Yu-Gi-Oh! Fan Fiction ❯ Damned & Captured ❯ Damned & Captured ( Chapter 1 )

A/N: It's going to be quite gruesome and twisted guys (hehe my fave) so if that's your cup of chai then I hope you like it, otherwise, you may not ^_~

"Malik…I'm scared…"

"Ssh!"

Silence…

"Do you think they found Ryou?"

Malik turned his head quickly and closed his hand over Yugi's mouth; moving his mouth close to the smaller boys' ear. "Ssh, Yugi…no…they won't have found Ryou…I hope anyway…"

From the shine in Yugi's frightened eyes, Malik quickly added, "They wouldn't have found him. Ryou's smart…h-he knows what to do…"

Malik glanced towards the door again; the soft, shallow light from beyond it barely seeping through the crack underneath. He didn't want to let his fear show to the younger boy but it was pretty obvious he was scared as well. They had had Raid drills and training before on it, but no-one really took any notice. Malik guessed that everyone just took their easy lifestyle for granted, and never thought about what truth resided in the old myths and legends that the elders used to tell.

'I bet they're kicking themselves for that now,' the blonde boy thought to himself as he surveyed the room again.

He was scared to move but they'd been sitting there for over 5 hours now; huddled in the corner, grasping each other like their lives depended on it…which wasn't far from the truth if you thought about it. Malik could feel the sharp stings of Yugi's nails on his shoulders and the cramp forming in the twisted muscles of his legs. He needed to move. Just for a second. But…what if they heard him? They would surely hear him…and it would be his fault if Yugi was killed. He had promised to protect them…both of them…but where was Ryou now? Probably lying somewhere dying…

Malik clenched his eyes shut and tried not to think about it, but the images that his over-creative mind was conjuring were breaking him apart. He had to be strong through this…help Yugi if no-one else.

Prying Yugi's small hand away from his skin, he held it tight and looked at him. "We'll be alright…ok? Don't worry. We'll get out of here."

Yugi sniffed slightly and nodded, squeezing Maliks' hand tighter. He brushed his tears away and looked back at the blonde boy. "You promise?"

Malik hesitated slightly; feeling uncomfortable because he wasn't really sure himself. "Yes, I promise."

They both sighed as they hugged each other; questions and hopes running through their minds at the situation. Malik wanted to believe they'd be okay. Really, he did. He wanted to believe that they would get out of this. But still the same question repeated in his head. Where exactly would they go? Outside was the exact same as in there. Complete devastation. Everything would be barren and everyone would be either dead or taken into slavery. There would be nothing left. 

Pulling away from each other, the silence took over again. All that could be heard was their soft breathing…and Yugi's teeth chattering. It wasn't from the cold though, it was from the fear he felt. The fear of being found by them…and what would happen to them afterwards. But Malik promised they would be okay…that must be worth something. 

Malik gritted his teeth…the need to move was burning inside of him. Burning, along with his calf muscles. He needed to stretch…they wouldn't hear him…not if he just got up and moved a little bit. He looked at Yugi again. The poor boy was scared witless; you could see it so evidently in his amethyst eyes. So pure; so scared.

"I'm just going to get up for a second," he said softly, going to move…but he was tugged still by Yugi.

"W-where are you going?!" he asked in a harsh whisper, "They could hear you, Malik! I don't want anything to happen to you!"

The older boy hushed him and stroked his face gently; kissing his forehead. "It's okay…I think they've gone now…but I'm not going very far anyway…they won't hear…"

Worry still showing on his face, Yugi paused and nodded in defeat. He didn't exactly blame Malik for wanting to move. He wanted to as well…but his fear restrained him, and kept him still in the corner. He wasn't as brave as his friend anyway. Malik had always been his protector…his and Ryou's…Ryou didn't need it most often though. 

'Ryou…' Yugi wondered, thinking about his white haired friend, 'where are you? Please let you be okay…Gods please…'

Feeling tears drop down onto his cheeks again, Yugi brushed them away furiously. He didn't understand why any of this was happening…and why it was happening then. He knew who had done this…but why was another matter altogether. Yugi was sure Malik knew…or had some idea as to why…but he wouldn't say.  There hadn't been a lot of time anyway. When the Raid had hit, no-one really had any idea what was going on.  Everyone was just screaming and crying…it was chaos.

Silent tears rolled down Yugi's face as he watched Malik stand up slowly. They had both seen people die…their neighbours…friends…family. Yugi pressed his face to his knees and sobbed quietly. His grandfather had been one of them…

'Grandpa…' Yugi thought, hugging his legs to his chest tighter, 'I'm so sorry Grandpa…I'm so sorry…'

His Grandfather had told them to run when the fires started. Blazes high into the sky; taking with it all of his friends houses and the surrounding Forests. Yugi remembered now that his Grandpa had seen Raids before…but that was when he was young, and they hadn't seen one since for over 2 centuries. The fires were what scared him the most…well, apart from the Demons themselves. He knew what fires symbolized, and instinct told him to get away as far as possible. He guessed that was just normal for him being what he was…and also that Malik, Ryou and everyone else felt the exact same. Again, it was Malik that saved them at the time. He wouldn't have had a clue what to do or how to get away from them.  With it being near dusk, it was still fairly light out and they had been easy targets. Malik had found hiding places for them along the way and they had managed to hide for a while. The sounds were terrifying. Sounds of heart-wrenching screams…agonising screams…and worst of all was the disgusting smell of boiling flesh and feathers.

Ryou, Yugi and Malik had clung to each other…scared that their fate was tied up the same as the dying people out in the open. Malik; the brave one as he had been dubbed, had had tears tumbling over his bronze cheeks as Ryou cried softly over and over that he didn't want to die. He had felt the hands of both of his best friends digging into his body from fright, and strived to think of nothing but trying to remain quiet and hidden.

Malik leant back against the wall in the dark room, glad to finally be able to stretch his legs. He could hear Yugi's muffled sobs and tried to block from his mind what the younger boy was thinking of. The dark should have been comforting. Welcome; due to the fact that it hid them…but it wasn't. It was the opposite… What else was it hiding? He wanted to be back in the light…playing and teasing the others…hanging off the large trees that grew in Yugi's Grandfathers' garden…going up to Cherubim Brook and tossing Clords into the water.  They always had gone by Ryou's rules; 1 Clord for a hope…2 Clords for a wish…and 5 Clords for a dream. The merciful Tutelary Angels were meant to look upon you and grant you what you wanted if you were worthy enough. It was innocent and childlike…and it was all Malik wanted for the others now. He didn't want to think about what the Brook looked like at that point…the Demons had probably blown it up. They didn't care about anything like that. It was for their own selfish reasons that they intruded into their life and destroyed every pure and living thing in sight.

Malik sighed and ran his hands through his soft hair. He couldn't believe it had ended up like this. And where was Ryou? Gods, he was so worried about him. Malik was stuck in between two important people in his life…Ryou and Yugi. Go find Ryou; lose Yugi. Stay with Yugi: lose Ryou. It was a no-win situation and it made Malik sick.  But what if something's already happened to Ryou…?

'No! I can't think that! I won't think that! Ryou's fine! He's just fine!' Malik slid down the wall grasping his hair in his fists. 'Please Gods let him be fine…'

They had lost Ryou somewhere along the way coming to this place. A deserted hut that no-one ever went in for as long as Malik could remember. As young children they'd created different stories about the deserted hut that sat on the edge of the bank on the other side of the river…each story more horrifying than the last. It was strange what frightening figments the Pure children could make up in their heads. Now Malik realised that when you were a Pure child, anything strange seemed horrifying to you as you'd never really come across it before. Now it just seemed stupid and not remotely scary at all. That is why they decided to make their way towards it. Looking back, Malik couldn't even describe in words the terror he felt when they rushed from their hiding spot and saw the Demons in the sky. He knew what they were when he saw them…they had been Daevas…all seven of them hanging in the sky like some morbid omen. He knew that Ahriman mustn't have been far behind…and he wanted to get Ryou and Yugi into safety as quickly as possible. It wasn't the Daevas though that were doing the killing…at least…he didn't think so. They had enlisted underworld people for themselves, and they were just waiting…and watching as their recruits desecrated everything. Fighting bile that started to rise in his throat, Malik pushed the other two on with his words. If the Daevas caught sight of them, they would surely let the others know and there would be nothing either one of them could do about it.

'It was like some strange and unusual nightmare,' the blonde Pure thought to himself, 'like it was happening to someone else…not me.'

They had been grudgingly been taught about Demons and the like by their tutors, of which Malik lapped all up. He'd always been somewhat 'wayward'…finding the stranger things interesting and wanting to explore them further. It had been this interest that had saved them…giving him an edge on what to do and expect. Even being interested, this hadn't stopped Malik from being terrified. He - and most of the people in the sleepy village of Armahniahk - hadn't been expecting this so everyone treated it like a nightmare and ran around screaming. Malik was glad he was able to somewhat keep a level head in all of the confusion.  A lot of the adults were Rising, which he knew was not something that should be done in these circumstances. He remembered thinking that confusion and fright causes a lot of people to become disorientated, and try to do anything to get away from the cause of it…therefore creating the fight or flight reactions.  And Malik knew that most of them would choose the latter. This obviously didn't seem to work too well for them though as their mangled bodies dropped to the ground in a wet thud of blood and flesh.

"Stop reliving it…" he whispered softly to himself, Yugi not being able to catch it, "Stop reliving it…"

He clenched his eyes again as the image filtered back into his mind. Watching as the Druj - the females of the Daevas - all flew down from their places in the sky, turned into their well known forms and seized the corpses of the people as their souls left their bodies. He would never forget that sight. Ever.

Malik looked across the dark hut at his best friend, seeing him shaking and sobbing in the corner. His heart broke again for his friend…Yugi had lost his Grandpa…what was he going to do now? Malik knew straight away that he would have Yugi with him. Having no family of his own except his sister, Isis, who had left the village about 182 Sun Turns ago; Malik lived alone.  They would be fine together…Ryou as well! Ryou was in the same situation as Yugi…his father - if not taken into slavery - would have most surely been killed. He bowed his head at the losses of everyone…he had to remain strong! Find Ryou, and then they would all be fine. Who didn't like optimism?

Crawling slowly and quietly towards Yugi, Malik placed a hand on his arm; startling the boy slightly. Yugi looked at Malik's tear streaked face and they hugged tight again.

"I promise…I won't let anything hurt you, okay? You don't have to worry anymore."

Yugi nodded into Malik's chest, more tears springing forth onto his cotton shirt. "Okay, Malik."

Malik pulled away from the smaller boy and wiped away the moisture on his face as he looked up at him. "We've been here for about 6 hours now…they've probably gone…we should go out now…will you be okay?"

Yugi knew what Malik meant…would he be ok with going back and seeing all the littered bodies everywhere? He decided to answer him honestly. "I don't think so, Malik…but…I don't want to stay here forever…so it's either one or the other really, isn't it?"

Smiling grimly at him, Malik kissed Yugi's forehead again. "Yes, it is. I'll be with you…try not to focus on them…it might make it easier."

Nodding again quietly, Yugi grasped Maliks hand and, together, they walked cautiously towards the little wooden door, listening for any other signs of movement. Ryou was running through both of their minds as they waited a second, listening more intently. Deciding that the coast was clear, Malik reached for the rickety doorknob and twisted it gently. The click of it opening, and pulling a little, made both Pure's jump slightly and then sigh in relief at their mistake. Staying behind the door and pushing Yugi behind his back, Malik opened the door slightly before moving his head slightly to look out through an inch. He gulped back rising sickness as he looked across to where the village sat…bodies were lying haphazardly everywhere on the green…the stench of burnt flesh still hanging like thick fog in the air. Malik switched his breathing to through his mouth, but then after that he could taste the sickness as well. He went back to breathing through his nose.

"What's out there, Malik?"

Malik swallowed and felt tears prick his eyes. "Just…ruins, Yugi…everything's gone…"

"E-everything?" Yugi asked, a choked sob making his voice crack.

Malik nodded as he stepped further out. Yugi looked up at him. "R-ryou too?"

"I-I don't know…" he answered, pausing, "I guess we'll have to look for him…"

"Look?! Look through the bodies?!"

Malik gripped the bridge of his nose between his thumb and forefinger…he was getting upset fast and he felt he was going to break down at any second. His home was gone…all of his belongings he'd came to own when his Sister left him with hardly anything. The green was like a battle ground…limbs, torsos and heads everywhere. None of them seemed to be attached. The houses were still ablaze, not as bad as they were when they first run away to hide…but that was probably because all there was to burn was already burnt to a crisp. Dead animals lay in the gardens of the houses they belonged to, and others lied around the green where they must have escaped and run around a bit before letting death claim them. Malik heard Yugi heaving…the sight being too much for the smaller boy to cope with. Was there any hope to find Ryou?

'Yes! There was!' Malik answered himself. He had to remain optimistic…if not for himself, then for Yugi.

"M-malik…"

Malik was brought back to reality as he heard Yugi cry his name softly. "Malik…I can't…it's too…I-I can't look thr-through them…Ryou's alive! I know it! I just know…he can't be…I won't believe it!"

'I wish I could have your confidence in knowing that, Yugi,' Malik thought to himself as he knelt down next to the other boy, 'It just doesn't look too good…'

"R-ryouuuuuuu!!!"

Malik jumped halfway in the air when Yugi howled out his friends' name. It had scared the hell out of him…he truly didn't know what the hell had happened or what was going on in that short space of time. He did know one thing though…Yugi was going to have to shut up; now!

"Yugi!! Be quiet!! They could come back!!"

Yugi pushed the blonde away from him, who hit the ground with a bump, as the smaller boy took off towards the river closer to the Forest. Malik visibly cringed as he heard Yugi wail Ryou's name again. He knew exactly what would happen if the Daevas heard and came back for them. Ahriman would surely order their deaths, and of course his loyal servants would acquiesce. Who knew where they were…they could be anywhere…watching them right now from the shadows…waiting to strike. Malik shook his head before taking off after Yugi, he couldn't think about that right now…he had to get Yugi to calm down.

Running towards the trees where Yugi was headed, a figure came out of the bushes. It took the smaller boy a second to realise what it was before he screamed in life-threatening terror. Back-pedalling so fast that he tripped and fell to the scorched grass with a thud. Slick from head to toe with oozing brown slime…the beast made its way towards Yugi, who had frozen on the ground…the shock in his eyes and on his face, overwhelming.  Yugi scrambled backwards on the floor trying to flee from the wrath that he knew the monster would make him feel. He could hear, somewhere, Malik screaming at him to run as the monster spat brown gunk out onto the grass but he could barely hear anything except the blood pounding in his ears. As the creature bent towards him, Yugi scrunched his eyes shut and swallowed, preparing for his evident ending.

"Wha…?" he sounded, opening his eyes when he didn't feel anything.

The creature had fallen to the ground. Yugi stared at it; shocked further by its sudden weakness. He didn't understand. Yugi kept his eyes upon it as he felt Malik fall to the ground beside him, asking over and over if he was okay. Nodding, Yugi moved cautiously towards the brown-sludge-demon, ignoring Malik trying to pull him backwards; away from it. Yugi paused as he moved his hands up to touch it…then shook off the feeling before going ahead and touching what seemed to be the creatures 'face'. Beautiful, pale skin broke through the mud as Yugi scraped it away with his palm. He worked faster, scraping more away until Ryou's face could be visibly seen.

"Ryou…" Yugi breathed before shouting, "Malik help!!!! Ryou! It's Ryou!!!"

Malik looked stunned, before helping to skim the mud from his friends' body. "Gods, thank you!!!"

Yugi stopped and moved his cheek next to Ryou's mouth and nose. "M-malik…I don't think he's breathing!!"

Malik's eyes widened, as he stuttered, "Wha…?"

Pushing his fingers under Ryou's nose, Malik didn't feel any air touching his skin. He felt his neck quickly for a pulse and found a faint one; he knew realised that Ryou not being able to breath must only just have happened…the mud was drying…that's why.

"Move, Yugi, quickly."

The smaller boy moved out of Maliks way as he opened Ryou's mouth to try and get all of the mud out of it…it coming out in thick, gloopy chunks. It hadn't gone down the back of Ryou's, Malik was thankful…and it was his nose that was mostly blocked with it. Once the remainder of the mud had been removed from his mouth, Ryou started to breathe again. Malik held his mouth open and turned him on his side so that his tongue didn't go down his throat and tried to pull out the bits of dried mud that was clogging up his nose.

Yugi ran a hand across his friends' muddy hair, wondering exactly why he was muddy in the first place…he decided he would ask that later. He was just so glad that Ryou was alive; he didn't really care about anything else. Pushing the stray hairs away from his face as his eyelids started to flutter; Malik wiped his hand on his linen trousers, licked his fingertip and wiped bits of mud from Ryou's eyes. The pale boy sighed softly and blinked gently before glancing at them.

Malik smiled at him and Ryou returned it. "Hey, Ryou…you okay now?"

The pale boy nodded and looked up at Yugi as he stroked his face again. He looked so relieved that they had all found each other again, Malik noted. It seemed like it was all going to be okay now. The question now was, though, where were they all going to live. They would have to leave Armahniahk because the village had been Tainted. It would remain Demon territory now and no Pure could, or would want, to live there. Malik looked at his two best friends as they hugged each other close and knelt down to embrace them both as well. They would be fine together…they would find a way.

Laughing, Malik fingered a lock of Ryou's now brown hair. "I thought you prided yourself in your white hair, Ryou?"

Ryou grinned up at him and pulled another lock of his hair forward to inspect it; scrunching his nose up when he realised its state. "Yeah…well…I guess it's better than being caught…"

Yugi nodded enthusiastically at the paler boy and grasped his hand tightly. Standing up, Malik looked across the river again at their destroyed village…the houses still on fire a little. He turned back to his friends; not wanting to look anymore, and reached for their hands to stand them up. Yugi took his hand and stood up, holding onto Ryou and pulling him up with him. Ryou cringed slightly as he felt the wet, slop of mud slide down his thighs and drop with a pat onto the grass. His method had saved him, but it had nearly killed him as well…plus it felt disgusting.

It wasn't until he looked up into the sky and froze that he broke from his thoughts. All speech had left his throat as well, and all he could do was stare up into the dark with horror. Yugi turned to look at Ryou, the tug on his arm not pulling him forward anymore. He span back to where the pale boy was looking and gasped.

The Daevas!

"M-malik!!!"

Malik turned abruptly to where Yugi was pointing…his blood freezing in his veins when he saw them with his own eyes. They must have heard them! They must have heard and were now returning for them! Malik looked up in total and utter disbelief.

'Why is this happening?! What have we done?!'

The blonde boy could see Aeshma in the lead coming towards them…grinning his wide and sickening grin as if they were foolish enough to try and escape in the first place. Malik spun back to both his friends…his heart pounding in his chest as he could practically feel them approaching. It was like his mind was on autopilot as he grasped Yugi's and Ryou's cotton shirts and dragged them fast towards the river. He could hear Yugi's pants from the adrenaline that must have been coursing through the smaller boys' body, and he thought about what to do with Ryou…his plan involved something that the paler boy might not be able to achieve…given his close proximity to death a few minutes ago.

"Ryou!" Malik gasped out as they ran towards the bank, "Don't worry…I know what to do!"

Just as they were to reach it, Malik shouted to Yugi. "Yugi! Get ready to hold your breath!"

His plan was flawless if Yugi was able to hold his breath for that long. Malik didn't want Ryou doing that, since that was what had happened earlier, basically. It would work…it had to! Demons couldn't touch water if it was in a great body e.g. a river…it was one of the Pure elements. An element that the Gods designed for the light; not for the dark. If they stayed under the water…they would be fine. Malik was glad the three of them used to play about in Armahniahk River…competing to how long each of them could hold their breath for, and how far down they could swim to without their ears hurting. Ryou was the worse at holding his breath, so Malik was thankful that he was going to help him anyway.

The three of them heard the fearful growls of the Daevas just as Malik pushed them into the water. Yugi had just enough time to fill his lungs with fresh oxygen as he hit the water and went under; Malik's hand still grasping his shirt and keeping him from drifting away. Malik held Ryou close to him around the waist, the boy being okay at the moment with his air supply, and then glanced at Yugi, who also seemed to be fine. He then looked up towards the surface of the water…dark shapes rippling above it. They would stay there longer. The current was not that strong, but strong enough to move them down it, following its course. Malik turned back to Ryou as he felt the first struggles of the paler boy against his body. He was running out. Glimpsing at Yugi who was slightly ahead of them as they moved, he turned back to Ryou and lifted his arm from around his waist to turn and hold his face towards his own. Looking at each other, Malik closed the gap and they locked lips. Ryou closed his eyes as Malik breathed more air into him, their legs intertwining as they held each other closer. Pulling away slowly, Ryou looked into Malik's eyes and mouthed a 'thank you'.

That had been enough air for him then, but it wasn't going to last. From what Malik could see by looking up to the surface, the shapes had gone…gone where though was the ultimate question. They could be just hovering away from his line of vision…ready to pop up any time when they tried to make their escape. He pulled Yugi closer, who wrapped his arms around Malik and Ryou as well. Motioning to both of them to keep holding onto him, Malik grabbed onto one of the tree roots that had made its way under the water. This managed to keep them somewhat stationary as they contemplated what next to do. Another problem that was rapidly arising was again the lack of fresh oxygen, and Malik couldn't keep providing for both of the smaller boys. They were going to have to go back up. The blonde just hoped that the Daevas thought they were dead already and had gotten bored waiting for their bodies to float to the surface.

'Please, let that be the case…'

Noticing a shaded area where the trees had bowed over the surface of the river, the three boys made their way towards it, still staying within the waters depths. It would give them chance to get oxygen and look out to see where the Demons were. Breaking the surface gently, they breathed evenly and quietly…even though Yugi felt like he could gasp it back into his lungs. He made sure he didn't though…he didn't want to be the reason they were found and killed by those things. Ryou and Yugi both had their eyes on Malik, trusting him to be able to know what to do next. If it was up to Ryou, he would decide to stay under the shelter of the trees…never again would he want to go out there where the possibility of death was still lurking about. But he would obey Malik…whatever the blonde thought was best, that would be what he'd do. He knew Malik's plans would be better and far more thought out than his ever could be…so, the pale boy trusted him with his life…which had been the right choice in several past circumstances. When he had lost Yugi and Malik when they were trying to get away from the Raid, Ryou felt sure he was going to die. He was smart, yes…but he never thought he would cope well in situations such as these. This was way over his head as far as he was concerned…but he had survived…much to the surprise of himself.

'Common sense is the key, I guess,' he thought as he breathed in more of the crisp air.

"What are we going to do now?" Yugi whispered to them both.

Ryou looked back at Yugi, not knowing what to say, but Malik chose to speak up. "I think we should wait for a bit…before we go back out there."

"Yes…" Ryou said softly, "They could still be out there…"

Malik turned to Ryou, as if he'd just recalled something. "Are you okay? Is your breathing back to normal?"

Ryou nodded as Malik spoke up again. "I'm sorry…both of you…it was the only thing I could think of to get us away from them…"

Yugi moved gently through the cool water until he was close to Malik. He placed his hand on Maliks cheek and looked into his lavender eyes. "You saved us, Malik. Again, you saved us…"

Ryou moved up next to him and brought them both into an embrace, tears of relief at their survival pooling in his eyes. They hugged each other so tight, reassuring each other that they were together again. Malik smiled at them both and kissed their cheeks…he was happy, yes…but fearful…for they weren't exactly safe yet. They still need to get out and away from Armahniahk, and with the Daevas around…he was scared that it wouldn't be at all easy.

Breaking away from Ryou's and Yugi's grasps, he made his way slowly through the water and over to the edge of the trees, which hid them. Roughly, he ran calculations through his head of the estimated time of the day. He had managed to track it in the hut and it had been about 6 or 7 hours then. He then added that onto the time it was when they had been in their previous hiding places, which was about 3 and a half hours. At Dusk, the Gnomon on the Armahniahk Sundial had been at about 8 going into night…so that meant that it was about 5 or 6 going into day. Malik sighed, thinking about all the people that would never see today or tomorrow or the next. He turned back to his friends. Yugi was attempting to wash the rest of the mud out of Ryou's brilliant white hair. Most of it had come off from the journey through the river anyway; Yugi was just removing the residue.

Malik waded gently back over to them. "I don't think they're out there anymore…they're gone; we can go now."

Yugi stopped untangling Ryou's hair and looked at the blonde boy dubiously. "Are you sure, Malik?"

He nodded back to the smaller boy and took his hand in his, leading them both towards the edge. Ryou felt his heart start to beat faster in his chest as the thought of leaving the protection of the trees to go out into the open again. He felt so vulnerable and weak against those things. Malik turned around and 'ssh'd them to make them even more quiet. Ryou could tell…Malik was scared too. He wished he'd left the mud on now…at least he would blend in a little better. His white hair was like a beacon to everything!

Malik paused as they reached the overhang of leaves, parting them slightly and looking out. Dawn had come and was now casting soft light over the faraway hills at the top of the valley. That still wouldn't deter the Daevas though, Malik reminded himself; it was still quite dark and shadowy in the village. They had to tread cautiously. Malik parted the leaves further and stepped carefully out of them, his eyes and the top of his head just out of the water with the rest of his body covered. Ryou whimpered slightly as Yugi pushed him forwards to follow Malik; the paler boy keeping as low in the water as he could. They were going across the current but it wasn't that strong so they were able to cope with it fairly well. Yugi followed Ryou after he left; his small hands gripping the saturated material of his friends' cotton shirt as they made their way together.

In the middle of the river, Malik turned around to wait for Ryou and Yugi to catch up; their fright making it harder for them to concentrate in the deep water. Willing them along with his mind, the blonde turned back to look at the bank they were headed to. It wasn't far off now; just a little bit further.

"Come on," he whispered over to them, "it's not too far now…"

He clutched Ryou's hand as he reached it out for him, and pulled both smaller boys over towards the bank. Pushing them against the grassy verge, they held on tight to the tufts as Malik struggled to pull himself out and onto the embankment; panting as he made it with limited scratches and cuts. His body cried out for rest and sleep, but his mind told him he had to go on…go on and pull his friends out of the ever-moving river.

Malik leant over the bank and grasped onto the first hand he found; Yugi. Pulling him up, he managed to get his other hand around the boys' elbow and tug him out better; grunting at the exertion. Once Yugi was safely on the bank, he went back for Ryou. Grabbing the boys' hand, he pulled him up…but his hands were slippery and Ryou slid back into the water.

Malik's eyes bulged. "Ryou!!"

He nearly fell back into the water himself as he grappled onto the edge to try and reach Ryou.

"I-I'm okay…I've got hold of the grass," he answered, a whimper in his voice.

Yugi reached his arms over the edge as well, grabbing onto Ryou as Malik gripped him as well. Both of them managed to pull him up onto the side of the bank, where he then did the remaining part himself. It was at that point in time that Malik felt something seize onto the shoulders of his cotton shirt and drag him up and away from the bank in a harsh jerk. He yelped out in the persons grip and cried louder when they clenched their hand in his hair and wrenched his head back. His eyes met crimson.

Yugi and Ryou screamed in terror as Malik disappeared from their side, and sailed into the clutches of a Demon. Both of them were plucked away consecutively by others that were hovering in mid-air like spirits.

Yugi just froze…a deafening silence sweeping across him as his heart jolted in his chest. The spirit Daevas was holding him in its grasp like some prized-cut slab of some expensive meat. He could feel its excitement as it held him close to its disgusting body. Then he felt the sting as it slapped him hard and the silence fell away. His throat was hoarse…the silence had been his deafening screams.

"Y-yugi…" Malik croaked out as the fiend behind him pulled his head back again; exposing his neck as it sniffed and licked at the bronze skin there.

The blonde boy heaved in disgust as he felt the tongue of the Daevas travel over his skin, his long clawed fingers scratching it and rejoicing in the revulsion-filled screams that Malik was creating. Blood was sliding down his back where the creature had carved rivulets with its talons; catching the red substance on its spidery tongue as it fell from the wounds.

Ryou was in the same situation. The Daevas had taken a liking to his pale, nearly see-through skin…the veins underneath apparently stimulating it no-end. A bony hand threaded itself into his hair, holding him back as it tore his shirt away from his thin body and gazed upon the naked flesh with lust. The Daevas licked a long trail of saliva across Ryou's chest…his heart, underneath, thundering like mad and picking up further when the Demon started biting into the supple flesh of the young boy. Ryou tried to get away from it by pushing its face from his torso…but his hands met with what felt like a spongy mass that was the Demons face. It felt like what you would feel if you squished your hands in rotten peaches…mashing them between your fingers. He felt like he was going to be sick as he pulled his hands away…there was nothing he could do.

The Daevas that had Yugi had stopped hovering in the air and had pushed his small body to the bank of the river. He noted in the recesses of his mind that it was being very careful not to touch the ground for some reason…but he didn't really know why. Yugi's mind was pulled back into more pressing matters as the Demons fingers roamed across his bare body.

'Bare?! When did I become bare?!'

"No!" he screamed at the Daevas, "Stop! Please, don't!"

"Yugi!! Ryou!!" Both boys heard Malik shout; the sound turning into painful screams as the Demon latched onto both sides of his neck, biting hard.

Ryou soon forgot about the dreadfulness that was the feel of the Daevas' face, and starting trying to pummel the creature off of him, wanting to help Malik. He was panting and tired, and the beast wasn't letting up. He was sure that to the Demon, he wasn't more than an irritating bug that was flapping around inside his clenched fist. He was too weak for this. Ryou stopped; stunned as he heard Yugi's screams next. The Demon had taken a liking to the little Pure's fingers and seemed to be gnawing on them with extreme delight.

"Get off me!!!" Ryou screamed, struggling more in the Daevas' grasp. 'I don't want to die like this…not like this…'

Then a rumbling voice boomed, startling them all…even the Daevas. "Okay! You can all stop now! We shall keep these ones! They can go with the others!"

Abruptly, Ryou and Malik were dropped to the riverbank alongside Yugi. The smaller boy clutched his bleeding fingers to his chest and sobbed out loud as they all lied there…not knowing what to expect next. Malik was gasping as the Demon dropped him onto his back…the slashes stinging as they hit the floor along with him. Ryou was the best off…but he still had deep bite marks over his pale chest and stomach.

Looking up through the haze of pain, Malik could still see the being that was responsible for the deep, hoarse voice…and also responsible for the control over the Daevas…Ahriman. He could now also make out which of the Daevas had had each one of them...and also that the Druj wasn't there for some reason. His one; Azi Dahaka, was the easiest to make out now. In the blur of terror and darkness, Malik wasn't able to tell which one of them held him captured, but now…seeing the two snakes springing from the beasts' shoulders, it was somewhat easy. It was the snakes that had bitten into the flesh of his neck, and he wondered perversely if they happened to be poisonous. Ryou's Daevas had been Aka Manah, which, from the look of what he'd been interested about Ryou, wasn't that hard to actually realise. Yugi's had been Aeshma.

Malik reached his hand up to the bite marks, feeling a bit strange when he felt blood slipping down from the wounds. He glanced at his friends. Ryou was on the grass panting, obviously trying to come to terms with what just happened and what the Daevas nearly did to him. He had bites all over his chest, Malik noticed with anger. Looking over to Yugi, his heart leapt with sympathy for him. His fingers on one hand looked, and most likely felt, raw. Aeshma hadn't bitten them off…but the skin around them was split and pulled; the blood running freely.

Glancing at Ahriman, who seemed to be communicating to the Daevas in some way, he managed to pull himself up and crawl the short way over to his friends. Ryou looked at him as he approached, panting rapidly but otherwise staying silent. It was most likely from the shock. Yugi was still weeping in pain…his hand still clutched to him. Malik took his wrist gently and pried it towards him for him to inspect. The blonde winced mentally as he saw it and looked down at Yugi whose eyes were clenched shut in anguish. Ignoring his own pain, Malik grabbed the left sleeve from his shirt and tugged it a few times before it came away from the seams. Stroking his face briefly, he took Yugi's hand again; wrapping it quickly over and around the fingers and down to the palm, tucking the end into the side.

"Yugi…" he rasped out softly. "Yugi, please…stop crying…"

"M-malik…" Yugi whimpered, looking up at him, "What's going to happen now? I-I'm scared…"

Ryou managed to sit up and move closer to them both; gripping onto Yugi for comfort. "I-I don't know, Yugi. Just try not to…"

Malik sighed; what was the use…of course the boy was going to be scared. He was scared for crying out loud…it was a given that Yugi would be. There was no point telling him otherwise…

Malik looked at both of them and took hold of Ryou's and Yugi's good hand. "Just…try to be brave…"

The blonde smiled at them, his next words being cut off as he felt a large, blunt weapon bang him hard over the head. All he heard was his best friends' screaming as everything faded away into oblivion.

To be continued…