Cryptic Asunder [Ver. 3 outdated]

22: The Kidnap Deal

Hiki- The universal language of Fupum. It supposedly derives from the ancient language of Crenhis, which can be compared to Latin concerning dead languages.

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Chapter twenty-two: The Kidnap Deal

Not sure how long we've been down here now, but if I had to guess, I would have to say maybe about an hour, at the least. I'm not even sure what the time was when I woke up for that holin event, but there's no way I can fall asleep again tonight, not while there's a pack of holins afoot waiting to kill anyone in sight.

Some of the men, including Zaru, decided to patrol around the area in case a holin gets in from another entryway-or- killed Mueimma...

Oumi and I cuddle next to one of the community fires to keep warm from the cold atmosphere as she makes an effort to dream her troubles away. There's a lot of things going through my head about my family as well. I don't know if being reunited with them would be for the best. I've only met a few from the main branch, including my own mother, and I can only imagine how many there are from an unknown number of sub-branches. I'm not even fully human so I don't know what I'm capable of, let alone, what my close relatives can do. I seriously need to stop it with these questions.

An angelic voice echoes throughout the shafts and captures everyone's attention. It brings the men back to the main area. It's a man, singing the tune of a song that rings and reverberates through the air and rebounds from every corner of each wall it hits. The languages that the melody speaks varies from hiki*, to story, and more that only the soul can interpret. The acapella music approaches us without revealing the performer.

"Ano vii tonn, vor ano hikoinami

Shuma ano vine, um ano duun.

Airu honku, ki nu wenkou

Roihu zun omo, aye hoi venn."

Translation:

"The wind blows, from the mountains

Hear the cry, of the lost

The cold consumes, us from within

We wish for, a warm soul."

I don't recognize the ditty, but it sure is gloomy. The voice comes even closer as the single man with a deep base repeats the first part of the verse. His shadow engulfs one of the adits and he finally steps into the light for all of us to see. Vensen. Despite his coliginous appearance, I'm still able to see his figure in the illuminations of the controlled blazes that we've surrounded ourselves with. "Hello there Vila, I see you've been occupying yourself down here in these forsaken tunnels." His tone is as calm and creepy as ever.

What does he want now? I know that I have so many questions for him, but if he's gonna be a dick about it, then I'd rather be mute and not talk to him. I'm not exactly in the mood to see his smug face at the moment. I'll just sit here quietly on the freezing floor and stare at the dancing flames.

His demeanor becomes dour as he says more, "Vila, remember what I said about responding to your elders?"

My mouth almost opens to answer him as the memory of Kai flashes through my mind, but I keep to myself anyway.

"You're being rude, child." His intonation develops into a stern one, like when he was Gonma.

I cringe at the thought of him being like that again. A powerful grip snatches the back of my neck and raises me up with my feet dangling. I only manage to grunt from the pain.