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.

Everyone takes a stand to attack, but the noise of snarling monsters startles them. Holins emerge from the shadows to block every escape.

"Now don't be so hasty everyone," Vensen's tenor breaths into my ear from behind, "I haven't stated my business here yet." He slyly walks backwards to one of the entryways and plants me down gently with his hand still gripping my nape. Vensen brings his lips close to my ear as I can barely feel his chest touching my backside, "Try not to make the same mistake as your father did."

Guess the silent treatment doesn't work well on him. "Yes, Sir."

He lets go of me and allows me to turn to him.

My grandfather looks to the crowd and makes his announcement, specifically to the Duahe group. "I'll be taking your friend with me, as a peace offering." His hand grabs my forearm and he forces me to go down the passageway with him.

I vigorously pull my arm away from him and snap my opinion in his direction, "What if I don't want to come with you?"

With an insulted face and prideful air, Vensen replies, "That's fine." He then turns and begins to walk away without me and says more, "If you don't want to see your parents again."

He's lying, I know he is.

Once he passes the holin that's guarding the hole where I stand, he calls out to all of the living shadows without looking back,"Kill them."

A chilling gust flies past me and I see all the holins pouncing on the people, devouring them and tearing them to pieces. They slash their claws at any living human that charges after them and sink in their canine teeth to crush their skulls. The room becomes darker from some of the fires being trampled on by the massive beasts as the cries of people rebound all over the area. Zaru and the others try their best to make a circle to protect everyone.

"Wait!" I run up to Vensen to grab him by his robe and fall to my knees. "I'll come with you-just please-stop this madness!" My vocals reach the highest pitch that they can as the salty tears stream down my eyes. "Please!"

He just-watches the innocent people be slaughtered as I beg him-with a sullen face.

"Granpa, please!"

His hand raises and he snaps his fingers.

The holins magically obey his command. They stay where they are, encircling what's left of the people. I can hear Oumi crying in the dim room.

Vensen snatches my arm, forces me up to my feet, and starts dragging me away down the hall.

"Vila!" I hear Zaru call out to me.

My hand involuntarily reaches out to him. "Zaru!" I look back to Vensen and try tugging with both arms to resist him. "Wait, can't I at least check if they're okay?"

He stops and instantly smacks me in the face, hard enough for him to release his grip on me.

My face flings to the side with a squeal and I try to hide the pain with my own hands.

"Vila!" Zaru shouts again for another response from me.

Vensen snatches my lower jaw and pinches my cheeks in with one hand. He speaks with a silent, yet cross tone, "I have had enough of your puttering! All I wanted to do was take you home to meet your parents, and you had to make a scene out of it! Your father gave me the same attitude and I am done with this nonsense! Do you understand?" He then let's go for me to reply.

"Y-yes..." I keep my eyes shut, refusing to stare at him.

He places a hand on my shoulder to push me onward deeper down the poorly-lit tunnel.

After making a way through the path, in front of me now stands a black hole that blocks us from going further through the channel.

"Vila!" A voice echoes and reaches my ears from behind.

I turn my head enough to see a figure in the distance getting closer. Is that-Zaru?

Vensen stops to turn with me and sees the same thing. "Seems the boy has taken a liking to you."

Next thing I know, I'm shoved into the darkness and find myself in a fancy bedroom. My instincts get my body to start forcing my way back into the mirror I came from to no avail. I scream at the top of my lungs, "No, Vensen please, no!" Why won't it let me back in!? Oh Methel, please don't let him murder any more people, please don't let him murder any more of my friends!

A man rushes to my aid and makes an effort to comfort me with a tender voice, "There, there now, there's no need for tears."

I don't know what to do! I don't want anyone dying trying to rescue me! This is all my fault!

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Zaru charges towards Vensen with his long dagger and attempts an attack on him. The blades from the two men clash with a powerful impact. He then disconnects and jumps back to gain some distance.

"There's no need for this type of violence at the moment, I'm willing to make a deal with you." Vensen brings his dark blade down to show a sign of wishful peace.

Of course, Zaru becomes skeptical of his offering. "Does it involve bringing my friend back?" Spitefulness snaps out of his mouth.

Vensen glances around to cognate his next reply, "Mmm, more like-keeping her company." He then puts his gaze back to Zaru. "Unless-you're willing to kill a child for me."

"I'm not killing anyone, except you." Zaru examines him a little and decides that picking a fight with this guy may be one of the worse choices, but keeps his guard up just in case. "What do you mean by keeping her company?"

The grim old man makes a slight grin to Zaru's cooperation. "It's simple really, you'll be like a bodyguard for your precious Vila. If I wish to hurt her, like not too long ago," Zaru's face cringes in anger to this, "I instead inflict the pain to you. If you fear for her safety, you may do what you like to ensure it. Any more questions before I change my mind about having my holins leave your friends alone?"

Zaru narrows his vision with doubt. "Fine, we have a deal."

Vensen puts his long katana away and bows to him. "Pardon me for being so rude lately, my name is Vensen."

"Zaru," he replies coldly with his weapon still in hand.

The devious man then takes a step out of the way to the portal for Zaru to pass through.

Cautiously, Zaru takes his time over to the mysterious gateway before him whilst keeping an eye on Vensen. He smoothly turns to keep Vensen facing his front as he comes closer until the passage is behind him and he steps backwards into it.

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"Tell me what's wrong, dear." The man tries his best to allay me, but nothing he can offer will suffice.

I don't know if Vensen will let them all live now, or what he'll do with them.

"Vila?"

My gaze looks up at the voice that called to me. I see Zaru putting his dagger back into his scabbard. "Zaru!" I get up from my knees and rush over to him as I continue to bawl. He embraces me as I hide my face into his chest. Then I look up to meet his warm gaze. "Zaru, I'm so sorry, I didn't want any of you to be a part of this!" The instant I see Vensen walk through the mirror behind Zaru, images of Gonma flash in my head and horror strikes me. My hands clutch tightly to Zaru's green vest as Vensen passes us without taking a notice of our presence. The fear from nine years ago fills my entire being again and causes me to tremble. I don't wanna look at him anymore.

"Sosen, come," Vensen calls out to the man who was soothing me before.

The person obeys and the two of them step out of the room with him nervously trailing behind.

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