Nine brutal days of heat, chains, and Scarface's cruelty had dulled Kurisu's senses.
Tomorrow will bebetter.
He said that on the first day, by the fourth day, he had given up on that idea.
"Fu…Ugh! Come on!" Kurisu grunted, face red, veins bulging on his forehead as he gripped a box from one side and pulled with all his might.
The box lifted, and he smiled—until it tilted in his grip.
He winced. "Fuck—"
Thud.
Kurisu stared at it, his jaw tightening.
Even this box is bullying me…
"Don't do that," a stony voice commanded.
Kurisu turned. "Do what?!"
Radahk crossed his arms.
"That face…"
"This is just my face!" Kurisu pouted.
"Unfortunate." Radahk walked past him, crouched, and lifted the crate as if it weighed nothing.
Kurisu looked at Radahk's arm, then his own. "Showoff." His eye twitched as Radahk walked away.
"Never mind."
The system menu appeared.
[Day 9] [Thievery17→63] [Stealth 2→27] [Lockpicking 2→24]
Stats are still shit… but better. I need to focus more on stealth.
He closed the menu with a sigh. Only day nine. Feels like a month. Cleaning is easier than the pits, though.
He looked up at the walls, where guards marched in steady lines, crushing grit underfoot.
"But it does give me time to watch the guards," he snickered, wiping down a table.
Why are there so many today?
Kurisu placed the cloth down and arched his back in a deep stretch. A shout tore through the room, interrupting his respite.
"Oi!"
Kurisu turned stiff.
"Take that mop and go clean the guardhouse!" Scarface snapped bursting into the room.
"Yes, Scarface." Kurisu groaned, snatching the mop.
Scarface's brow twitched.
"What did you say?"
He unhooked his club.
Kurisu's eyes widened.
Fuckkkk… I didn't mean to—
Huh, wait a minute.
He had to stop a smile from forming.
"That's what Riddly said your name was, sir. I apologise, sir!" Kurisu dropped into a bow, hiding the grin creeping across his face.
Scarface lifted up his club, ready to strike.
Then he lowered it, turned, and roared. "R-Riddly!"
He stormed off, gripping his club.
"Poor Riddly," Kurisu giggled and grabbed the mop.
Still grinning to himself, Kurisu set the mop against his shoulder and started toward the guardhouse, humming quietly under his breath.
The guardhouse was positioned next to the gate. It was L-shaped and had one entrance. It looked like every other building: grey, blocky, and completely lifeless.
What's the point in cleaning something so… dull? Kurisu whined as he made his way up the stairs when—
He overheard some guards talking.
"Gate's on the fritz again," a guard muttered, wiping sweat from his brow.
The gate is broken?
Kurisu leaned slightly over the railing.
"Randy's not back for another month," the other replied, hefting a hammer.
Is that the repairman? Explains the extra guards.
"Yeah… Malach's running double watch. Feels like we can't keep up some days."
A guard glanced up.
Kurisu dropped his head and began mopping.
A chance.
His grip tightened around the mop.
If the gate's weak… then there's my opening.
A shout echoed from the courtyard.
"LINE UP!"
What now?!
Kurisu ran downstairs, threw the mop to the floor, and went outside. All of the slaves gathered around in a circle.
"What the hell's going on?"
Kurisu peered over the crowd.
In the centre, Scarface held a slave tied up with his arms out in front of him.
"This… Slave tried escaping some time ago", he signalled Riddly to step forward.
Riddly stepped forward, his face bruised and holding a sword almost the same size as him.
Scarface stepped forward, opening his arms.
"Let this be a lesson to you all!"
Scarface raised his hand.
"When property becomes defective!"
Riddly, shaking… Raised the sword.
Scarface dropped his hand.
"It will be repurposed."
The sword trembled in Riddly's hands—
then fell.
Kurisu flinched as the blade cleaved through the slave's flesh.
The man screamed through his gag. Tears ran from under his blindfold, then evaporated in the sun.
Kurisu laughed bitterly under his hand.
"These guys are scum."
His stomach churned.
Blood gushed all over the floor.
Scarface stepped in it.
"This tool has had its arms removed, now you may ask. How can it still be useful?"
Scarface clapped twice.
A guard stepped forward, binding a backpack to the man.
"It can carry luggage!"
Scarface smiled.
Kurisu's arms suddenly felt… fragile. His skin itched, and he barely held back the urge to vomit.
I have to get out of here.
Kurisu clenched his fist.
Soon.
That night, Kurisu didn't sleep.
The man's screams clung to him… even in silence.
__________________________________________________________________________
Days passed and the image of the man didn't leave his mind.
Not while he worked. Not while he trained. Not even when he was beaten.
__________________________________________________________________________
Day 17
Been doing this for a few days now. Stay low. Walk in circles. Keep quiet. And watch the numbers climb.
I did get caught twice and beaten once… worth it.
[Stealth 43] Kurisu smiled at the menu.
"What are you doing, human?" Radahk stared judgmentally.
"Training."
"For?"
Kurisu raised a finger to his lips. "Stealth."
"You are walking in circles… to become. Quieter?" Radahk frowned.
Kurisu shrugged, "It works."
"If that works, this world is wrong," Radahk grunted.
Kurisu snorted, "This world is wrong!"
"…"
"Correct."
Radahk turned and closed his eyes.
Kurisu continued walking in circles. After a few hours, he stopped and opened the system window.
[Stealth 48]
His movement slowly came more deliberate, and quiet.
I think I'm done for tonight, I'm hungry though… I've earned a snack.
Kurisu licked his lips and made his way to his stash. He went to the corner of the roof by his cage, lifted up a box and-
Gone?
A wet chewing sound came from behind him.
He turned and saw Radahk in the corner with Jerky in his mouth.
Kurisu pointed, "Is that mine?"
"You hide bad", Radahk said, chewing.
Kurisu's eye twitched.
"That's not the point—it's mine."
Radahk pointed to the table.
"It is the guard's."
Kurisu's expression cooled, and he sighed.
"Radahk"
"Flat-skin" Radahk offered jerky, and Kurisu snatched it.
Kurisu sat down in his cage, gnawing on the jerky. His eyes flicked to the looming gate walls… "The gate is broken."
Radahk stopped chewing.
"Explains extra guards," His gaze drifted to the compound walls.
"I'm going to use it…"
Radahk turned.
"Too weak."
Kurisu snapped. "I know, that's why I have a plan."
"Plan?"
"Yeah, but I need food and clothes if we can find any."
"We?" Radahk crossed his arms.
"You want to leave too, right?"
He could be my meat shield.
Radahk stared up at the planet and moon in the sky.
"Yes," He spoke the word like normal, but he seemed… sad.
Kurisu hesitated for a moment.
"So work with me."
Radahk furrowed his brow. "I do not work with 'chance'."
Kurisu grabbed his chin. "...What about guarantees?"
Radahk frowned.
"Prove yourself."
Kurisu scoffed and began mocking him. "Elaborate".
Radahk lifted up his shirt, his stomach mangled, then he turned around, strips of flesh hung loose from his back, as if it had been peeled away and left to rot.
"Fix this," Radahk demanded.
Kurisu froze. His stomach lurched, and he had to clamp a hand over his mouth.
He spoke shakily.
"It all makes sense now."
Why Radahk hadn't escaped.
Why he needed guarantees.
Kurisu grit his teeth.
"I'm a fucking idiot…"
[Quick save...]