Chapter five; The Drowning Pool

                I hid in the shadows while he talked to himself that night. Then he looked towards the stairs. I pushed my head back into the corner. Then you sighed and stood up, Walking into the kitchen. That’s when I made my escape to my room. I wasn’t going to get hit again that night. I silently closed my door and slipped under my covers. He heard, Obviously, Because he came up the stairs and looked in my room. My eyes flew shut and I steadied my heart beat and breath. He walked over and looked down at me, Stifled and then walked back out. I heard him walk back down the stairs and move some chairs in the dining room. He didn’t close my door, Which didn’t bother me at the time. I heard silence, But some kind of scratching noise. I didn’t dare get up, Just in case. I strained to hear what it was and where it was coming from.

 

                After some time went by I started to drift off to sleep. I yawned, Stretching my legs and fell back into a comfortable position on my side. I started dreaming about Amane and all the fun we had growing up, About my mom and dad and the life we lived. My senses started to go down around me as I fell asleep more and more as time went by. I could barely hear anything anymore, Let alone the scratching I was trying to figure out. I did, However, Hear a light noise come into my room. I gave up trying and just let my body get what it wanted. Sleep.

 

                The next thing I knew, I was waking up at ten forty two. I looked at my clock and gasped, Jumping out of bed and running down stairs. I looked around frantically for my yami. Nowhere to be found.

“Great!” I shouted. I looked in the kitchen and then saw a note on the table. I gave a confused look and picked it up.

 

Ryou,

As you have just found out, I let you sleep in today. You’re probably in a panicked hurry, But don’t worry about it. I called you off of school. I told them you were sick. And, By the way, You look like s**t. I checked on you before I left for work and turned your alarm off. I called you off for today and tomorrow. No ifs, Ands or buts about it, Understand? If I find out you went without my permission, You’re getting havoc from me. Anyways, I want you to clean the house today while I’m gone. It’s getting really dirty and I want it spotless. The vacuum’s in the closet and the steam cleaner’s in the extra room upstairs. And remember, Don’t clean my room. I warn you now. You can only go in there to get dirty clothes for laundry and put clean ones on my bed. It better be clean by the time I get home. I warn you now for that as well. Dinner as well. I’ll be home around five.

 

-Bakura

 

                “Well then.” I said to myself. I looked around. The house wasn’t too bad, But he was right. It needed to be done. I set down the note and looked at his empty coffee cup next to it. He still knew how to instill fear without even being there to do it. I sighed and got started on working. I walked upstairs and started on my room first. Usually the cleanest in the house, It was a detonation zone. I was so tired and achy when I got home from school because of Bakura. I just never had time to do it. Now, I had to make time. I put dirty clothes in a basket and clean ones in drawers. I straightened up books on the bookshelf, Changed my sheets, My bookbag for school, My half broken desk. So many destroyed items because of my dark. He could never let things be.

 

                I walked into the closet and pulled out the vacuum, Cleaning my room and then power steaming it. I put them both away and walked to Bakuras room with the basket. I gently opened the door and looked around. It was cold in there. I turned on the dim light and gathered dirty clothes, Getting out as quickly as I could. The basket was full and heavy as I trudged down the stairs. Especially with an achy body from the night before. I walked into the laundry room next to the kitchen and piled it all into the washer. I walked back upstairs and cleaned the bathroom for over an hour. I shook my head and walked back downstairs.

“Well… The upstairs is done.” I said to myself and turned on the radio to the jazz station. I snapped my fingers and bobbed my head. I loved jazz music. I turned the volume up and got the broom out, Sweeping up the living room and dining room, Then the kitchen. I placed it back in its spot and then danced back into the living room. I picked up trash and threw it away. I cleaned the bookshelf and stacked everything neatly, Steamed the couch and chairs and threw the blankets in the wash. I dusted the tv and the mantel place. I hummed along with the song playing and looked around the living room. Besides for mopping, It was done. I looked at the clock. Three fourteen. I had just two hours left to clean two more rooms and get dinner done. I sighed.

 

                I walked into the dining room and spiffed that up, Wiping down tables and the computer and everything else. I heard the dryer go off so I set my rag down and took the clean clothes up to Bakuras room. I took all of mine out and threw them on my bed, Dumping the rest on his and taking the basket back down. I grabbed the railing and slid my hand down it so I wouldn’t fall. I set the basket in the room and walked back to the dining room. Time passed as I danced and cleaned until five o’clock hit. The clock rang five tolls and I looked up.

“No…” I stated and stood up. I ran into the kitchen and looked through my cabinets, Trying to find something I could put together quickly. I threw some noodles on the stove along with some Ragu sauce. I looked around and pulled out the parmesan cheese, Setting it on the counter next to the stove. I pulled out two bowls, Forks and cups and set the table. I ran to the dryer and pulled out the curtains and blankets, Putting them in their proper place. “He can’t come home yet…” I stammered, Rushing. I started to shake.

 

                I mopped the floors downstairs quickly and put it away and straightened up the closet. I ran back into the kitchen and stirred the noodles and Ragu. I pulled out a strainer and set it in the newly cleaned sink. I tossed out old food from the refrigerator and took out the trash. I got inside and wiped my feet just in time to hear Bakura pull into the driveway. “No!” I stirred the noodles again and drained them. I put them in a big bowl and poured the Ragu and cheese in, Mixed it up and sat it in the middle of the table. I then placed the dirty dishes into the dishwasher and wiped down the stove. I looked around and grabbed a spoon that we could used to serve dinner, Placing it in the giant bowl. I looked down at myself and dusted myself off, Wiping my forehead of sweat. I sat in my chair right as he opened the door and looked at me.

“Hey.” I said, Looking at him, Trying not to gulp.

“Hey.” He stated back, Looking me up and down. “You look guilty. What’d you do?” I shook my head in reply. “Are you lying to me?” his head lowered, Eyes growing more stern. I shook my head. He walked over and picked me up by the collar. I finally gulped and my eyes grew wide, I tried to make him let go, But it failed miserably. “You have something to say?” I started to shake in his hands and my eyes started watering. I knew where this was leading and I didn’t like it one bit. He strode in the kitchen holding me up so I could see everything.

 

                My eyes flickered to the knife drawer and nightmares started flooding my mind, Haunting me and giving me nasty visions. I bit my tongue and closed my eyes as the fear he struck into me pierced my soul, Leaving his eyes. He set me down on the floor and bent my head over the sink. He turned on the tap and looked over me. I didn’t flinch or move. I was afraid of the consequences if I did. I heard the water drain by my ear as the sink started to fill up. Ten percent of the way, A quarter of the way. Half way. I closed my eyes, trying not to cry.

‘He’s going to kill me.’ I thought. ‘He’s finally going to kill me.’ My breathing started getting out of control the closer it got to my face. By the time it touched the tip of my nose, I was panicking. He then grabbed my head and pushed me under. I didn’t even get a chance to take a breath. I suffered in silence, Trying to hold my breath, To keep living. I could hear him laughing faintly above the water as bubbles rose past my head, Able to get free. I was running out of air quickly. I started flailing my arms and took in a breath, Filling my lungs with water. He kept my arms still and I started to cry, Freaking out and trying to breath anymore.

“Who do you think I’m doing this for?” I barely heard. I started to see black instead of silver. I was losing touch with reality. And fast. My chest started to spasm right as he grasped my hair and pulled me back upon the surface. I took a huge breath as my wet hair slapped me in the face and neck. I started coughing as he let my arms go. I slid to the floor. Coughing turned to hacking.

 

                He grabbed me by my arm and flipped me on my back, Twisting my wrist and slamming his foot on my stomach. He pressed down harder as I coughed up water and saliva, Letting it run out the corners of my mouth and creeping down my neck. I grab at my throat, Feeling like I’m going to choke. I could feel my eyes dilate, My pupils getting smaller.

“You’re not going to choke. Or die. You're just a pathetic child, Like all the rest, Kept in a blanket of comfort for much too long. This world is going to eat you alive if you don’t watch out. You'll never know what hit you. And who's to say I’M really the bad guy here? Who's to say those ‘Friends’ of yours are right? They can do whatever they please. They can die whenever they please. They don't concern me one bit. You, My bodily reincarnation, On the other hand…” he stated.

 

He paused for a second and then kicked me in my stomach. I turned over after he let go of my arm again and heaved on the floor. I looked down at it and crinkled my nose in disgust. I know he did, Too. My breathing started to labour itself. My limbs wobble from under me and give out without notice. I fell right into what I threw up. I heard him chuckle a bit and turn. I clutched my stomach in pain and noticed I was starting to drift off. He pushed me out of the way with the back of his foot and stood in the door way.

“There’s still more you have to work at.” He said aloud, I think to himself. And with that, He left with nothing else to say. I could hear his footsteps walk away from me; This disgust.

‘What’s that supposed to mean?’ I ask myself. But I couldn’t think about it for long. I blinked one last time and my vision blurred. Darkness had claimed me, Yet again, As I laid on the cold hard ground all alone.