Chapter Eight

"First question." He spoke, the match in his hand was lit and made me nervous. If he accidentally dropped it. . . "Let's start with something easy, if you were to kill yourself, how would you do it?"

I stared at him, "You call that easy?"

"Answer the question, my fingers are suddenly feeling a bit tired-"

"Alright, alright." I thought about it for a moment, "Uhh, if I were to kill myself I'd probably take some pills."

"Pills? What are you fourteen?"

"Excuse me? So now you're critiquing how I'd kill myself?"

"Death is an art, why waste it on a bottle of poison? Guns are so much more exciting than swallowing pills and waiting to die." He thought about it, "In fact, anything is more exciting than that."

"You need to be put in a hospital. You need serious help."

"Question two." He said, completely ignoring my insult, "What scares you the most in this world?"

He hoisted himself up on a large rock, and sat on it, staring at me like he could see through my skull, into my thoughts. I refused to meet his eyes. "I don't know, I suppose something happening to my father?"

"Hmm," He thought about it, as if he had to ponder whether that was a good enough truth for him or not.

What an ass.

"Alright, boring, but alright. Question three," He was now observing the fire of the lit match in his hand like it were the most interesting thing in the world, "What are your thoughts on marriage?" I had a feeling he wasn't asking these questions just for the hell of it. It put me very on edge to think about.

"Inanis this is stupid-"

"Answer the question."

I huffed and leaned against a tree. "I don't know okay? I think marriage is lovely so long as both people love each other."

He didn't miss a beat, "Marriage is a document."

"Marriage is beautiful, at least it could be."

He hopped off the rock, and took a step closer, "There is nothing beautiful about a governmental document."

"The paper isn't the point, it's the fact that two people love each other enough to be together for the rest of their lives."

"And so, what do you think when the majority of those married eventually divorce? Is it still beautiful then?"

"That's another question."

"Then answer it."

My patience was dissolving fast, "Why do you get to ask all the questions? When is it my turn to ask something?"

He stared at me, and I stared back. Then he took a breath, "Question four," Inanis started to walk further down the path, and I hesitantly followed him. "Do you like pain?"

I watched him light another match, my irritation was masking my nerves, "That's the dumbest question you've asked yet. Of course, I don't like pain."

"Hmm," He glanced at me, "Why do I feel like you're lying?"

"Only someone as messed up as you would like pain."

His voice came out flat, "No, you're wrong. I don't like pain." His eyes narrowed, "I hate pain."

"Physical or mental?" He seemed like the type of guy who would relish when in pain. Someone who thrived with it.

He focused his gaze on the lit matches in his hand, "I'm asking the questions, not you." He hopped over a fallen log like it was nothing. I tried to follow his fluent movements, but nearly tripped while doing it. "Do you believe in God?" He asked as we both neared a bridge. It was an old stone bridge, with a mossy creek at least four feet deep under us. We both stopped in the middle of the bridge and looked down at the disgusting swamp-like creek. Inanis climbed up on the stone railing, his coat flying in the breeze as he stood.

"Yes." I tell him, "I believe in God because it gives me hope that people like you will get what's coming to you in the end."

He didn't seem phased, instead, he reached his empty hand down in front of me, waiting for me to take it. I wasn't going to take his hand, but before I could back away, he grabbed my hand and hoisted me up on the bridge's stone railing, barely an inch away from him.

"You know," He finally spoke, "If you truly believe that when I die I'll be punished, then what about you?"

"What about me?"

"Well, you did threaten to kill me, multiple times. I don't think God likes it when people threaten to sin."

I crossed my arms over my chest, trying to move away from Inanis, even if it was mere inches. "Yes, well, I didn't kill you, you're the one who kills on national television."

He shrugged, "I only do what I was born to." That's all he said on the subject, as he began to walk down the railing, I sighed, and followed him, nearly crashing into his back as he suddenly stopped in front of me.

"Question five."

I groaned, "Enough of this-"

"Do you like to swim?"

I opened my mouth, immediately knowing where this was going, but before I could get a single word out, I felt his hand on my back, as he pushed me off the bridge and into the thick, slimy water below.

Rage flared throughout my body, my skin burned in my hatred for Inanis, but I knew I couldn't be all that mad at him.

I should have seen it coming.

I popped my head out of the disgusting, green water, and peered up at Inanis, who still stood on the bridge's railing. He stared down at me with such pure amusement.

"I will kill you." I shouted, as a wet piece of moss slid down from my head.

"Don't let God hear you say that." He scolded, "You might be sent to hell -with me."

I tried to get out of the water, but the mud, and thick slime was difficult to maneuver in, not to mention my whole body was cringing in disgust.

I glanced back up at Inanis, who was now sitting over the railing, his legs dangling over the ledge. He looked like he was enjoying this a lot.

"Be careful down there, future wife. I hear there is a chance that leeches infest these waters."

I screamed, and he began to laugh, which only infuriated me more.

With all my energy, -which wasn't much from neat eating anything in two days- I finally managed to hoist myself onto the ground, out of the water. I scanned my entire body for leeches, or any other creature, but nothing, just thick slabs of moss, and dirt covered my skin.

Inanis walked over to me, and bent down, picking off a long strip of moss out of my hair, and throwing it aside, "You're so clumsy." He tutted, "What am I going to do with you?"

I saw red and not thinking twice about the consequences, I lunged, tackling him to the muddy ground. I was on top of him for only seconds before he twisted over, gaining full control of the fight. He pinned me to the ground, both his legs on either side of my torso, as we stared at each other, eye-to-eye. I tried to slip out of his hold, but he was a lot stronger than he looked.

There was a light in his eyes that seemed to appear when he was enjoying himself. It lit his entire face up, and if I didn't hate him so much, I would find it beautiful. "We aren't married yet." He said, I could tell he was biting down a laugh, "Stop being so impatient and naughty, I'd hate for you to take advantage of me while we are all alone in the woods."

I spit on him, right on his face, which only made him smile wider, "Why don't you let me go and I can show you just what taking advantage of you all alone in the woods really is like." I tell him sweetly, imagining myself gorging my thumbs in his eye sockets.

His eyes narrowed, "Oh, you are naughty."

I attempted to spit on him again, but he rolled off me and jumped up. I quickly got to my feet, a wave of dizziness swept over me and I couldn't figure out if it was because I was hungry, or because I was still so angry my body was suffering for it.

I didn't want to follow him as he began to walk down the path again, but the guards making a point to show themselves to me from across the bridge forced me to do so.

I hate this. I hate Inanis. I hate The Bone Cutter. I hate everything.

I huffed, trying to wipe off the mud that was caking itself all over my arms and legs. It wasn't working. Inanis, on the other hand, didn't seemed bothered that he was covered in mud, "Question six."

"You have got to be kidding me." I was already starting to dry off, as the dry heat was soaking into my skin. It felt good, despite the mud hardening on my body like a mold.

"Do you believe in fate?"

I almost laughed at how absurd of a question that was. I had no patience for his games. "What are we, children? Of course I don't believe in fate you moron." My irritation was clearly visible in my tone.

He stared at me, he actually stopped walking, and stared at me like he was truly pondering my answer, "You're lying."

I blinked, "Why the hell would I lie?"

He shrugged, and waved an unlit match in his hand, "Hmm, why would you lie?"

I was so exhausted, I didn't even bother responding, as we both walked down the dirt path. "Maybe you're lying because you don't want to admit you are reliant on fate."

I made a bored noise, "Yeah, no. Keep trying."

"Maybe you're lying because your fate is a pathetic thing."

"Your insults are getting worse and worse."

"Hmm, you're right. I'll try again."

"Or you can just shut up."

"Maybe you're lying because you have no dignity?"

"Oh my god Inanis-"

"Or maybe you're lying because I want you to."

I hadn't expected that. I glanced at him, "Why?"

He didn't look at me, "I believe in fate, and I think you are part of mine, even if you bore me."

I was almost speechless, I couldn't think of an insult because I didn't know what to say that would be fitting, so I tried the first thing that came to my mind, "I'm not-"

"Enough of this." He cut me off, and put the matches in his coat pocket, "I'm bored of this game. Let's go home."

I didn't argue, as we started our way back to the house, neither of us said another word.