feeling. Her head started to feel less stressed and her mood was lifting. "Ok Marik, that's enough."
"Refusing a feel-good charge? You really are stubborn." He put the Rod back.
"I don't need your pity." She frowned.
"But you want it." He chimed.
Susy sighed and stood up. "Acting like a know-it-all isn't going to help you." They were once again a couple feet apart. Only this time no one was around to watch.
"Who said I was acting?"
"Then you're dumber than I thought." She scoffed. The strong feeling that all of this somehow made no sense rang loudly in her brain.
"Well then for your sake acting like you're above punishment won't help you either." He crossed his arms.
Susy looked him in the eye. "I'm not scared of you Marik."
He laughed and leaned in close to her ear. "You don't have to be."
"Same applies to you too pretty boy." She smirked, proud that she wasn't falling for it this time.
Marik leaned back and gave her space. "Impressive. So who wins this round?"
"I'd say we tied…and I'd get used to hearing that because with your naivety and my stubbornness giving in won't be easy for either." She reasoned.
"Fair enough. I've got what I needed from this anyway." He tossed her the keys, "You can scurry on back to the truck and wait."
She caught the keys. "Fine, whatever. I just want this to be done. So hurry up." Susy gave him one last look over then ran past him. Grabbing her shirt she went to the truck and started it, turning on the AC.
"This is going to be a long stay." She sighed and closed her eyes, awaiting the return of her rival.
Hey everybody. I hope this didn't suck as much as I thought it did. I thought about making it into two chapters, but that just isn't my thing. I've been pressed for time so if my updates don't come as often as I hope than I am sorry. Well, I guess that's it so SOMEWHERE IN EGYPT, wait wrong catchphrase, PEACE OUT!