Yu-Gi-Oh! Fan Fiction ❯ Past and Present Meetings ❯ Escape from Hell ( Chapter 1 )

A/N: I've got this story already posted at fanfiction.net, but I wanan see how many reviews I get for it here!

Anyway! *waves* Okay, this story's gonna be a mix of things. Some of it will be romance, so angst, some humor, and whatever else there is. I'll try to include as many characters as I can in it, so don't worry. If I don't put someone in for a couple of chapters...or more...chances are you'll see them further down the line. (the first two are gonna be about Joey)

When there is romance (which will be later on), THERE SHALL BE NO LEMONS!!! ...limes, but no lemons. ^^;; I don't think I'd be good at writing that kind of stuff anyway. *looks around* *whispers* There may be a little finagling...but NO LEMONS! ^^ I think I've made my point.

Oh, and since I'm writing this in America, all of it shall be in the English language. I hope that's okay with you. ^^;; Eh-heh. I don't quite understand Japanese. BUT, if I do misspell their names in English, please tell me. Thank you!

Disclaimer: NO OWN YU-GI-OH! *cries*

~*~*~*~*~*Escape from Hell*~*~*~*~*~

"...well?"

"Well what?"

"Let me see it."

"No."

"Come on Joey."

"I said no." The Brooklyn-accented boy turns his face farther away.

"Joey, it can't be that bad."

"I told ya I'm sick."

The smaller teen sighs. His friend had been avoiding him for the past week and never let him see his face. One day he even heard him crying in the bathroom, but he still wouldn't tell him what was wrong. He needed to know what was happening to Joey.

"...hey." He lays a hand on his back. "Don't worry. I won't tell anyone."

The blonde brushes it off. "Yeah right. You care too much to evah do that."

"Joey." He slumps his head in defeat. "Alright. Just remember I'm here for you when you're ready."

He nods slightly. His body felt numb all over. Last night his father had been in a particularly nasty mood, and he was the only one home to take it out on. "Mom, why'd ya have to leave..."

Yugi hears the last part of his whisper. "Jo--"

"I said I'm fine! Now jes' leave me alone!" The lunch bell rings. He stands up to go to his fourth hour class, turning to look back at the worried boy. "I'm sorry Yug."

"J-Joey."

He puts on a sad smile before waving. "See ya later then."

He watches as his friend walks down the hall and around a corner. "I...I should have known. Oh Joey..." A single tear runs unknowingly down his cheek. "How could he?" He slowly picks up his things, thinking about the bruises along his face. "That just isn't right. If his dad wouldn't spend so much time drinking..." He lets out a small hiccup. "If he just spent a little time with his son..." Angry sobs shake his body. He hated fighting. He hated suffering. And his friend was going through both every night. It wasn't even his real father.

He wipes away the tears and tries to compose himself a little before making his way to chemistry class. He just hoped he could keep his cool for another three hours. After school...he was gonna have a little talk with Mr. Wheeler.

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"Nah, nah, nah, nah!" The fifteen year-old shouts. "You're insane!"

The shorter sophomore crosses his arms stubbornly. "Yes."

"Yug, please try ta understand! He'll kill me!" He pleads with his friend. "Then he'll kill you!"

"I don't care. This has to stop."

"No..." His head hangs low. He knew if he brought someone over, his dad would get angry again. People got hurt when he was angry. He didn't want his best friend involved in it. "Yugi." He grasps him by his shoulders. "You can't come with me."

"But-"

"Don't worry, I'll be fine." He looks down at his watch. Maybe not. "But it's gettin' late and I gotta go."

Yugi grabs him by his arm. "Promise me you'll be alright?"

"I have to go..."

"But you'll be okay?"

He tugs a little harder, trying to get free. "Yug, I really have to go..."

"Promise me!"

He tears his limb away. "I..." He holds up his hands. "I can't!" And with that he was gone.

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'God, please let him be gone, please let him be gone, please let him be..." He opens the door quietly and peeks inside. 'I don't see 'em anywhere...' He shrugs and makes his way to the bathroom when he hears drunken laughter. 'Shit!' He runs full-speed ahead, barely reaching the door before a hand smashes into the wall.

"Come on out, son!"

'Make him go away, make him go away....'

"I said come on out!" He shouts louder this time.

'Please, oh God, please...'

"GODDAMIT! OPEN THIS DOOR BEFORE I BREAK IT DOWN AND HAVE TO BEAT YER ASS!!!"

He crawls his way back towards the door. "I-I was just going to the bathroom, Pops."

"Don't you call me that! You call me SIR you worthless piece of shit!"

"Ye-Yes sir." He turns the handle and meekly peers out. "...Daddy?"

"SON OF A BITCH!!" He punches the teen hard across the face. "WHAT THE HELL DID I SAY!?"

He clutches his already abused face. "You-you..you said..."

He hits him again. "ANSWER ME WHEN I ASK YOU A QUESTION!!"

He begins to cry. "You said come home right away aftah school!"

He raises his hand as if to slap him again, but pauses and lookes down sweetly. "And what did you do today?"

"I...I talked to Yugi after school."

"That's right." He turns away.

'Thank you, thank you, thank you-'

His thoughts are interrupted by another smack to the face.

"DON'T YOU EVER-" *smack* "-COME HOME-" *smack* "-LATE-" *smack* "- AGAIN!!!" He finishes his sentence with a kick to the ribs.

Joey was crying uncontrollably now, clutching his bloody face and chest. Why did he have to be so mean? Why did he have to hit him like that? Why couldn't he just... "...leave me alone."

The man turns his attention back to the beaten body on the floor. "What did you just say?"

He wipes off his mouth and shakily stands up. "I said leave me alone."

"Why you little..." His eyes blaze with anger.

"You heard me." He beckons with his left hand. "Come on and fight like a man."

The alcoholic takes a swing at the rebel, missing and glancing off his shoulder.

He winces, taking on a fighter's stance. "Dat the best you got?"

The brunette squints at the blurry figure in front of him. "Come 'ere you little bitch." He swings and misses again. "I said COME 'ERE!!" He reaches over the youth and grabs him by the hair. "NOW LISTEN TO ME PUNK--"

"NO!" Light eyes meet dark ones, challenging them. "YOU AIN'T DA BOSS A ME ANYMORE!!" He kicks out with all his strength, hitting his guardian in the stomach.

He lets out a moan before releasing his grip on the boy's hair and slumping to the floor.

"AND DON'T YA FORGET IT!!!"

"He...heh...heheh...heheheheheh..." The man reaches into his shirt.

'No.' His eyes grow wide.

"Heheheheh." He pulls out a gleaming pistol. "This'll teach you to disobey me." He points it in front of him.

"Wha-What are ya doin'!?"

A bullet hits the wall inches away from him.

"AH!" He jumps. "Ya crazy bastard, you're gonna kill me!"

A sadistic grin creeps across his father's face. "That's the point."

Another bullet shatters the mirror behind him.

'Holy shit! I gotta get outta here!' The panicked teen pushes his way past the middle-aged man, heading for the door. A bullet catches him in the leg.

"AGGGHHHH!!" He screams in pain before forcing himself through the door.

Another gun shot goes off.

"COME BACK HERE!!!"

He shakes his head furiously, tears flying from his battered face. "NOT A CHANCE IN HELL OLD MAN!!" He starts limping away faster.

"GODDAMMIT!!!" A bullet whizzes past his head.

'I'm gonna die, I'm gonna die, I'm gonna die. Oh shit, he's catchin' up. I'm gonna die, I'm gonna die, I'm gonna die...'

He hears cussing from behind him as a body hits the pavement. 'Thank God he's drunk and can't see in the dark.'

He turns a corner, all the while the pain in his leg increasing. 'Ah! I don't know how much more of this I can take...'

At that moment car lights flooded the street in front of him.

'I'm saved?!'

He waves his arms in the air, trying to get the driver's attention.

'Please see me, please see me...'

The vehicle skids to a halt beside him.

'Can this really be happening?'

The passenger door flies open.

"Get in."

'What the-'

"I said get in!" A long arm grabs him by the collar and yanks him inside. The door slams shut and they were off.

A little more than confused, Joey looks at his surroundings.

'A limo? Who da hell drives a limo in THIS neighborhood?'

"Hey." A calm voice comes from his left.

He looks over, trying to see his savior's face. "Who are you?"

"That's not important right now."

"...oh." He mutters weakly.

"Hey." It says a little more firmly.

"Wha?"

"Don't barf in the car."

He nods a little before closing his eyes.

"...hey."

He moans in acknowledgement.

"Don't pass out on me."

"I...I don't feel so good."

"Shit. Stay awake. You have to stay awake."

The voice sounded far away. '...oh no.' His head was swimming. "I...can't." A flash of white. 'Ugh.' His head hit the window as he fell unconscious.

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A/N: Don't worry, Joey's in good hands...at least I think he is. *looks around nervously* Uh...well, please review! This story's gonna get a whole lot more interesting! ^^