I couldn’t really move my head. A leather strap held my neck tight against a half collar that hugged my neck. There was a mark on the wall in front of me followed by two lines up and down. Looked like they marked my line of sight. Mildly frustrating but honestly pretty clever. My legs were bound like my arms. The press of chains triggered some happy memories. The last time I was held like this was my introduction to cell life.

A soft whisper of conversation drifted to my ears from behind me. A woman was talking to a man. Her speech ran hurriedly almost without cease and the man seemed to fit one word for every sentence she spoke. The sound of metal hinges squeaking echoed across the room drowning out the conversation. A hand touched my back.

“Ugh, knights. They are denser than the armor they wear. “Milady you couldn’t possibly be alone with the prisoner”. I have to pretend to be frightened and say that it was essential. How are you feeling subject one. For today we’ll start by a physical check and introductions.”

That entire conversation took place in a fraction of a second and left whoever was behind me breathless. It wasn’t like I had a choice in the matter. It was when the hand on my back slipped down and began removing my shirt that I began to have some concerns. Her hand pushed against some bruises and I winced. The hand travelled up past the stomach and to the arms settling on the very sensitive cuts on my arm.

She tutted. “ It is dangerous to cut yourself. I’m going to have to clean that out. Other than some bruises though you seem to be in good health. Now for the introductions. I am Greed the meek and you are Death. You also happen to know some information that I would like. I feel it is my duty to tell you that the title Meek is a mask. You get to meet the real me. I will ask you questions and you will answer me fully and truthfully. I have no qualms about removing your already delicate sanity. Behave and life will be a little less drawn out.”

The speed in which the threats tumbled past each other really didn’t do their severity justice. Her voice held a chill that caused a ripple effect. My heart began to panic and my fingers clenched. The animal instinct was screaming, run, flee or hide. A unmistakable stench was causing it. This woman had blood on her hands and it wasn’t mine. It smelt like the battlefields after Wrath had crashed through. That was a perfume of death.

Her hand found the back of my neck and dug in, jagged nails pulling at the skin.

“First question, subject. Where are the rest of the Sins.”

I tried to shrug my shoulders but couldn’t. She seemed to understand because she rushed onwards.

“Question two,do you remember him, our creator. His face, any detail, a fake name?”

Her voice took on a tone of frenzy as her nails dug into my skin with the strength of a vice. A thought occurred that she seemed not particularly sane and that by giving up information I would probably lose value and die. I tried to shrug again but she interrupted the movement by using her other hand to stab my injured arm with her nails. I had thought that pain was numb at this point but an avalanche came pouring out. Suddenly my arm was on fire and blood dripped to the floor.

She was silent for a few frightening seconds. “I know you lie, but that is of little import. Had you given me something to work with I may have spared you. Instead you’ll be the first. A great honor undeserved by you.”

Whatever she was suggesting I highly doubted that I would consider it an honor. The hands released from their grip and the pain took a short break.

She spoke in surprisingly a more terrifying chipper tone. “Now that the questions are over, it is time for a tour.”

A faint sound of metal screeching and suddenly I was rotated upright staring at the ceiling. More sounds of creaking and I was moving. I was honestly impressed. I knew cells and prisons but never moving prison board things. A fine establishment.

The door hinges shrieked open once again and I was staring at a cavernous ceiling lined with lichen and flickers of torchlight. Much too roomy for a dungeon but not designed like a cellar. I honestly was stumped. I knew almost every kind of place to be imprisoned in and this was new.

I tuned out Greed negotiating with the knight about my exiting the cells. Eventually the ceiling began to move again. I tried to remember the turns that were taken but as Luck would have it the ceiling didn’t give many clues. Another door opened and another hurried conversation happened. This time however I recognized the voice.

“Hiya Mira, long time no see. Let me get a good look on how tall you’ve gotten.”

Another elbow to the stomach answered my mocking. Another door squealed open and I was rotated forward to see a ghastly scene.

A field of cadavers met my eyes. I had seen battlefields with less bodies. My stomach quivered and protested. My nose agreed with the stomach. Some of those corpses were in disassembly with arms and legs missing. A corpse caught my eye, just a glance in the corner. Never again would I look in that corner. Children should never look like that, even in death.

Greed was chuckling. “You like my collection? They are my experiments. In fact you might be looking at your future self. If things go properly … we’ll get to that bridge in time.”

A fun fact, one does not want to hear metallic rattling in a room full of bodies. Especially with someone crazier than you.

She walked out beside me with something in her hands. Clenching and waiting for the pain … that surprisingly didn’t come. Thank you Luck. Instead it was a rough cloth that was steaming hot. She was wiping my cut arm with tender care. Strange. Wolves don’t usually wash their prey.

“Look what you’ve done here. It’s going to need stitches.”

Stitches? Was that a torture thing. The thought of more torture became less appealing with every passing second. Then she returned with a needle and thread. There was morbid curiosity developing on what exactly she planned on doing. My searing arm decided that it was against that idea. That protest increased when she grasped the arm in a stone grip. Squirming did no good as she held the needle close to the skin. The point sunk into flesh prodding through skin to the other side of the cuts. The string pulled the skin taut together in a sensation that could only be described as excruciating. She pulled it through the skin twelve times. My arm had gone numb by time it had finished. I heard water sloshing around as she spoke.

“All tidied up. Aren’t you grateful. You know I invented this technique. The Vinko use ants, such brutes. I suppose you have many questions. Why so many cadavers or why I want to find the old man. Unfortunately too curiosity can kill a cat and you are no exception. I’ll let you guess the answer to one question. A final wish if you’d like.”

Her final words sunk a realization deep within me. There was no negotiation. Every word she said with a flat finality of absolute truth. A morbid calm drifter over me. The silence hung expectantly. A pick of questions didn’t really matter in the face of death.

“Are the cadavers for an investigation?”

A strange tone entered her voice as hair brushed my ear causing an itch I didn’t realize was there before.

“A investigation of sorts. Would you like to see?.

I didn’t even get to respond before being whisked away. A thick door was past the rows of cadavers at the end of the room. It was held shut by six latches bolted by metal rods the size of my thumb. A faint sound of scratching was on the other side. Another screech and the ceiling swung into view. The bolts slid in quick succession and a miracle presented itself. A long corridor laid directly in front. At first I thought there was something wrong with my eyes. The walls were covered with shelves, hulking and huge,looming over the narrow hallway. Books flocked in multitude among strange skulls and jars. It was akin to a treasure trove. Books were not a cheap habit. I had had a few and even those would cost a man’s lifetime work for most. Directly in front of a pedestal that held a book plainly wrapped in leather was a child. Blankly staring directly at me. A shirt that made rotten burlap look like satin was draped over the frail figure. Hair unkempt and feet bare, pity welled up within me. Envy giggled.

“This is my pet. That is why the bodies. I have successfully broken this pathetic creature’s will. It now listens to commands without thought. It’s not perfect considering that the procedure caused blindness in this one. Let’s hope that you do better. If not then I’ll have another body to study.”

This horrific explanation blurted out with the same cheery voice one would use to wish someone a good day. Then I began to be rolled backwards towards the deadly room. Then we halted. Someone was calling out in the other room.

I sat waiting around for an eternity in the hallway with the little girl staring at me. She looked half dead, her blonde hair covered in dirt, her face sallow. I probably wasn’t much better but still… To avoid thinking about the half dead kid, the room seemed like a good distraction. There were a suspicious amount of skulls even for someone who seemed to enjoy collecting cadavers. They weren’t all human either. One of the skulls had horns that would make elk blush. They were colossal and sharp looking. Next to it was a pile of books and something round and shiny.

Waiting really was a pain. She really teased me about the imminent death. Maybe I would end up dead from boredom or starvation like the kid. I’m guessing its the feeling of someone under a guillotine waiting for the blade to come down. Apparently the head still lives afterwards for a few moments. Would I remember my death? It probably would be better that I don’t. I have enough horrible memories to keep me company in the void. I wonder if gluttony felt his death. Perhaps Gluttony felt relief when the pain stopped. I hoped so, otherwise he’d join the legions of spirits claiming vengeance. A long line indeed.

The silence was unnerving, punctuated by the breathing of the kid. It held my throat shut with iron grip, a taunt wire begging for something to break. Break it did with a shuddering way. Screaming rolling through the silence. Looks like something was happening after all.