Gians of Giri

The Deal

Vina woke up in a strange place. It was all dark. She heard a loud clang and followed to where the noise came from. She reached out in front of her and felt bars. "Hello? Is anyone there?"

"He..hello." came a meek reply. The voice coughed. "You're Vina, aren't you?"

"Yes." Vina said. "Who are you?"

"I'm." The voice coughed again, harder.

"Are you okay!?!"

"Yes. I'm fine." The voice replied. "I'm Ziko."

"Ziko?"

"Yes."

"But..but aren't you one of the generals? And where are we?"

"We are in the special cells portion of the Zikori prison."

"Zikori?"

"You know the name that they use to describe your kind of home versus this place?"

"Girite?"

"Yeah, that." The Zikor coughed again.

"Is there a way to get out?"

"Yes. Get a key." Ziko said. "Oh, wait. Noth has the only key. Never mind."

"...You don't seem to like him." Vina commented after sliding to the ground. "And you seem nicer than the others."

"People have said that. Said that I'm too soft. That's how I got in here."

"How did you?"

"Est found out that I was going to try to break you out."

"What? How long have I been in here?"

"Since your capture?" The Zikor thought. "About a nevik."

"Have I been out the whole time?"

"No. Yes. Kind of." Ziko said. "If you count being in a half-awake half-asleep state out of it, then yes. You have been. According to Soth, something caused you to be that way since you came to Zokun."

"Zokun, the Dark Place?"

"Yep."

"Oh, pumpkin seeds." Vina said. "And what about Rina, have you seen her?"

"Yes, but I think they moved her."

"Shut up, Ziko." A deep, stern voice said. Keys jangled and light from a lantern poured into Vina's cell. Noth stood at the door and smirked. "Here she is, Lord Zime."

"Ah, hello!" Zime strode into the cell. He leaned down in front of Vina, who took a step back. Whatever had been rejecting the air in Zokun was rejecting him as well. "How are you?"

"I..." Vina took another step back.

"I'm doing fine." Zime continued. He grabbed one of Vina's hands and shook it. "My name is Zime, by the way. You are Vina, right? Well," Zime released her hand and spread his arms wide. "Welcome to Zokun!"

"W-where is Rina?" Vina asked, crossing her arms and trying to act brave.

"Ah, the other little one." Zime looked at Noth. "Bring her in."

Vina watched as a struggling Rina was brought in. Her hair was in a mess. Her arms were being held behind her back by a four-armed Zikor. A gag was in her mouth so she could not speak. There were a few scratches and bruises on her arms but no lasting damage seemed to have come to her. Zime walked over to the little Dian. Her eyes cast daggers.

"Here she is." Zime said, grabbing the girl's chin and lifting it up. "As you can see, I haven't hurt her. At least not yet."

"What do you mean?" Vina said.

"Well, there are a couple things I need to understand. First of all," Zime began to walk toward Vina. His hand swished through the air and a zetrian crystal appeared in the air. "I need to know if you are vulnerable to corruption."

The crystal had a sharp point. Vina walked backward and hit a wall. Zime walked to her and grabbed her hand. He cut the back of her hand and while it stung at first, Vina wasn't harmed. The dark grey streak it left behind turned to light grey then disappeared. Zime stood up straight.

"That's interesting." Zime said. "Most people are affected by zetrian."

"I'm not exactly most people." Vina said.

"No. You are not." Zime agreed. "But I will show you what happens to most people."

Zime ordered Noth to bring in a prisoner. Noth nodded. A spider-like Zikor brought one in. It was a young Dian, like Rina. The girl's eyes were wide. Zime chuckled as the girl struggled against the Zikor's hands on her shoulder. Her eyes were wide in fear. He walked over slowly and took her hand gently. Once the crystal touched her skin, she cried out in pain. It took a few centicycles and when the zetrian had finished, she was only whimpering. The zetrian had corrupted her.

"Tell me, girl." Zime took the girl's chin and lifted it so her eyes met Zime's. "Who is your leader?"

"You, Lord Zime."

"Yes." Zime patted the girl's head. "I am."

Noth took her away. Zime turned back to Vina.

"You are a horrible person!" Vina yelled. Zime laughed.

"Everyone seems to think so." He said. "I guess I should start taking that as a compliment."

"You are evil!" Zime shrugged at her comment. "What do you want?"

"Well, mainly for you to cooperate." Zime answered. "If I could not corrupt you, then my first plan wouldn't work."

"...And your second?"

"Simple," Zime held the crystal to Rina's neck. "I would persuade you to keep quiet and do what I say. Or else a little girl gets hurt."

"You wouldn't."

"I would." Zime brought it closer to Rina's flesh. Vina stopped him. Her form grew into that of a teenager.

"Fine, fine." She said. "Just don't hurt Rina."

"Then it seems we have come to a conclusion." Zime gestured to have Rina sent away. "You don't cause trouble; I don't hurt Rina. Deal?"

"Deal." Vina shook Zime's hand.

"Now remember this, Vina." Zime said, stroking the side of her face. Vina flinched in response. "Or else you might be the cause of Rina's fate. And I do know ways of doing it slowly"

Zime laughed as he left. The door was closed and locked. Vina fell to her knees, trying to process what just happened. Once she did, she wept.

Vina just made a deal with Zime! What do you think he has planned? Closest theory gets dedication.

This chapter's dedication is to my inspiration, Lickerfish. Without them, I would not be updating on regularly.