Blood Desire-

Prologue: Just a short prologue to introduce the story. Disclaimer: I do not own YuGiOh or any of the characters, possible future OC's will be named.

The weather turned bleak as black clouds hovered over the horizon and trees thrashed in a sombre dance of destruction. Thunderous roars resounded in the air, accompanied by heavy belts of rain that pelted down on my suitcase, the only form of shelter I was able to utilize on my long and uneventful journey home. I picked up my pace with every burst of light and worked my left arm around my waist for self-comfort. God did I despise working later that necessary.

I'm not exactly a workaholic, but I'd be damned if I didn't reach my deadlines. One distinct fact about me is that I will never allow myself to slack off on the job, even if that means keeping myself behind until midnight. It's something that Seto always teased me about regularly, thus piling a stack of documents on my desk to read and sign off, only for that process to repeat until he clocked out.

It's not something I've ever minded, working lengthy hours a day has never bothered me. However, departing from the warmth of my office and falling victim to mother nature's wrath is nothing but a huge, unwelcoming jolt of cold air.

The lack of material clinging to my skin didn't help in the slightest, and it was beginning to take a toll on my body. The rain was merciless, attacking my flesh and soiling me with a bitter blanket. The rain didn't seem like it would let up for a while, nor did it appear that the wind would ease itself into a slumber.

Each stride I took was quick but sloppy, I felt my feet dampen as the water leaked through the base of my shoes and soaked through my socks, producing a faint squelch sound with every footstep.

A steaming shower was in order when I returned to my apartment, along with a cup of hot chocolate and a quick takeaway curled up by the fireplace, watching a collection of overrated romance movies. The simple thought had my lips curving into a minute smile, only for it to disappear mere seconds later as a piercing scream; that seemed to burst my eardrums and send me a few steps back, broke free with the night wind.

Instinctively I jumped back in shock, spreading my arms wide as my legs buckled and my suitcase tumbled to the ground with a loud splash. It reminded me of a horror movie I saw with my friends back in high school, it had me scared shitless for weeks.

"Don't worry about it mate, just a bunch of kids trying to turn heads."

Picking my drenched suitcase up from the path, I nodded mutely and watched the silhouette vanish from sight. Something about that reassurance did nothing to set my mind at ease. I'm no scream expert, but that scream was blood curdling, filled with nothing but immense pain and suffering. It sounded like someone needed help...

I clutched my suitcase tighter to my chest and navigated around the corner as quick as my feet could take me, trying my best to discard my negative thoughts and escape what seemed to be like unsafe territory. I just couldn't get the sense of unease out of my system, something about the area had my blood turning cold, yet I had an overpowering urge to investigate the area thoroughly just for self-assurance and to be certain that nobody was in the midst of danger. Or that's what I told myself.

I retraced my steps and peeked my head around the corner, blinking as water droplets attacked my eyes and trailed down my cheeks. I could hardly make out a single object, the little illumination from the lampposts that were once casting a soft glow on the street remaining shattered and powerless, as though an unknown force unleashed its inner strength and fractured the glass... like the wind, perhaps? Yet they were working perfectly fine a few minutes earlier.

"Hello? Is anybody there?"

I didn't expect a response, in fact, I didn't know if I wanted one. The dread that worked its way in my system began to spread like a fire only to settle in the pit of my stomach. If my skin wasn't already soaked to the bone and numb, I would have thought that the temperature dropped significantly with my question. All noise seemed to have mellowed down to a whisper, yet the rain fell heavier than before and the crooked trees continued to sway vigorously against one another.

Relaxing my muscles and heaving a sigh when I didn't get a response, I picked up my suitcase that I never knew I settled down and turned around to proceed my journey back home. However, I stopped abruptly in my tracks and stood frozen on the spot as my gaze lifted. Down the road stood what appeared to be a black silhouette with piercing crimson eyes, staring at me as I stared back at them.

I felt strangely hypnotized, as though my body wasn't working under my own command and rather under someone else's control. But with how much I screamed at myself internally to turn on my heel and escape the initial danger that was sure to come, I just couldn't. With every blink, the figure grew closer. With every inhale, the storm increased with intensity.

I never felt so useless before.

But then the black mass disappeared and the storm came to an unexpected halt with it, leaving me staring at a vacant spot with complete fear. The palms of my hands grew sweaty and my throat went dry. I did anything that any sane person would do in my situation. I ran, I took advantage of my newfound adrenaline rush and scrambled back to my apartment. Locking and bolting all doors, securing the windows and shutting every curtain to conceal the outer world.

Whether an illusion or not, those blood red eyes remained burned into my soul.

I would never forget them.

-x-x-x-x-x-

After arriving home last night, I took a quick shower and prepared myself a ready meal as a takeaway replacement. As much as I craved pizza, the fear of meeting the same crimson gaze when opening my front door was just too hard to ignore. Every time I let my mind freely wander to the forms shadowed appearance, I would feel myself recoil into a tiny shell; like a child who's under the delusion of being watched by an imaginary monster living inside their closet.

Without giving reason to Seto, I left work earlier than usual and brought my assigned documents home with me to complete in the comfort of my own apartment. I just couldn't shake the feeling of being watched.

I shook my head and reached for my phone, dialing a familiar number.

"Hello, Yug?"

"Hi, Jou! I thought I'd give you a call-"

"Yo Yug, dis is weird. Was just gonna call you and ask how you were doin'. Seto 'ere just arrived from picking Moki up from his friends 'nd told me dat you left work early. Are you sick buddy?"

I laughed at my friend's concern. Even after beginning a new life with Seto he never stopped worrying about me. "I'm fine Jou, I'm just a little tired tonight."

There was a pause on the other end, as though he was contemplating his next words carefully. I grew worried but awaited my reply.

"Just be careful alright. Did you watch da news Yug? Some woman was found dead at Mystic Avenue. Her body had been disposed of in the alley and she adorned puncture marks on one side of her neck like she was bitten by some kind of animal. There's also no ties at all dude, like the police are left speechless. It's some weird shit I suppose...Yo Yug, you der bud?"

The words that I so wished to voice dried out at the tip of my tongue as I caught a glimpse of crimson out of the corner of my eyes, leaving me completely speechless and horrified. My hands and body began to sweat, as though I was being suffocated with an overpowering heat, trapped in a sauna with no escape route. I was shaken, fearing to move a single muscle yet I couldn't stop the trembles that took over me. The troubled voice of my friend soon died out to a mere whisper, the faint "are you hyperventilating" or "should I come over?" barely registering in my mind.

"Agh.."

"Damn Yug, you are freaking me out right now!"

I did everything in my power to free myself from the confines that were placed on my every muscle, internally screaming, kicking, crying and pleading for my freedom to no avail. The shadow lurking in my perception was nothing akin to my imagination, I knew my eyes weren't deceiving me. I may fear the supernatural, but my mind isn't so cruel as to torture myself into submission with unwanted hallucinations.

Yet familiar blood red eyes watched me through my bedroom window, the very bedroom window that once was obscured by the curtains I was adamant I shut upon my arrival.

"Are you alive bud?"

I had no idea what snapped me out of my stupor. However, all at once I was released from my imprisonment and regained back my voice as well as my senses. It was like a weight was lifted from my body, replaced with nothing but warmth. It calmed my nerves a little, yet my mind was far from at ease. A glance at my discarded phone back to the window had my head pounding with confusion and skepticism... I was starting to question my sanity.

"Yug..? Geez, give your pal some reassurance here!"

I blinked out of my daze and ever so cautiously reached out for my phone. Licking my dry lips and clearing my throat. "I uhh... Jou."

"Yugi! Don't scare me like dat again alright? Wat did you get up to making me all worried an' stuff?"

I bit my lip, shook my head and glanced back towards the window. Nothing, of course. I did all I could do to shift away from the tension and break the ice that buried me. I laughed. Although not the least bit authentic, I laughed over my delusion and wiped at the tears that accumulated over my outburst. Scared out of my mind as I was, I knew that letting it eat away at my mind would only cause me further discomfort and confusion, checking the source was my only option, I was sure.

"Yug! Dude, seriously...?"

"I think someone has been following me." I replied bluntly, still trying to make sense of the situation.

His response made me wince at the sheer volume of his voice, although I expected nothing less from him. "What! Why didn't ya say anything? Call da police man, I'll come over an' kick that dudes ass! Oh, just wait 'till I get my hands on him, I'll make him pay for harassin' my buddy! I outta give him a piece of my mind that bastard!"

"Calm down Jou! I said I think, did you hear me? I think."

"Da fuck Yug? You either saw someone playing peeping tom or you didn't."

"I don't know..." On instinct, my eyes flickered back towards the window, however, nothing out of the ordinary met my vision. "I swear I saw something akin to red eyes peering back at me through my window only to disappear seconds later. How do I explain that without being deemed as crazy?... Jou?" I gnawed at the corner of my lip as a perpetual hum filled my ears suddenly, as though the line went flat. "Hello, are you there?"

Tap, tap, tap!

My eyes immediately darted back towards the window, my whole body freezing over with a blizzard of fear. I was definitely being toyed with.

Nothing was there.

"Sorry Yug, moneybags nearly exploded after a phone call with one of his employees. Something 'bout an important document being misplaced."

"The fuc-, Look Jou, I think I'm going to call it a night. All this paranoia has made me sleepy. I'll call you in the morning, ok?"

"Ay, but what about dat stalker-"

"It's probably nothing, goodnight." Ending the call before he could protest, I pulled the phone towards my chest, heaving a shaky sigh and closing my eyes to soothe my nerves while focusing on steadying my breathing. To say I was tired was nothing but an understatement, distressed and emotionally exhausted seemed more appropriate. I just wanted to sleep, to forget about the paranormal and wake up feeling restored and back to my usual self.

Applying pressure to the phone in my hand, I left my position on the sofa and advanced towards the window, daring to scan the outside for any possible intruder. When I found nothing out of the ordinary, I bolted the windows, drew the curtains and did a once over. Only after investigating the same area several times did I allow myself to enter my room, collapse on the bed and succumb to the land of dreams.

Not knowing that the entire time I was indeed being watched, until the very moment I awoke.

Sleep little angel, for one day you'll enter my hell.

"He's a little cutie, can I have him to play with?"

"No."

".."

"He's my toy to break."