BAKURA STORY
“Oh jeeze Bakura, just wake the hell up already!”
My eyelids twitched and opened. I figured there was something important going on, so I sat up with a groan. I yawned and supported myself with my arms. I rubbed my eyes with the back of my hand and blinked, trying to see. I looked to the left and saw him leaning against the back wall, next to my dresser.
“Finally. I wanna go out today.”
“Huh?” I said with a tired sigh. My mind was too foggy with exhaustion to comprehend anything.
“I . . . want to go . . . out . . . today,” the Spirit said slowly with a glare. He jerked his chin toward the Millennium Ring sitting on my bedside table. “Come on, get up.”
“What time is it?” I asked, things getting clearer.
“It's about ten. Seriously, come on. I want to go to th- somewhere.” It goes without saying he was in a hurry.
I pulled off my covers and worked my way out of bed into a standing position. I stretched and grabbed my Ring, pulling it over my head. I went to open the blinds and squinted in the sunlight. “What do you need to go somewhere?” I challenged.
His eyes narrowed. “No. Either way, it's none of your business, is it?”
“Well, actually-” I started to say, but he cut me off.
“Just get dressed. I want to go soon as possible and get out of this bloody house.”
“You don't like my house?” I joked, not wanting to get into an argument this early (well, early for me).
But he wasn't in the mood for joking. “Just get dressed!” he snapped at me.
“Okay, okay,” I said, putting my hands in the air, palms forward. I opened my closet and pulled out a pair of jeans and my favorite blue-and-white striped shirt.
“Jeeze please don't wear that again. Don't you have something more . . . edgy to wear?”
“Not like I have many other clothes,” I said and yawned, not completely awake yet. “I wear my uniform six days out of seven. I don't really spend my free time shopping for black pants and leather jackets.”
“At least wear that black t-shirt. And the gray jeans,” he said, more demanding than asking.
I rolled my eyes and said, “Fine.”
I changed out of my sweats and sleep shirt and into the clothes the Spirit picked out. I brushed my teeth and hair, then pulled on my shoes. The whole time, Spirit just watched and said nothing.
“Not bad, I guess,” he said when I was pulling on my jacket. “Now switch me so I can go.”
“Okay,” I said back, problem sounding like and pouty kid.
I closed my eyes and inhaled and exhaled a big gust of air. Then I was inside my own mind, in the in-between of our two souls.
The Millennium Ring contained the Spirit's soul for thousands of years. (Thats why I call him “the Spirit”, because he's the spirit of the Ring.) Since there's only room for one soul per human body, one of us has to reside in the Ring while the other is in my body.
Now, I was surrounded my a blur of dark colors and the Spirit stood (in mid air) in front of me.
We looked almost exactly alike. He had my hair color, my eye color, my face, everything. The differences were subtle: a slight difference in the hair style and in the shape of the eyes. But we still looked like clones.
“Are you going to tell me what you'll be doing today?” I asked, even though I knew the answer.
“Yeah right,” he said with a roll of his eyes. “I'll be back in a while.”
Then he disappeared and I was in my soul room. I sighed and plopped down on my bed. I traced patterns in the ceiling for about 15 minutes, until I realized how pointless that was. I reached toward my book bag and it flew across the room and into my hand.
Being within my own soul, I could pretty much do whatever my mind could think to do. If I wanted to, I could conjure up a shiny Ferrari; but it'd only be in my mind. So I didn't go all out designing my “world” inside the Ring.
I reached into my bag and pulled out my homework. I memorized the questions and answers of all my worksheets. (I couldn't actually do it because it wouldn't last; again, it wouldn't be done in the real world, just in my mind.)Then I messed around with ideas for my biology project on a sheet of loose-leaf paper. When I was all out of school work to think on, I spent my time pleasure reading.
Except I'm a fast reader. After an hour of that, I was out of distractions. I ended up staring at the ceiling again until the Spirit came back. What a way to spend your Sunday.
* * * * * * * * * * * * *
I built a good wall with Ryo this morning, rudely waking him up and nagging him to let me go out. I hoped it would last. I don't want him too close to me or the Ring.
Especially me.
I thought about this as I walked toward the coffee shop. I was surprised Ryo didn't demand me to tell him where I was going. Not that I would've told him, but still . . . He always seemed as if he thought I would do something bad or commit theft. (Not that he didn't have a reason to think that. I was the Thief King 5,000 years ago, but Ryo didn't really know that part of my past.) Whatever though, right? I shouldn't care about what he thinks of me.
When I finally got to the coffee place, I walked in without acknowledging the waitresses that greeted me. I looked around the shop and saw him in one of the booths in the back; he had been waiting for me.
He was hard to miss; he was the one almost completely concealed. He wore deep colored clothes, dark brown pants and a cloak about the same color. His face looked like any other Egyptians, with dark, tanned skin. Of his hair, I could only see that it was brown, turned a dirty blond probably due to the sun. He had deep green eyes that looked much older than the 5,000 years they've seen.
“Hello,” he said. Naturally, his voice was deeply accented.
“Hello,” I said back. Something made me feel wary and cautious, like I would have to watch what I say. Yes, we were “friends” in a way, but we both have . . . mysterious pasts, to say the least.
“Sit,” he offered and motioned with his hand.
I obeyed and opened my mouth to speak, but he held his hand up to stop me.
“I will ask questions first,” he insisted. His eyes were hard, but I could see the same caution I felt in them.
My eyes narrowed a tiny bit and I nodded for him to start.
“My name is Snefru; yours?”
A small part of me was instantly shocked. He picked the very question I was going to ask him. He smiled a tiny, encouraging smile.
I picked my choice of words carefully. “You call me Bakura,” I said.
“Why did you bring me here?” he asked.
“Do you see this? Do you know what this is?” I pulled the Ring forward for him to see.
His eyes widened in recognition. “A Millennium Item! How did you get it?”
“Long story. But this . . . houses my soul. If I find a vessel, I can live on as if I'm alive and well, using his body.
Snefru still stared at the Ring, half in wonder, half in disbelief. He spoke in a faint voice, not taking his eyes off the Item.
“What do you want me to do?” The tenor of his voice made it sound like his “power” was nothing comparable to the Ring's.
Again, I had to choose my words very carefully.“ I need you to get me a body of my own. Preferably one I don't have to share with a sixteen-year-old,” I said with a slight roll of my eyes.
Snefru looked at me, confused. “That is impossible; I cannot just give you a body. You would have to find a vessel willing to give up his or her soul. Then that soul would be banished to the Shadow Realm.”
I guessed as much. “Whatever it takes.”
He seemed to concentrate very hard on something for a split second, but it vanished quickly. “No, I refuse to do such a thing,” he said, repulsed.
I sighed. It was plain to see he wasn't going to budge easily. Then an idea popped into my head.
I said in a low, quick voice, “What about terms of payment? What if I could give you the whereabouts of an ancient Pharaoh's life-long treasure?”
His eyes widened again at the corners, but then his face became doubtful.
“You lie,” he said.
“Really? You're from Egypt, tell me: did they ever find Pharaoh Tuscuan's treasure?” I challenged.
He seemed to want to believe me, to want to take my offer, but he still didn't show any sign of considering it. He swallowed and fidgeted in his seat.
I continued talking. “I won't tell you how I know, but you know I hide some . . . dark secrets.” I crossed my arms. “You've nothing to lose by just . . .,” I paused and shrugged (for effect), “checking to see if what I say is true. If you find it is, you could be rich beyond your dreams.”
He looked hopeful, but he shook his head. “I . . . can not,” he said.
I sighed hard again and kicked the bottom of the booth with my heel. I was getting agitated. “Is there any way, then, to do it without killing somebody and using their body?”
“No, you need a body,” he said with certainty.
“But there is something you can do.” I was sure there was. I called on him specifically because I knew if anyone could do anything, he could.
Snefru's hand started to shake slightly, and he pulled it into a fist on the table, trying to hide it.
I leaned forward, and in a tempting voice, said, “A tomb's worth of treasure: gold, artifacts, gems and fabrics and wealth . . . all for one favor. I'll give you all of that for one little-”
“Alright!” he said, a little too loud for the coffee shop. A few heads turned in our direction.
I sat back and crossed my arms again, pleased.
With solemn eyes, he spoke. “What I can do is . . . somewhat of a soul transfer.”
“Which is exactly . . . ?”
He sighed in exasperation. “It switches minds.”
“But wouldn't that mean that . . . that someone would have to share a body with R- I mean, my host?”
“It is probable. And very possible. But at this point I am not completely sure any- every soul will even survive.”
I didn't miss the correction. I small shudder ran up my spine, but I managed to repress it.
A small smile hinted at the edges of Snefru's lips. I narrowed my eyes at him.
Snefru continued, trying to overshadow the short, tense moment. “I have never done anything like this before, myself. I cannot guarantee what will happen to the souls in the process.”
Well hell. For the first time all day, I wasn't so confident.
“That I'll have to think about,” I said, feeling a little defeated.
Snefru hesitated, and said, “The treasure is real, and you know the precise location?”
“Yes,” I assured him. Being the Thief King has its advantages, both then and now.
“Alright,” he said, seeming to believe and trust in me fully.
That was odd. I don't recall anybody trusting me the first time I meet them.
It was silent for a while, and the tension slowly grew as neither one of us talked. It became awkward to the point we both stood and said our goodbye's and thank you's. We left the little cafe and walked off in two opposite directions.
“Oh, Bakura?” he called. I turned around to see him with his back still toward me.
“Will you discuss this with Ryo?” he asked.
“Probably not,” I said. Before I said anything, though, he started walking again. I shrugged to myself and headed for home. But about halfway to the house, I realized something.
I had never said Ryo's name in front of Snefru. My breath caught and a chill ran up my back. How did he-how could he-know my vessel's name! I racked my brain, but unless he could read minds, it was impossible.
I stopped dead in my tracks and considered the possibility.
“There's no way,” I mumbled to myself and shook my head. The last half mile to Ryo's house I tried very hard not to think.
When I was there, I walked into the door and called to Ryo. “I'm home.” You can come out now, I thought bitterly.
* * * * * * * * * * * * *
I finally heard the Spirit calling me. I appeared outside of the Ring; I was transparent, but I could still communicate with the Spirit from outside the Ring.
“You're back,” I said.
“Obviously,” he replied and rolled his eyes.
“Did you . . . have fun?” I asked, trying to be nice.
“Hardly.” He smirked at me. “I told you not to worry.” he gave me the I-told-you-so look, but in his eyes, there was an odd glint of some emotion I couldn't tell. My intuition sparked. I would have to watch him.
I smiled sheepishly. “Yeah, you're earning your trust pretty well,” I said.
He pulled off his jacket and his stomach growled.
“Ugh, I starving. You forgot to eat this morning. Switch me and get us some food.” He never ate any food. He said after knowing all the extra stuff they put in and do to it, he really had no desire for it at all.
We switched so I could control my body again. I walked into the kitchen and checked the time. It was twelve, late enough for lunch. I raided the fridge for last nights leftovers and shoved them into the microwave, hungrier than I thought.
I heard Spirit chuckling behind me. “Jeeze Kura, you don't have to run.”
I looked at him in a kind of confusing surprise. My eyebrows rose at him.
“What? Kidding,” he said with a half-smile.
I chuckled once and mirrored his smile. At least he was trying-conscious or not-to get along. Lately he's been more . . . isolated. He isn't talking or socializing as much as he did prior to two weeks ago.
“You called me Kura,” I said. Kura was the nickname my old friends used to call me, back before the Millennium Item mishap started and I became friends with Yuugi.
“I can't call you 'Kura?'” he asked sarcastically.
“You never have before,” I said.
The Spirit shrugged and looked out the window. I chewed on the inside of my cheek.
Then the microwave dinged and I quickly reached for it, just about dieing of hunger. My stomach growled again as if knowing food was coming. The Spirit chuckled and I rolled my eyes at him.
I walked into the living room and made myself comfy on the couch. I kicked my shoes off and put my feet up. I shoved a bite of the pasta into my mouth . . . and almost coughed it back up.
The food burned my mouth and throat as if I decided to swallow a hot coal; I nearly dropped the bowl. I flung the dish on the coffee table and ran back into the kitchen, tripping over the two small stairs there. I nearly ran into the refrigerator as my socks slid over the smooth tile. (Kind of wish I hadn't taken off my shoes.) I yanked it open and grabbed a water bottle off the door, snapping the lid open and gulping down half of it.
When I could breathe again, I realized Spirit had been laughing. He wasn't laughing very loud, but he wasn't just chuckling either. My face got warm.
“Did you hit your head Bakura?” he said between gasps.
“No,” I said, showing a little too much annoyance then I would have liked.
“Bakura,” -chuckle- “it was just,” -chuckle- “the look on your face! You looked mortified,” he said. The laughing calmed down to a throaty giggle and he shook his head. It looked like he didn't mean any further offense, so I rolled my eyes and walked back into the living room, playfully bumping him on the shoulder as I passed him.
* * * * * * * * * * * * *
I find myself getting way too close to Ryo. I try to keep my distance from him; to be rude, mean, and indifferent toward him. But I kept talking with him and socializing with him.
I doubt I'll get so close to him that he'll make me . . . a good person, to say the least. I can't tell him.
Yet . . . I can't bring myself to hurt or burden Ryo.
* * * * * * * * * * * * *
Could he - would he - hurt me?
I pulled up the sleeve of my left arm and looked at my scar. There was a diagonal line of rough skin down the top part of my arm. I thought back to Battle City, when he and Marik had used me to befriend Yuugi and the others. They had cut my arm and made it look like Marik found me hurt when he brought me to them.
Reflexively, my eyes darted to my hand. The same pattern on my arm was also there on the back of it. Only its shape was round, instead of flat like the cut. The first day I discovered Spirit within the Millennium Ring, he took over my body and challenged Yugi and our other friends to a board game he created called “Monster World” in attempt to trap their souls in his soul dice (which he used in the game) and take Yugi's Millennium Puzzle. When I began to regain control of my body, he stabbed my hand to stop me.
So of course I knew the answer...
Yes, he could hurt me.
And he would if he had the chance. So why hadn't he done that? He knew how to get the things he wanted, and he accepted the consequences of getting them.
A shiver ran up my spine. I hated to admit it, but he truly scared me at times, and he knew he did.
Just then, the eye of the Ring lit up! Startled, I tossed it to the edge of the bed in front of me. It glowed a blindingly bright golden light, but it wasn't just a normal glow. The energy and power of it seemed to radiate right through me. It blew my hair back and I shielded my eyes with my arm.
As quickly as it came on, it disappeared. Confused, I dropped my arm and stared at the Ring. I had an odd feeling in the pit of my stomach. Not bad, necessarily, but important. And that feeling also told me that it (whatever it was) was directed toward me. Almost as an omen. Or a warning.
Was it Spirit? Was that him warning me? Either way, that was one of the strangest things the Ring ever did. I hesitantly reached out to touch it.
“Ah!” I said yanked my fingers back. I was stunned. The Ring was hot, as if the energy it radiated was intense enough to give off a lot of heat. It had burned the tips of my fingers when I touched it. I grabbed the edge of my blanket to protect my hand as I picked up the Ring. I turned it over in my hand.
I touched it again and it was cool enough to put back on. (Its hard to describe, but it makes me uncomfortable when it's not around my neck.) I sighed as I re-tied the knot and pulled the Ring over my head. This is getting too weird.
* * * * * * * * * * * *
(spirit has flashback of his village and past)
* * * * * * * * * * * *
The next morning, my alarm woke me up. I repeatedly pressed the snooze button, telling myself the next time it went off I'd get up. I finally gathered the willpower to sit upright. Then I actually looked at the clock.
I only had 15 minutes until my first hour.
I swore silently and rushed to my closet, grabbing my uniform and throwing it on. I sped through my hair and teeth and ran downstairs, my bag unzipped and over-shirt unbuttoned. My stomach growled as I passed the kitchen, but I ignored it.
When I finally got to the front door, I snatched up my shoes thinking I would put them on in the bus. Then I froze.
I missed the bus.
I swore again and threw my stuff on the couch. I pulled on my shoes, picked my stuff back up, and ran out the door.
And all seven blocks.
* * * * * * * * * * *
When Ryo was in school, it was a good time for me to think. Only today was a bad day to be left alone to think. Though I deserved it. I let myself remember. And I had to pay the consequences. So I dealt with the smaller issues first.
How could I keep Ryo from finding out about my plan to get a new host?
After two hours I still had nothing on that.
Would Snefru keep his word to help me?
Well, I figured since he came from ancient Egypt, he would know all about the Millennium items, including my Ring. And the bad things the owners of the items could force upon them if they did wrong by their eye. So, yes, I think. (At least, thats what I convinced myself to think.)
Will I be able to go through with the soul transfer?
Snefru said that not all souls will A) get a host body, or B) even survive. And, like I said before, I didn't want to kill an innocent soul if I didn't have to. Or Ryo's soul. Or my soul. So I wasn't sure I what I would do at the time being.
Although, I knew I had to go through with it. I had to. I couldn't stay in Ryo's body! I can't share my body with a 16 year old! I need my own body! I need to live what life I have left!
I looked down at my clothes. At Ryo's school uniform. I can't even wear what I want!
I punched the wall of my soul room out of sheer stress. (At least I couldn't make a dent in it.) I leaned forward onto the wall, supporting myself with my forearms. I forced myself to breathe and to calm down as I moved on to the last question. The hardest question.
What would I do – where I go- if get my own body? How would I make a life? Would I even truly be free?
I never quite came up with an answer to that either.
Freaking great. What was I supposed to do now? I was all out of questions to pass my time. I knew I had to keep my mind busy and away from the memories, but the second my brain stopped thinking, they popped up again.
Now of coarse, they were full blown.
The morbid memories stung me again and again, and I started pacing the floor violently. I ground my eyes shut and growled in frustration: my hands were balled into tight fists. I tried to control myself, but I had no avail.
Pictures of my mother, father, brother, sisters, and all my close friends of my village flashed under my eyelids. I stopped pacing and I gripped handfuls of my hair as I growled again. Then pictures of that day came. The items. The first soldier taking the life of my closest friend. The panic and chaos when they started chasing us. It kept stinging! It felt like hornets were buzzing in my head, stinging me again and again!
I kicked my bedside table out of pure anger. At these times I wished I could feel physical pain within my own soul. It often overshadowed emotional pain for a short period of time, but this was too intense.
I groaned and sank to my knees, still gripping the sides of my head. I crumpled over and slightly rocked back and forth.
Then Emani's face flashed up. I straightened my back and dropped my hands from my head to my lap. I wanted to open my eyes, but her picture... it was as if I was dreaming her. She was so perfect-
I ripped my eyes open, dispelling the picture. As I did, I realized I was crying. And that I'm still crying.
What the hell was wrong with me?! It's like I have no self control at all anymore! I remembered, and I completely lost it. I stood up and managed to walk to my bed, where I waited silently, head in my hands, for the tears to stop dripping from my eyes.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * *
The bell rang, signaling the end of sixth hour. I stood and grabbed my things. On the way out the door, one kid bumped me on my shoulder, and I dropped my book and papers. The kid chuckled, turned, and walked down the hall. I rolled my eyes and bent to pick up my stuff with a sigh.
Then, someone bent over in front of me. I looked up and saw Akane.
“Need some help Bakura-kun?”
“No thanks, I think I got it all,” I said as I stood up, holding my things tightly.
“Sorry about that. That guy's a real jerk.”
“It's okay. Not like it's your fault.”
She smirked. “Yeah.”
“So . . .,” I said as I started walking, trying to be polite. Why was she talking to me?
“So um . . . you don't have to- I mean, I understand if you don't want to,” she struggled for words, “but . . . this is going to sound corny, but I . . . kinda need a tutor for Algebra II. You've taken it, right?”
I nodded.
“I need all passing grades to stay on the volleyball team, and I only have a D. But you get like, constant straight A's. So. . . , “ she said sheepishly, “help?”
I chuckled at her expression. “Sure. Shouldn't be a problem.”
“Really? Oh wow thanks Ryo. I owe you one,” she said. She seemed surprised I agreed so tutoring her. As if she expected a no from me.
“It's no problem.”
She smiled. “Okay, well I'll talk to you later. Should we like, exchange numbers or something? Just in case?”
“Oh, sure, yeah.” I pulled a sheet of paper from the mess of papers I dropped. We each wrote out our phone numbers and I tore the paper in half.
“All right then. Thanks again.” she said and walked off with a wave.
It made sense, but I still wondered why she chose me to tutor her. I shrugged, telling myself it didn't really matter, and started for the courtyard, then for home.
I was a few streets from my house when saw him. His head was down, but I noticed him stop and lift it just before he passed me. He was hidden by his dark brown cloak, but I still saw most of his face. His skin was tanned, eyes dark green, and hair a wooden brown-color.
He stared at me with surprised eyes and I racked my brain, trying to remember if I'd seen him or knew him.
He seemed to be waiting for me to speak.
“Uh... can I help you?” I said, hoping I wouldn't offend him.
His face took on an understanding look. “You are Ryo are you not?” I didn't miss the slight emphasis on my name.
My eyebrows shot up in shock.
“How do you know my name?”
He acted like I had never even spoken. “So you are his ve-,” he cut himself off. “Hmm...” He reached out his hand and put it on my shoulder with a little squeeze. He closed his eyes and . . . concentrated?
Then, I felt an odd current run down through my shoulder for an odd instant. It only lasted one second, but it was still weird enough to totally freak me out. I stared back at him with a questioning look, accusing him with my eyes. What in the world did just do?
“Ah. I can see why he would have complications with you,” he said and chuckled. “I will see you again.”
Then he turned and walked off from the direction he came.
. . . ? (These are the times I think why does all the weird stuff happen to me?)
I watched him as he disappeared down the sidewalk. At this point, I could figure this was a friend of Spirit's, or someone he had seen yesterday. I made a mental note to talk to him about it later -ignoring my total fear of doing so- and started for home again.
I couldn't help looking over my shoulder a couple times as I walked up my porch.
Deja-Vu. Yesterday I had been in the same position. Hopefully it'll go better this time around.
I opened the door and half expected Spirit to come at me with a knife. I walked straight up to my room, then to my laptop to take my online class.
* * * * * * * * * * * * *
I still hadn't moved from my position on the bed when I recognized Ryo was home. The jacket of my uniform disappeared, which could only mean he took it off-which meant he was home.
I immediately tapped into his mind to see if he has started his online class yet. (I listen to the lessons to see if I can learn anything about Egypt I might be able to use to my advantage.) His computer was on, but Sefu-Komoro wasn't on yet. Ryo was kicking off his shoes and . . . thinking about Akane. I looked deeper into his thoughts and ran through their conversation in my head.
It was so . . . cliché. The typical girl-needs-”tutoring”-so-she-asks-the-smart-guy thing. She probably had a crush on him or something.
I smirked as I watched Ryo shed his shoes and jacket.
Then a thought hit me. It was just a background thought, but it still hit me pretty hard.
He was expecting me to become that superior, hostile me again. He expected me to hurt or threaten him.
I smiled. He was good to be afraid of me. As soon as I get another vessel, I thought.
* * * * * * * * * * * * *
After the lesson, Sefu-Komoro e-mailed me directions to a project. I had to write a report on one pharaoh of Egypt. I was researching one when my eyes fell on four little words on the left hand column: the great Tomb Raider.
Eyes wide, my hand reflexively clicked on the link.
The screen wasn't set up very well. It wasn't put together as fancy as some of the other pages on the website and there were only a few paragraphs on the subject. But it was enough.
“Estimated to have been created during the middle years of 3000 B.C., carvings of a light haired man smothered in riches appeared on stone walls of ancient civilizations along the river Nile. This one man was rumored to have stolen treasures from nearly every tomb of every city within fifty miles of the river. His name was never found in the ancient scriptures, for he was called only 'Thief King'. ”
Well dang it. One thing I was really hoping for was his real name (it felt weird calling him “Spirit” all the time).
“He was thought by some to have the powers of certain hell at his fingertips. The ancient Egyptians believed him to have the ability to control evil monsters to help him steal the riches and wreak havoc in the villages.
“From what archaeologists have read of the hieroglyphics, he was being lead to the dungeon when an odd light came upon the guard and the Thief King disappeared. He was never found or heard from since then.”
Every village along the Nile? I didn't know he had been this infamous. I shook my head. But that was the least of my worries.
“The powers of certain hell”? What does it mean by that? Does the Spirit really have that much power? Could he really do something dangerous?
I turned off my computer, not bothering to shut it off properly. I turned to my schoolbag and pulled out the first sheet of homework I came across. I focused on only that until dinner.
When my homework was finished, I slumped downstairs and into the kitchen, trying not to think of the situation on my hands. I pulled a random container out of the fridge and stuck it in the microwave. As I waited for it to cook, I tapped my fingers on the counter anxiously.
But as hard as I tried, I couldn't deny the bad feeling I felt.
I felt like the Spirit was up to something. Like he was hiding something I really needed to know. Like it was horrible, inevitable, and potent. I felt like an atomic bomb was about to drop and there was nothing I could do about it.
What could I do, after all? I'm only a sixteen-year-old boy, and if I told the truth, I'd be committed into a mental institution.
At this point, I started panicking.
What could I do? What could I do? What could I do?
“Oh jeeze Bakura, just wake the hell up already!”
My eyelids twitched and opened. I figured there was something important going on, so I sat up with a groan. I yawned and supported myself with my arms. I rubbed my eyes with the back of my hand and blinked, trying to see. I looked to the left and saw him leaning against the back wall, next to my dresser.
“Finally. I wanna go out today.”
“Huh?” I said with a tired sigh. My mind was too foggy with exhaustion to comprehend anything.
“I . . . want to go . . . out . . . today,” the Spirit said slowly with a glare. He jerked his chin toward the Millennium Ring sitting on my bedside table. “Come on, get up.”
“What time is it?” I asked, things getting clearer.
“It's about ten. Seriously, come on. I want to go to th- somewhere.” It goes without saying he was in a hurry.
I pulled off my covers and worked my way out of bed into a standing position. I stretched and grabbed my Ring, pulling it over my head. I went to open the blinds and squinted in the sunlight. “What do you need to go somewhere?” I challenged.
His eyes narrowed. “No. Either way, it's none of your business, is it?”
“Well, actually-” I started to say, but he cut me off.
“Just get dressed. I want to go soon as possible and get out of this bloody house.”
“You don't like my house?” I joked, not wanting to get into an argument this early (well, early for me).
But he wasn't in the mood for joking. “Just get dressed!” he snapped at me.
“Okay, okay,” I said, putting my hands in the air, palms forward. I opened my closet and pulled out a pair of jeans and my favorite blue-and-white striped shirt.
“Jeeze please don't wear that again. Don't you have something more . . . edgy to wear?”
“Not like I have many other clothes,” I said and yawned, not completely awake yet. “I wear my uniform six days out of seven. I don't really spend my free time shopping for black pants and leather jackets.”
“At least wear that black t-shirt. And the gray jeans,” he said, more demanding than asking.
I rolled my eyes and said, “Fine.”
I changed out of my sweats and sleep shirt and into the clothes the Spirit picked out. I brushed my teeth and hair, then pulled on my shoes. The whole time, Spirit just watched and said nothing.
“Not bad, I guess,” he said when I was pulling on my jacket. “Now switch me so I can go.”
“Okay,” I said back, problem sounding like and pouty kid.
I closed my eyes and inhaled and exhaled a big gust of air. Then I was inside my own mind, in the in-between of our two souls.
The Millennium Ring contained the Spirit's soul for thousands of years. (Thats why I call him “the Spirit”, because he's the spirit of the Ring.) Since there's only room for one soul per human body, one of us has to reside in the Ring while the other is in my body.
Now, I was surrounded my a blur of dark colors and the Spirit stood (in mid air) in front of me.
We looked almost exactly alike. He had my hair color, my eye color, my face, everything. The differences were subtle: a slight difference in the hair style and in the shape of the eyes. But we still looked like clones.
“Are you going to tell me what you'll be doing today?” I asked, even though I knew the answer.
“Yeah right,” he said with a roll of his eyes. “I'll be back in a while.”
Then he disappeared and I was in my soul room. I sighed and plopped down on my bed. I traced patterns in the ceiling for about 15 minutes, until I realized how pointless that was. I reached toward my book bag and it flew across the room and into my hand.
Being within my own soul, I could pretty much do whatever my mind could think to do. If I wanted to, I could conjure up a shiny Ferrari; but it'd only be in my mind. So I didn't go all out designing my “world” inside the Ring.
I reached into my bag and pulled out my homework. I memorized the questions and answers of all my worksheets. (I couldn't actually do it because it wouldn't last; again, it wouldn't be done in the real world, just in my mind.)Then I messed around with ideas for my biology project on a sheet of loose-leaf paper. When I was all out of school work to think on, I spent my time pleasure reading.
Except I'm a fast reader. After an hour of that, I was out of distractions. I ended up staring at the ceiling again until the Spirit came back. What a way to spend your Sunday.
* * * * * * * * * * * * *
I built a good wall with Ryo this morning, rudely waking him up and nagging him to let me go out. I hoped it would last. I don't want him too close to me or the Ring.
Especially me.
I thought about this as I walked toward the coffee shop. I was surprised Ryo didn't demand me to tell him where I was going. Not that I would've told him, but still . . . He always seemed as if he thought I would do something bad or commit theft. (Not that he didn't have a reason to think that. I was the Thief King 5,000 years ago, but Ryo didn't really know that part of my past.) Whatever though, right? I shouldn't care about what he thinks of me.
When I finally got to the coffee place, I walked in without acknowledging the waitresses that greeted me. I looked around the shop and saw him in one of the booths in the back; he had been waiting for me.
He was hard to miss; he was the one almost completely concealed. He wore deep colored clothes, dark brown pants and a cloak about the same color. His face looked like any other Egyptians, with dark, tanned skin. Of his hair, I could only see that it was brown, turned a dirty blond probably due to the sun. He had deep green eyes that looked much older than the 5,000 years they've seen.
“Hello,” he said. Naturally, his voice was deeply accented.
“Hello,” I said back. Something made me feel wary and cautious, like I would have to watch what I say. Yes, we were “friends” in a way, but we both have . . . mysterious pasts, to say the least.
“Sit,” he offered and motioned with his hand.
I obeyed and opened my mouth to speak, but he held his hand up to stop me.
“I will ask questions first,” he insisted. His eyes were hard, but I could see the same caution I felt in them.
My eyes narrowed a tiny bit and I nodded for him to start.
“My name is Snefru; yours?”
A small part of me was instantly shocked. He picked the very question I was going to ask him. He smiled a tiny, encouraging smile.
I picked my choice of words carefully. “You call me Bakura,” I said.
“Why did you bring me here?” he asked.
“Do you see this? Do you know what this is?” I pulled the Ring forward for him to see.
His eyes widened in recognition. “A Millennium Item! How did you get it?”
“Long story. But this . . . houses my soul. If I find a vessel, I can live on as if I'm alive and well, using his body.
Snefru still stared at the Ring, half in wonder, half in disbelief. He spoke in a faint voice, not taking his eyes off the Item.
“What do you want me to do?” The tenor of his voice made it sound like his “power” was nothing comparable to the Ring's.
Again, I had to choose my words very carefully.“ I need you to get me a body of my own. Preferably one I don't have to share with a sixteen-year-old,” I said with a slight roll of my eyes.
Snefru looked at me, confused. “That is impossible; I cannot just give you a body. You would have to find a vessel willing to give up his or her soul. Then that soul would be banished to the Shadow Realm.”
I guessed as much. “Whatever it takes.”
He seemed to concentrate very hard on something for a split second, but it vanished quickly. “No, I refuse to do such a thing,” he said, repulsed.
I sighed. It was plain to see he wasn't going to budge easily. Then an idea popped into my head.
I said in a low, quick voice, “What about terms of payment? What if I could give you the whereabouts of an ancient Pharaoh's life-long treasure?”
His eyes widened again at the corners, but then his face became doubtful.
“You lie,” he said.
“Really? You're from Egypt, tell me: did they ever find Pharaoh Tuscuan's treasure?” I challenged.
He seemed to want to believe me, to want to take my offer, but he still didn't show any sign of considering it. He swallowed and fidgeted in his seat.
I continued talking. “I won't tell you how I know, but you know I hide some . . . dark secrets.” I crossed my arms. “You've nothing to lose by just . . .,” I paused and shrugged (for effect), “checking to see if what I say is true. If you find it is, you could be rich beyond your dreams.”
He looked hopeful, but he shook his head. “I . . . can not,” he said.
I sighed hard again and kicked the bottom of the booth with my heel. I was getting agitated. “Is there any way, then, to do it without killing somebody and using their body?”
“No, you need a body,” he said with certainty.
“But there is something you can do.” I was sure there was. I called on him specifically because I knew if anyone could do anything, he could.
Snefru's hand started to shake slightly, and he pulled it into a fist on the table, trying to hide it.
I leaned forward, and in a tempting voice, said, “A tomb's worth of treasure: gold, artifacts, gems and fabrics and wealth . . . all for one favor. I'll give you all of that for one little-”
“Alright!” he said, a little too loud for the coffee shop. A few heads turned in our direction.
I sat back and crossed my arms again, pleased.
With solemn eyes, he spoke. “What I can do is . . . somewhat of a soul transfer.”
“Which is exactly . . . ?”
He sighed in exasperation. “It switches minds.”
“But wouldn't that mean that . . . that someone would have to share a body with R- I mean, my host?”
“It is probable. And very possible. But at this point I am not completely sure any- every soul will even survive.”
I didn't miss the correction. I small shudder ran up my spine, but I managed to repress it.
A small smile hinted at the edges of Snefru's lips. I narrowed my eyes at him.
Snefru continued, trying to overshadow the short, tense moment. “I have never done anything like this before, myself. I cannot guarantee what will happen to the souls in the process.”
Well hell. For the first time all day, I wasn't so confident.
“That I'll have to think about,” I said, feeling a little defeated.
Snefru hesitated, and said, “The treasure is real, and you know the precise location?”
“Yes,” I assured him. Being the Thief King has its advantages, both then and now.
“Alright,” he said, seeming to believe and trust in me fully.
That was odd. I don't recall anybody trusting me the first time I meet them.
It was silent for a while, and the tension slowly grew as neither one of us talked. It became awkward to the point we both stood and said our goodbye's and thank you's. We left the little cafe and walked off in two opposite directions.
“Oh, Bakura?” he called. I turned around to see him with his back still toward me.
“Will you discuss this with Ryo?” he asked.
“Probably not,” I said. Before I said anything, though, he started walking again. I shrugged to myself and headed for home. But about halfway to the house, I realized something.
I had never said Ryo's name in front of Snefru. My breath caught and a chill ran up my back. How did he-how could he-know my vessel's name! I racked my brain, but unless he could read minds, it was impossible.
I stopped dead in my tracks and considered the possibility.
“There's no way,” I mumbled to myself and shook my head. The last half mile to Ryo's house I tried very hard not to think.
When I was there, I walked into the door and called to Ryo. “I'm home.” You can come out now, I thought bitterly.
* * * * * * * * * * * * *
I finally heard the Spirit calling me. I appeared outside of the Ring; I was transparent, but I could still communicate with the Spirit from outside the Ring.
“You're back,” I said.
“Obviously,” he replied and rolled his eyes.
“Did you . . . have fun?” I asked, trying to be nice.
“Hardly.” He smirked at me. “I told you not to worry.” he gave me the I-told-you-so look, but in his eyes, there was an odd glint of some emotion I couldn't tell. My intuition sparked. I would have to watch him.
I smiled sheepishly. “Yeah, you're earning your trust pretty well,” I said.
He pulled off his jacket and his stomach growled.
“Ugh, I starving. You forgot to eat this morning. Switch me and get us some food.” He never ate any food. He said after knowing all the extra stuff they put in and do to it, he really had no desire for it at all.
We switched so I could control my body again. I walked into the kitchen and checked the time. It was twelve, late enough for lunch. I raided the fridge for last nights leftovers and shoved them into the microwave, hungrier than I thought.
I heard Spirit chuckling behind me. “Jeeze Kura, you don't have to run.”
I looked at him in a kind of confusing surprise. My eyebrows rose at him.
“What? Kidding,” he said with a half-smile.
I chuckled once and mirrored his smile. At least he was trying-conscious or not-to get along. Lately he's been more . . . isolated. He isn't talking or socializing as much as he did prior to two weeks ago.
“You called me Kura,” I said. Kura was the nickname my old friends used to call me, back before the Millennium Item mishap started and I became friends with Yuugi.
“I can't call you 'Kura?'” he asked sarcastically.
“You never have before,” I said.
The Spirit shrugged and looked out the window. I chewed on the inside of my cheek.
Then the microwave dinged and I quickly reached for it, just about dieing of hunger. My stomach growled again as if knowing food was coming. The Spirit chuckled and I rolled my eyes at him.
I walked into the living room and made myself comfy on the couch. I kicked my shoes off and put my feet up. I shoved a bite of the pasta into my mouth . . . and almost coughed it back up.
The food burned my mouth and throat as if I decided to swallow a hot coal; I nearly dropped the bowl. I flung the dish on the coffee table and ran back into the kitchen, tripping over the two small stairs there. I nearly ran into the refrigerator as my socks slid over the smooth tile. (Kind of wish I hadn't taken off my shoes.) I yanked it open and grabbed a water bottle off the door, snapping the lid open and gulping down half of it.
When I could breathe again, I realized Spirit had been laughing. He wasn't laughing very loud, but he wasn't just chuckling either. My face got warm.
“Did you hit your head Bakura?” he said between gasps.
“No,” I said, showing a little too much annoyance then I would have liked.
“Bakura,” -chuckle- “it was just,” -chuckle- “the look on your face! You looked mortified,” he said. The laughing calmed down to a throaty giggle and he shook his head. It looked like he didn't mean any further offense, so I rolled my eyes and walked back into the living room, playfully bumping him on the shoulder as I passed him.
* * * * * * * * * * * * *
I find myself getting way too close to Ryo. I try to keep my distance from him; to be rude, mean, and indifferent toward him. But I kept talking with him and socializing with him.
I doubt I'll get so close to him that he'll make me . . . a good person, to say the least. I can't tell him.
Yet . . . I can't bring myself to hurt or burden Ryo.
* * * * * * * * * * * * *
Could he - would he - hurt me?
I pulled up the sleeve of my left arm and looked at my scar. There was a diagonal line of rough skin down the top part of my arm. I thought back to Battle City, when he and Marik had used me to befriend Yuugi and the others. They had cut my arm and made it look like Marik found me hurt when he brought me to them.
Reflexively, my eyes darted to my hand. The same pattern on my arm was also there on the back of it. Only its shape was round, instead of flat like the cut. The first day I discovered Spirit within the Millennium Ring, he took over my body and challenged Yugi and our other friends to a board game he created called “Monster World” in attempt to trap their souls in his soul dice (which he used in the game) and take Yugi's Millennium Puzzle. When I began to regain control of my body, he stabbed my hand to stop me.
So of course I knew the answer...
Yes, he could hurt me.
And he would if he had the chance. So why hadn't he done that? He knew how to get the things he wanted, and he accepted the consequences of getting them.
A shiver ran up my spine. I hated to admit it, but he truly scared me at times, and he knew he did.
Just then, the eye of the Ring lit up! Startled, I tossed it to the edge of the bed in front of me. It glowed a blindingly bright golden light, but it wasn't just a normal glow. The energy and power of it seemed to radiate right through me. It blew my hair back and I shielded my eyes with my arm.
As quickly as it came on, it disappeared. Confused, I dropped my arm and stared at the Ring. I had an odd feeling in the pit of my stomach. Not bad, necessarily, but important. And that feeling also told me that it (whatever it was) was directed toward me. Almost as an omen. Or a warning.
Was it Spirit? Was that him warning me? Either way, that was one of the strangest things the Ring ever did. I hesitantly reached out to touch it.
“Ah!” I said yanked my fingers back. I was stunned. The Ring was hot, as if the energy it radiated was intense enough to give off a lot of heat. It had burned the tips of my fingers when I touched it. I grabbed the edge of my blanket to protect my hand as I picked up the Ring. I turned it over in my hand.
I touched it again and it was cool enough to put back on. (Its hard to describe, but it makes me uncomfortable when it's not around my neck.) I sighed as I re-tied the knot and pulled the Ring over my head. This is getting too weird.
* * * * * * * * * * * *
(spirit has flashback of his village and past)
* * * * * * * * * * * *
The next morning, my alarm woke me up. I repeatedly pressed the snooze button, telling myself the next time it went off I'd get up. I finally gathered the willpower to sit upright. Then I actually looked at the clock.
I only had 15 minutes until my first hour.
I swore silently and rushed to my closet, grabbing my uniform and throwing it on. I sped through my hair and teeth and ran downstairs, my bag unzipped and over-shirt unbuttoned. My stomach growled as I passed the kitchen, but I ignored it.
When I finally got to the front door, I snatched up my shoes thinking I would put them on in the bus. Then I froze.
I missed the bus.
I swore again and threw my stuff on the couch. I pulled on my shoes, picked my stuff back up, and ran out the door.
And all seven blocks.
* * * * * * * * * * *
When Ryo was in school, it was a good time for me to think. Only today was a bad day to be left alone to think. Though I deserved it. I let myself remember. And I had to pay the consequences. So I dealt with the smaller issues first.
How could I keep Ryo from finding out about my plan to get a new host?
After two hours I still had nothing on that.
Would Snefru keep his word to help me?
Well, I figured since he came from ancient Egypt, he would know all about the Millennium items, including my Ring. And the bad things the owners of the items could force upon them if they did wrong by their eye. So, yes, I think. (At least, thats what I convinced myself to think.)
Will I be able to go through with the soul transfer?
Snefru said that not all souls will A) get a host body, or B) even survive. And, like I said before, I didn't want to kill an innocent soul if I didn't have to. Or Ryo's soul. Or my soul. So I wasn't sure I what I would do at the time being.
Although, I knew I had to go through with it. I had to. I couldn't stay in Ryo's body! I can't share my body with a 16 year old! I need my own body! I need to live what life I have left!
I looked down at my clothes. At Ryo's school uniform. I can't even wear what I want!
I punched the wall of my soul room out of sheer stress. (At least I couldn't make a dent in it.) I leaned forward onto the wall, supporting myself with my forearms. I forced myself to breathe and to calm down as I moved on to the last question. The hardest question.
What would I do – where I go- if get my own body? How would I make a life? Would I even truly be free?
I never quite came up with an answer to that either.
Freaking great. What was I supposed to do now? I was all out of questions to pass my time. I knew I had to keep my mind busy and away from the memories, but the second my brain stopped thinking, they popped up again.
Now of coarse, they were full blown.
The morbid memories stung me again and again, and I started pacing the floor violently. I ground my eyes shut and growled in frustration: my hands were balled into tight fists. I tried to control myself, but I had no avail.
Pictures of my mother, father, brother, sisters, and all my close friends of my village flashed under my eyelids. I stopped pacing and I gripped handfuls of my hair as I growled again. Then pictures of that day came. The items. The first soldier taking the life of my closest friend. The panic and chaos when they started chasing us. It kept stinging! It felt like hornets were buzzing in my head, stinging me again and again!
I kicked my bedside table out of pure anger. At these times I wished I could feel physical pain within my own soul. It often overshadowed emotional pain for a short period of time, but this was too intense.
I groaned and sank to my knees, still gripping the sides of my head. I crumpled over and slightly rocked back and forth.
Then Emani's face flashed up. I straightened my back and dropped my hands from my head to my lap. I wanted to open my eyes, but her picture... it was as if I was dreaming her. She was so perfect-
I ripped my eyes open, dispelling the picture. As I did, I realized I was crying. And that I'm still crying.
What the hell was wrong with me?! It's like I have no self control at all anymore! I remembered, and I completely lost it. I stood up and managed to walk to my bed, where I waited silently, head in my hands, for the tears to stop dripping from my eyes.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * *
The bell rang, signaling the end of sixth hour. I stood and grabbed my things. On the way out the door, one kid bumped me on my shoulder, and I dropped my book and papers. The kid chuckled, turned, and walked down the hall. I rolled my eyes and bent to pick up my stuff with a sigh.
Then, someone bent over in front of me. I looked up and saw Akane.
“Need some help Bakura-kun?”
“No thanks, I think I got it all,” I said as I stood up, holding my things tightly.
“Sorry about that. That guy's a real jerk.”
“It's okay. Not like it's your fault.”
She smirked. “Yeah.”
“So . . .,” I said as I started walking, trying to be polite. Why was she talking to me?
“So um . . . you don't have to- I mean, I understand if you don't want to,” she struggled for words, “but . . . this is going to sound corny, but I . . . kinda need a tutor for Algebra II. You've taken it, right?”
I nodded.
“I need all passing grades to stay on the volleyball team, and I only have a D. But you get like, constant straight A's. So. . . , “ she said sheepishly, “help?”
I chuckled at her expression. “Sure. Shouldn't be a problem.”
“Really? Oh wow thanks Ryo. I owe you one,” she said. She seemed surprised I agreed so tutoring her. As if she expected a no from me.
“It's no problem.”
She smiled. “Okay, well I'll talk to you later. Should we like, exchange numbers or something? Just in case?”
“Oh, sure, yeah.” I pulled a sheet of paper from the mess of papers I dropped. We each wrote out our phone numbers and I tore the paper in half.
“All right then. Thanks again.” she said and walked off with a wave.
It made sense, but I still wondered why she chose me to tutor her. I shrugged, telling myself it didn't really matter, and started for the courtyard, then for home.
I was a few streets from my house when saw him. His head was down, but I noticed him stop and lift it just before he passed me. He was hidden by his dark brown cloak, but I still saw most of his face. His skin was tanned, eyes dark green, and hair a wooden brown-color.
He stared at me with surprised eyes and I racked my brain, trying to remember if I'd seen him or knew him.
He seemed to be waiting for me to speak.
“Uh... can I help you?” I said, hoping I wouldn't offend him.
His face took on an understanding look. “You are Ryo are you not?” I didn't miss the slight emphasis on my name.
My eyebrows shot up in shock.
“How do you know my name?”
He acted like I had never even spoken. “So you are his ve-,” he cut himself off. “Hmm...” He reached out his hand and put it on my shoulder with a little squeeze. He closed his eyes and . . . concentrated?
Then, I felt an odd current run down through my shoulder for an odd instant. It only lasted one second, but it was still weird enough to totally freak me out. I stared back at him with a questioning look, accusing him with my eyes. What in the world did just do?
“Ah. I can see why he would have complications with you,” he said and chuckled. “I will see you again.”
Then he turned and walked off from the direction he came.
. . . ? (These are the times I think why does all the weird stuff happen to me?)
I watched him as he disappeared down the sidewalk. At this point, I could figure this was a friend of Spirit's, or someone he had seen yesterday. I made a mental note to talk to him about it later -ignoring my total fear of doing so- and started for home again.
I couldn't help looking over my shoulder a couple times as I walked up my porch.
Deja-Vu. Yesterday I had been in the same position. Hopefully it'll go better this time around.
I opened the door and half expected Spirit to come at me with a knife. I walked straight up to my room, then to my laptop to take my online class.
* * * * * * * * * * * * *
I still hadn't moved from my position on the bed when I recognized Ryo was home. The jacket of my uniform disappeared, which could only mean he took it off-which meant he was home.
I immediately tapped into his mind to see if he has started his online class yet. (I listen to the lessons to see if I can learn anything about Egypt I might be able to use to my advantage.) His computer was on, but Sefu-Komoro wasn't on yet. Ryo was kicking off his shoes and . . . thinking about Akane. I looked deeper into his thoughts and ran through their conversation in my head.
It was so . . . cliché. The typical girl-needs-”tutoring”-so-she-asks-the-smart-guy thing. She probably had a crush on him or something.
I smirked as I watched Ryo shed his shoes and jacket.
Then a thought hit me. It was just a background thought, but it still hit me pretty hard.
He was expecting me to become that superior, hostile me again. He expected me to hurt or threaten him.
I smiled. He was good to be afraid of me. As soon as I get another vessel, I thought.
* * * * * * * * * * * * *
After the lesson, Sefu-Komoro e-mailed me directions to a project. I had to write a report on one pharaoh of Egypt. I was researching one when my eyes fell on four little words on the left hand column: the great Tomb Raider.
Eyes wide, my hand reflexively clicked on the link.
The screen wasn't set up very well. It wasn't put together as fancy as some of the other pages on the website and there were only a few paragraphs on the subject. But it was enough.
“Estimated to have been created during the middle years of 3000 B.C., carvings of a light haired man smothered in riches appeared on stone walls of ancient civilizations along the river Nile. This one man was rumored to have stolen treasures from nearly every tomb of every city within fifty miles of the river. His name was never found in the ancient scriptures, for he was called only 'Thief King'. ”
Well dang it. One thing I was really hoping for was his real name (it felt weird calling him “Spirit” all the time).
“He was thought by some to have the powers of certain hell at his fingertips. The ancient Egyptians believed him to have the ability to control evil monsters to help him steal the riches and wreak havoc in the villages.
“From what archaeologists have read of the hieroglyphics, he was being lead to the dungeon when an odd light came upon the guard and the Thief King disappeared. He was never found or heard from since then.”
Every village along the Nile? I didn't know he had been this infamous. I shook my head. But that was the least of my worries.
“The powers of certain hell”? What does it mean by that? Does the Spirit really have that much power? Could he really do something dangerous?
I turned off my computer, not bothering to shut it off properly. I turned to my schoolbag and pulled out the first sheet of homework I came across. I focused on only that until dinner.
When my homework was finished, I slumped downstairs and into the kitchen, trying not to think of the situation on my hands. I pulled a random container out of the fridge and stuck it in the microwave. As I waited for it to cook, I tapped my fingers on the counter anxiously.
But as hard as I tried, I couldn't deny the bad feeling I felt.
I felt like the Spirit was up to something. Like he was hiding something I really needed to know. Like it was horrible, inevitable, and potent. I felt like an atomic bomb was about to drop and there was nothing I could do about it.
What could I do, after all? I'm only a sixteen-year-old boy, and if I told the truth, I'd be committed into a mental institution.
At this point, I started panicking.
What could I do? What could I do? What could I do?