CHAPTER 004

COMMUNICATION

 

(The Woman’s POV)

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(stop) it said. As if it was the final straw at that point, the words erupted as the rage almost blinded me.

 

‘Stop? Oh, I will stop! I will stop as soon as I tear off your windpipe. Just you wait.’ I thought but stayed silent. I trashed to throw the wretched thing off of my back. It was sitting on my waist and holding me down, my now tied hands in one of its hands while pushing my face to the floor with the other.

 

(stopeasy) the thing tried to calm me down again but I wasn't one to fall the same trick twice.

 

‘Easy? Hah, don't make me laugh. I should have left you for dead. No, better than that I should have killed you myself. I should have cut your throat while you were still unconscious you vile snake.’ I thought while continuing my resistance. 

 

The more I trashed the more it pressed my face but I refused to yield. I didn’t yell not even made a sound, but I resisted with everything I have. I tried to turn around, kick him with my heels, and bite his hand but nothing worked. It was too heavy and its grip was tight as expected of its kind.

 

(stop!easystilllisten)

 

While I was resisting it was continuing to press my face and continued to order me around. Still, I refused to stop or yield. I didn’t even try to answer and continued my silent resistance. 

 

‘Listen? What are you, an idiot? You attacked me out of nowhere and now you want me to listen? Well, how about this? I will listen to you and then kick your nards while you are still talking because that was exactly what you did just a moment ago and why the nine hells and seven abysses are you talking like a brain-dead damned retarded?’ I thought and then it dawned upon me at last. ‘Wait a moment. You… You are speaking. You are speaking what? Sacred? How?’ I thought incredulously. 

 

It was speaking. Well… It was speaking in some other language before, which startled me in the first place and let it take me off guard. But it was speaking Sacred this time! Sacred!

 

(Mouth… Close… Silence!  Listen! Still! Put!) The foul thing ordered again. 

 

It was speaking Sacred with a thick accent and broken sentences. Some of the words it was using were completely alien. But still, it was understandable. It was ordering me to stop resisting obviously.

 

‘No, I will not listen to anything you say, you ungrateful bastard. Now get off! GET OFF!’ I thought in rage. Speaking Sacred or not, I refused to be fooled by this thing again. 

 

(Silent! Still! Listen!) It continued ordering, again and again, clearer and angrier each time. Then abruptly stopped ordering and started groping me above my clothes.

 

‘Wait! Why are you touching me? STOP! Stop touching me aberrant! Oh, you are dead! You are sooo dead! Just wait until I get my hands on you! I am going to cut those hands and feed them to the dogs. Just wait!’ 

 

Now that it showed its true face I increased my resistance. I refused to be humiliated, raped, and tortured. Even death would be better than being toyed with like that. I believed that if I resist enough, I could make it mad enough to grand me a quick death in a moment of anger.

 

It continued groping me while I tried to tear the sleeves of the coat that binds my hands while it is not holding them. It started to lower its hand from my shoulders and waist toward my thighs as I increased my resistance. Then it found one of the throwing daggers on my thighs and stabbed it right in front of my eyes while yelling for the first time.

 

(SILENCE! OR! DIE! STAY! STILL! OR! DIE!)

 

For a moment my brain froze. It was not because of the threat of death. I had already steeled my mind, even hoping for it. All I was hoping for was a quick one indeed. But the change in its tone was so suffocating that I could not help but stop.

 

If it was distant and frosty before, it was closer and raging with fire now and not like cleansing blue flames one hopes to be cremated after death but like cursed orange-red flames that taint the soul even. It felt like, I am going to regret it deeply if I refused to stop now.

 

‘OK! DON’T KILL ME! I WILL STOP! PLEASE DON'T KILL ME!' I thought involuntarily in utmost shame. 

 

I stopped indeed but still refused to show my fear on the outside. I refused to beg for my life, even despised the thought of it.

 

(SILENT! STILL! LISTEN! WATCH!) It continued in fury. 

 

Even though it said me to watch, I closed my eyes not to see the reflection of my eyes on the blade of the dagger. My dagger! Not that I can see it in the first place. I already knew the blade was too thin and not shiny enough to do so. Still, I closed my eyes, just in case. 

 

I waited for the killing blow in hope but knew that it would not arrive soon. Still refusing to beg, I steeled myself for the upcoming rape and torture.

 

‘Ok! I am silent and still. Just don't kill me, please. I don't want to die yet but I don't want to be raped or tortured either. I am scared. Oh, gods and goddesses above! Please help me! I don't want to die yet.’ My thoughts started to wander. Shameful as it was, I still didn't show any form of weakness on the outside. My pride didn't allow me to do so.  

 

The more I waited the more anxious I become. But then again, it stopped groping me and just got off and forced me to stand up. It put the tip of my own dagger on my neck.

 

‘Huh! That was easy’ I thought.  ‘Now, are you going to slit my throat with my own dagger? It's sharp and clean but you know it is still my own dagger, right? I don't want to die a dog's death by one of my own daggers .’ I thought in shame again. 

 

The things one thought before her own death were interesting though. I thought, amongst everyone I know of, I would be one of the few that wouldn't bat an eye in front of the certain end eath. But here I was, thinking these stupid things while waiting for an imminent death. 

(SILENCE! LISTEN!) It roared again shaking me and pressing the blade closer, almost drawing blood and that put me out of my miserable thoughts. 

 

‘I am silent already. Why are you still saying the same thing over and over again? Just slit my throat and finish this farce already.’ I thought in frustration. 

 

(MouthSilent! MindNot! Silence! Mind!) It retorted immediately as if it can read my thoughts. 

 

‘WAIT! Can it read my mind? HELLS AND ABYSSES!  It can read my thoughts. Is it in my mind? Wait! Are you in my mind? DAMN! Can you read my thoughts? SHIT! SHIT! SHIT! Is that some kind of artifact? Is it the coat? Was it talking to my mind like this all this time? Did it hear all those humiliating thoughts? I can't believe it. How can I not realize? There is no sound but I still hear it. Oh, goddesses please ha ve merc-’

 

(SILENCE! YOUR! MIND! OR! I! WILL! KILL! YOU! DAMN! WOMAN!)  It cut my thoughts berating me. Again, in my mind. 

 

‘Just… How does one I silence her mind?’ I thought involuntarily in desperation. 'I don't want to die but I don't know how to silence my mind. Please! PLEA-’

 

(EMPTY YOUR MIND! BREATHE! FOCUS! EMPTY YOUR MIND) It cut me off.

 

‘OK! I will try. I WILL TRY. But please. PLEASE! Move the freaking dagger away. I don't want to die yet. I am too young to die in a damn cave in the middle of nothing.' 

 

Now… The things one thinks about when she saw hope in the middle of utmost desperation was really humiliating. Interestingly, just with that, it slowly moved the dagger away but the blade was still close to my neck.

 

(DON’T MOVE! STAY WHERE YOU ARE!)  It said -thought- into my mind. I didn't know how I knew but I knew anyway. It was still raging with fury but just a little bit more controlled this time. 

 

From the moment it unleashed that fury I was not thinking, just acting on my basic instincts. Again, just like those instincts screamed I did exactly what the thing has said.

 

I stood still and tried to breathe to lower my pulse. Meditating now… was not an easy task. My mind was in utter chaos but I still tried to do so. Still, my mind continued to wander. 

 

‘Gods and Goddesses! Just what did I put myself into? A mind-reading otherworldly demon in human skin? No! Think positive. Don't succumb to your fears.'

 

'Hello! Can you hear me? Please don’t kill me.’ I thought while still trying to empty my mind. ‘Now, how can I not think anything while I know something was literally inside my mind.’

 

While I was sweating buckets and trying to school my mind, the damned thing was looking this side and that side frantically searching for something without removing his hand from my nape and MY dagger from my throat. All the while, I just stand still and try to empty my mind, which I couldn’t. 

 

(HOW MANY?) It thought inside my mind. I understood what it was asking even though I shouldn't. I thought about my so-called brothers that ran away in the middle of the fight, leaving me to fend myself off alone.

 

Then immediately, I remembered that the bloody thing can read my mind and tried to think of something else, but the damage was already done.

 

If I could have made it think that I still had teammates nearby and going to return soon, it would have increased my chances of survival but there was no way other than telling the truth now.

 

“Just me.” I said in a broken voice and couldn't help but add, “I SWEAR!”. ‘Was it necessary though?’

 

‘HOW MANY AWAY?’ the demon asked immediately, a little bit less angry this time. 

 

‘Can’t you read my mind already? What is the point of asking?’ I thought snapping but regretted it immediately. Then schooled my thoughts There was no way of this thing asking these questions if it couldn’t. Thus, I answered reluctantly. ‘Two!’

 

‘WHEN ARE THEY GOING TO RETURN?’ It asked in response. ‘Was it angrier?’

 

The cunning thing was asking the questions although it already knew the answers. ‘Maybe it can’t read my mind when I schooled my thoughts.’ I thought. Then again, how can I not think about the bastards that left me for dead while I was trying not to think about them? 

 

‘Still, all of these may be a test.’ I thought again. Alas now that I thought about it, the damn thing knows I have considered that probability too. There was simply no other way. All I could do was tell the truth. 

 

‘Return?' I scoffed inside. 'They won't return. They sold me, those damned bastards.' I thought. 'Please it is only me- It is only you and me here because I saved your life. Please don't kill me.’ I told to it, or thought?

 

'Does it really matter in this situation?' The thing has already heard all my beggings and prayers, didn’t it? ‘Oh God of mercy Aman, is this how you answer my prayers?’

 

(EASY! Relax! I will not kill you. NOT YET! As long as you behave. JUST… Answer some questions) the demon thing said, but this time it was not raging with fire. It was frosty and distant again, but much more than before. 

 

The feeling sent chills down my spine and at last, I realized. This frosty and distant part of the damned thing was far more dangerous.

 

I was so frightened that I thought I would die while it was raging with what felt like fire, but inside somewhere I knew that it would not kill me. At least not immediately. 

 

But now I could not feel anything when the demon said it won't kill me yet. This was literally mind-blogging and more so when I think about the fact that it may be listening to this thought process too. I tried to school my thoughts again and answered.

 

‘Ok! Just ask anything you want. I am going to answer.’ I yielded mentally at last and (What happened to the man?) it asked immediately. 

 

Now that was just expected. The first thing the damned thing asked was its tormentor. ‘It must have wanted to finish the job that it started.’ Alas, there was no need. 

 

‘Dead!’ I thought, and then “You have killed him.” answered the question aloud. Then remembered the scene that haunted me in my sleep last night, all night long, and couldn't help but think about it again.

 

‘For Gods and Goddesses sake… Lightning and thunder accompanied by purple flames… Just what the seven abysses and nine hells are you?’ I thought but then realized.

 

That wasn't the question I should ask at this point. The question was, ‘What had possessed me to try to take something that is capable of doing that captive?’

 

(Take a breath. Relax. Don’t let your thoughts start to wander around.) the thing said again. It was like a mantra at this point.

 

(Empty your mind. Focus your thoughts.) it talked in my mind as if to make me lower my guard. Then, suddenly its tone got frosty again, almost icy.  (NOW ANSWER. HOW MANY DAGGERS?)

 

‘WHAT? DAGGERS?’ I was startled for one moment while still looking at the one it is holding in its hand against my throat. ‘Was it asking about the daggers on me or should I count the ones in my backpack too?’ I thought involuntarily. 

 

(HOW! MANY! WEAPONS! ARE! THERE! ON! YOU!) It growled in my mind. 

 

Now, that was a good question. ‘I- I don't know.’ I stuttered. Wait! Was it possible to stutter without talking? Whatever… I tried to recall the exact number but in the end, just couldn't. Thus, “I don't know. Never bothered to count.” I answered without stuttering this time. 'Yeah, congratulation to me.'

 

(STAY! STILL!) It ordered and once more started to touch my body. This time almost in a sensual way but the feeling in my mind was anything but sensual.

 

It grabbed my tied hands with one of its own and rubbed the palm of its other hand over my body, removing daggers and throwing them away as it found them. I was curious too and started to count, also thinking about their places.

 

Just like that, probably because it was reading my mind, it found them almost too easily. One on the right ankle, one on the left calf, three more remaining on both tights apart from the one it removed initially, and I don’t know how many more were there on my belt.

 

The funny thing is, these were just the ones on me. My backpack should contain at least twice the number of it. Interestingly, there were two more that it couldn’t find, especially at places it didn’t have searched, which made me relieved that it didn’t touch those places.

 

Immediately then, I remembered that the dammed thing can read thoughts, and started to count the thirty-three deities of abundance and their domains, hoping to distract it from my real thoughts.

 

‘Just how can one keep secrets when there is another entity literally inside her head?’ I scoffed from inside. While I was counting the deities, the thing started to tie me with a long piece of rope it found out in the open.  First my legs, then calves and thighs… 

 

After it made sure that I can’t move anything lower than my neck, including my fingers, it finally stopped moving and breathed a long and deep breath. Then asked inside my head.

 

(WHERE?)

 

“Where?” I murmured absentmindedly. Then the meaning dawned upon me. Without even realizing the gears in my mind were already turning fast.

 

‘There was not a single thing on you. Just clothes, nothing else. I haven't taken anything. I don't know where are your belongings Please be-’ I started thinking then the damn thing stopped me from thinking further.

 

(SILENCE!) It growled in my mind and released its grip with a violent push and stood up, thankfully removing itself from my back. It left me there, lying on my face, and walked outside of my sight.

 

It was walking here and there, inside and outside, rummaging through my belongings, or what was left of them after two certain backstabbing centipedes took everything of value and left m with scraps. 

 

As I was waiting, and trying to watch it from the corner of my eye, I tried to talk to it in my mind but got no answer. ‘Are you listening? Not bothering to answer?’ I tried harder but still got no answer. 

 

Soon it entered into my line of sight, holding his boots in one hand and socks in the other.  Thus I realized what was it searching for.

 

I removed its boots and socks while I was searching it last night, but naturally never bother to put them on again. These should be the belongings it was asking for.

 

It sat on the stone elevation that served as a guard post of the temporary encampment and started to wear his socks and boots. It didn’t remove his eyes from me for a single moment throughout the entire process,  ‘It didn’t even blink.’ or so I thought.

 

After it finished wearing its boots, it started to collect everything inside the cave towards the cave entrance. One backpack, one satchel, and two sacks. It searched the insides of them for gods and goddesses know how long and then it came to me and grabbed my nape.

 

(DON’T MOVE!) It warned me a little bit more strictly than what was necessary at this point. Then it pulled me from my nape and yanked me up on my feet while still holding my tied hands.

 

‘Being manhandled like this is seriously frustrating but at least I am alive.’ I thought but exactly at that point, it murmured something, and some of the ties and the coat on me came loose all of a sudden. 

 

I stood frozen for a moment while panic grabs my feeble heart. ‘Why does it remove the coat?’ I thought, but the answer was not that hard to imagine. ‘Not to stain it with blood obviously.’ 

 

I stood there with a blank mind, something that I was trying to achieve but couldn’t, even when my life was on the line just moments ago. Ironically as soon as my demise was imminent my mind was finally blank.

 

I stood there without moving while it untied the long sleeves that binds my hands and removed its coat from me, just to put it on itself. The time was crawling while it reached the ground, still running didn't cross my mind even once.

 

But while I was waiting for the dagger that is going to slit my throat the damned thing put a backpack on my back. “Huh?” I exclaimed and blinked after what felt like years and my mind finally started working again. ‘Is that all?’ 

 

I was trying to contemplate what was happening as it tied my hands at my back again, with a piece of rope this time instead of the coat. Then, it started to untie the ropes that bind my ankles, calves, and thighs. It used the same rope to tie a long leash around the ties on my wrists.

 

I tried to ask questions both silently and not so silently but the damned thing didn't answer all the while alike. Without further ado, it shoved me out of the cave and stopped for a moment to take another backpack from Yerlik knows where.  Then it stacked the satchel and sacks on me and started to push for a walk, with me being in the front and it, a few steps behind. 

 

The gears in my mind were on overdrive and my thoughts were all over the place but it didn't speak. Maybe it was listening to my thoughts maybe it wasn't but I was wise enough not to ask anything after the previous questions were unanswered.

 

We walked in silence for an unknown amount of time and only after I stumbled the third time did the damned thing grab my nape and talked again but the only thing it said was ‘CAREFUL!’ and that was all it took me to forget what was I dealing with and go nuts. 

 

‘It is too hard to walk while my hands are tied at the back and overloaded like a mule on uneven ground. I hardly keep my balance let alone walk but you are keeping a pace that even trained rangers would find it hard to cope with. Just-’ I was thinking but suddenly stopped after hearing its voice, icy cold this time, in my head again (Slow down!) it said, (Relax and organize your mind.)

 

Keeping my mouth shut was easy enough, I was trained to do so even. However, it looks like keeping my mind shut was almost impossible. The more I keep my mouth shut the more my thoughts wandered.

 

It was almost like a reflex to let one's thoughts loose and burst like that after a long and silent walk. Alas, I tried to keep my facade this time and thought only one thing after schooling my mind again. ‘Where are we going?’ and added aloud. “Destination?”

 

(High ground.) was all I got as an answer. (As high as possible.)