LIGHTNOVELONLINE XVIII. Snake Eyes
Cabdan is left to deal with Barr and Faya...
Cabdan: "Take care of this mess"...! Who does he think he is to boss me around...?!
He approaches their still petrified bodies.
Cabdan: No matter... Soon enough I'll be the one calling the shots. The only one.
He stops close to them, letting out a sigh.
Cabdan: Alright then, let's see...
He tries to shove himself in between Barr and Faya, trying to pull them apart. As soon as he touches them, the time around them seems to resume. Faya coughs violently, and Barr seems extremely confused.
Barr: What the...?!
Cabdan: Mister Barr... Fancy seeing you here at this time of day. With your pants down, nonetheless.
Barr looks down, to see his pants around his ankles.
Cabdan: I trust you weren't planning on doing anything... Morally questionable. Were you...?
Still dumbfounded, he pulls his pants up.
Barr: 'Course not...
Cabdan: Good. It would be a shame if someone severely restricted your family's income streams, due to your lack of restraint...
Barr's face turns serious.
Barr: No need. Won't happen again...
As Barr prepares to leave, Cabdan grabs his arm.
Cabdan: This is your final warning... If you get me in trouble again, I will make sure your father rots away inside a hole so tiny and secluded that the last meals he'll taste will either be the carcasses of festering, disease-ridden rats, or the excrement that he pushes out of his drunken bloated body. You either do as I ask, or that is the fate that awaits him... I promise you that.
Cabdan had an empty gaze. Not a single shred of empathy.
Barr: Y-yes... I understand, Cabdan...
Barr looked frightened. Cabdan releases his arm, allowing him to go.
Faya: Where the fuck do you think you're going...?!
Faya had managed to stand up. Her eyes were teary and bloodshot. Her teeth visibly exposed, as she bit down on them hard.
Faya: I said I'd crush your balls... I MEANT THAT!
As she runs towards Barr, Cabdan pulls him back and steps in between both of them.
Cabdan: STOP THIS, FAYA!
Faya: GET OUT OF THE WAY, OR I'M KILLING TWO BIRDS WITH ONE STONE TONIGHT!
Cabdan: Need I remind you what could happen to your friends in the orphanage, if you were to do that...?
Faya stops, looking at Cabdan dead in the eye. She felt could kill him then and there.
Cabdan: You want revenge, correct? You shall have it. Tomorrow afternoon, you two can fight in the arena...
Faya: That's NOT enough...!
She pauses for a moment.
Faya: ... I want you to promise me the doctor won't be around!
Cabdan widens his eyes.
Cabdan: You do realize that that could work against you, should you lose...?
Faya takes a couple of steps closer to him, standing practically on top of him.
Faya: No. Doctor. Okay?
Cabdan grins.
Cabdan: So it shall be, then. No doctor for tomorrow's match! The crowd is going to go wild, I'm sure...
She tilts her body, looking at Barr who was behind Cabdan.
Faya: You're going to regret ever touching any girl for the rest of your life...
Barr smiles behind Cabdan, defiantly. Faya's face shows only disgust.
Faya: You're truly worthless...
She spits on his face. Angry, Barr steps forward, but Cabdan blocks him.
Cabdan: TOMORROW! Tomorrow... Save all of it for tomorrow. Faya, you may leave now. Please.
Faya starts walking backward out of the alley, not fully trusting either of them. She leaves.
Barr: That fucking bitch... I'm gonna disfigure her...
Cabdan lets out a deep breath.
Cabdan: She is becoming an increasingly larger problem... It's only a matter of time until she tries to kill me, I'm sure...
He turns to Barr.
Cabdan: Tomorrow, you will win. Understand? No matter what. Make sure tomorrow is her last match...
Cabdan places both his hands on Barr's shoulders.
Cabdan: You have my permission to use any means necessary. Just make sure nobody in the crowd can notice... Am I clear?
Barr grins.
Barr: Say no more.
Cabdan: Good... Do this, and I'll increase your pay. Two whole silver coins per match. And... I'm sure we can work out some discount for when you request one of the young ones...
Barr laughs.
Barr: She's as good as dead...
Cabdan smiles, patting Barr on the back.
Cabdan: Good man...!
Meanwhile...
Scruffy man: Finish up around here, would you? I need to help your mother... I promised her I'd double up on my chores today.
Rel smiles.
Rel: Don't worry dad, I got this.
The man grabs an old jacket and leaves the building. It seemed like a general store. Rel was taking note of inventory, and restocking some of the shelves. Some time later, he hears the sound of running footsteps.
Rel: At this time of night...?
As they approach the store, they cease. The door then opens abruptly.
Faya: Rel... Rel...!
It was Faya. Tears were streaming down her face. Rel immediately drops everything he was doing.
Rel: Faya! What happened?!
Faya: It was Barr... He tried to... Tried to...
She could barely speak. Rel sits her down on a chair.
Rel: Wait here...
Rel closes up the store's front window, and fetches Faya a glass of water. Her hands tremble as she tries to drink it.
Faya: I'm going to kill him Rel... Tomorrow, I'm going to kill him. We're fighting in the arena in the afternoon... And the doctor won't be coming.
Rel seemed somewhat confused.
Rel: Fighting in the arena...? But you didn't have a match tomorrow, let alone with Barr...
Faya sniffles.
Faya: Cabdan showed up... I don't know how, I was about to lose my senses by the time he arrived... But, he managed to separate us, and let me have my revenge tomorrow...
Rel shakes his head.
Rel: Of course he'd make a show out of something as serious as this...
He grabs both her arms.
Rel: Faya... Are you sure of this? If Barr wins and the doctor isn't around...
She looked at Rel straight in the eyes. Her gaze was filled with determination.
Faya: I'm not losing tomorrow. No matter what. Trust me...
Rel nods.
Rel: I'll be there. I'll make sure Virno is, too.
Faya: Virno...
The shock had made her forget he was there.
Faya: Oh my god, Virno...! He was there too, Barr knocked him out... But I didn't see him when I left...
She tries to stand up, but Rel pulls her down.
Rel: Leave that to me... I'll go to his home to check if he's alright. You've been through enough today. Please.
Faya: But-
Rel: If he wasn't there, Cabdan probably had some of his goons escort him home or something. He wouldn't just vanish like that, right? Don't worry, I'll check on him. What you need to do now is calm down and get some rest.
Rel keeps Faya company, as she calms down. He then walks her back to the orphanage, ensuring she arrives safely.
Rel: ... Best of luck tomorrow, Faya. You got this.
She smiles.
Faya: Thank you... For everything.
She hugs him tightly, before going inside. Rel takes a deep breath and heads to Virno's home.
All was quiet when he arrived. There was a faint light inside, meaning that whoever was inside was probably still awake. He knocks, then he gently pushes the door to enter.
Anya: Son! Where have you be-
As Rel walks in, Anya is surprised.
Rel: Sorry for intruding this late at night, miss... You're Virno's mom, right? Is he home?
Anya stands up from the chair she was sitting on.
Anya: I am...I thought you were him, he hasn't come home yet...
Rel: Oh... Alright...
Anya: Wait, who are you? And do you know something about his whereabouts?! Please, you must tell me...!
Rel explains the situation to her...
Anya: Oh my god...
Rel: It's possible that he was taken to the orphanage, too. I don't know how severe his injuries were...
Anya: Then I'll go and check!
Rel: Please miss Anya, let me go instead. If Virno returns home, you should be here to receive him.
She hesitates, but ends up accepting.
Anya: But please... Please hurry. If he's nowhere to be found...
Rel interrupts her.
Rel: He's a tough guy, don't worry! I'll find him, you can rest assured. I'll be back soon.
He leaves for the orphanage, to see if Virno is there...