Chapter 23
He barely managed to get himself to the top of the stone stairs before he heard the sound of hooves galloping towards him. Running as fast as he could he concealed himself behind what must have once been a wall. Making himself as small as possible he stole a glance round the corner of the wall. A group of horses were making their way into the ruined village. Leading the group was a large white horse, sitting on the horse was someone wearing possibly the most expensive clothing he'd ever seen. Wearing various golden items and a long dark blue cape was the Pharaoh. Well, he safely assumed it was the Pharaoh. Apart from anything else the crown he was wearing gave it away. The Pharaoh didn't look much older than he was which in itself was strange. He'd imagined the new Pharaoh to be older somehow, despite having seen him on the balcony he'd been too far away to actually see him properly to even guess his age. His tri-coloured hair was also rather unusual, in fact Haji could not recall seeing anyone before with such hair. The horses came to a halt, Haji watched as the Pharaoh dismounted closely followed by the others. He was too far away to quite make out what they were saying but he could see that the Pharaoh was covered in small scratches and cuts. Good, He deserves to be in pain, Haji thought. The group seemed to consider their surroundings before cautiously moving further into the village. From his crouched position he could see the Pharaoh looking around, his expression was unreadable. If anything this only made his anger towards him and his father deeper. How could he look at what had happened to this village and not have any sort of human reaction? What made him angrier still was there was at least one other person who appeared to have a golden item in hand. He couldn't be sure it was the same as the pendent that Bakura now held but it certainly had similar markings. All this death and destruction for those things, Haji certainly believed it wasn't worth the cost.
As the Pharaoh and his accomplices moved a wave of coldness swept towards them. Haji, from his crouched position, felt the coldness as well but it seemed to move past him, as if whatever this coldness was it didn't view him as a threat. But the others in a village, they were a threat. He could just hear them wondering what this coldness meant but they barely had time to think about it. Around the ground rumbled and cracks formed. The cracks got bigger until a skeletal hand burst through the ground. The bony hands gripped the ground and soon a great number of skeletons were pulling themselves out of the ground before marching creepily towards the group in the centre. There were shouts as the group alerted one another before more strange creatures seemed to appear from nowhere. These creatures launched themselves at the skeletons destroying them one by one. But it mattered not as simply more skeletons appeared. Haji jumped to his feet as a skeleton burst from the ground nearby. Backing away he watched it with fearful eyes, but the skeleton took no notice of him, it moved straight past him. Haji could hear his heart pounding in his ears as he watched the skeleton move away, towards the Pharaoh. How skeletons could come to life and attack people he did not know and at that moment he decided it was best to ask questions later. Turning he broke into a run, heading for where he prayed his horse was still hitched. He heard, as he ran away, someone yelling.
"Go Pharaoh! We shall hold them off."
There was no time to turn and see just what the Pharaoh was doing, he needed to run. Leaping over walls he ran, more and more skeletons came but none came for him. Around him there was cries from the battling creatures and the humans yelling commands. Haji leapt over a final wall and found his horse exactly where he'd left him. But as he reached for the reins the ground shook violently once again and he could hear sounds of explosions. His eyes widened and his thoughts turned back to his friend. He moved once again, but this time not on to his horse but back towards the underground chamber. The ground around him was caving in but he somehow managed to dodge the rapidly growing holes. What had the Pharaoh done to Bakura?
He didn't have long to find out what had happened. The ground gave a terrible sound and continued to shake uncontrollably but over the top of that was a sound that made Haji come to a stop. It was a loud evil laugh; no it was more of a cackle. He'd never heard Bakura make any sort of sound like that before. A far away ahead of him was a small group of people who were seemingly retreating from the underground chamber. In front of them the ground burst and something large emerged, rising higher and higher into the sky. Haji's stomach dropped as he recognised it as the stone Bakura had been sitting on, but also that Bakura himself was standing on top, cackling at the people below him.
"You're too late Pharaoh!" He was yelling, "You have failed. Zorc the Dark One is coming. I shall sacrifice myself to bring him into this world and seal your fate."
Sacrifice? No, surely he couldn't be. Haji's face drained of its colour. The plan had been for the Pharaoh to pay, not Bakura. The stone and Bakura rose ever higher and still Bakura cackled. The sky darkened, though it was far too early for night to fall. The ground around him continued to tremble. Haji took a couple of uncertain steps backwards only to surge forwards again as a reddish glow appeared around Bakura.
"The age of darkness is here!" Bakuraa yelled, laughing maniacally.
Haji watched, horror in his eyes as Bakura seemed to evaporate into thin air.
"Bakura!" He yelled, sprinting towards him but it was in vain.
Heads in the group turned, spotting Haji approaching.
"Look! One of Bakura's men! Get him!"
With little other choice Haji turned and ran back the other way. There was no way he could take on members of the Royal Guard, mostly because he was unarmed. He sprinted back the way he'd come and flung himself on his horse before galloping away. He'd hoped the guards chasing him would give up, people had been yelling at them to stop as they'd chased him. But by the sounds of thundering hooves behind him it would be safe to assume they were following him. Around him the sky continued to darken and a deafening roar sounded. Stealing a glance over his shoulder he saw a enormous creature, no a demon. This demon was almost dragon like with the sharp horns and enormous wings but unlike a dragon the demon stood on two legs. Turning around he urged the horse on, determined to get away from not only his pursuers but that creature as well. His horse pounding the ground with its hooves as it galloped, the river on one side of it and the desert on the other. Haji, suddenly realising where he was pushed the horse ever harder.
Something whizzed past him, missing him by mere inches. Stealing another glance behind him he saw the guards chasing him had drawn their bows, firing arrows at him. He bent low, it was all he could do to try and avoid the arrows. He did not know how many whizzed passed before his horse let out a loud sound and seemed to disappear from underneath him. He was sent flying into the air before smashing into the ground and rolling to a stop. His whole body ached, blood flowed from various wounds. He heard the guards approaching, he had to get away. But when he tried to push his body up, it wouldn't respond.
"Got him!" One of the guards called, "Let's finish him."
There were the sounds of hooves nearby and the pull of a bow being prepared. But then there was another set off hurrying footsteps, followed by a shout.
"SON!"
Haji opened his eyes, turning his head to see his father sprinting towards him. He wanted to call back, tell him to stay away but he couldn't. His father raced to his side just as an arrow was loosed from a bow. Haji's eyes widened in shock as the arrow sped towards him. Darkness fell upon him and a heavy weight landed on top of him. He couldn't move, couldn't breathe. This was death, the arrow had found its mark. Yet he had expected more pain. After all he'd been shot by an arrow surely it would hurt. Perhaps that's what happened when one was at the end, pain became irrelevant. His fading senses told him voices were around but soon enough were gone. He was alone, he would die alone. But a thought crossed his mind, where was his father? He'd seen him running towards him, so where was he now?
Cold dread swept through him. He shifted and the weight on top of him moved. This weight wasn't death, but something or rather someone on top of him. He shifted again, trying to carefully climb out from the weight. As he freed himself from the weight a grunt of pain was heard, but the voice was not his. Looking to his left, Haji's heart stopped.
"FATHER!"
Forcing himself to his knees he crawled to his father's side, his face white with shock. His father lay on his back, breathing hard. An arrow was embedded in his chest. One of his father's hands was around the arrow as if he was trying to pull it out but Haji knew from the rapidly growing pool of blood that it was too late. He looked into his father's eyes who was looking at him.
"Father?" Haji's voice was trembling.
"My s-son." His father replied.
"I'm sorry. This is all my fault, they were chasing me."
His father weakly shook his head, "A f-father always protects his s-son. I was l-looking for you."
"Looking for me? But I thought you wanted me gone."
His father's face twisted in pain, his breathing was slowing. Haji knew it but refused to believe it. Around the sky got darker still, the ground shook slightly and they heard a deafening roar sounded, followed by explosions. Haji paid it no mind. His gaze locked with his father.
"I saw that… that t-thing rise from Kul E-Elna." His father said, "You were r-right that s-something was coming. I-I was t-trying to find you t-to make sure you were s-safe."
Haji's eyes filled with tears. His father's other hand cupped his cheek.
"I'm s-sorry my boy. For not believing you."
Haji shook his head, "It's fine but we need to get you some help. You're going to be ok father."
His father shook his head, "It's t-too late son. P-promise me that you'll keep yourself safe."
Haji shook his head again, "No father, you can't leave me."
His father's weak hand stroked his face, "I w-will see you a-again when we walk in the F-Field of Reeds with your mother."
Once again Haji shook his head, tears flowing freely down his face. His father gazed at him, a small smile broke onto his face before his eyes fluttered and slid shut, the hand falling from his face. He was gone. More tears fell from Haji's eyes, falling fast and free. He shut them and sobbed wracked his body. Bending his head over his father's body he let out a yell before resting his forehead against his father's chest, his whole frame shaking. Meanwhile, around him there were the sounds of huge footsteps which shook the earth and fireballs rained down, exploding on impact with the ground. But somehow none of that mattered right now. Nothing could take his attention from the body which was before him. It was only when a loud explosion sounded ahead that he looked up. In the distance he could see flames and hear people screaming. A few people ran in his direction. His village was burning, its people scattering. Yet still he did not move, even as people raced past him. His eyes found the gigantic demon, it wasn't hard to miss. It was heading in the direction of the capital, still raining down fireballs. As it did Haji saw yet more creatures in the sky, except these were attacking the demon. A red flying serpent, a blue humanoid with large wings and a golden dragon. Haji didn't care who or what they were. He didn't care that the demon appeared to beat them effortlessly, sending them falling to the ground. All he cared about was the man who lay before him, the man who'd just given his life to save his. It was only when the demonic creature spoke that he moved.
"Look at the mighty Pharaoh now." It boomed, "Cowering on his knees, you may as well give up Pharaoh. It is over, you cannot stop me."
The Pharaoh. Haji's eyes narrowed. The Pharaoh. This was all his fault. Him and his stupid father. Had they never created those items in the first place none of this would of happened. His blood boiled. The Pharaoh was the reason Bakura's village and family had been sacrificed. The Pharaoh was the reason his village was burning right now. The Pharaoh was the reason his father was dead, those had been his men. His blood boiled, pure anger in his eyes. The Pharaoh had to pay for all of this. His eyes found the demon, found Zorc. Zorc had to win. He just had to.
"But he won't." A voice behind said.
Haji's head snapped around, looking for the person who'd spoken. But aside from the villagers, who were still trying to put as much distance between them and the village, it appeared it was only him and his father's body here. He turned back to look at Zorc but the voice spoke again.
"Zorc won't win this. The Pharaoh will overcome him."
Haji shook his head, "Bakura said this would work, that this would make him pay."
"The Pharaoh's power is too much, with the power of the millennium items he will stop Zorc. He can't destroy Zorc, not yet but he will stop him for now."
"Then I must prevent him from doing that."
Haji turned, trying to locate whoever it was he was speaking with but he was still alone. He shook his head, his gaze moving to his father's body before over to Zorc once more. A bright golden light burst around Zorc seemingly trapping him, stopping him from moving. Zorc let out an enraged roar, trying to move but was unable to.
"No!" Haji cried, his eyes widening, what was happening?
"The Pharaoh is sealing Zorc and himself away." The voice stated, seemingly answering his thoughts, "He is sacrificing himself to save this land."
"He can't. He has to pay for what he did to my Father, Bakura and everyone from Kul Elna."
"He will one day." The voice spoke, "The day where he is without power, where he is as mortal as you are."
Haji frowned, turning once more to look for the owner of the voice. It sounded so familiar, yet he couldn't be sure where he'd heard the voice before. A few paces away from the place he was crouched next to his father's body a figure seemed to appear from nowhere. A frightening figure, a sightless figure.
Haji frowned at the figure, "I don't understand."
The sightless figure seemed to look at him, "Old and ancient is the eagle which glides through the shadows, awaiting its time to grace the world once more. Gracing yet cursing the world with much torment until it flies free with another. Stripped of power the eagle glides still until the world around crumbles. The eagles fly as the sky grows dark and the winds do howl. Broken and battered by wolves the eagles face the wind. The eagle will fall yet the eagle will survive."
Haji stared at the figure for a moment, not really knowing what to say or what to think. Behind him there was another loud roar accompanied by what sounded like the screams of a man. Haji turned to see Zorc being swallowed by the golden light and pulled out of sight. With one last deafening roar Zorc disappeared, the golden light flashed through the sky brightly then it was gone. The darkness which had engulfed the sky lifted, the sun once again shining its rays down on the desert sand. Haji turned back to the sightless figure, but it was gone. His gaze dropped to his father's body as he considered not only what had just happened but what the sightless figure had told him. The Pharaoh was dead, but he wouldn't always be dead. Some day he would come back and be without his power, only then could he be made to pay for everything he'd done. Haji would ensure that. He did not know how he would do it or how long it would take but he would get revenge for his father, his village and Bakura. Determination set in his gaze. The Pharaoh would pay, one day. His eyes looked down to his father's body once more. He would send his father to the next world, to rest with his mother before setting out on his task.
"You'll pay for everything you've done Pharaoh." Haji said, "I don't care how long it takes. One day you will pay."
