A day had already passed since my visit with Alexis in the abandoned dorm. It was night time and I was currently in my dorm room.
"Hey Jaden."
"Yeah Kai," he answered from his bed.
"You ever noticed something strange with Banner?" I asked
"Professor Banner?" Jaden repeated, sitting up slightly.
"Yeah." I confirmed,
"No, I haven't noticed anything," he answered, frowning in confusion.
"Chumley," I turned to our other roommate who was buried under a mountain of blankets on his bed. "You were at duel academy a year before us. Have you ever noticed anything weird about Professor Banner?"
"Kai, why are you asking such questions?" Syrus asked curiously, poking his head out from under the covers.
"Last night I went in the abandoned dorm."
"YOU DID WHAT??" All three of them exclaimed in unison.
"Are you crazy Kai? You forgot we nearly got expelled because we went there?" Syrus scolded me.
"Calm down, I saved us from that expulsion. I know how to sneak into the abandoned dorm without anyone noticing," I explained.
"Ok but why did you go there?" Syrus asked.
"Well you see after Jaden dueled the shadow duelist, I felt something was weird so me and Alexis went there and did a few investigation."
"You and Alexis?" Jaden's eyebrows shot up. "What did you find?"
"A secret room in the basement."
"A secret room?"
I nodded.
"Yes, me and alexis went in the room and saw quite a few interesting thing."
"What kind of things?" Jaden pressed, leaning forward with a mix of excitement.
"We found a hidden lab filled with alchemical equipment... and a sarcophagus that had a mummy inside."
Both Jaden and Chumley exchanged worried glances while Syrus blinked in disbelief. "A mummy? As in... a real one?"
"Yeah," I continued, "and the tag on it—it had the name 'Banner' on it."
Jaden's expression shifted from surprise to suspicion. "That doesn't make any sense. Banner is our professor. Why would he be in an abandoned dorm as a mummy? Kai are you messing with us?"
"No I am not, if you think I am joking we can go there right now itself."
"But what if we get caught again?" Syrus protested, his voice wavering between fear and disbelief.
"Or worse," Chumley added, "what if there's something down there that we're not ready to deal with?"
"We have our deck so there is nothing for us to worry about." Jaden said.
Syrus rubbed his temples, visibly overwhelmed. "Guys, this is insane. A hidden lab, a mummy with the professor's name? It sounds like something out of a horror movie."
"Or a really bad story told around a campfire," Chumley said, trying to lighten the mood, but the tension in the room was thick.
"Hey who cares, do you guys want to go or not." I said.
"Alright," Jaden finally said, determination filling his voice. "If this is true, we can't just ignore it. We need answers."
Syrus groaned, sinking deeper into his blankets. "You guys think I can just sit here while you're digging up mummies? I might just turn into one if I keep this up!"
"Come on, Syrus," Chumley encouraged, pulling himself to a sitting position. "You can't back out now! Besides, if we're lucky, maybe we'll even find some cool cards in that lab!"
"You do realize you are gonna be left alone in this room while Banner is just below."
Syrus's eyes widened in horror at the thought. "Okay, okay! Fine! I'm in!" he exclaimed, throwing off his heavy blankets as if the mere act could save him from the fate of becoming a mummy.
"Great! Let's go!" I said, rising to grab my jacket. Jaden followed suit, excitement glimmering in his eyes.
When we stepped into the cool night air, the campus felt eerily quiet, our footsteps echoing as we made our way toward the dilapidated building. The moonlight bathed the abandoned dorm in an unsettling glow, making the peeling paint and shattered windows appear almost ethereal.
"Do you think anyone's watching us?" Syrus whispered, glancing around nervously.
"Syrus stop being paranoid, you are pissing me off."
"Right, sorry," he muttered, his voice barely above a whisper as we approached the entrance.
Pushing the door open, the familiar creaking sent a shiver down my spine. The darkness inside seemed to swell like a living entity, engulfing us as we stepped across the threshold.
"Stick together," Jaden instructed, his tone serious but tinged with underlying exhilaration. "We can't afford to get lost in here."
Navigating through the debris-strewn corridor, Chumley glanced nervously at the peeling wallpaper. "It's worse than I remember," he whispered, glancing over his shoulder as if expecting something to leap out at us.
I led the way down to the basement, each step echoing ominously in the silence. "Just a little further to the hidden passage," I said.
"This is it," I said, pushing against the wall to reveal the passage once more. The secret corridor yawned wide, dark and inviting, the air thick with the scent of earth and age.
Syrus gulped audibly. "We really are doing this," he said, his resolve wavering.
"Come on, it's just a little further," I urged, leading the way with Jaden and Chumley close behind. As we traversed the narrow passage, I flicked my Duel Disk to illuminate our path, the soft glow casting eerie shadows along the walls.
Finally, we emerged into the hidden lab. The flickering candlelight danced across the cluttered table, emphasizing the bizarre concoctions spread before us. I could almost feel the weight of time pressing down upon us, the very walls echoing with untold stories.
Jaden let out a low whistle. "You weren't kidding, Kai. This is next-level creepy."
Syrus clung to Chumley, his eyes darting around nervously. "I swear, if something jumps out—"
"Relax," I cut him off, walking toward the sarcophagus. "This is what I wanted to show you."
Jaden approached cautiously, his usual bravado dimmed by the sight of the mummy. "So, this... this is Banner?"
I nodded. "The tag says so."
Chumley crossed his arms, squinting at the mummy. "This doesn't make sense. If this is Banner, then who's been teaching us?"
"That's the million-dollar question," I said.
Jaden frowned, his mind clearly racing. "You think it's some kind of doppelgänger? Like, an alchemical clone or something?"
"Maybe," I admitted. "Or maybe Banner found a way to cheat death using alchemy. Either way, he's hiding something."
Syrus pointed toward the alchemical equipment on the table. "And all this... What if he's still working on something? Something dangerous?"
"All the more reason to keep quiet until we figure out what we're dealing with," I said, turning to Jaden. "You understand?"
"Why don't we tell Chancellor Sheppard?"
"Then get into trouble for entering the abandoned dorm. Yeah no, Crowler hates us too much and will put blame on us for going in the dorm instead of investigating it."
Jaden nodded, a reluctant sigh escaping him. "Fair point. Crowler would have a field day if we got caught up in this. So, what's the plan?"
"For now, we keep this to ourselves," I said firmly. "We need more evidence before we accuse Banner—or whoever that is—of anything."
Chumley scratched his head, glancing uneasily at the lab. "And how do we get more evidence without, y'know, Banner catching on?"
I smirked. "Simple. We watch him. Pay attention to where he goes, what he does, and if he slips up. If he's hiding something, we'll figure it out."
"And what about this lab?" Syrus asked, his voice a mix of fear and curiosity. "Are we just gonna leave it like this? What if he comes back and notices someone's been here?"
"I didn't touch anything last time, and we'll make sure it stays that way," I replied, taking one last look at the sarcophagus. "As long as we're careful, he'll never know we were here."
"Unless he's already onto us," Chumley muttered, earning a glare from Syrus.
"Don't be so paranoid," Jaden said, flashing a grin. "If Banner's up to something, we'll handle it. Right, Kai?"
"Alright I have a plan, we will try to build a good relationship with Dr Crowler and if we fail at doing so, we can just tell Alexis to tell him about this and since she is an Obelisk Blue student, there is little chance Crowler will get pissed at her."
Jaden raised an eyebrow, folding his arms across his chest. "Wait, Crowler? You want to buddy up with him? That's like asking a snake not to bite you."
"Exactly," Syrus chimed in. "Crowler's never been on our side, Kai. Why would he listen to us, even if Alexis is the one to bring it up?"
I sighed, pinching the bridge of my nose. "Look, it's not about getting him to like us. It's about making sure the information comes from a source he can't ignore. Obelisk Blue students are his weakness, and Alexis has enough credibility to at least get his attention without us getting grilled."
Chumley rubbed his chin thoughtfully. "Yeah, but how do we convince Alexis to even go along with this? She's not exactly the type to follow orders without a solid reason."
"She already knows about the lab, doesn't she?" Jaden asked, glancing at me.
"She does," I confirmed.
Chumley looked around the room one last time, his nervousness growing by the second. "Alright, can we leave now? This place is giving me the creeps."
"Yeah, we've seen enough for one night," I agreed, heading back toward the narrow passage. "Let's get out of here before someone notices we're gone. Also Chumley and Syrus, close the lid of the sarcophagus."
Chumley and Syrus exchanged uneasy glances, clearly reluctant to get anywhere near the sarcophagus. "Why do we have to do it?" Syrus whined, inching closer to the mummy with extreme caution.
"Because you're standing right next to it, and I'm already halfway to the exit," I replied with a smirk, enjoying their discomfort.
"Great teamwork, Kai," Chumley muttered under his breath as he grabbed the edge of the lid.
Syrus hesitated, glaring at me. "If this thing grabs me, I'm haunting you for the rest of your life."
"Yeah, yeah," I said, waving them off. "Just close it and let's go."
With a synchronized effort—and a lot of unnecessary squealing from Syrus—they managed to slide the lid back into place. The sound of stone grinding against stone echoed ominously through the lab, sending a chill down all our spines.
"There. It's done," Chumley huffed, stepping away like the sarcophagus might come to life at any moment.
"Good job," I said, motioning for them to follow. "Now let's move before we're caught."
We retraced our steps through the narrow passage, the oppressive silence amplifying every creak and shuffle. By the time we emerged from the abandoned dorm, the cool night air felt like a relief.
Jaden stretched, letting out a loud yawn. "Man, that was intense. But I gotta admit, it's kinda exciting knowing we've got a mystery to solve."
"Exciting for you, maybe," Syrus grumbled. "I feel like I just aged ten years in there."
"Aw, come on, Syrus," Jaden said with a grin. "Think of it like an adventure! You'll thank us when we uncover the truth and save the day."
Syrus muttered something about preferring a quiet, uneventful life, but I didn't bother listening.
As we approached the dormitory, I slowed my pace, turning to face the group. "Alright, remember—keep quiet about this. No one says a word to anyone until we know more. Got it?"
"Got it," Jaden said without hesitation.
Syrus and Chumley nodded reluctantly, though their unease was still evident.
"Good. Now get some sleep," I said, opening the door to our dorm.
"Tomorrow, we start keeping an eye on Banner. If he's hiding something, we'll find out....eventually, or maybe he will kidnap Syrus."
"Hey!" Syrus squeaked, glaring at me. "Why am I always the one getting picked on?!"
"Because you're the easiest target," I replied with a smirk, brushing past him.
"Relax, Syrus," Jaden added with a grin. "We won't let Banner turn you into a test subject... probably."
Chumley chuckled, patting Syrus on the shoulder. "Don't worry, buddy. If anything happens, you can always hide behind Kai. He's the one who drags us into this mess, after all."
I ignored their banter, already halfway across the room toward my bed. "Alright, enough chit-chat. Get some rest. Tomorrow's gonna be interesting."
"Define 'interesting,'" Syrus muttered as he climbed back into his cocoon of blankets, clearly trying to recover from the night's ordeal.
The next morning, I woke to the sound of Jaden's enthusiastic voice as he rattled off some duel strategy. Chumley was half-asleep, slumped over a bowl of cereal, and Syrus was still wrapped in his blankets, mumbling incoherently.
"Morning, sleepyheads!" I called out, grabbing a piece of bread. "Did you all dream about mummies and secret labs?"
"Shut up, Kai," Syrus groaned, pulling the blankets over his head.
I chuckled, enjoying his misery. "Come on, we need to focus today. We're keeping an eye on Banner, remember?"
"Syrus make us a cup of coffee or tea."
Syrus groaned in protest, burying himself deeper into his blankets. "Can't we just have a normal breakfast for once? Do I really have to be the coffee slave?"
"Yes!" Jaden replied enthusiastically, shoving a half-eaten piece of toast in his mouth. "You're the most awake of all of us, Syrus. Besides, you owe us for the whole mummy ordeal."
Chumley chuckled, finally managing to sit up straight. "Yeah, you'll thank us when we're ready to take on Banner. A little caffeine will help your brain catch up."
"Chumley you can't talk like that, you are an even bigger scaredy-cat than me." Syrus said.
"No I am not."
The morning banter continued just as I finished my breakfast.
"Alright, let's get our game on," I said, pushing away my empty plate. "After breakfast, we'll start our surveillance mission."
Syrus finally unwrapped himself from his cocoon, shooting me a glare. "Surveillance? Sounds like we're about to become spies or something. What's next, secret agent outfits?"
"You are too small for that Syrus."
Syrus crossed his arms, puffing up indignantly. "I'm not too small! I just prefer to stay out of sight, that's all!"
Jaden snickered, finishing his breakfast with a satisfied grin. "Out of sight? More like out of luck. You'd trip over your own shadow if you tried to sneak around."
"Yeah, yeah, laugh it up," Syrus mumbled, shoving himself out of his chair. "Just wait until I surprise you all with my stealth skills."
"Sure, stealth skills," I teased, ruffling his hair as he walked by. "Maybe we should keep a few band-aids handy just in case."
Chumley chuckled as he finished his cereal, then set his bowl down.
"Alright I have a plan, since we always go late to class anyway, how about we investigate Banner's room and we put a camera there and linked it up to the laptop." I said.
"That's a solid plan," Jaden said, his eyes lighting up with excitement. "If we can catch Banner doing something suspicious on camera, that would definitely give us the evidence we need."
"Alright then let's just wait till Banner leaves the dorm for school and then we go there."
"Listen the plan is great, but do we have a camera to put in his room?" Syrus asked.
"I thought you guys had one..."
"Come on, Kai," Jaden said, shaking his head. "You can't just assume we have spy gear lying around."
Syrus groaned, rubbing his temples. "Yeah, and even if we had a camera, where would we hide it? Banner would definitely notice if we just stuck it on his desk or something."
"You know what fuck this. Let me think of something else." I said.
"Alright new plan we hack his webcam on his computer and connect it to ours."
Jaden leaned back in his chair, arms crossed, deep in thought. "Hacking his webcam? That sounds risky, Kai. What if he notices? And if we get caught—"
"I won't let that happen," I interjected confidently. "I've picked up some skills with tech over the years. We can use my laptop to connect remotely. It'll be just a quick scan of his computer to get access. We can watch everything from here without even stepping into his room."
"Chumley give me my laptop. I will hack it from here itself."
"sure..."
I began hacking into the network until I was finally connected to the webcam.
"Alright who want to see Banner grading papers and petting that ugly cat he has."
"...so he is just doing his mundane task." Jaden said.
"Yeah anyways let's just get ready for school, we have PE class in the morning, I don't think we want to miss that."