Game of Ash and Bone

Chapter 8 - I am kidnapped by criminals* *This is an improvement

When we wake it's past dawn, and I'm immensely sore from last night's escapades. Nemo isn't a lot better and we're all coughing from smoke.
"Two or three days travel, then a day of rest. Ideally that's in a locked room but with us to keep watch for the other we can do it in the open," Nemo advises.
We concur, all of us are ready to spend a day mostly off of our feet now, but we agree to soldier on in hopes of finding at least a better hiding spot. Nemo says safe rooms aren't as hard to come upon as the videos show, at least not this deep in. We've made good progress we're almost to level 2. That means there are some rest spots likely coming up. It's just a matter of finding them.
"First run I spent a week in level one, we're doing well," Nemo encourages us.
We need it. All of us are painfully becoming more and more aware that soon one of us will get picked off. And from there the rest. We have strength in numbers at the moment, even Lyra can act as a lookout, the sicker we get, and if we lose some of us, will lower our odds of survival.
"You've lost teams before," I say, to Nemo. If this is his strategy to join up with newcomers to use as a distraction, then he's cycled through groups more than once.
"I've lost everything," he says, flatly. And I feel a bit bad. He said he was having the affair that's why he's here, even if he jokes about it that's a shitty reason to get condemned like this. Apparently the girl liked him too.
"I'm sorry about—whoever it is you left up there. I get it, a little," I say. I don't know if Lex is alive or dead.
"None of it matters," he says, but not because it's true but because he wants to end the conversation.
I've bled through the bandages, and am limping heavily, by the time we come across the safe room. It's less a room but more a tiny courtyard, protected by a steel door, and with a grate over the top. Inside is a fountain of running water, a crate, and a small toilet area walled off. In other words, heaven compared to where we're at. The floor is sand which will be soft enough to sleep on.
"How do we know this one isn't a trap?" Tove asks, stopping the kids and me from walking in.
"Because I say it's not, I rested here before, come on," Nemo says, "We have to enter together it'll close as soon as we're in."
That means all of us cram our way in at the exact same time while Nemo says, "I meant within a few seconds!!! Why is your hand on my ass for this???"
"I didn't want you to get left behind," I say, as we trip in. The grate slams shut behind us.
"And so you thought 'ass'—never mind don't answer that," Nemo groans. I was really going for his belt.
"Twenty four hours?" Arthur checks, walking to the waterfall.
"Yes," I remember that. I lean against the wall.
"This is where a sponsor could pull one of us out. You can refuse, but it'll anger them," Nemo explains.
"How do they pull us out?" Tove asks.
"Lower a harness and rope," he nods up to the grate, "They'll open that. Usually, doesn't happen, it costs a lot. Unless I know who the sponsor is I don't go. But I've been informed I have a personality problem."
"No one wants us," Lyra says.
We all look at her.
"Right that's why it's a trap if someone asks for one of us we're not going," Arthur responds first, sitting down next to her by the fountain.
"I'll go. I have no shame or pride, if it could get us supplies—?" I ask, raising a hand.
"Yeah it can. I've been a few times, or teammates did for that reason, you can usually come back with more weapons and a backpack of supplies," Nemo shrugs, "Decide now. Once they lower it you only have a few moments. Usually it's for—selfish motives sometimes you get nothing."
"It's worth a try. I'll steal something," Tove says, glancing at me.
"Yeah," I nod. At this point I'm not beyond pimping myself out for food or medical care.
"But don't you have sponsors and stuff?" Arthur asks Nemo.
"Again about me having a personality problem," he smiles, "Last night was pretty attention grabbing. One of you could get sent for. Before that happens I need you to know spectators aren't beyond arming the contestant with a knife and telling them to go kill their team, and they'll reward them. It's happened before. Had a team member sent back with poison, supposed to kill all of us, and then go back int he safe room get pulled up again for a reward."
"What happened?" I ask.
"I killed them that's not the point of the narrative. This is: when and if you get back, I'm going do to either of you what I did to him," he nods at me.
"Memories fair," I say, holding up my hands.
"Okay," Tove shrugs a little, "Like I said I'll do it for supplies. I think we've saved each other enough times but whatever—,"
"Would you want me weighing their lives on that?" Nemo asks.
Tove and I shrug identically because of course we would not.
"I can go up," Arthur says.
"No," all three of us say, in unison.
He rolls his eyes, "I handled that bear didn't I?"
"You're not leaving here. No one up there has good intentions," Nemo says, "trust me. No one."
"Okay, full stop, on that note, we were both murdered," I say, gesturing at Tove and I, "What if someone wants to finish the job?"
"She was probably trying to escape custody I was being sinister you know what their motives are," Nemo sighs.
"You can talk about sex," Arthur says, "We can totally hear you but this is weirder."
"They want bedslaves I meant," Nemo says.
"No he was like—actually murdered," Tove points at me.
"I was stabbed in the heart, thin blade," I say.
Nemo gestures vaguely that he's not at all surprised.
"And sold here. Considering I got actively murdered while loose—it's maybe not a good idea I go up? That said I will risk it but I don't do you guys any good dead up there," I say.
"Point being—?" Nemo asks.
"Can you help me—remember how I was murdered? Like rewind in my head just there, see who killed me?" I ask.
"I can try it's going to hurt like hell. Consider your lifestyle combined with your personality? It was probably chance," he says, rather nicely.
"No he's right—if you can you might as well, we've known he's different, he's not just a slave he knows how to read as well as you do," Tove says.
"All right," Nemo shrugs, "I can try. If it's completely gone from your mind I won't see it either I can only augment."
"Try," I say.
I expect a nice little 'okay get ready' or 'no are you sure? We love you cosmo'. But no the bastard just puts his whole hand on my face and I'm launched into crippling pain. This time my memory rewinds in order through the past week and a half or however long it's been. He's not scrubbing through looking for something just taking me back—-
—-to where I was lying on that table—
And then standing in a quiet hall. It's dark out, no light coming in the curtains. Hands are on my arms, my breath is coming in gasps. There''s a blade through my heart. I have moments before I die.
"I have you, I'm right here," Lex's hands are on my arms, bloodied, as he withdraws the knife to speed death. I lean against him, unable to speak for the pain.
"I love you," he whispers, his face pressed against mine.
The memory vanishes and I fall back, sobbing in pain as it leeches from me agonizingly slowly. Nemo paces backward a bit, shaking out his hand.
"Well?" Tove looks between us.
"Personal, someone he was working for," Nemo says.
"Yes, personal," I breath.
So he did kill me. He murdered me. Why—? My head is spinning. Lex killed me. Lex. I was willingly in his arms. Why—? I have to know. But it's not there. All I know is the only person who I can remember loving me, killed me.
"Incoming," Nemo nods.
"But nothing—you can't handle—?" Tove asks, I can hear the whir of a helicopter.
"No. Lover's spat," I say.
"That's how we get out?" Arthur I realize has not seen a helicopter in real life.
"Yeah," Tove says, going to stand by him and Lyra, they cover their ears.
The grate creaks back. And a harness and clip drop down. Just one.
Nemo steps forward, taking off the note.
"Terik's game box, for Cosmo Nyx," he reads, holding up the paper.
"That's—" I can't remember who he said that was.
"Playboy, wants bedslaves. I did say you were his type," Nemo says, dryly, "You can take him."
"I can handle that," I say. I apparently have no morals left and would completely whore myself out if it means a decent meal and more weapons.
"Don't if you—we'll be okay," Tove says.
"I'm fine," I say, taking the harness, "I'll get us supplies."
"Try to rest," Nemo squeezes my arm, then helps me buckle on the harness.
And I'm tugged up into the clear air. For half a second I want to go back. They're my friends why am I even doing this? For them. If this is some stupid rich kid I'll talk about the adventures we've had might even be true and be a good time to get supplies. I can handle that.
I'm draw up into the helicopter and guards pull me in, with little regard for my injuries. I crawl to the floor. They're all in suits with masks, I'm alone being whipped by the wind. I cling to the floor and take the offer of a handle, pulling myself up painfully.
The chopper is bearing us quickly over the labyrinth, and back to the boxes which are sitting high in the clouds. I don't remember which Nemo said was which, and I'm completely lightheaded not only after the mind reading but the helicopter ride is doing me no good.
We're lowering outside a box, the glass windows have opened up to reveal luxurious viewing quarters. The guards position themselves on either side of me, leaping me off and onto slick tile floor.
The inhabitants of the box are clearly waiting, entertained. As Nemo predicted it's about ten bedslaves, scantily clad, primarily male but not all, sprawled on various velvet sofas and soft carpeted floors, an array of drinks laid out on low glass tables.
"Alexander Terik the tenth," one of the guards announces, gesturing to the figure in the center of the room.
Tall, thin, with messy gold curls, wearing an open green cloak and a shimmering diamond necklace. Trademark mirrored sunglasses or no. I don't need to see the mismatched eyes to identify Lex.
Well well well. Everything's becoming rather clear.
"Leave us," Lex says, gesturing with a martini which he causally sets down.
I climb to my feet and walk directly up to him. He wraps me in his arms without hesitation, exactly as he did when he drove the knife into my heart.
"Don't say anything, he's reading my mind," I whisper, then I kiss his cheek.
Lex squeezes me, kissing my cheek as well then temple, "Come."
He draws me from the room, and into a conviently attached bedroom.
"You know me," he takes off the mirrored glasses. I press my face to his, shocked at the relief filling me as I inhale the familiar perfumes on his skin.
"Yes," I laugh, "It's hazy. You know he's a psychic—?"
"The puppetmaster yeah," he nods.
"Okay," I breath. We have precious little time. And memories are becoming clearer.
"Do you remember what happened?" He asks, hand in my hair.
I wince. The pain in my chest. My hand over his.
"I can't," he whispered, knife pressed to my skin.
"Do it, we can do this," I said, my hand closed over his.
"Nyx—," he breathed.
I drove both of our hands in, blood washing over them.
"It's a plan," I open my eyes, "Don't—he'll know he said he'd read my mind."
"He's an asset at the moment," he shakes his head, "We'll talk."
"Not that much," I breath, hands to my head.
"You're fine. You're safe, let me look at what they did to you," Lex says, taking my hands gently, "Please?"
"You really can't wait to tear my clothes off, sire?" I ask.
He laughs, kissing my lips quickly, "Come. Right now you need to get cleaned up you—so filthy."
"Yeah I've been living in ash," I say, kissing him.
"Hmm you need a shower."
"I need to kiss you more," I say. Everything feels, so wonderfully right. And complete. Back here in his arms. Where my memories are, where my mind should be. The fog is still there but it's immaterial.
He tugs me to a very elaborate bathroom and helps me strip. I'm sore and mightily bruised. He winces a couple times, but otherwise doesn't react, taking off his own robe rather than get it filthy.
"Hot water?" He turns on the shower.
"God yes," I say, peeling off bandages, "I can shower myself."
I cannot in fact shower myself and I don't actually know why I protest, he rolls his mismatched eyes and steps in with me, gently wiping down my skin around the worst of the wounds, including the death wound. We say almost nothing, well aware that this is all going to be reviewed by my suspicious friend in the labyrinth. For now I'm just ridiculously glad to be home.
The shower alone takes probably twenty minutes, by the time I'm actually scrubbed clean I'm stumbling with exhaustion. Lex wordlessly wraps me in an extremely soft black robe, and draws me back to the bed. He has first aid things laid out.
"Lie down, you want doctors?" He asks, hand on my chest, "I have them. They should look at this."
"I want you," I say. This isn't the first time he's done this for me.
He nods, picking up antiseptic and clean cloths. He sits next to me on the great bed, carefully wiping around the wounds. The worst is the one on my belly but the knife wound doesn't look great.
"He's going to search my mind. You can't tell me anything," I say.
"Yeah that's a complication," Les says.
"I guessed. Ah—just tell me you have a plan?" I ask.
"Yes, I have a plan," he says, smiling.
"Why? Can you tell me that?" I ask.
He weighs if he'd trust him with it.
"Who does he say he is?" Lex asks, "all I know is slave who got sold in."
"That's it. He's from the north country—Icelandic mark. on his arm," I say, "He's playing till he gets killed."
"We're going to try to find out more. Right now need to know basis unfortunately, did not intend that to be you," he says, putting liquid bandaid on the wound. That'll seal it so it can heal. "I'm sending you back with this—and a lot. I will tell you. If he's a slave then he can see all he likes it doesn't matter."
"Not worth it—yet, me knoiwng going to change anything?" I ask.
"No."
"Okay. Your discretion. Till this is over," I say, "Can I know why? It's up to you. Not the how. The why."
"Because the Game is a cruel blight on our society slaughtering hundreds of innocents every year so you've infiltrated to stop it because we're really good people," Lex says, looking at me.
I stare directly into his eyes then start laughing.
"Stop staring down psychics," he laughs, holding my hand.
I laugh so much I wince in pain, "I'm bloody attached to it."
"No don't be ridiculous. We're stealing money," Lex says, smiling slowly.
"Now that, makes sense," I sigh. We're stealing money. All's right with the world.
"Close your eyes. Get some sleep. It's midnight we have all day tomorrow and you need your rest," Lex says, wiping my chest one more time.
"I want to be with you," I say, quietly.
"I'm going to be right here," he kisses my forehead, "Lie there. Are you hungry?"
"I'm too tired," I admit, watching him move. So delicately, like a dancer. Even here barefoot in his room, setting up supplies and bringing me a cup of water.
"Drink that," he says, putting a hand through my hair as he sits next to me in the bed, "I did anticipate filling you in."
"I don't think anyone else needs to know your evil plan," I say.
"Our evil plan," Lex says, innocently, "Well all right. Evil parts mine. Foolhardy part's yours."
"Sounds about right," i say, closing my eyes. I'm so absurdly safe right now. I'm home. I didn't even know what it felt like.
Lex strokes his fingers over my hair. Too short they shaved it. Then he cups one hand against my cheek, "Go to sleep. I'm right here. Do you remember when I read you this?"
He's holding up a worn paperback. I can't even read the title.
"Read it again," I say, tipping my face against his hand.
" 'There is naught so terrible to describe, be it physical pain or heaven-sent affliction, that man's nature may not have to bear the burden of it. Tantalus, they say, once so prosperous,-and I am not now taunting him with his misfortunes,-Tantalus, the reputed son of Zeus, hangs suspended in mid air, quailing at the crag which looms above his head; paying this penalty, they say, for the shameful weakness he displayed in failing to keep a bridle on his lips, when admitted by gods, though he was but mortal, to share the honours of their feasts like one of them....'."
He reads by the soft electric light. And I drift off to sleep listening to his cool, crisp accent. So familiar, the words alone are a sweet embrace. I drift of almost immediately. I sleep for the first time without dreams, and wake by his side, covered in a thick blanket, face in a silk pillow. Lex is lying pressed against me, face nestled on my shoulder. Like he always sleeps, with one hand thrown up to rest above my head.
I fall back asleep immediately, only to dreams of soft green grass, and Lex's young voice, babbling about some game he's thought up, we're little boys.
I wake again in the morning, feeling immensely better and more lucid. I can tell vaguely we're here for a reason it's a good plan Lex knows. That's all. When I reach back in my mind for specific days. My tenth birthday, we were in Paris and I'd never seen the Parisian Tower so Lex ran away with me. If I reach it's there. And so I'm content.
"Morning," Lex kisses my cheek, slowly sitting up, "You feeling better?"
"Insanely. Past is pretty clear, clearer than the present, it's like having to look something up in a book, but now I know which book, and the page," I say.
He nods, "We expected about that."
"It's fine, I'm with you," I say, holding his hand. He smiles, his real smile, and there's actual relief in it.
"Do not say, you were worried about me," I smile, "This was probably mostly your bloody idea."
"I have total confidence in you. But I—experience unpleasant emotions—when you're being chased by cannibal hoards," Lex says, smiling, "What —we can talk about you. Tell me everything. Did you remember me before you saw me standing here?"
"You were all I remembered," I laugh, a little.
"What? You weren't supposed to know anything I—this last week I thought—,"
"I remembered you. It was your name that brought me to life again. I didn't know my own. I knew yours," I say, smiling, "I knew your eyes, and your voice. I didn't know why. You were all that was there."
He smiles a little, but I can see pain behind it.
"I'm fine, I'm having fun, you know me," I say, getting up and coming over to kiss him quickly, "Also you owe me approximately ten thousand of these."
"Oh that few?" He kisses me back, hands twisting in mine.
"After breakfast, I'm starving."
"Thought you would be," he winks, picking up his mirrored glasses.
Back in the common area of the box, it's far more like a command central than a leisure room. The 'bedslaves' have all thrown on cover ups. In fact Lex is the most scantily clad in a see through blue top and soft velvet sweats. But he too is barefoot and casual. Everyone is positioned around computers, screens, and cradling cups of coffee. All the faces are familiar.
"All right. As everyone knows—our Puppetmaster is allied with Cosmo, therefore it's need to know only. We can't have any information leaked so for the present Cosmo's an outsider. How'd our night go?" Lex asks, walking into the center of the room. A couple of our staff are setting out breakfast. He picks up a cup of coffee and a martini, which I know from experience just contains syrup no alcohol. A long held tactic to look like he's drinking heavily.
"The team spent the night in the safe room, no one else got picked up," one of the girls, Ursula, I remember her, she switches the feed onto a large TV screen. My friends are all huddled together, mostly asleep. Nemo is lying on his back. Lyra is using Tove as a pillow and Arthur is curled up with my bag. I feel a flash of guilt for my night, on a feather bed cuddled up with my boyfriend.
"I need to get them food and medical supplies. Does anyone have info on their backgrounds?" I ask.
"We ran it," Liam, one of our techs, picks up a print out, "You want to read it?"
"Summarize, please, thanks," I say, sitting down. Bacon, eggs, crossaints, mushrooms, a full fry up. I'm starving. Lex comes over to sit on the sofa by me.
"Both the children were surrenders. The little girl due to mental disability. The boy tested at the Academy, diagnosis Tourette's syndrome, no functional impairment though. Mother had no custody due to being a slave in a brothel, state remanded him," Liam summarizes.
"That's what I got out of them, no other medical history I need to know?" I ask.
"You bonded to them didn't you?" Lex asks, so tiredly.
"I also bonded to you. Shut up," I pinch his cheek.
He catches my hand to kiss it, "Don't go dying so I forgive you for going soft in the middle of a job."
"You're saving them both," I say.
"Can't be done."
"You can. I know you can, figure it out, you're the smartest person alive," I say.
"If we were smart would we be doing this ow—," Joyce was bringing us each a drink but Lex swats at her. He does not hit her.
"Fine, It'll take a bit, I'll work on it," Lex sighs.
"Thank you, my love," I say, nicely.
"Puppetmaster has been through three times, obviously powerful psychic but we hadn't seen him control that many since last night. He's a crowd favorite, gets a lot of bets," Liam says, coming over, "Some anti-psychic sentiment, rumor is he'll be removed and killed after this round."
"He claimed he had an affair with a, well he said princess, woman he was guarding, that's why he's in any info on that?" I ask, "Who's sending him supplies?"
"Ah, random betters, nothing personal," Joyce says, looking at a screen.
"He's only been bought twice, one each other round, the Sergetta's," Liam comes over with print outs, "Bedslave was the reason given."
"I didn't know they were that active," I mutter.
"Sergetta's are like cryptids. That's the daughter. I see her at parties, got to say I want that mask," Lex taps the photo. In the grainy images, I can see Nemo being pushed of a helicopter. A woman in a red jumpsuit, and glittery gold mask, embraces him when he stands, he looks nearly stiff, moving away. Probalby wanted the warm bed.
"He admitted he went up," I say, shrugging. I feel a bit bad he likely had to prostitute himself to get a hot meal.
"They're all psychics, scary ones, not to be completely disgusting before breakfast, but nothing the weirdos like more than to overpower another psychic, hypnotize them into doing things—like sex, totally weird, do not know why that's fun," Lex shrugs, "They do this consensually, tmi, I know but."
"Ugh," I wince.
"Yeah rob banks, like a normal person," Bran says, coming over with a laptop.
"You're funny we've never robbed a bank. That'd be too easy," Lex says, casually.
"Your dad's on line one," Liam calls.
"I'm having amazing sex and am not to be disturbed. Now. Puppet master looks like a guy wrong place wrong time, now he's a threat because he wants to win," Lex says.
"I mean," I shrug, "Right now he's an asset he's helping. And he's not hidden the fact that he is only using us as a distraction."
"I'll monitor that situation," Lex says, taking a bite of egg.
"What about Tove? Any info on her? This isn't spy stuff necessarily she's got no memory. She thinks she may have had a child," I say.
"Ah—found that out the first day. Breeder," Joyce says, wincing.
"What?" I frown.
"You may have never have known we're all very queer and young here—ah rich and powerful, can't have kids, you know too much radiation gets the best of us. Still want a kid. Buy a poor girl as a surrogate," Lex says.
"That's surrogacy," I say. It's a thing. Not a great thing always, but usually the surrogate gets a good bit of money/food/free housing for a period, and compared to other forms of slavery it's not the worst, women often volunteer because it's better than bedslave.
"Yeah, not quite. Surrogacy fine, whatever, we don't need it because you pack bond to sad six year olds—,"
"Oh shut up you'll like our daughter," I say, kicking his leg.
"I reserve judgement. So Breeder means, the girl was bought for the purposes of breeding, gets impregnated but it's her egg, because the would be mum can't produce one. So that's biologically her kid. She's kept in institutional care for a couple of pregnancies while whoever owns her makes money off of her. Then she can't be loose she might go after her kids, so this," Lex gestures.
"That's sick," I wince.
"Quite. Our Tove—had one baby they took it. She tried to escape twice. They get her pregnant again, she got out, got shot to death, meaning she is or was pregnant, that's completely unhealthy she'll either have to lose it, and needs medical care, or is pregnant and does not need to be in there," Lex says.
"Damn," I was wondering if I could get through not telling her.
"Wait for it to be over, if she lives, my team, namely people who possess reasonable empathy JOYCE, can explain exactly what happened suggest she get to a hospital. Our guesses do zero good now when we can't get her out," Lex says.
"Buy her then," I say.
"Ah—no. My priority is you and treating your wounds, sorry not sorry," Lex says, flatly, "No discussion."
"Oh wait were you against this?" I frown.
"Shh," he puts a hand over my face.
"You were," he didn't want to stab me. I did it. I thought it would help us. Not lose him?
"Shh," he looks into my eyes, "We'll talk. Don't let him know all that."
"Right," I nod.
"If I get the opportunity I'll pick her up. For now, we're sending you back with supplies," Lex says.
"Unlikely the pregnancy survived, almost no chance," Bran returns with just a plate of cookies, "We really missed you."
"I'm commanding you to shut up," Lex says.
"We—REALLY need you here for reasons not to do with how he runs his life," Liam says, coming over and patting my head.
"Because he likes you a normal amount and reacted normally to you actually dying in his arms," Bran says, hands clasped.
"All of you, fired," Lex says, with his mouthful.
"Driving you mad is he?" I ask.
"Next time you die kill him too," Joyce says, bring me a handful of pills, "Antibiotics, and vitamins."
"I love you," I say, taking them.
"Focusing here. I'm sending you back with supplies for all of them, as they said she's not likely carrying a pregnancy but because I am a nice person—,"
Everyone in the room, "You are NOT."
"I'm having the first child's whereabouts tracked. And we'll have doctors ready if we can get her out."
"Great, I'll tell her yes she was being held in prison, we're tracing family info, done, that's all she needs to worry about now," I say.
"Quite," Lex nods, "As for you, we're sending you back with as many weapons as we can mange, supplies for everyone, and again because I'm a nice person—,"
"You SO are NOT," everyone in the room, while I laugh. He's really not.
"—a new book for the kid," Lex finishes, making a rude gesture at the team.
"Do I have a next move I need to execute?" I ask.
"Win the game, lover," Lex says, smiling.
"Easier said than done. Now I know my mortality is a touchy subject—but I am lucky to still be alive," I say, "If Nemo hadn't shown up I probably couldn't have handled the cannibals. I am happy to try but it's gonna take weeks."
"Oh my sweet darling," Lex cradles my face in his hands, "We are going to cheat."
"Cheat?" I ask, a bit disappointed, "Isn't that a little—unsportsmanlike?"
"I take back everything I said. I can absolutely stab you in the heart," Lex breaths, gripping my face like I'm an unruly dog that's been eating paper. "Look directly into my psychic psychopathic eyes. YES YOU ARE GOING TO CHEAT AT THE RIGGED DEATH-MATCH YOU SIMPLE MOTHERFUCKER!!!!!!!"
"Do I tell you often enough how sexy it is when you swear?" I ask, weakly.
"Shh don't distract me," Lex says, pressing his forehead to mine, "Listen to me. You will cheat."
"Is he using his freaky psycho powers?" Ursula asks, coming and picking up our breakfast tray.
"No he's just going to withhold sexual favors," I say.
"Correct, dumbass," Lex breaths, "I will never kiss you again. You will cheat."
"Okay fine," I relent. The kids are with me, "What's the plan?"
"I can't give you the full thing because," Lex waves generally.
"Yeah, I know," I say, "Fair."
"But I can give you this, come here," He leads me over to a set of screens.
"That's—a map—," I realize.
"The current maze. Memorize it, I'll have it printed for you as well," Lex says, "They can change walls but they shouldn't mid game. Even if they do—,"
"We'll be watching," Liam points to video feed.
"From now on, drones are going to be leading you. I'm doing drops, but as a trail. You follow it. I can lead you away from the monsters, and the hoards, and other players," Lex says, tapping the screen, a blue line appears.
"That'll work," I say.
"If I think it's necessary I'll lead you to a safe room. If you think you need a safe room or the like, signal us, I'll lead you there, or drop urgent supplies. I'm watching so, I should know if you need medical treatment or the like," Lex says, "Two fingered salute means you're in urgent need of aid. Three fingers means one of the others is. Four fingers means guide you to a safe room soon."
"Got it," I nod. This is familiar. Ish. A well laid plan. I'm not used to being this much of a player but. It's fun.
"We can get you through the next level in a day. I have a route, and by a few choice care packages, distracted anything that might like to eat you," Lex says, "Clear level two tomorrow. Then level three the day after that. Then I'm taking you back to a safe room. Good?"
"Good," I say, nodding, "At that point you need a plan to figure out how to get the kids out. Buy them. I don't care."
"It doesn't work like that. Anyone entered, can't be withdraw you might—talk about how horrible it is," Bran says.
"Get them out," I say, flatly, "all of them—Nemo too if possible."
"I can see," Lex concedes.
"He's not a bad guy," I say.
"In level four the only way to open level five is if you and one other person are the only living people in that section. Therefore. Complicated. But I will see what I can do," Lex promises. He's the smartest person I know. I trust him.
"Your dad still on line one," Liam calls.
"I'm still having sex," Lex calls, kissing me this time, "Let's get you dressed and let me clean those wounds again."
I let him wipe them out and check for infection. I look fine so slathered in cream I change into a set of soft bamboo sweats. Knowing my new friends are lying on sand eating meal bars I feel a bit bad, but not bad enough not to enjoy it. I'm flopped on a sofa, leaning on my boyfriend, picking at good food and drinking very clean cloud water. I doze off partway through the day and wake up with Lex's arm still around me, as he bickers good naturedly with the techs.
Everyone in the suite is mostly in work clothes, which is to say sweats thrown over our 'bedslave' outfits. Lex is in comfortable lounge gear but still looking like a princling. He eventually takes his father's call then hangs up quickly, in favor of chatting with me.
I fill everyone in in detail about my adventure, my teammates, and the game so far. Everyone quickly becomes attached to Lyra while Lex mutters about doing his best and not making any promises.
Everyone is quite amused that I genuinely thought I was married, but couldn't figure out why Lex was the only person I remembered. Lex laughs so hard he about throws up when I get to the part where I thought he must have killed me and stolen my wife, and that my default was to be confused why I was heterosexual.
I memorize the map of the labyrinth, and Lex drills me on survival facts and tips, while the others fuss about repacking the bag they're sending me back with. I'm getting another axe, as well as a variety of knives. And of course clean clothes, these bullet proof and fire proof like the kid's coats. I ask for a jacket for Tove too and they bring it. Lex did send the first drone, and the ravioli, and of course the axe. The second one he traces to a random sponsor.
"The kids are popular, they don't usually live this long," Lex warns, "Two requests went in for them as bedslaves, naturally we scrambled those."
"Thank you," I sigh.
The day wears on, all too quickly. In between getting necessary helpful information, and me relaying to them anything that might be important, as well as drilling them if the kids have any allergies known, any past medical issues, I should be aware of. They do not. There's almost nothing on either of them.
I doze off a couple of times in the mid evening, mostly in Lex's arms, watching the stars come out through the floor to ceiling tinted windows. Nobody can see in. And for a few more hours we have peace.
I get ready to go by ten, which means another shower, bandaging all my wounds well, and putting on the stiff clothes, shoes that actually fit, and shaving. Lex is all business about this, making sure I have my weapons and drilling me on the next turns in the maze, but I can tell he's nervous.
Everyone hugs me goodbye in turn, made a lot of stupid reckless decisions with these people. Love them, not even going to try to remember right now. Before the helicopter comes Lex breaks down and kisses me goodbye. Fully on the mouth, lips on lips, tongue on my teeth, arms looped around my neck. I sink into his embrace one more time, well aware it could be days if not weeks before we get this again.
Then I'm boarded mostly unceremoniously back onto the chopper. When the guards come it has to look entirely like a business transaction, and Lex watches me go through mirrored lenses, martini in one hand, spreadsheet he was drilling me off of calmly curled in the other. I feel a flash of guilt at the parting, he's having to watch me go. I'm all right now. He's there, safe, I know he's safe, and he loves me, and we're doing what we do best.
Robbing people.