Chapter 16-Sin

Unlike the other times that Anjou had been knocked or rendered unconscious in this new world, this time she dreamed, or at least that’s what she thought it was. There were no coherent images, only swirls of colors that spun into each other like a trippy computer screen saver. In fact the whole thing seemed to be more of a bad drug trip than a dream.

Something wet splashed against Anjou’s face and the colors broke away, snapping her back into reality. Whatever had hit her was ice cold and it made her body involuntarily jerk. As it did something hard pulled against her wrists and ankles and made a metallic jingling sound. She craned her neck up and saw that she was shackled up to a stone wall. Looking down, she confirmed that her feet were shackled too, but she was also suspended in mid-air. It wasn’t that high, but being even just a foot off of the ground triggered her vertigo just a bit.

Before Anjou could see who splashed her with what she hoped was water, the door to the room slammed shut. She took the opportunity to look around. She was in a dungeon. An honest-to-goodness, generic -looking, I’ve seen this sort of thing before in movies and video games dungeon. It even had everything you would expect including chains and shackles hanging from the walls, rodents scurrying across a dirty stone floor and several torches lining the walls casting everything in a menacing low light. The only thing that seemed to be missing were bones.

“Did they get you with the dream bomb?”

Anjou looked down to her side. A woman was chained up next to her. She was sitting on the ground and only her hands were shackled together. The woman was small with tan skin and long white hair that covered her entire body like a curtain, but her most striking feature were her deep amethyst eyes that glowed in the torchlight.

“You must think I’m pretty.”

Anjou blinked. “What?”

The woman smiled. “Usually when someone stares at me like that, they are about to ask me to dinner, or they're about to scream.”

“Why would they scream?”

“I’ve been known to bite.” The woman clacked her teeth together then laughed. “So you must be an eater.” Anjou hesitated then nodded. “I thought so. They only keep eaters in here. Reckon its not the warmest welcome into our world.”

“Are you an eater?” Anjou asked.

“In a way. I’m Sin. What’s your name?”

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“Anjou.”

Sin repeated the name. “I like it.”

They sat there in silence for the next while with the only sound being the flickering of the fire and the occasional jingle of the shackles moving. Soon however, the silence was broken by a long blood curdling scream. It went on uninterrupted for a long time before it was immediately cut short.

“That must’ve been the one they took when they brought you in here,” Sin said. Anjou noted that there was a lack of fear in her voice.

“Did they just kill them?”

“Doubtful. They like to keep the test subjects alive as long as possible. Some of them have been here for years. All this time, and they still scream.” Sin said the last part in reverence.

Anjou stared at her again, but then something caught her eye. Sin’s shackles were not connected to the wall. In fact they were locked onto her hands at all. They wrapped around them, but they were open at the bottom.

“You’re not a prisoner here are you?” Anjou accused.

Sin jumped up from her seated position and stood straight. Her hair flew up as she did exposing her naked body. Sin saw Anjou’s reaction and shrugged. “I don’t like getting my robes dirty when I’m in here. They’re meant to be stained with blood, not dirt.” She removed her shackles and weaved her hand though her hair letting it fall back down over her body. “Besides, this covers me well enough.”

“Who are you really? And where’s Cereza?”

“The princess is safe, and comfortable enough. As for me, I already told you my name. Well in truth it is a nickname.” Sin bowed. “Pleased to meet you Anjou, I am Danji.”

“You’re one of the ones who hunts down core eaters.”

“That’s me.” Danji spun in place like a little girl. “We capture you, then torture you.”

“Then why didn’t Takrin take me before?”

Danji crossed her arms. “Because he’s lazy. He doesn’t like to bring me the ones who can fight back. But you little rabbit,” she walked up and placed a hand on Anjou’s cheek, “you are a rare gift. With you I hope to break barriers.” Anjou tried to bite Danji’s hand but the woman quickly pulled it away and smiled.

“The only thing I’m going to break is your face.” Anjou said.

“See, this is the joy Takrin misses when he simply kills those like you.” Danji turned her back and began to walk to the door. “Though I can’t blame him. If he didn’t, then I would have to find someone else to do his job, and as much as I hate to admit it, he is useful.” She opened the door and called for someone. It was one of the large leather-clad men. “I want a full watch on her at all times. Keep her fed and keep her healthy. If you don’t, it will be you who finds themself on my table, do you understand?”

The man grunted and gave some sort of awkward salute. He walked into the room and stood straight against the far wall facing Anjou. Danji blew a kiss before closing the door and leaving the two of them alone. There was a few minutes of semi-awkward silence before Anjou decided to say something.

“So, you a betting man?” There was no answer. “Not to brag but there was a large reward during my fights for those who would bet against me. None of them ever won.” This time the man laughed.