Crow stared down at the duel runners, a tiny, uneasy frown grazed across his lips. One elbow rested on the wooden chair, the other on a small desk nestled underneath the window, as he examined the new engines. That same, yellow jacket was thrust toward the back of the room, and though he stole a glance at the irritating thing, in the end he simply brushed it aside, and turned back to the runners.
The skeletal frames did little to assuage his concerns. Even with the sleek paint, for some reason, it seemed that they were all vulnerable, helpless. He shuddered at the thought of the rust coating the metal edges, along with the eroding sunlight degrading their hard work. He did once think about leaving Jack's runner outside, but then of course, the blonde would've done the same thing to him. He regarded the runners for a bit more, before sighing and turning away. Well, Jack's nowhere to be found, and until Yusei gets back, he's stuck doing…whatever this was.
He stared at the piles of papers seemingly baring down at him. Bills upon bills kept shoving themselves in his faces, followed by a barrage of unpleasant numbers he'd rather ignore. Still, he kept writing, the pen flourishing its elegant ink with sleek, black checkmarks. It looks like he was going to have to go back to the boss again. And seriously, what's with these debt collectors anyways? It'd only been a day since he took out that loan, and already they're calling for their money. And what fees? They told him there weren't any fees for the first few months!
He dropped his forehead down into his hand. Well, it could be worst. After all, he, Yusei, and Jack were doing alright by themselves, and it's not like they weren't in that much debt. Besides, they were making time to train for the WRGP, and they weren't working themselves to the bone. Though the scrimmage at the mall took up some time, and a lot of people kept showing up at their door, wondering just how the Signers were connected to the whole incident, in the end Sector Security took care of everything. Akiza's out of the hospital, and they could all move on with their lives. And it wasn't a total waste either; at the very least, it let Crow know that the city turning over a new leaf. Of course, it's still a little awkward, considering how Trudge was now buddy-buddy with them.
Now, for those bills…
Just behind him, he heard a phone ring.
Crow narrowed his eyes, and looked up, the white demon taunting him mercilessly. Seriously, ever since he got back, that thing's been ringing nonstop. First it's some salesman, then its some nursing home asking about Martha, then it's another debt collector, and he's been getting a lot of complaints about Jack too. It'd gotten so annoying he had to wonder if he even wanted to answer it.
Still, he forced himself to reach for the phone. He picked it up, and pressed it against his ear, not even bothering to read the caller ID at this point. "Hello?" he asked, the irritation seeping through his voice.
"Hello?" a woman said quietly. "Is this Crow Hogan?"
"Who's asking?"
"I'm calling on behalf of the Public Security Bureau. If I may, is Jack Atlas with you?"
Lazar? What could he possibly want from them? "No," he answered.
"Well, I won't waste anymore of your time, Mr. Hogan. If you could, can you and Mr. Atlas meet with me at Daedalus Bridge, tomorrow at midnight?"
He gripped the phone. Sounds like another sales pitch. "Oh yeah? What for?"
"This is about your friend, Mr. Yusei Fudo," she explained, causing Crow to fall silent. "I'm afraid he's gotten himself into a bit of trouble."
Ghoulish shadows danced around them, the howling winds overhead doing little to soothe their nerves. Soft, verdant leaves fluttered through the haunting breeze, giving way to more unsettling silhouettes rising from the ground. The cold, hard ground lay beneath, with insects and animals resting nearby quickly moving away from the nonexistent intruders. Ominous dread slowly diffused through the air, giving way to spiderwebs floating within the breeze, and withered leaves chasing after them, only to fail at even that simple task. The ghostly moonlight stared down at them, the gothic twilight shrouding their frames in gray.
Tombstones sat near them, some built painstakingly from marble, others carved intricately from whatever stone the workers could find. A sea of names stretched out from across the graveyard, with still flourishing flowers marking their stakes. Unborn blossoms crawled away from the corpses, all of which were six feet under, just waiting for someone to come. Iron gates surrounded the cemetery, showing off their vibrant threats and darkened humor, all the while warning anyone who came near to stay away, whether that be the groundskeeper, or even the mourners themselves.
Alexis stood behind the shrubs and plants, resting her forehead against the trunk of a poor, barren tree. Her eyes were closed, as her fingers gripped the roots tightly. Her long, blond hair cascaded down her shoulders, with a tiny, pink ribbon strapped behind her left ear. She wore a simple, long sleeved dress, the hem of her white skirt only barely reaching her knees. She didn't feel like wearing shoes tonight, and though the bitter rocks cut through the soles of her feet, it felt more natural to her this way. She didn't think of any other way to come here, to this awful place. Her phone was just lying a few inches away from her fingertips, the tiny thing shut off for the events this evening.
Beside her, was Jaden. Like Alexis, the same, anxious expression coated his face, though his eyes brimmed with frustration and worry. He wore a black, tattered sweater, with a tiny, skull choker wrapped around his throat. Dark blue jeans covered his legs, and just near them, a small, portable camera. He was barefoot as well, though Alexis knew he hadn't adjusted to the earth's rough sensations.
The two had barely said anything since they came to the graveyard. They managed to find a place to hide, and avoided the groundskeeper's watchful eyes, as well as strange mourners from wherever they came in. They've watched the sun go down, the evening lights slowly fading from midnight. Alexis didn't know how long they waited, but then again, she didn't care. She knew they were both ready, both willing to catch the Black Rose, as well as the Rook.
After all, this might be their one chance to show people what was really going on, that Aki had nothing to do with it. In fact, they were so serious, Alexis even put off her own, worthless jokes, just for this moment. Plus, if anything, this also served as an excuse to get out of her apartment.
Just looking at that place was starting to become more and more difficult for her. Every hour or so, she'd find herself standing in the midst of the quiet, asking herself the same questions over and over again. Did she always have that lamp? And what about those stuffed animals? Where did they come from? Where was her transcripts? And the envelops? The ones that had her living expenses, with the same statement that told her she needn't worry about tuition and fees from Duel Academy? These were the very questions that made Alexis replay the conversation Raines had with her, from that day. She kept repeating the words over and over again, trying to make sense of them, however unlikely it may have seemed.
But the nightmares were what made her confusion so unbearably real, so real she couldn't even begin to think about brushing it aside. So many times over she'd dream that horrifying illusion, the one where she and Jaden and Yusei were running. All running. Then they'd be eaten by monsters, ugly monsters that seemed familiar to her, but foreign all the same.
Lately, those monsters had started becoming prettier though; some had faces similar to the children in that one daycare she keeps passing on her way to school, and other times, faces that she knows she's seen before, perhaps on a passing whim from a being she once said hi to. She's seen the same nightmares over and over again, that it's gotten so commonplace now. She doesn't bother telling Jaden about them anymore, knowing full well that he already knows what's been going on.
Last night, however, truly frightened her. They were running, as usual, trying to get away from the monster that was about to devour them. It came for them happily, its claws outstretched, the saliva drenching its mouth. Yusei went ahead first, then Jaden, and finally, finally Alexis. And then she turned.
And she saw Akiza, baring down at her.
Psychotic.
Demented.
Feral.
"Alexis," she heard Jaden whisper.
Her eyes flickered towards his. She blinked, before crouching down, following his line of sight. She scooted a bit closer, trying to peer through the thick leaves and branches. From the corner of her eyes, she saw Jaden readying the camera, determination set in his gaze. It was then she turned to the man standing there, in the middle of the graveyard.
He had dark, chocolate skin, with bright, green eyes gazing out at the darkness. He wore a black trench coat on, with the same, black uniform she saw the mall hijackers wear. However, he was more composed, poised, radiating a mysterious, dangerous aura that caused Alexis to shirk back, though she forced herself not to. As she peered closer, she saw the same, red rose strapped to his throat.
He kept looking outwards, wandering aimlessly for a few steps, before pausing for another minute or so. Quickly, both she and Jaden shared a look, then returned to the stranger in front of them.
Alexis bit her lip. He's the Rook, wasn't he? Drevis? And he's got one of those roses. If they were lucky, the Black Rose will show up. And who knows? Maybe the Queens will appear too. They'd be able to see who exactly is behind all this. Both she and Jaden will publish the article, Sector Security would arrest the perpetrators, and everyone will be happy again. No more murders, right?
But why?
Why is she shaking?
The man smirked. "I know you're here. Come on out."
She, along with Jaden, froze. She could feel the tension building within her muscles, as she regarded the strange man evenly. Instinctively, her hand sought out Jaden's arm, trembling in anticipation.
Still, she couldn't close her eyes. She didn't want to miss this moment, no matter how tempting.
"You've got the invitation, haven't you?"
They remained silent.
"I know you're both here," the man continued, as he slowly began, walking, his hand hovering over a nearby tombstone. He closed his eyes, and savored the quiet. "You're breathing. You're breathing, and you're bleeding."
Alexis's eyes widened, before looking down. She saw dark blood, oozing from her pale flesh. Without warning, she brushed away the sharp pebble and covered the puncture, her icy fingers stinging her foot. Jaden returned her alarmed stare.
"Where is he?" the man drawled. "I requested the King appear."
The Black Rose.
"And to think, the Queens are hiding…"
Queens.
Alexis slid a low gaze to her foot. Slowly, she removed it, and pressed down a bit, allowing the blood to seep to the ground.
He invited the Queens too.
They found a letter in the basement of a morgue. The funeral director wanted Alexis to find it, probably because he knew she'd come back again. The letter was addressed to the Black Rose and his Queens. During the Worm Moon.
During the Witching Hour.
Jaden said the Witching Hour was bad. Really bad. So bad death rates always skyrocketed at that time. He said that was the hour when demons and other scary things roamed the world. Innocent people were considered suspicious if they were out late at that time.
Demons.
Suspicious.
Innocence.
She'd never heard a more fitting combination. She loved the remorse, the guilt, the frustrations pouring out from those words. She enjoyed the agony that accompanied them, the suspense in not knowing where the true monsters were hiding. Wandering within the midst of the pain, all the while screaming out for an unfamiliar name, as you walk along the edges, the boundaries of oblivion just staring up at you with those cold, soulless eyes.
She loved it.
She embraced it.
She needed it.
Then she felt a stinging pain on her cheek.
Her head whipped sideways, though she never took her eyes off the man. His mouth was moving, but she never heard any of the words. She didn't think she had to.
At once, the shivering stopped, fear replaced by raw anticipation. She could feel adrenaline coursing through her veins, as she forced herself to stand there, taking in the beautiful chaos surrounding her. Wild winds enveloped her, the sensation of the hard rocks beating against her arms all the more enticing. She could feel every force trying to draw more and more blood from her, but even that became incredibly addicting. The nightmares replayed themselves over and over again in her mind, all the while endeavoring to make her see, make her understand the truths underlying all of them. She regarded them for a very long time, before casting them aside altogether. The hesitation vanished the moment she stared up at Drevis's eyes, and at once, she smiled.
She remembered him.
He fought them once. He was horrible. She humiliated him, and if it wasn't for Jaden, she would've…
She would've…
She swiftly dodged the next attack, not even bothering hiding the wide grin on her face. Her body recalled movements from so very long ago, as she began dredging up the feral violence her innocence craved for so long. Her limbs began moving on their own, and when she smiled, she started to dance, dance around the edges of scarlet that'd soon decorate her own body.
Where was she?
In the graveyards.
What was she doing?
Playing with a doll.
And she started laughing.
Sayer sat at the very edge of the bed, his eyes staring out at the empty scene in front of him. Red strands fell to his face, his trench coat pulled over his jeans. His ruffled, black shirt clung to his skin, and his gloves lay on the golden blankets just nearby. His hands were neatly folded in his lap, as he sat there, trying to make sense of nothing in particular. Though he tried shoving the memories away, he knew it was useless.
The very fact that the sweet puppet, an ally, that he had taken underneath his wing, stood there, drenched from head to toe, with tiny bits of organs and flesh on her, was still so very unnerving.
The large, rectangular window gave him full view of a city he'd seen many times over. White curtains draped the blinds, the processions of shadows scarcely paying any attention to him. Warm floorboards gazed up at him, with the same, scrutinizing stare he'd seen many times over. In front of him was a large, flat-screen TV that sat on top a huge dresser, with ornate handles, the edges swirling into complicated designs. Just near that were portraits of famous figures he never bothered memorizing, the artists' name flourished at the bottom on a golden plate. A large, steal desk was nestled toward the glass doors leading to the balcony, with a large, grey lamp standing just behind it. On that desk, were files, documents, most of which he was going to discard sooner or later. There were no financial statements on the desk, nothing at all that pertained to Arcadia's mysterious sponsor, or Yusei, for that matter.
He kept stealing small, timid glances toward the large, french doors to his right. By now, Amrbosine must've heard what'd happened. She hasn't asked him anything yet, but he figured she was already investigating the matter. After all, that was Sector Security who saved him from the rampaging reporters; they were the ones who escorted him back to the hotel, the ones who told him that they'd take care of everything, that he didn't need to worry about anything anymore, that he still had Amrbosine's support. In the meantime, he should just stay here, and wait; if anything happens, at least they'll be able to do something about it. Though they gave him a reassuring smile, Sayer didn't feel safe.
What was Yusei anyways? And was Amrbosine going to do with him? He doubted she was going to just let him do whatever the hell he wanted, and since Sayer had witnessed his power first hand, it was the first time he felt genuinely terrified. Still, as long as he stayed underneath Amrbosine's protection, he'd be able to get by, that is, if he didn't run into Yusei again. Legal matters aside, of course.
But then that left Akiza. He should've known the girl would've reacted that way, to what he'd just said. She didn't very well trust him, after all they've told her. And if she's acting like that, along with the fact that she's now the "Daddy's little girl", it must mean she's found a support system. He can't isolate her as he did before; whatever tricks he's used won't work this time. Even if he was telling the truth, she wouldn't listen; Yusei was a good friend of hers, and she wasn't about to let anyone debase him like that. Still, to think that Akiza, his Akiza, was actually capable of something like that…
It was during that time Sayer realized how unstable his situation was. He was hiding behind a stranger he barely knew, a woman who nearly sent him to his death, just to prove that a monster like Yusei existed. Then there was the monster himself, who nearly murdered Sayer, without batting a single eye. He had the entire city eating from the palm of his hands, and if what Amrbosine said was correct, he probably has both the resources and the funds to destroy Sayer, to demolish what little credibility he had left, to ruin him for the rest of his life. Either party could send Sayer back to jail, if they wanted to, perhaps even order a small, low profile execution. He knew he couldn't go public with this, knowing he would only be laughed at.
He closed his eyes then. Akiza wouldn't be able to do anything. Yusei's got her wrapped around his little finger, and since she won't believe him, about anything anymore, she won't work against Amrbosine either.
Did Yusei care about what she thought of him? Did he know she was in love with him? Did he even like her? As of this point, Sayer couldn't even answer those questions.
He heard the door open. That's right; Sayer left it unlocked. Huh, looks like he was going to have to see who it is this time. Amrbosine? One of her guards maybe? A henchman?
"Sayer."
He shut down then.
Sayer was afraid to look up. He knew how pathetic he looked, with his leg braces and casts on him. The crutches were thrown carelessly to the floor, so much so he was going to have to crawl just to get to them.
But he was desperate.
He clutched the edges of the bed, trying to stop himself from trembling. He could remember the pain that'd erupted from his limbs, the devastating sensation of the fires slowly engulfing him, decimating him with whatever poisons it carried.
"Yusei." he muttered quietly.
Icy blue eyes regarded Sayer for the longest time. He was wearing that same, dark undershirt, his blue jacket covering the red insignia upon it. Black jeans housed small, silver chains that were latched onto the pockets, with now dark combat boots to go with them. And rather than the red, crimson rose, which the hijackers wore, a black one nestled near his neck, the stringed choker wrapped around his throat so easily. Slowly, he stepped into the room, and examined it, his orbs examining everything around him. Finally, he turned to Sayer. "I'm shocked. I didn't think you'd call me by that name."
Where were the guards?
What were they doing?
It was hard…to say anything. The fear built inside his throat, as he eyed his duel disk, though that too, was out of reach.
He was defenseless.
"What?" Yusei urged, as he leaned against the wall. "You're not going to say anything?"
He opened his mouth, but nothing came out of it. And yet, just behind Yusei, was the familiar scent of iron. And when Sayer finally did look up, he could only see one face, its eyes wide with terror.
"So," Yusei began, his eyes lazily staring out at the city, "if I tore your leg off right now, you won't scream?"