Shadowlands 6: Hurt so good

It's not actually that bad, getting ten lashings, it would be easier if they would just do it straight away. For some reason, they let you sit and think about the next one. The anticipation is the worst part of it all really. I survived though, and without much more than flinching. That being said, it still hurt like hell.1

The worst part of it was when I got back to my room and found the horrifyingly beautiful Inkster standing there boring a hole through the door with her stare. Yeah my little Inky decoy trick didn’t go over too well and she had obviously figured it out. Or maybe she was just pissed that I climbed out my own window.2

“So. Al. how’s it going?” 3

“He-hey Gwen. What’s up?” 4

“I don’t know, I’m a little confused, what was that all about? Afraid of being seen with me?” 5

I thought hard about how I could possibly spin this to not look completely evil. “Not quite, I was just using the situation to test their security. Like having your friend touch an electric fence.”6

“So you were using me. To escape no less. Hell, I was trying to give you a reason to stay.” 7

“I was using the situation-“ 8

“Which I happened to be a part of!” she was starting to get a little bit angry with me. 9

“Sort of yes, listen it just came to me, I had to try it,” I trailed off. Ho-lee-crap, if looks could kill, the glare that comment received would have done me in. Then it came to me, “Wait, what was that about you trying to make me stay?”10

Good, I struck a soft spot. She sighed and her reproachful look faded into sadness, “Well, you're the only other adolescent here, and you seem to be the only other member who still has any feeling left in them. The commoners are dolts, and the shadows are weird. I guess I’m just lonely. I saw you in the hospital bed and wanted to keep you.”11

“You were still manipulating me right? Maybe for your own purposes, but it wasn’t selfish. Listen, I wasn’t abandoning you, I think that’s what you’re angry about. I wasn’t expecting to…”12

“It’s okay. I’m just a little embarrassed now. Getting caught in your room, that’s not going to look too good. Chuckles can’t punish me though. Fraternization is frowned upon, not prohibited.”13

I spent the next few days training just outside my room. Whenever I tried going anywhere else, one of the shadows would always follow me, so I stayed put.14

The day of my assignment, I gathered up all the gear I had used in the arena, and put it on. In addition to that, I strapped a large machete across my back and put several throwing knives onto the cross strap of my shoulder guard. I locked my shackles on over my bracers and walked out to meet my accomplices.15

Inkster was already out in the courtyard with Switch. Inkster had on a pink and black dress, and platform boots. Her hair was in pigtails, and she had a tattoo of a psychotic white rabbit on her shoulder.16

Switch stood calmly with her arms crossed, in a regal black dress. She held a coiled up whip in one hand, and the chains of three pit bulls in the other. 17

The first dog looked a little off his rocker, he was foaming at the mouth, and in general crazy looking. His whole mouth was covered in foam, and his mangy fur made me wonder if he had fought against a few lawnmowers.18

The next one was bigger and pudgier than the first. He had shorter neater fur, and a face sad enough to break a crusher’s heart. It would have broken mine, but I don’t like domestic dogs, so I just found him annoying.19

The last one was smaller than the other two, and looked fairly normal. The only thing unusual about him was the fact that his jaw had been sown shut with what looked like floss. He had a shell shocked look of quiet, pent up, insanity and hatred, but with nowhere to go. He just sat waiting for his chance to explode. He was a little frightening.20

I approached the ladies. Switch looked at Inkster and said, “I don’t know Gwen, he looks pretty submissive to me, he’s already wearing cuffs. You just need to keep control next time.” Inkster blushed.21

“Actually,” I started, “This is my symbolic resistance. If I’m going to be held against my will, I want to be honest about it.”22

“On second thought, he’s a bit more bold than he looks, keep an eye on this one Gwen,” Switch smirked as she said this. Gwen turned as pink as the streaks in her hair. “Alright Al, if Gwen isn’t going to introduce us, I am Mistress Switch.”23

I took her hand and kissed it, saying, “You can call me Al, mistress.” 24

“Can we just go already!” Inkster burst out, “I want this over with.” She picked up a backpack off the ground and started walking. While we walked, Switch briefed me on our mission.25

There was a large Kami presence on the island to the north. So many Kami had gathered that an entire forest had spontaneously grown. Idea was, there might be a new member coming to town. If that was the case, we needed to save him or her from the Kami, before they turned him or her into a spiritual Duracell. 26

There was probably enough energy floating around the area to cook a small city, so we needed to be careful. We also had the chance to rescue any commoners who had been kidnapped to be drained for any lesser avatars who had come to join in the ceremony.27

We walked across one of the floating roads. I decided it would be fun to drop a rock into the abyss. It disappeared into the swirling blackness. A moment or two later, a baby eyewing flew out of the darkness. “Don’t do that too much,” Inkster said to me. “They follow whoever made them. Sometimes they try killing you.”28

“Noted,” I replied. 29

When we reached the other side of the road, it was getting dark. We were in view of a small forest. It was a dense cluster of giant mushrooms and tall face plants. 30

We walked through the wavy spirit grass. I stopped in front of a smaller face plant, about my height, and looked into its eyes. It kept popping its eerie mellow song. It didn’t seem to notice me at all. I inspected its powdery face, sun beam petals that looked like hair, blank distant expression.31

It lunged forward and bit at me. Not angry or malicious, it just snapped at me. Its mouth slid across my armor, not even gripping on anything. It licked me a couple times, and then lost interest.32

“Don’t worry!” shouted Switch, “They could bite you all day and you’d hardly notice!” 33

We continued walking to the forest. Once inside, we made camp. It fell on me to find burnables, since I had a sword, and they did not. I walked through the moderate underbrush, hacking away with my blades, until I had enough mushroom for a fire.34

We sat around the campfire, each of us had a dog partner to help keep watch, and use as a pillow. Switch kept the volatile Mad Dog. Inkster was paired with Mute Dog. And being bigger than both of them, I was paired with the mighty Sad Dog.35

A flock of sheep wandered through the woods to us. They looked like little cartoons, just circles of fluff with a circular head and stubby legs. Mad Dog barked at a few of them, and they ran away bleating in protest. Megh-egh-egh-egh! It sounded like a human making a sheep noise. Really annoying.36

Inkster coaxed one of them over to her. It bleated some more. Mute Dog eyed it hungrily as it nuzzled Inkster's inner arm. She stroked its wool, and held it tight like a stuffed animal.37

I had first watch. I leaned against a tree and watched the fire. After sitting there for an hour in silence, trying to ignore the sad stare of my kanine accomplice, he said, "I get it, you don't want to talk to me. Hardly blame you."38

I looked around, and then at him, "You talk?"39

"Is that a stupid question, or a stupid observation?"40

"Usually dogs don't ta- am I on drugs?"41

"Yes. I talk, didn't you hear me just now?"42

"I did," I replied, "but I've been prone to hallucinations lately."43

"Great, two women and they pair me with the nutball man. Forget it, I'm just being spited, I'm going to sleep."44

He closed his eyes. "Strange little bastard," I muttered.45

"My hearing is ten times stronger than yours, don't think I can't hear you."46

The rest of my shift was blessedly quiet. After four hours, I woke up Switch, and came back to where Sad Dog was laying.47

"You never answered my question," Sad Dog stated flatly, "Was it a question or an observation."48

“Depends, are you sad because you’re not very witty, or is it because no one likes you?”49

“No one likes me because I’m sad and depressing, I’m sad because I’m realistic,”50

“And therefore depressing, I get it,” I said, “Adams would be proud. Anyway it’s not that I don’t want to talk to you.”51

“You just assume I’m too stupid to talk, I know. Dogs are such stupid beasts and it’s been a black mark over me my whole life," his droning voice was grating on my ears, "But I can tell you want to go to sleep, so you should just ignore everything I say as I wallow in despair over my life. A genius doomed to live his whole life unappreciated, knowing full well that life is hopeless anyway.”52

“Well I am tired,” I said, “So good night.” I laid down and closed my eyes. 53

I dreampt of sheep, jumping over a fence. Then they stopped coming. Megh egh ehg egh ehg!54

A sheep hurtled past me.55

Megh egh he-crunch!56

A sheep slammed into the fence.57

Sad Dog finally roused me from my sleep. "Stop ignoring me Al, something's happened."58

I sat up, "Like what? Oh." Inkster and Switch were gone, along with Mad and Mute. "Why didn't you do something?"59

"Like what? Waking you? Or were you expecting me to just rush into battle and save them?"60

I blinked. And again. "Yes," I replied. "Forget it, let's follow them." I looked around for anything left behind. Inkster's backpack was easy enough.61

"But they're probably going to that Kami camp, it's useless," Sad Dog whined as I rifled through Inkster's bag looking for anything useful.62

I looked him in the eye and said, "Listen, if I'm with you, they won't kill me. They probably think you're torture enough to make my life not worth living."63

"Real mature Al," the dog sneered. I ignored him as i dug through the bag. Makeup kit, jar of salt -among other knick knacks- and a Tech 9. “Well well well Inky, what did you have planned for this?”64

“I assume she was going to shoot it,” said sad dog.65

I got up and slung the bag over my shoulder, walking deeper into the forest. Sad Dog ran to catch up. His hair went straight for a moment. 66

By the time I noticed what Sad Dog had smelled, the Kami had already jammed a claw into my back, breaking the salt jar. Which is apparantly a good thing, because though it did send glass all over the place, it also salted the wound, so it hurt like hell. I'm told this is adventageous.67

The Kami stood over me, long bladelike fingers gripped me and pulled me up. I heard his skin sizzling from the salt as he wiped it off of his hand.68

"Sad, help me out," I gasped, hardly able to breathe from the pain.69

"Crushers, we've got another one!" shouted the Kami. They tied me to a stick and dragged me along. I noticed Sad Dog being dragged beside me. Another Priest walked up to the one who had knocked me down.70

"Oh great, blame me for your mistake, next time maybe you'll pay attention? I really don’t care if you blame me, it’s just annoying.”71

“You mean annoying like a dog that should be too depressed to breathe but still has enough will to talk about how hopeless life is?” I retorted.72

“Oh, passive agressivism, great, talk about me like I’m not here, I don’t mind, it’s what I’m used to.”73

The Kami conferred with each other, "Another planeshifter. The mistress shall be pleased."74

They dragged us along. "Sad. Pst! Sad!" I tried getting his attention again without attracting any from the crushers. "Sad Dog, come on, you don't have any bonds, just try freeing me."75

He did not stir. "Great, ten times my hearing but you can't hear me now jackass."76

"I heard you, I just don't like you. What do you expect me to do, gnaw on the ropes?"77

"Try something, I'm completely wrapped up here."78

"What's the use?"79

“Well they don’t have you bound up or anything, attack this guy,” I jerked my head up to indicate the crusher carrying me.80

“Why, what use is it? You take him down you just have to fight the others.”81

“Sad!” the crusher growled at me, “Sad, you gotta understand, I can handle one squad of crushers, even like this.”82

“No, it’s hopeless, you’ll just have to let the others help you.”83

“I have a feeling they aren’t going to do much helping right now.”84

“No, go away,” he closed his eyes and I heard him snoring.85

Eventually we came to a congregation of Kami in a thickly wooded patch. The outskirts were guarded by the peons, while the important Priests and Haunts were protected by honor guards. In the center of the grove a huge pit had been dug out. The floor and walls were lined with huge spirit crystal shards. Several withered bodies lay strewn across the glowing spikes.86

I looked around, and saw Switch hanging by her ankles in midair. They pressed a crystal into her chest and it glowed bright blue. She writhed in agony for a minute and then stopped moving.87

Adrenaline took me. My body filled with that uncomfortable tense feeling, my senses washed out, everything seemed distant and unreal... er. As I dragged past, they floated Switch over the pit88

"Sad Dog. SAD DOG!" a crusher bashed me over the head. Everything after that is a little dreamy and washed out.