Atem looked at Zorc with nothing but pure hatred. He looked as wicked as ever, as though he had done something he knew Atem would hate.
"So the Egyptian Gods have fuelled your power, to have a new host?" said Atem interrogatively.
"Indeed, Pharoah." sneered Zorc, "A foolish amateur duelist by the name of Gregor Lord."
Atem frowned. He didn't want this innocent duelist to be put in the middle of this.
"Amateur, that is until I gave his deck a little tune up." added Zorc, raising his Duel Disk up, challengingly to Atem.
"Let's test your theory now, Zorc. If I win, you will let Lord go." said Atem.
"Very well," smiled Zorc intimidatingly, "But WHEN I win, I will be able to destroy this world as I should have done a long time ago. And these souls will be the very first to suffer."
He produced a dozen or so cards from his pocket. Atem gasped as he saw clearly what these cards were. They were Soul cards, similar to the ones Pegasus used on Solomon and the Kaiba brothers many years ago. Inside were several familiar faces. Atem recognised the hideous faces of Bonz, Zygor and Sid. Another was the Machine duelist, Bandit Keith Howard, whom not only cheated at Duelist Kingdom, but inadvertently caused a fire that nearly killed Yugi.
"You took their souls? All of them?" shouted Atem angrily.
"Of course" smiled Zorc evilly, "They are my ransom. To make sure you duel me."
"I would duel you anyway, Zorc." bellowed Atem, "And if I win, you'll let them go as well as Lord."
"It's a deal, Pharoah!" grinned Zorc.
"Let's duel!" shouted the two duelists in unison.
Meanwhile, in the hospital, Yugi was watching over a sleeping Bakura. But he felt that it was too quiet. Where was Atem? Yugi looked at Bakura who looked very peaceful. Then a nurse came in to check up.
"Could you stay with him a moment, while I look for my friend?" asked Yugi.
"Of course, dear." replied the nurse kindly.
Yugi departed and went to Duke's room where he wondered if Atem was there. When he arrived, he saw Joey and Tea watching Serenity and Duke playing Dungeon Dice Monsters, which Serenity was winning, but by the looks on Joey and Duke's faces, Yugi suspected that Duke was allowing her to win. But Atem wasn't there.
"Have you guys seen Atem?" asked Yugi.
"Not since you and he went to sit with Bakura." said Joey.
"Isn't he with Bakura?" asked Tea with concern.
"No," said Yugi, "He left and I didn't really notice until now."
He looked outside and saw Tristan coming with drinks in hand.
"Wondered where you were, Yugi." he said, "I brought you and Atem drinks of coffee, but neither of you were there, so I left them for your return."
"So you haven't seen Atem then?" asked Yugi, now feeling worried. He didn't know why, but he sensed that something was wrong.
"No." said Tristan, "Isn't he with you guys?"
They all shook their heads.
"But if he's not with us, where is he?" said Yugi, now convinced that there was trouble brewing, wherever Atem was.
"It could be all right, Yugi." said Tea. trying to give some comfort, but Yugi was quick to reply.
"And what if he isn't? I'm gonna go find him."
YOU ARE READING
