The Sin Hunter: Double or Nothing

To Jack, With Love

"Hello? Can anybody hear me? What's going on? God, I feel like I'm moving in quicksand, what is this place?"

'Hiya, kid!'

"AAAHH!! WHO ARE YOU?!"

'Whoa, whoa! Take it easy, lady, I'm on your side.'

"Why should I believe that? Why should I believe anything you tell me, how do I leave?!"

'Alright, fine. I can't convince you to cooperate, but can you please just take a deep breath? Don't even do it for me, just take a deep breath. You'll hyperventilate if you concentrate too deep.'

"Okay. Okay...whew. That feels better."

'Yeah! There you go, nice and easy. Feeling better yet?'

"Yes. Yes, I think so."

'Wonderful. So! What can I do for you?'

"Do for me? What are you, some kind of waiter or bartender?"

'Uh...y'know, Miss Winters, you are the first person I've ever met who's guessed as close as you have now. Two thumbs way up!'

"Okay, fine, I get it. But what are you really?"

'Well, like you said. I'm something of a bartender, a spiritual chip that's always on your shoulder, keeping you balanced on the line of life and death.'

"Life and death? So I'm in limbo right now?"

"Ooh, mm, uh...limbo would, howdoIsay, not be a good way to describe this place. I mean, you're not far off, that's for sure, but we don't really use that word here."

"No? Who's we? Are there more like you in this place?"

'Hmm, sorta. We're called Ventrocians. Void Ventrocians. But we roam and say hello and wave to one another whenever we cross paths. Think of us like all-knowing, but shackled beings.'

"Shackled? So you're imprisoned here?"

'Hmm, not quite. Look, you're a lawyer, right?'

"Yes, I am. Professional at what I do."

'Great! So listen. When you're in court, you're held under oath to abide by the laws that the court establishes prior to and epiloguing a session, correct?'

"Yes, that's correct. So I'm to assume that's the deal down here? Well, wherever 'here' is?"

'Exactly! Infinite knowledge, spanning the great cosmic divide of this realm between the fabrics, but at the price of guarding this sacred realm. Though, I suppose it's a worthy trade off when Ventrocians cannot die for hundreds of thousands or nearly millions of years.'

"Millions? How long have you been alive?"

'Ah, not too long. Couple thousand years in the Great Abyss ought to toughen up a Ventrocian like me quite a bit."

"Oh. So...I'm in the...the void?"

'You're getting warmer, Miss Winters. The Great Abyss is kinda like infinity. You walk until you can't, and that's about it. In the Great Abyss, it should be said that you can kinda form furniture and, ah, 'stuff' from the Abyss.'

"Stuff? Could you give me a demonstration?"

'Of course! Allow me to demonstrate, Miss Winters. We've got some time before you reunite with-oh, right. Not yet.'

"What do you mean, 'not yet?' What's wrong?"

'Ah! Oh, nothing at all, Liana. Just a few precautionary measures, nothing too serious.'

"Oh. If you say so. Wait, but how did you know my-"

...

"...right. Magic, all-knowing Void creatures. Forgot about that."

'...He's coming to find you, you know.'

"He? Who's he?" 

'God, I'm sorry. Shouldn't have said that. And I refuse to elaborate further on that statement.'

"No, please, is someone coming to rescue me? Seriously, I appreciate your work, but don't think I'm getting comfortable down here."

'I never said you were.'

"Then tell me! Who's he, when is he coming to save me?"

A shuddering breath, rippling in the Great Abyss. Wisps of curling white marbles floated from the thread beneath into the air.

'That would imply that they seek to rescue you, Liana.'

"Oh. So are they a captor, or a hero?"

'That, my kind little lawyer, is entirely open to discussion for all parties involved.'