Kurisu tried to sleep, but he barely could; the excitement of knowing today was the day he'd be leaving kept him up.
The sun finished rising, and the day began.
[Day 28]
"Mornin'," Kurisu said to Radahk as the guards let them out of the cages. Radahk grunted in response as usual, but an air of understanding built between the two as they made their way down the stairs and out the door to the pits.
Last day, eh? Kurisu looked over to the broken gate.
Randy was arguing with some guards.
"If I don't get paid… Then I'm taking my materials back." Randy lifted up his hammer.
A guard stepped forward and caught his arm-it was Riddly, "Just wait, I'm sure Malach will be here soon."
Randy shrugged him off, "He's got…" He looked up at the sun, "Five hours, I'd better have cats in my hand by then."
Riddly's shoulders dropped in a sigh. "Yes, yes."
A guard interrupted Kurisu's spectating with a hard push. "Keep it moving."
Kurisu did as he was told, he didn't care, he was looking for something… Or rather, someone. His eyes locked with a slave, a scar on his face… Yellow eyes. The slave was kicking and screaming as the guards dragged him to a node of stone to mine.
"It's me! It's Malach, you blind fucks!" A guard smacked Scarface in the mouth.
"I'm up to here with your shit, keep shouting, and it'll be your balls next".
Scarface held his cheek in silence, his face contorted with rage. He turned and stared at the pick on the ground.
He picked it up, his brow furrowed.
Kurisu watched from the side, pure pleasure covered his face. And then an urge, an urge to tell Scarface he was the one who did it, that he was the cause of his problems.
Not yet… His rage hasn't marinated. Kurisu smiled sadistically. He continued working, hours passed, and he caught himself looking back at Scarface on occasion, almost as if to scratch an itch.
If the slavery glitch works, I'm sure others will too, Kurisu licked his teeth, And- Hot grit met them. He chewed on it and spat it out. "It's here," his teeth clenched, the wind attacking him.
The storm howled over the compound walls; everyone braced against it but continued working.
I hope it lasts till tonight.
He swallowed his anxiety.
Just then, a shout came from the bar. He looked over his shoulder, and squinted against the grit.
Randy was hovering outside the door.
"Malach… Malach, you in here?!"
Scarface turned, dropped his pick and went to open his mouth.
"No, he's not!" Riddly cut him off.
Randy turned and stepped down, his brow furrowed. His beer belly bounced on each step. "Well, where is he?!"
"I'm here-" Scarface was cut off again.
"He's been missing since last night".
Scarface's brow furrowed, and his face contorted; he began breathing heavily. "I SAID I'M FUCKING HERE-" WHACK.
Kurisu choked on his chuckle and covered his mouth. A guard passing by hit Scarface around the back of the head.
Scarface grabbed his head and fell on his knees, gritting his teeth.
"Are these fuckers playing some sick prank on me?!" Scarface huffed, winded under his breath.
The guard walked off whistling, swinging his club with one finger by the pommel.
Scarface fell onto his butt and palmed his face; tears began to well up in his eyes. "Sick fucks" He hissed.
Kurisu's face went stiff, and he stepped closer.
Scarface began kicking at the sand. Then he clutched a handful of it and flung it blindly.
The wind blew it back. And hit him right in the face, he coughed and snarled as wet clumps of grit left his mouth.
Sand shifted in front of him.
Kurisu stepped above him, no emotion, no signs of life in his face, sun and grit hid his face.
Scarface looked up and sneered, not fully hearing him
"What do you want?!"
"Don't you remember me… Scarface?" He couldn't stop himself from saying it.
"No, I do- YOU KNOW WHO I AM?!" Scarface stiffened up, and relief flushed his face.
"Of course I do!" Kurisu sounded happy, and the sun began to shift.
"Haha! Thank—"
The details bled in.
Kurisu began to smile.
The smile stretched.
And stretched.
And didn't stop where it should have.
Too many teeth. Too much joy.
"It was me…"
Scarface's gut twisted.
Like something shifted under his feet.
"I did this to you." Kurisu boasted.
Scarface's yellow eyes trembled.
"What?!" He realized.
Kurisu couldn't stop it… A sound slipped from his lips. A laugh? A sigh? He didn't know, but did he feel?
Pleasure.
Raw and unfiltered.
"WHAT?!"
Scarface's horror turned into angst, he picked up a rock and launched it at Kurisu.
Kurisu flinched.
The rock bust open Kurisu's eye; he winced in pain and covered it in response.
The guards upon noticing, roared and began rushing over.
Kurisu didn't stop smiling, in fact he seemed more invigorated after seeing Scarface realize.
Scarface scrambled, grabbing a pickaxe from the ground.
"Now you know how we felt," Kurisu chuckled as blood trickled down. It wasn't that it didn't hurt— it was just… worth it.
"You!"
He growled while jolting up.
Kurisu's blurred vision flickered at the glint of the pick as Scarface raised it overhead— For a second, it looked like a Beak Thing's beak.
Kurisu dug his feet into the ground.
Spit flew out of Scarface's mouth.
"YOU BASTARD!"
The pick dived down from above-Kurisu's stomach sank.
Not again.
Then– WHACK.
Radahk appeared out of nowhere and clotheslined Scarface.
Kurisu blinked. "Jonah Lomu?"
The impact was like a 14-wheeler hitting a mouse.
The guards' clubs raised. Stopped in their tracks, their faces stiff as they looked at each other in utter bewilderment.
Radahk turned to them and scratched his head.
"Oops" He said innocently.
Scarface lay sprawled on the floor, blood pouring out of his nose and mumbling something about his mother.
The guards looked at Radahk, Scarface, then Kurisu.
Kurisu pointed at Scarface. "You want him?"
The guards shrugged, nodded to each other and dragged Scarface away.
Kurisu wiped his forehead and sighed. "Thanks," He said as he turned his head to Radahk.
Radahk stared at him, his brow furrowed.
Kurisu flinched. "Yes?"
Radahk crossed his arms. "What is Jonah?" Radahk grunted.
Kurisu began to laugh at Radahk's curious expression, but then he winced from the pain. "Ahh.. Fuck" He touched his eye with his hand. [Head: 100–>89]
"Going to leave scar." Radahk huffed as he shook his head.
Kurisu lowered his hand and saw blood on it.
I shouldn't have done that...
Kurisu paused, sighed and then smiled.
"...Does it look cool?" He started flexing his non-existent muscles.
Radahk grunted disapprovingly and turned away.
Worth it. Kurisu licked his teeth, picked up his pick and continued working. He looked far too happy for a slave.
Hours passed, and the sense of satisfaction didn't leave Kurisu's mind… The storm grew harsher; it got to the point where you could hardly see anything at all.
The wind howled and the sun began to set.
"Back in your cages!" Riddly yelled in a monotone voice.
Chains clanked as they made their way back to the cages. Kurisu and Radahk looked at each other through the storm and greeted each other with a slight nod. Once they were in their cages, no words were said, just action.
Kurisu clicked open his lock. Radahk snapped open his, and they both exited their cages. Radahk grabbed some food from the table, and Kurisu made his way to the corner of the roof.
They were moving in complete sync.
Kurisu threw the cloth off the top of a basket and grabbed what little he had from it.
He stuffed the food into his pockets. Shoved the metal table leg down his pants and threw some bandages from the medkit to Radahk.
Then he looked at the basket. "…Yeah." He shoved it over his head. [75% Wind Protection]
Radahk turned, blinked and then continued. He'd grown accustomed to Kurisu's weirdness now; they made their way down the stairs. Kurisu looked left, Radahk looked right. No guards.
They shuffled their way to the door, and Radahk raised his hand, signalling to stop.
What's going on? Kurisu's heart thumped; the wind whistled outside. He looked over Radahk's shoulder.
A group of guards marched past the door, screaming something lost in the wind. Kurisu and Radahk moved the minute it happened.
"We need to get over near the gate," Kurisu said, crouching behind some boxes in the courtyard. Silhouettes of guards shifted in the storm.
Radahk squinted "Too many guards," he groaned, sitting down next to him.
Kurisu looked right. The fortified gate was less defended, but fortified gates take longer to lockpick. The broken gate made more sense, but the courtyard had too many eyes.
He exhaled sharply and grinned. "Let's make our way through the pits, round the guardhouse and hug the wall to the gate," Kurisu peered over the box and inhaled.
"Ready?" He looked for confirmation in Radahk's yellow eyes.
"Always," Radahk affirmed, then he began moving. I'm glad he's so confident.
Kurisu followed shortly behind; they made their way to the pits, weaving behind the slave hour, bar and stone processing units.
Radahk stopped some feet ahead of Kurisu and hugged the back of a lump of stone.
What's he doin-
Lanterns emerged from the golden mist, the sound of whips, the wail of a pack of Garru and chains jangled in the wind, like a reminder.
And they were getting closer to them both.
Kurisu ducked behind a stone processing unit. And peaked round at Radahk, his brow furrowed and palm sweating.
Shit, now? Seriously?! Kurisu looked at the Shek and then back at the slave caravan walking down the main street. Radahk tried to make himself smaller, but couldn't.
[Stealth 37->39]
He'll be lucky not to get spotted… I need to do something. Kurisu's eyes flickered around.
A yell cut over the wind. It was unintelligible.
Kurisu peered over the rocks; they were feet away from Radahk.
Kurisu swallowedthe grit in his throat.
"Fuck… "
Just then, his weight shifted, and he felt something scrape his leg.
He smiled.
That's right! He reached down his pants and pulled out the metal table leg.
"Glad I hung onto this," He whispered to himself as he sifted through the sand to get a better view.
The wind parted slightly, and Kurisu saw the pack Garru and gripped the table leg harder.
If that worked. His mind rewound to him throwing screws to distract guards.
He raised the pole, ready to throw it at the Garru.
Then this'll work.
Kurisu paused.
Right?
His hand shook, and his grip loosened. He turned and looked at Radahk, he was searching for a way out.
Why risk myself? I mean, he's not even a real person! Kurisu fought back against the memories of the past month.
Kurisu lowered the metal stick.
Yeh… I'll-
Radahk locked eyes with Kurisu.
Radahk's brow furrowed and for the first time since arriving, he gritted his teeth in a brave, worried smile.
Kurisu's eyes lit up.
For a second—just a flicker—Radahk wasn't Radahk. Same look. Same stubborn refusal to back down.
"Leo.. " Kurisu said under his breath.
He launched the metal stick through the wind—
WHY DID I—?
His teeth clenched as he watched it hurtle through the air.
It struck the Garru true, and the pack beast squealed and kicked, turning and running backwards. The guards chased after it, and the slaves pulled with them.
Kurisu looked down at his hand, his heart jumped in his chest and he exhaled sharply. He felt… Out of breath?
Why did I do that?!
Radahk looked around the rock and sighed. Kurisu shook his head and refocused.
Forget it, I don't have time for this. He clenched his fist and the emotions faded.
He put one foot in front of the other. "We are close now."
Kurisu crossed the main street, the storm covering him. He scooped up the metal stick he had thrown and made his way to the compound walls.
Radahk followed behind him. "Human"
Kurisu looked right and shuffled against the wall.
"What?!" He whispered.
"Thank you," Radahk grunted.
Kurisu's head snapped round at Radahk. "Shaddap!" he hissed.
Radahk's brow twitched.
"I was thanki-"
"Eww! Just stop!" Kurisu cringed internally and covered his face.
Radahk grunted.
Why is he being so corny all of a sudden… Disgusting! Kurisu shivered and turned back.
They shimmied against the wall, Radahk followed.
Getting closer to the gate. They heard metal chains clank from the guardhouse.
"I can taste the freedom" Kurisu licked his lips.
Radahk exhaled in affirmation when the pair noticed something.
Randy and Riddly were arguing in front of the gate.
"Malach was supposed to pay me TODAY!"
"I kno-"
"Who's gonna reimburse me, eh?!" Randy turned, raised his hammer and smashed open the lock mechanism. The gate groaned.
"Randy!" Riddly huffed.
"I'll be waiting in the bar," Randy hissed back.
He threw his hand up, waving, "I want my cats! My money!" Riddly chased after him.
Kurisu licked his lips and smiled. "He couldn't have made it easier."
Radahk stepped forward. "Indeed"
They rushed over to the gate, and Kurisu handed Radahk his Iron stick.
Radahk looked down at it. "Understood," He looked at the lock mechanism.
"Great, I'll keep watch." Kurisu turned his back to Radahk and scanned the perimeter.
Radahk wedged the Iron stick under the gear shaft and hammered it in with his fist; the wind barely covered the noise. Did someone notice? Neither could tell.
The gate groaned open slightly.
Chains jangled from the roof of the building ahead of Kurisu as he noticed a freshly shaven bald head peer through the bars.
Yellow eyes, brown skin and a scar on the character's face. "You…" Scarface yelped from the cage.
Kurisu smiled widely.
Haha… Shit.
He began bashing his shoulder into Radahk's side. The guards rushed towards them. Radahk grit his teeth and, with a final push, he fell through, and Kurisu followed suit.
"THEY ARE ESCAPING!" Scarface screamed, the metal of the gate clanked as Radahk tried to slip through it, but he got stuck midway.
The guards began screaming, the sound of a bell being hit repeatedly played, and Kurisu's stomach sank as he tried slipping through.
Metal groaned
And the metal stick bent in the mechanism, the gate tightened around Kurisu's frame, winding him. "Fuck.. Come on!"
Kurisu pushed against the gate, his teeth gritted.
Riddly appeared out of the mist.
Radahk recovered and immediately rushed over. "Human!" Radahk grabbed the outside of the gate and began pulling from one side, grunting with effort.
Kurisu looked back at Riddly as he inched further out. "Pull… harder, Radahk!" He huffed.
"Am… t'rying!" Radahk grunted.
Kurisu slipped through some more. Freedom was near. "Almost… There!" He spat.
Kurisu felt Riddly's breath on his neck as he slipped out, the stick finally crunched, and the gate closed.
Kurisu fell on his ass. "Freedom?!"
Radahk offered him a hand. "Not yet"
Kurisu took it. A shout echoed from behind the gate, "To the harpoons!" Riddly bellowed.
Radahk pulled him up. "We must go… Now!"
They ran into the storm.
Harpoon bolts landed behind and around them.
They began fading away… Back into the sand.
[Game Saved]
[Status: Escaped Slave]
[Stealth: 67→75] [Athletics: 34→45] [Thievery: 91]
[Strength: No point in asking]
(Kurisu needs to start the gym fr)