Heartless

Chapter 26 - Part 36

Enjoy, darlings! One more chapter after this until Bryn starts to grow up and stop being a git.

Shadow

I slowly came to, afraid to open my eyes. The last thing I remembered was tending to Karliah, nothing before or after that. Groggily and keeping my head bowed, I opened one eye slightly and surveyed the room I was in. Karliah was tied next to me, asleep, while metal bars stopped us with no escape.

All I knew was that we had to get out of here, and we had to do it fast. Someone was coming for us, and one of us would die, but I didn't know how I knew that. A wooden plate stood just inside the bars, perfectly cooked meat giving off an amazing aroma. I dragged myself over to the plate, and read the note next to it.

One cut of meat has been poisoned. Choose who dies wisely.

I sniffed the meat on instinct, and picked up the poisoned piece. There was only enough for one person of good meat, and plenty of poisoned meat. Karliah awoke and saw me tearing into the sweet poisoned meat, sliding the wooden plate over to her so she could eat the good meat. Her health was more important than mine, I felt.

While eating, I looked around for a way out, and found a weakness in the back wall, an aching pain growing in my chest.

'The wall's weak here. We can slip out.' I hissed to Karliah, foam starting to form in my mouth.

'Brilliant! Let's get out of here.'

I gave the bricks a hard shove with my shoulder, sending them tumbling back as my breathing became laboured.

'I'll lead, let's go.'

After a short while, we found our exit.

'And... we're free.' I whispered hoarsely, spitting foam onto the ground and clutching my aching chest.

'Shadow?'

'Yeah?'

'There's someone on the other side of this door.'

'Oh goody. Probably a Haircare salesman.' I drawled sarcastically.
'Y'know, the ones that advertise the Elesif range of the Argonia Haircare Company. Have you never used it?'

'Nope. I'm a Titus line user that's loyal to the Emperor Haircare Company. They named a line after you though.'

'Really? What's my scent?'

'Rose'

I coughed and feebly drew my dagger, opening the door to find a tired looking Imperial.

'Hi! I'm here from the Worldall Haircare Company to showcase our newest product, the Umbrasa, which is a highly rated shampoo to give your hair added bounce and volume.'

He sounded perky, but his eyes said otherwise.

'Brilliant. Hand over your valuables before I slice you up and you win a prize. You have five seconds.'

I started counting down as the salesman frantically dug through his pouch and produced a bulging coin purse, shoving it at me and scampering. I turned to Karliah and grinned the best I could while under the influence of poison, showing her that I had also been able to pickpocket the salesman's supplies and all of his changes of clothes.

'Let's hit the road, shal-'

I slumped to the ground, immobile, as black invaded my vision.