A deal you can’t refuse

Kato lay against the stone floor fading in and out of consciousness. He doubted he’d ever get the promised strength born from suffering. The church of hardship was not built on bringing people up, its very name attested this.

From this isolated sect, it was more than clear to him, not only was the strength promised false, only more hardship could be expected. He was going to join Kray soon; his vision was already darkening.

He wondered if this is how each of the horusks had felt, waiting for strength that never came; before withering away, becoming the props in Krays macabre play. Their suffering too much to handle, just entertainment before the curtain fell, lives snuffed out by a madman who couldn’t even save itself.

Kato had heard many times about fringe religions led by blood thirsty gods demanding large sacrifices for their own personal power. It was written in the history books, warning future generations their paths only led to darkness.

For years, long before he had been born, these power-hungry organisations had been outlawed in Redusk, more prone to cannibalising themselves and hurting others in the process; then making good on any of their promises. Supposedly that’s why these Horusks had set themselves up here, wherever here was, in this desolated place away from condemnation.

So lost in his own thoughts, Kato didn’t bat an eye when the ground opened up and swallowed him.

He hurtled through the ink blackness, the air clung to him, as if refusing to let go. But go he did. Bleeding and beaten Kato was flung towards the unknown. This was it; people weren’t supposed to bounce back so many times, the world itself had had enough. He closed his eyes. Just listening to the woosh of the air as it passed by, constantly trying, and failing to grab a hold of him.

Until suddenly it did.

His eyes still firmly screwed shut, Kato was barely conscious, let alone cognisant of what was happening around him, yet it was hard to ignore the undeniable truth, he was no longer plummeting. In fact, it felt as if all of the weight had been taken off him, ‘is this what death feels like?’ he wondered before easing his eyes open. He immediately felt like a fool.

“More magic” he whispered, ‘were the wilds truly this powerful’ He was starting to think Redusk’s walls hadn’t just been built to protect from the elements.

The wind had grown a mind of its own and seen fit to take a hold of his descent, gently lowering him towards an all too familiar location.

“Module 1 for the sick and frail has been completed, effort was lacklustre, but this could only be expected due to subject’s far too obvious flaws” the monotonous voice was back and apparently it hadn’t forgotten its grudge.

“Not now” Kato barely managed to get the words out. He couldn’t find the strength to even project his voice. His feet finally touched the ground, his sudden windy saviour finished with its journey. He immediately slumped over, his chin crashing into his splintered chest and his legs failing under him, not able to support even the most basic of human functions.

“The sick and frail subject appears broken” the voice said it in its’ normal tone, but Kato hardly registered it. “Analysing” there was a pause. “Cause found; specimen appears to be trying to become a tree.”

Kato tried in vain to raise his head, he would not let this disembodied voice make a mockery of him. He tried, but ultimately failed unable to even raise his head by a single inch.

“Considering options” there was another pause, “due to subjects’ hatred of watering cans, watering is not advised.” It stated this like it was a perfectly normal and reasonable thing to say.

Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings.

Kato internally seethed, his last moments were going to be some voice whose owner he’d never even seen just ragging on him.

“Removing subjects’ wood advised… proceeding” the voice stated in the same monotonous tone.

‘What NOOO, I need that!’ Kato thought desperately. He needed to stop it, he wanted kids in the future, this was a fate worse than death.

The massive splinters that had caved in his chest smoothly extracted themselves, followed by thousands of little fragments from the pew, ones that could have taken months to go, if they ever did at all. A dull ache replaced the agony he was in just moments ago.

‘Oh, that wood’ Kato felt delirious he was over the moon, positively euphoric, he was saved, his bloodline could live on. Oh yeah and he was no longer half man half pew that was cool… he guessed.

He closed his eyes and leaned back against the floor, a small smile crossed his lips, he was going to be alright, just as soon as he got a good sleep. The voice no doubt wanted to mock him some more, but frankly Kato didn’t care he was already drifting asleep.

Before he got the chance his legs suddenly started shaking, his eyes snapped open, faint motes of light hung in the air. He felt jittery, awake and was visibly trembling.

“What did you do to me” Kato spoke the words through clenched teeth, the voice had gone too far.

“Subject is exhibiting normal symptoms after treatment” The voice spoke slowly and clearly without an ounce of emotion.

“Normal treatment” Kato spluttered in shock, “YOU DRUGGED ME, HOW DARE YOU” he was furious. His entire life he’d avoided that type of stuff, people around Redusk were notorious for falling prey to the darker pleasures of the city ‘trying it just the once’ and then never looking back, becoming husks of their former selves. And now the voice had set him on the same path, the feeling it was euphoric as if he’d been living in the darkness until the voice had stripped it away, revealing the light.

“Subject in no need of drugging, already more than sufficiently impaired.” The monotonous voice returned to its routine beatdown on him.

‘Already impaired’ Kato mulled the words over. “So, you didn’t drug me?” he gazed up at the sky demanding an answer.

“Affirmative, subject is already prone to making bad decisions, further assistance was not required.” The voice continued in its usual fashion; Kato really wished he hadn’t asked it to change the module’s name. ‘Who could’ve known it would hold a grudge?’

Kato considered trying to sleep again, but the very idea was off-putting, the last time he tried had been far too bizarre, plus he was wide awake now.

Kato groaned audibly it looks like the day wasn’t over just yet, he stood up brushing his legs down. “Huh going to need a new shirt” he muttered, the fact that any of it was left was a miracle in itself.

“Hey voice guy any chance of a new shirt, I have uhhh…” he looked around searching for anything to barter with, “some broken bits of pew” he paused he was going to have to work for this one he could tell.

“Bet nobody’s ever tried to trade you parts of a pew before, wow what a story that could be” Kato trailed off, hopeful. ’Nailed it, he thought, with pitching skills like this he should have been a merchant, ahh well maybe in another life.

“Subject bribery request considered and denied” the voice stated plainly clearly not interested in a once in a lifetime deal.

“I wouldn’t call it bribery, hey you’d probably have to bribe me not to take this deal” Kato joked, silence greeting his words and awkwardly stretching out.

“Anyways, so uh, how’ve you been Voice?” Kato asked, hoping to reconcile with the entity.

The silence continued to drag out, “fine keep your secrets” Kato muttered, kicking the ground beneath him restlessly.

“You know you could be a little more friendly” Kato spun on his heel and called out, his voice echoing around the empty space, searching for the speaker.

No response was given, apparently the voice had, had its fun and now wanted nothing more to do with him.

It was unbearable, Kato didn’t mind the quiet, but he hadn’t had a conversation with anyone who hadn’t died soon after for a long time now. He knew what he had to do.

“Please talk Voice, you can even insult me if you want” Kato appealed to the voices sardonic nature certain it wouldn’t be able to resist.

“Subject seems distressed, is baby going to cry?” the voice droned out, not a hint of humour to be found in its statement. Kato knew it, this was his way to conversation, but that… that was kind of harsh.

“I’m fine just give me a second alright” Kato muttered, that voice really knew how to get under his skin.

“Processing request…”

‘What?’ Kato’s head snapped upwards.

“Request granted, one second has past, ejection imminent” the voice had found its opportunity to be rid of him and immediately seized it.

Kato was aghast “how does this keep happening, that is clearly not what I meant?” but his words of frustration were only met with the world around him warping, reality itself blurring, ‘looks like I don’t get a choice’ he thought miserably.