The air felt heavy with tension as Dust stilled himself waiting to see the man's next move. The intensity allowed Dust to temporarily push aside his fear and focus on the details of the stranger's appearance. His hair was gently combed to the side but still looked hostile on account of its blood red color. The man's eyes were a shrouded pool of navy that betrayed no feeling or intention.
"Whaut its yhoar naem?"
The stranger's skewed pronunciation left Dust with nothing but confusion and light anxiety. Dust tilted his head slightly.
The stranger sighed.
The man reached into his pocket and pulled out a green and brown braided choker. Realizing that the man was about to make a move, Dust began inching backwards and preparing himself to run. The man shifted from a casual stance into a full sprint in the blink of an eye. In an instant the man had covered the distance between them and swiftly gone behind Dust's back to catch him in a chokehold.
Can't... Breathe!
Even as he flailed his arms and scratched at the stranger's neck there was no sign that he was going to escape. The stranger jutted Dust's neck upwards forcing him to stare directly into those uncaring navy eyes. While Dust continued to struggle, the stranger forced the choker on Dust's now exposed neck. As soon as the choker was on the man dropped Dust and moved back to his previous position.
Immediately after his release, Dust fell to the ground and coughed up some phlegm. Looking back up from the floor he saw the man return to his earlier casual demeanor.
"My apologies for choking you. It seemed necessary to get the choker on."
I can understand him now?
The stranger pointed at the choker on Dust's neck.
"That device will translate the language I'm speaking. It should make it easier for us to communicate."
Dust quickly scrambled up and assumed a fighting position, ready to react to whatever the man would do next. The stranger however, simply sat down not far from Dust. There was not the slightest hint of fear on his face.
"You don't seem to be in a very talkative mood. How about we play a game. That usually loosens people up a bit."
Dust remained quiet. The man's lip flickered at Dust's continued silence. He was growing annoyed.
"The rules of the game are simple. You're free to ask me any 1 question and I'll answer it honestly. Then it'll be my turn to ask a question. I expect an honest answer. Then we keep swapping questions like this. As for the game aspect, it goes like this: Anytime you lie or speak out of turn, that is to say speaking without asking or answering a question you get a point. If you get 3 points you lose."
The stranger stared eagerly at Dust. He was waiting for a response.
What do I do here? I can't run, he's too fast. Fighting's off the table too. I can't beat that crazy strength of his.
Every option that floated around Dust's head felt worthless in the face of this man's absurd speed and strength. The only option that didn't result in near instant death as far as Dust could see was to play the game.
"What's your name?"
The man smirked.
"My name's Zenith. I'd love to know yours."
Probably best to hide my real name.
"My name is Henry. How did I ge-"
Zenith cut him off with a swift motion of his hand. Following that he raised his index finger.
"That's a point against you for lying, like I said earlier you're not allowed to do that Dust."
Cold sweat began erupting from Dust's skin. He racked his brain for anything that could've given him away.
How does he know that? Scratch that, how much does he know?
Dust silenced his thoughts. He forced his tensed muscles to relax. Then he pushed through the domineering aura that leaked from Zenith and sat down barely a meter away.
Fuck it. So what if he chokes me. So what if he kills me. I've already given up on life, and right now that apathy is the only leverage I have over him.
Even though he'd hardened his resolve, it didn't stop the fear that continued to rip apart his innards.
"How did I get to this village?"
Zenith looked a little disinterested.
"What a boring question."
Dust raised his index finger. Zenith just got a point. Zenith smirked again as if excited that Dust was picking up the rules of the game.
"I don't know exactly how you got here, however I did see you come from the direction of the White Gate."
How does he know about that? I thought only the people from my village called it by that name? Whatever, there's better questions to ask him.
"Do you remember anything from when you were inside the white gate"
Anytime this guy asks me a question I just end up with 10 more. It's maddening!
"No."
"How blunt."
Just as Dust considered raising his finger he stopped himself. He figured that there's no way it could be this easy to win. Why would Zenith even propose this game if he's just gonna be a blabbermouth. Despite the hesitation Dust raised his second finger and remembered to cling tightly to his apathy. Zenith somewhat sarcastically covered his mouth all but confirming he'd intended to make the mistake.
"Do you know what happened to me in the white gate?"
"Yes."
Zenith's turn.
"How did you end up falling through the white gate?"
That forced apathy inside Dust shattered upon hearing that question. The floodgates of sorrow and hatred he'd been repressing opened up and ran through his body like a tsunami. Even so he pushed through the stress and settled on the best answer he could think of in his anxious state.
"I had nothing left to lose"
Where one might've expected Zenith eyes to betray even a hint of sympathy instead was something slightly more sinister. Zenith looked at Dust as if this was a golden opportunity to provoke and study him. Zenith's eyes looked like that of a child playing with a new toy.
"Pathetic..."
In only a second Dust put up his third finger. The insult had parted the mist clouding his head and replaced it with disdain for the man that'd choked and mocked him. Dust's jade green eyes shot through Zenith like a lightning bolt.
"You lose"
Zenith's gleeful expression loosened a little.
"It seems you have a little fight in you after all"
Zenith stood up and dusted the dirt off his pristine white cloak.
"As the winner I'll let you make one request of me. Nothing too crazy please, something I can do right here and now would be ideal."
For the first time since their meeting, Dust was the one with a devious smirk lining his face.
"Apologize."
The navy smoke lifted from Zenith's eyes upon hearing this. Clear disbelief covered his face. He'd clearly not thought of Dust as the petty type... big mistake.
"That's it? I thought you had more questions?"
Dust stood up and moved closer to Zenith. Zenith was a full 6 inches taller than Dust but the impact of his straightened back and furious eyes were felt nonetheless.
"Answers don't mean anything coming from a high-and-mighty asshole who doesn't even have the decency to apologize for belittling me. So apologize, or are you gonna break the rules of your own game you fuckin' cheat?"
Zenith raised up his hand and covered his eyes. The callous creature let out a little chuckle, something Dust hadn't even considered him capable of until this moment.
"You're more interesting than I thought."
Zenith removed the hand covering his eyes and squatted down slightly to meet Dust at eye level.
"My apologies for mocking you. I mean that sincerely."
Zenith stuck out his palm in front of Dust, expecting a handshake.
He's an asshole, but I still need answers from him. He ended his game too damn early.
Dust shook Zenith's hand and prepared himself to do whatever it takes to get the answers he needed.