“Release me!”

Jack struggled against the bonds that held his arms and legs to the chair. He rattled the wood, his skin burning from harshly rubbing against the leather restraints. Even his voice was scratchy from screaming so much, but he would not back down. No, not while this fake paraded around as him.

“Heh. No one can hear you, Weakling.” His fake was projected on a screen before him, smiling deadly at the mirror. Somehow, a camera was embedded within the pupil of his copy. No one would know that he was capturing every moment mainly as a cruel antic to show how easily it was for the fake to incorporate himself into Jack’s life. And with a mirror, the copy could goad Jack on with a smile alone.

“How dare you take my face? When I find you I’ll—”

“Beat me up?” The fake stepped closer to the mirror. His pupils grew smaller, sharpening the image as the lens of the camera righted itself. Haunting and dull violet eyes raked over his own body. Showing Jack just how much they looked alike. How much it was impossible for the others to know the difference.

Jack gripped the arms of the chair hard, fingers and knuckles whitening.

His fake wore their regular outfit, flaring coat and all. Every part of him looked just like Jack, but there were subtle differences that he could see. His clothes had taken on a darker stain, grey instead of pristine white. His eyes had a slight red hue and they were lifeless and dull, metallic and without a soul. Just under the skin of his eyes were strange marks, defining his cheeks and making his dull irises stand out more. All of these traits were subtle, and only someone who knew Jack intimately might catch them.

Jack knew himself, scrutinized himself day in and day out. So these differences were like sounding alarms that he believed everyone should have seen.

When the fake had first entered their home, Jack had expected Crow to instantly know, to put up his guard. But the redhead had simply asked the fake if he found a job yet, and with confidence, his alter ego had responded that kings didn’t need jobs. It had spurned Crow toward rage and made him walk away. He had remained none the wiser that Jack was not who he was.

Okay, fine. Crow could be a block head. He could see his brother being unable to look passed the disguise, but Yusei should have been a different story. Should have. But he wasn’t. Instead, Yusei greeted him with a kiss on the cheek and a holding of his hand. The fake had been surprised, but recovered quick enough to make Jack’s skin crawl. He had kissed Yusei on the lips, had monopolized him before mirrors to make sure Jack saw everything.

It broke his damn heart.

“You can barely escape that mind prison. You’ve lost your strength and now your friends. Oh, and lover. I wasn’t informed of that little surprise. But a King always needs his partner, his knight to fight his battles. And a queen to throw his riches at.” The fake outlined his lips, popping them at the mirror before smirking once more. His camera-like eyes sharped again, bringing Jack’s view into focus once more.

Jack growled. He pulled at his restraints, ignoring the pain as he harshly used his strength to tear forward. They groaned at his movements, pulling at their wits end. If he just pushed a bit more, he could snap them and make his escape. And then he really would beat the shit out of this fake.

“Jack, are you alright?”

Frozen, Jack was pulled back into the restraints hold as he stared wide-eyed at the screen. The fake continued to smirk at the mirror, allowing Jack to witness Yusei come into the room and walk toward his alter ego without a worry.

Yusei saddled up to the fake’s side, producing a smile that only Jack had been allowed to see. One of those soft ones that were so full of love, it melted his heart. Tears stung Jack’s eyes.

“Yusei! That’s not me! Yusei!”

The fake ignored him while Yusei remained ignorant. Jack found himself staring into Yusei’s eyes, their faces drawing so close that he knew they were kissing. Jack pulled harshly at this bonds again, feeling one of the straps on his arm grow loose.

Yusei pulled back, a slight dullness within his eyes as he touched the fake’s cheeks, “You are cold.”

As Jack’s blood boiled, and his arm continued to tug at the leather strap, the fake laughed heartily.

“Not to worry, my dear. A King is resilient. Not weak, like a sniveling jester.” His alter ego glanced back at the mirror, eyes squinting as a biting grin shook Jack to the core. His arm shot out and snapped the restraint.

“I suppose so.” Yusei mumbled. Jack unlatched his other arm, and quickly undid the straps on his ankles. Glancing up, realizing he was wearing a strange headset, Jack paused as he found Yusei to be staring—no glaring—at the fake’s back.

“So what have you done with the true King? Where is Jack?”

His fake turned, facing Yusei full on. He could no longer tell what the copy was doing, what his emotions said on his face. But he could feel it. He could feel that cold, dark anger brewing at losing his edge.

“I’m here, Yusei. I’m coming back.” As Jack spoke, Yusei’s eyes widened before a smirk graced his lips. Like a light filling up his darkness, Jack couldn’t stop that single tear that slid down his cheek,

“Good. Come back to me soon, my love. As for you—” Yusei’s eyes changed again, no longer looking passed the camera lens in the fake’s eyes, but looking directly at the fake itself, “—we have a conversation to attend too. You’ll tell me exactly what you are after, and when Jack returns, I will let him personally enact his revenge.”

His alter ego growled. Jack lifted the headset off his eyes, the dark room disappearing. Instead, Jack found himself inside a cave, his Wheel of Fortune lying a few feet back. His arms and legs really had been tied down as he had seen in the headset, but as to where he really was, Jack had no clue.

Quickly, he chucked the headset off to the side and ran toward his duel runner. Wiping his cheek, he quickly revved her engines, and made her ready to fly. His light was in need of help from a king who’d lost his way.