Red eyes.

The next day of my self-declaration by Atem, it was a whirlwind. I woke up to the sound of my cell phone, which had been playing for a few minutes, but my heavy sleep had prevented me from listening to it. Lazily, I reached out to the dresser and took it.

- Hello?

- Yugi? Jesus, you didn't die! - It was Joey's voice that spoke on the other end of the line.

- Uh, Joey? Why are you calling me at this hour ??? I was sleeping ...- I sat on the bed and scratched my eyes.

- What do you mean at this hour? It's 11:40 am Yugi, you're going to lose the championship!

- W-What? - I looked at the clock that said 11:40 - Ah, my heavens ... I'm late! - I threw the phone on the bed, leaving Joey talking to himself for a while.

I ran to take a shower and for some decent clothes. I passed my grandfather who smiled at me with his pancakes, took them in my hand and ran out of the house. The championship was in the center of Domino, about 20 minutes walk from home, but running, took less time. When I finally arrived, I passed through the streets, looking for the staff. I found them together, and he soon noticed me.

- Ah, Yugi, you're late. - Téa said, in a flawed rebuke tone.

- Haha, - I scratched my head in an embarrassed way - Sorry Téa ...

I could barely finish speaking and Joey already pulled me by the arm, dragging me through the streets with a huge smile. I was eager to duel and so we went around the place looking for opponents. He said something about a new strategy that he was dying to show me. We spent the afternoon like this, dueling a lot, and around 16:00, we stopped and got together with the rest of the staff.

- Did they do well? - Mai said with a proud countenance.

- Of course. I defeated 6 people! - He showed the medallions that proved the victories.

- But there are only 3 Joey.- Mai took a look at the boy's outstretched hand.

- Yeah ... I lost 3 times ...- He said looking away - But tomorrow I will beat them and win back my medallions!

I giggled at Joey's expression and Téa turned her eyes shining at me.

- And you Yugi? How many medallions did you get?

- Ah ... it was 7 - I showed the colored stones in my hand.

- What? Have you already got the precise number to go to the finals ?? Mai looked at my hand and Joey smiled.

- Of course, Yugi is the king of the game. He won that Kaiba show!

- Hehe, it's not for that much ...- I blushed my cheeks slightly.

At this moment, a loud bang can be heard, followed by an almost blinding flash. Thunder warned the duelists that a rain was coming. The clear sky started to darken and so we decided to go home. Joey and I went the same way, with our houses in the same direction, so we said goodbye to the people and ran out.

Due to bad luck, the raindrops started to fall on us while we were still halfway through, and little by little the rain started to get intense, to the point that our coats no longer protect us from being wet by whole. We ran for a while longer, trying to seek refuge from the fury of the winds that descended along with the storm. As if sent by God, a car immediately passed us and followed them at speed. The back window was opened and Kaiba appeared.

- Quick, come in!

His imperative tone, as always, resonated among the noises that the tinkling of the water made all over the street. The car stopped for a moment on the shoulder and we both took the opportunity to enter the vehicle and escape the rain. Kaiba kept looking at us and Joey and I were just as quiet, curious as to why he had been so kind.

- Thank you Kaiba. - Joey said looking slightly at the boy.

- Do not misunderstand - he said in his usual grumpy tone - I just have to avoid that Yugi due to some illness cannot make it to the finals. And you had to come along ...

- What did you say? - Joey was already getting annoyed. These two didn't really get along.

- Calm down Joey ...- I spoke softly, trying not to cause another confusion. - Thanks anyway Kaiba.

- Humph ... - He grunted low and turned his eyes to the window, crossing his arms in his almost usual posture.

- No, okay, it's good that he loses again to you Yugi. - Joey muttered, making a smirk.

- Shut up. The Yugi obviously only wins because of this millennium and its Egyptian gods. I doubt he will win without this entity. - He pointed to the millennium and frowned.

- What? Pharaoh? He's really good, but Yugi wouldn't duel without him ...

- Exactly, because he would lose. He's a scam.

- Stop that Kaiba. - A thick voice suddenly sounded inside the car and the driver's shout can be heard.

When we looked at the front passenger seat, Atem turned his mischievous eyes on us, and his face looked expressionless. The driver stopped the car for a while and looked at Kaiba in fright.

- Mr. Kaiba ... what ... - He barely contained words.

- Keep driving. - Kaiba ordered.

- But sir ...- He glanced at the pharaoh and swallowed.

Kaiba just glared at the driver, and he turned around, driving the car again without saying another word. Atem turned his slim figure and stared at Kaiba for a while, while he now smirked.

- You can't even defend Yugi ... you need him.

- Kaiba, remove what you said. - Atem's eyes looked at him as he does his opponents in the duel.

- What are you going to do? Call your Egyptian gods? - He gave a sarcastic laugh

But it didn't last long. Joey was going to reply to Kaiba or punch him for making fun of us, but he also fell silent when he saw what Kaiba and I were looking at in amazement. The eye of Horus appeared in the center of Atem's forehead and his lilac eyes turned red as blood. His hands started to become almost like claws and a bizarre smile appeared on his lips.

The figure of my dreams was in front of me. I was hallucinating ??? No. Kaiba and Joey seemed to see him too. The driver, who until now did not seem to notice, turned his eyes slightly and turned them again when he noticed the change in the being beside him. Its startled immediately and ended up wavering in control of the vehicle, leaving a huge curve to be made and shaking us all in the car. When the vehicle finally stopped and me, Joey and Kaiba took a deep breath, we looked at Pharaoh with the intention of seeing his bizarre appearance, but that was not what we found.

Atem looked normal again. His serene look, however, was gone. His hands went to his forehead, and his eyes closed, his teeth gritted, he seemed to be trying to avoid pain. His breathing was so fast that we could all hear it, and immediately, his appearance started to become spectral again, so that only I could see him a few seconds longer than Kaiba and Joey, but then he returned to millennium.

I was scared. What the hell was going on? The images of the last nightmare now chased my thoughts, again seeing the pharaoh being dragged underground and buried. The strange figure grabbing me violently and its icy breath that made me shiver during the nights. Joey put his hand lightly on my shoulder, and I left the daydreams as I now looked where he was pointing. Kaiba seemed to have blacked out. We tried to wake him up, but he was passed out. I looked at Joey desperately, and he told the driver to take Kaiba to a hospital

After the order, the driver vaguely nodded and we decided we could go home on foot. We got out of the car, somewhat reluctant because of Kaiba, but Joey dragged me out and we followed the short path left to get home. When I was at the door, Joey looked at me with some curiosity and fear.

- Yugi, what was that ???

- I do not know. Did you see ... his eyes?

- Yes! It didn't look like Pharaoh ... it looked like some evil spirit. I'm worried man. You'll be fine???

- I think so. I'm worried too, but I'm sure we'll find out what happened to Atem.

- Yes! You can count on me. Do you think we should tell Téa and the others ???

- Not for now. This may concern you. I'll try to find out what happened, and I'll call you if I know anything.

- Ok Yugi. Be careful ... he didn't seem to be very friendly. Call me anything.

- Right. Ah! And give me news of Kaiba .... I feel bad for him.

- I, not even tact, but anyway, I warn you. - He blinked and smiled - See you Yugi.

- See you later Joey! - I smiled graciously and he turned, walking down the street home.

I entered my house. Grandpa was looking at the store and he smiled when he saw me. He took my wet coat and said he would make a hot chocolate to keep me warm. I thanked him and went up to my room. I sat on the bed and watched the millennium. I called for Atem, but he did not answer and did not appear. I was extremely upset, and worried too. Whatever had happened to him, I know it was that flattering creature's fault. Atem ... answer me, please.