(It's painful to believe we've ended up like this — we've been tied up for nine hours. It wasn't about making a deal or ending up getting beaten, that wasn't the point, but it shouldn't have ended like this; we started as a bet and it looks like it'll finish with us as slaves.)
"BECAUSE I COULDN'T CONVINCE THE STUPID FAUST NEXT TO ME TO COME HERE."
"—I said sorry, Mike, why are you still angry?"
"Why— why? WHAT— GOD— AAGGHHHHH ARE YOU STUPID OR WHAT!?"
"It's all your fault. You went into that hundred-person place first, you gambled, you even made a deal so they'd beat you harder. whispering 'What else was I gonna do?'"
"??? What was I supposed to do? WHAT WAS I SUPPOSED TO DO? Never mind, you're right, I'm wrong — the only one to blame here is Faust."
"Quit ragging on the guy all the time, man. His gambling addiction isn't his fault."
"BUT HE STARTED IT!!"
As Mike and Lieben — both tied to different iron posts — argued, a silhouette appeared in front of them that snapped both their attention and their quarrel to an instant halt.
"Be quiet. No need to get worked up. Even if both of you become slaves, for disobedience you'd be returned within two days."
"Really? I think I would've obeyed, but honestly I'd still try to run — depending on whose slave I was—"
"The man's clearly mocking us, Lieben. Are you stupid? Shut up, his intention is obvious."
"He'll sell me and rape you."
"WHAT!? WHY— I MEAN— NO! If that were the case, why would they sell me after fucking me?"
"It's obvious my organs are 'bigger' than yours; even if they sold you you wouldn't be worth anything, but if they fuck you you won't say a word."
"...As long as I'm separated from this man, I'll accept my fate, sir."
"Of course you would. But since I won't be the one deciding what happens to you, unfortunately I can't say anything."
(Actually, he seems like a decent man — maybe we could talk it out.)
(+I've never seen a son of a bitch this big — if it weren't for the deal I would've pummeled him into the ground.)
Lieben and Mike, at the same time:
"Bro, how about we team up on the road?"
"UNLOCK MY HANDS — I'LL FUCK YOU EVEN UNDER THE DEAL."
"MIKE! WHAT ARE YOU SAYING TO HIM?!"
+"WHAT ARE YOU SAYING, FOR GOD'S SAKE, LIEBEN?! THIS GUY— never mind, you wouldn't understand anyway, I don't want to waste my breath."
The man standing before them took two steps closer, closing the distance, and looked at the pair with tired, joyless eyes.
"Before I introduce you to the Boss, I need your names. First the blond, then the angry pimp — say them. I already know your first names, so your last name should be enough, I suppose."
"My name's Lieben Eternal."
"I'm Mike Eternal."
"You— brothers? You might be the first siblings to fight so fiercely at your last moments."
(I'm an only child, so I'd never seen this, but apparently sibling fights can happen even now.)
+"Brothers? Look at me and look at that dumbass over there — our hair colors, our personalities — we're totally different."
"We're from the same family. Sir was trying to say that, you idiot."
"If we're in the same family, we're brothers, you moron. We just live in the same place and indirectly share the same last name."
"I don't get it, and I don't need to. I liked your stupid joke — if you were profitable you could even be worked in a circus."
"Or this guy could be smarter and not make a deal and just wreck the whole place — if he were more 'clever'."
+"I don't have another word for you. The only reason we're here is because of my kid being right. Stranger, one last favor if possible."
"What is it?"
+"Do whatever you want with me, I'll give you all my fortune and everything I own, just please, please — don't— please don't kill Lieben."
"KILL LIEBEN!! PLEASE MAKE SURE HE'S DEAD, I CAN'T ACCEPT THIS MAN LIVING LONGER THAN ME!! HE MUST DIE BEFORE I DO!!"
"....."
"..."
Hearing those words, the man and Lieben simply froze; silence, stillness, and numbness took hold — they only stared. For the next thirty seconds they watched and were silent... not a single decibel rose in that place. In that moment many things were said—everyone spoke—yet only Mike's voice came out, and only the man and Lieben felt the rest.
+"What are you staring at? Say something."
The man wanted to speak, but shock had wrapped him so tightly he couldn't use his mouth; he only spoke to himself inwardly:
(I've done this work all my life. I caught people, tied them up, killed them, tortured sometimes — I've heard hundreds of last words and life's rebellions — but...this...no, I've never heard anything like this. It began so innocent, so helpless...but then such a change of feeling — unlike anything I've seen or heard. If a voice can carry a negative feeling, this was as negative as it gets.)
While the man thought this, in less than a second...
...
Lieben had slipped out of the ropes restraining Mike. In that instant, before the man could react, Mike slipped behind him and with one strike to the middle of the man's back brought him down to the ground. In short: everything that had happened earlier was an act; Mike's hateful words had been spoken with genuine venom, but they were part of the plan.
"Did you really have to insult him so much to convince him?" the man said.
+"It worked. Let's move on."
When Mike felled the man, Lieben freed himself but were they safe now?
The moment they started to leave that place... the relief they felt coincided with someone appearing in front of the man's unconscious body.
A tall, broad man in stylish clothes and an angry voice;
"Honestly, I thought at least you could do this!"