“You, you have to make a decision now, die for me or die by me!”

“…...”

“You have three seconds

One

Two

Thr...”

<A day earlier>

[Jissepi] “Are you positive this leads to something of value?”

[Eleven] “I have reason to believe so boss, we found it on the client, snakemen don’t usually carry maps unless it leads something important”

Jissepi pauses to think for what feels like an eternity, determining whether he wants to get his grubby hands on this potential treasure

There’s nothing he won’t do for wealth and power,

Nothing I won’t do to see him dead.

[Jissepi] “You know no one’s ever survived a night in the desert, right?

If there’s anything there of value it is indeed mine, One Eleven and thirteen, the four of us will go, anything happens always remember you are my human shields, understand?”

“Yes boss!”

***

Finally sunset

It’s already been a day walking in this desert walking on the hot sand bare feet is a different kind of torture.

Why was I sent here, I keep thinking back to ‘that’ day?

Maybe this is all a nightmare, and I haven’t woken up yet,

Maybe…...,

[Eleven] “Question

Who are you, really Thirteen?”

“Don’t know, I ask myself that same question,

You?”

“My name is Omari, across this desert there’s the kingdom of Soterra, where I’m from, some call it the grand magic city”

“Then how did you end up here?”

“Ten years ago, there was a civil war, during the chaos a as people tried escaping from the city, I was a child back then, so I don’t remember much, one of the mages I think used a teleport magic to help me escape, one thing led to another, and I ended up in debt to the boss.”

“Sounds like there’s something you’re not saying.”

“How so?”

“You don’t usually overshare.”

[Eleven] “You haven’t told me your story yet”

“….

My name is Kage and.” I shrug

“And?” Thirteen presses

“I got lost I guess”

“And you say I hide things…”

“Would you two shut up and walk further up front, the boss needs you to be far enough ahead in case there’s monsters so he can escape!”

[Eleven] “Then shouldn’t you be leading the charge Number One?”

[One] “I’m the boss’ most trusted ally, you two are in debt to him, now do as I say before I…...,

Aghh!”

Just as he’d been talking an arrow flew through his right shin

One falls face first into the sand

“Behind you!” shouts Eleven

I take one step forward

The sand below my feet somehow feels cold

Or maybe, am I…

Scared?

Cold sharp claws press against the front of my throat

A raspy voice hisses behind my ear

“Move and you die!”