Yu-Gi-Oh! Fan Fiction ❯ Countdown to Armageddon ❯ Hide and Seek ( Chapter 4 )

Here's chapter four! Just a quick note: please remember the things that were said in the prologue. It will make parts of this fic easier to understand in the end. And in the immortal words of some dude I can't remember. 'Things are seldom as they appear.'

~*~

"words" - speech

'words' - thought

//words// - I'll explain later

/words/ - ditto

Large gaps mean a scene or time change.

Disclaimer: Yu-Gi-Oh is the intellectual property of Kazuki Takahashi, and is being used in this fanfiction for fan purposes only. All situations, opinions and characters not belonging to Kazuki Takahashi are the intellectual property of Blue September.

Warnings: This fic contains Yaoi and some amounts of graphic violence. You may also notice some OOCness in some of the characters.

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Chapter 4: Hide and Seek

"GWAAAAH!"

"Another."

"AAAAAH!"

"Another."

"GAAAAAAH!" He stayed face down on the floor, his feet still chained to the wall, as he desperately attempted to pull air into his lungs.

"That's enough. You're dismissed."

The guard strode from the cell, whip in hand. The door was closed by another, who stood guard outside, as he left the room. Akunamukanon stood tall, above the messy heap on the floor that could barely be distinguished as a man. He was somewhat elderly, white hair and whiskers adorning his head and grubby face. His skin was unnaturally dark, covered in grime, from years of lying in filth while imprisoned in the royal dungeons, far below the rest of civilization. His skin sagged and his stomach was slightly swollen; signs of malnutrition. He moved a little allowing himself to stare up at the younger man, but wincing at the pain it caused his bleeding back.

"I'm sure you grow weary of this game, old man, as do I, but until you tell me what I want to know your torment will continue."

"I… ha-have… al-ready told you… I know… n-othing," he choked out, voice hoarse from screaming and lack of water. A soft growl was his only warning as a firm kick connected with his side, leaving him gasping for air.

"TELL ME WHERE THEY ARE!"

"I DO NOT… KNOW!"

"Why should I believe you?" he started, beginning to pace. "You are her father and you expect be to trust that she would leave without a word to you? Even if she did you must have some idea as to where she might have gone. It's been three years and I've searched every city. She wouldn't have fled the country. It's too dangerous with the boy and I know, as much as I hate the wench, she isn't that stupid. So tell me. Where are they hiding?"

"I've… told you already, I do not know. And even if I did, I wouldn't tell you, you… bastard. So do what… you want with me. I have nothing left. You've already taken eve-ry-thing I had. My only regret… will be that I ever got my daughter involved… with you. But I do not fear, for I kn-ow the gods will protect both her… and my grandson from the likes of you!"

The pharaoh was angry, no, beyond angry. He pulled his foot back, ready to strike the man again, but stopped. His face was calm; too calm. His demeanour was almost a complete switch.

"Is that so," he said. "Then, it appears I have no more use for you. Well… perhaps one." He chuckled as the world darkened, and twisted around them, the strange item around his neck glowing all the while. The old man tiredly backed away wondering what was happening. After gaining some distance he realized that somehow he was no longer chained and stood shakily.

"Wh-What are… you… doing?" he asked suddenly finding it very difficult to breathe. He realized that his wounds had weakened him, but not this much.

"Simply setting the stage for our little game," he said smiling with a look of false innocence.

"G-Game?"

"Well, maybe 'race' would be more appropriate. The rules are simple." From behind the pharaoh the old man heard a faint hissing sound and out of the blackness a giant, black and white, spider-like insect appeared. There were really two main oddities about the spider. One was its size, obviously, and the other was its almost human head attached to the body by an elongated neck. Okay three oddities. "If you can outrun my Insect Queen," said the king, "you live. However, if you can't… I think you can figure the rest out for yourself. Let the games begin."

The old man stared open-mouthed at the creature coming at him. Instinctively he turned to run away, but didn't even get two steps before he felt himself being covered with a sticky yet silky substance. The more he struggled to free himself the more tangled he became. His back was covered, then his head, then it flowed down his front in gooey strings. Soon his whole body was covered and the gummy fibres began to dry into something more solid. The spider hissed again and returned to the darkness dragging its prey along with it. It would have a good meal tonight.

The black backdrop receded as it had come and the glow from the golden item faded as well.

//It's about time.//

/Ugh… my head. That hurts./

//Took you long enough to kill the wretch.//

/Be silent! I tire of your incessant nagging./

//Perhaps I wouldn't nag if you would simply do as I say. If you had we would have had this situation dealt with long ago.//

/How, by having me go on a massive killing spree?/

//If it gets the job done…//

/Despite what you think, I have my people to think of. Actions like that risk losing their faith in me./

//A bit late for that. You lost their faith the moment that woman crossed the palace walls, but I can help you to win it back.//

/…Fine. What is it you suggest I do?/

//I 'suggest', first of all, that you clean up this little mess.// The voice directed Akunamukanon to the lifeless mass on the floor. //Burn it or something. His soul will have no use for it any longer.//

/And then?/

//Then I suggest we pay a little visit to Sais[1].//

Sais: a busy town, full of hustle and bustle. The people were also not unused to have many distinguished persons from noblemen to pharaohs come through. This time however it caused quite the disturbance.

Akunamukanon blazed into town along with hundreds of very threatening-looking soldiers. The leader of the district was simply told to have his soldiers help to round up all of the citizens. They all gathered together wondering what was happening, until someone realized that their king was standing before them. Rumours began to spread through the crowd at an alarming rate.

"Why do you think he's here?"

"I don't know."

"Do you suppose he's looking to take on another bride?"

"Could be."

"Oh I hope he picks me! He's very handsome."

Giggles.

"I don't know. I heard he has an awful temper."

"Yeah I heard that too."

"Same here."

"Me too."

"I head that's why Kiya ran off."

"Really?"

"I am sure that you are all aware that the crowned prince is still missing," the king began, silencing the crowd. "And by some traitorous hands the kidnapper has eluded my grasp, but not for much longer. I will not stand for treachery." He took this time to rove is piercing gaze over the members of the crowd. Most of them flinched under it and he held back a smirk.

//Weaklings.//

"Now, I know that the woman, who is no longer to be considered our queen, has friends here; that she has known many of you since childhood and I admire your loyalty, but remember. To lie with a traitor is to be one yourself. Someone here must have some knowledge as to where she might be. I understand that, whoever you are, you may be concerned for your safety. I am here to tell you that you have no need to be frightened, for no harm shall befall you, if come forward. However, if by tomorrow no one has come forth. Five people will be executed daily either until I get what I'm looking for, or until there is not a soul left alive within this city. I await your decisions." The king turned to head back to his temporary home at the nobleman's manor.

The townspeople were in a flurry. What were they going to do? How in the hell were they supposed to know where she had gone? None of them knew the answer… except for one.

'But how could I ever betray Kiya like that?' a plump young woman asked herself. 'But it's her or the entire town. How can I not?' The crowd was dispersed, everyone returning to their routines, though slowly losing hope.

Khepera[2] was nearing the end of his daily journey across the sky, but the woman could not bring herself to return to her own home. She walked through the emptying streets of Sais observing the people she knew as friends and neighbours. There was a heavy air about tonight. Fear gripped the heart of every citizen, for they knew that the pharaoh would not hesitate to make good on his promise. Any one of them could be dead by the morrow.

"We're doomed," she heard someone say and stood still. The life of her childhood friend rested in her hands, but so did the lives of everyone around her.

'I can't let that happen.' She ran as quickly as possible to the home of their provincial leader, where she knew the pharaoh had taken up temporary residence.

"Please let me see the Pharaoh. It's very important," she begged the guards at the gate.

"Stand back woman," a guard spat in her face.

"Please wait. I-I have some information… about the prince." That got their attention.

"Follow us," one ordered and she was led to the king. They lowered their heads in greeting.

"What do you want?"

"Majesty this woman claims to have information regarding the missing prince."

"What?" Akunamukanon whirled strait over to the girl. "What is it you know? Well… Spit it out!"

The woman cringed fearfully. "I-I'm not sure th-that this will help, b-but a long t-time ago there was a man-"

"A man? Who is he? Where can I find him?"

"P-Please Your Majesty," she squeaked, her whole body trembling with fear. "I d-don't know. I just know th-that he used to v-visit Miss Kiya and d-deliver wine to the temple for c-ceremonies. I-I believe he still does. Sh-She may be with him."

/The temple?/

//Quickly, we must go. They may be able to tell us how to find this man.//

/I agree, though I must say I was not expecting such a hasty response./

//See, you should listen to me more often.//

"I thank you for your assistance."

"Of c-course Your Grace."

"Rudiju," he called to the guard following close behind him, "See that she is properly rewarded. I have some business to attend to at the temple."

"Yes Sire." The king departed.

'Kiya, I'm so sorry. Please forgive me.'

To Be Continued…

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Authoress' Notes:

[1] I know nothing about Ancient Egyptian geography. I just needed the name of a town and this came up in the search.

[2] The scarab that pushes the sun disk across the sky.

I know it was a bit short, but fear not! Chapter 5 will be up later today! I promise!