Shadow Slave- Back in time.

Ch. 33

(I've changed the time of the meeting. It's at sunset now.)

Kai's day has started as bad as it could: when he had prepared his outfit, already perfectly planned out in his mind, he had discovered that the shirt was stained. And he'd had to change his plans.

Just when he thought it couldn't get any worse, he'd been kidnapped.

He had been on his way to Aiko's gambling den. Of course, he wasn't going there to bet or gamble, but to spend some time with a... friend. Yes, a friend. Aiko was just a friend of his.

Anyways, that was when he noticed a man following him. He wasn't sure at first, but years of dealing with love-struck fans stalking him had made him difficult to follow unnoticed.

Kai half-considered activating his Aspect to escape, but the corridors he was in were far too inadequate for flying.

He started running, the man behind following suit. Kai looked over his shoulder as he was turning a corner; he was gaining terrain, leaving the aggressor behind.

He barely saw the bat waiting for him as he turned, and couldn't avoid being hit on the face.

It was a bit disheartening, really, being captured in the Dream Realm. There had been many unsuccessful attempts at kidnapping him when he was still a music star, so it was a bit ironic, that it had happened as a Dreamer.

His muscles and bones hurt, bound by a robust string. He opened his eyes, but could see nothing but darkness. Leather pressed tightly on his body, restraining him. He was in kind of bag, he realised. He tried to move a little bit, but froze when he heard voices. Blue light suddenly flooded his eyes as the bag was opened. He could do nothing before something hit him on the exact same point on his forehead, and he fell unconscious again.

Kai woke up with a start as cold water hit his face. He gasped, looking around. There was nothing but darkness, but he could feel something soft under him. Where had the water come from?

Just as he had started to theorise where he could be, the same blue light that he had seen when in the bag illuminated his surroundings.

He was in a spacious room, lying on an elegant bed. It seemed as if someone was living there, or, at least, had once. The lack of dust made him lean towards the former, though.

"Looks like you're awake, sleeping beauty."

Kai turned with a start towards the voice.

A man of modest stature was standing there, donning a leather black armour. Completely black. Like, why all black? At least the colour complemented his onyx eyes and hair, Kai acknowledged.

He wasn't wearing any visible weapon, but Kai didn't let his guard down.

There were all kinds of aspects out there, and although he wasn't a feared warrior, Kai knew not to make any careless assumptions.

It was closed space: it was restraining him from using both his flying Aspect and his archery skills. That was, if he had the time to summon any weapon.

"Who are you?"

The man amiably smiled. However, appearances could deceive. The man must be one of his captors. The lantern cast the same blue light.

"I'm Sunless, but you can call me Sunny."

Kai decided it was best not to comment, given his predicament.

"Why did you kidnap me?"

Kai couldn't think of any reason he would be targeted other than to get his riches. He had more than 30 hardly earnt shards! And a couple of Memories.