"My oh my, aren't I just the luckiest gal~"
The girl that stood before you was pretty short, probably standing at a little over 2/3 of your own height. She had short, black hair, dark scarlet eyes, and, most curious of all, a pair of white rabbit ears. Were they fake? They sure looked kinda unnatural.
Her clothing consisted of a pink, frilly nightgown going all the way down to her knees, and a pair of white bloomers worn underneath it. Weirdly enough, her feet were left bare. No shoes, no socks, no nothing. This surprised you quite a bit, seeing how the two of you were apparently in the middle of some bamboo forest right now. yet she apparently had no trouble walking here barefoot. You couldn't possibly imagine it being any good for her soles. Maybe she's poor, and couldn't afford them? But the the rest of her clothes looks pretty clean, so what's up with that? So weird...
Not as weird, however, as the fact that you were in the middle of a freaking bamboo forest! You don't recall one being anywhere near your hometown. Where you taken to China or something? Well, at least that girl talks in your language, so it's not all bad.
Oh, that's right! You should probably try to get some info out of her. Maybe she could help you, like point you to the nearest phone booth or something. It was definitely worth a shot.
"Uhm, excuse me. Wh-"
"Bamboo Forest of the Lost. That's what we call it, anyways. Sweet, short, and to the point. Kinda like me, actually~"
Well, that creeped you out a bit. Was she a psychic or something? At any rate, she was at least willing to talk with you. Maybe she could help you...but who even was she, though?
"...Wh-"
"Tewi Inaba's the name, the local rabbit chief. You're pretty lucky to have come across me."
Still creepy. She was answering your questions, yes, but you didn't like how she was doing it ahead of you actually freaking asking them.
"H-
"No, I'm not reading your mind. You humans are simply way too predictable. It's always 'where am I' and 'who are you' with you~"
Oh. OK then... Hey now, wait a second!
"Y-you humans!? Did I hear that right? What do you mean by that?"
For a moment you've noticed her cheery smile take on a more smug look.
"Hmm hmm~ Very perceptive of you. Yes, I did say 'you humans' just now. For one, you're not the first human that's been dumped here. Heck, not even the first one to land at my feet. Secondly, I myself am not a human, but a rabbit. I did tell you that before, didn't I?"
That was... interesting. So Tewi claims that she's not a human, even though she sure looks like one, just one with rabbit ears is all. Oh, and a tail. She turned around just now to wiggle it around for show.
Maybe she was just screwing around with you, and this was simply a very elaborate cosplay... Did that sound more or less ridiculous than her actually being a... 'rabbit'?
Right now, however, you were more interested in those other humans she spoke of, the ones that have been thrown in here just like you.
"Do you know where I could find those other humans? Could you maybe take me to them?"
The rabbit girl thought about it for a bit with a deeply contemplative look on her face, before once again cheerfully addressing you with her answer.
"Yup, but I'd have to kill you. They're all dead!"
...What?
"What?" You blurted out, not sure if you got that right.
"Dead" she happily repeated "Those idiots thought they could brave this forest alone, when I clearly warned them that there's "Lost" in its name for a reason. If you don't know how this place works, you can end up trapped here for an eternity. Except you humans, you die after a while. They probably either dropped down dead from starvation, or were killed by another, less nice than me youkai that hunt here."
This... Could this be true? For a moment you broke eye contact with Tewi, her joyful attitude when talking about such gruesome things was a bit too unnerving. Instead you looked deep into the forest, trying to see anything of note in-between the bamboo. Sights of a nearby civilization, or some noteworthy landmark. Nothing, just bamboo after bamboo after even more bamboo... Although, as you tried to look deeper, for a brief second you couldn't sworn you felt as if the forest 'stared' back at you...
"For some reason" Tewi said, snapping your attention back to her "None of them wanted to accept my help. I know my wayaround here, I could've led them out if they wanted to. Maybe they were too proud to rely on someone like me? I dunno. Hopefully you won't make the same mistake."
The rabbit finished with that smug smile of hers, upsetting you a bit. You felt as if she wasn't telling you the whole truth here. However, her tales did the trick quite well, and you weren't about to take your chances with this spooky place.
"O-OK, I think I'll take you on your offer. Please, could you help me get out of here?"
Tewi gave you a wide, toothy grin. She sure looked pleased with herself. That's probably or the best... Right?
"Perfect! You're definitely have more brains than those other fools before you~"
For a compliment, it didn't make you feel all that well. Did she have to trash talk the dead like this?
"Now then... Let's discuss my reward."
"...Excuse me?"
"Hmm, what's this?" she said, eyeing you suspicioulsy "Don't I deserve something in return for helping you out? You didn't think I'd waste my precious time to save you for free, did you?"
Oh God, even in the middle of freaking nowhere, capitalism would be the death of you. Maybe those other humans weren't just dumb, and simply couldn't afford her help.
"P-please, I don't have much on me, but it's all yours if you can help me get out of-"
Tewi laughed out loud, once again creeping you out. You were getting more and more tired of her with each passing moment.
"Your outside money is worthless to me. No, I already know what I want from you. A favor for a favor."
Huh, that actually didn't sound too bad, depending on what she want- OH GROSS.
Without warning, Tewi kicked one of her legs up front, almost smashing her foot in your face. Thankfully, she stopped it just in time to give you a good look at her sole.
The bottom of Tewi's dainty foot had to be one of the most disgusting things you've ever had the displeasure of facing. The entire surface of her sole was completely coated with an abhorrent amalgam of mashed dirt, viscous sweat, crushed leaves, and squashed bugs. Occasionally some of this foul mesh would fall off, as the rabbit girl swayed her foot around, revealing some of the surprisingly supple and soft looking skin of her sole. You were morbidly interested in the logic behind it: how could the flesh of her foot look this pristine and healthy, if it was hidden underneath multiple layers of this rancidness?
With her foot so unbearably close, you had to deal not only with its ghastly image, but also the fetid fetor it gave off. Curtains matched the window on this one, and you had no choice but to recoil in disdain after just one whiff of the putrid odour her foot gave off.
"U...Ugh!" you fell on your back, weakened by the mere presence of Tewi's smelly foot. The rabbit simply laughed at your shameful display, and as you tried to crawl away from here, she simply took a couple of steps forward to stand at the side of your head, and once again put her putrid sole right in your face. It did the trick well, and you were left to lay there still, as the revolting stench of her foot kept you paralyzed. You felt terrible, weak, trapped, left completely at this wicked girl's mercy.
"That's it, that's a good human, laying down at the feet of his master. Hopefully it won't take you long to learn your place."
Her voice still carried that childish, saccharine tone to it, but it was now marred by her haughty disposition. You weren't ashamed to admit that it sent chills down your spine, being referred to by this creature in such a degrading, demeaning manner.
"Allow me to list you your options, worm." she said, readjusting her foot a bit to give you a better look at some juicy insect that ended up squashed beneath the arch of her foot "You can either lick my feet clean, and pray to the gods while doing so that I'll let you go once you're done..."
This was already really bad. Really, really bad.
"Or you can refuse, giving me an excuse to thoroughly break you underfoot like the pathetic bug that you are, and leave you here to fend for yourself. I'm sure you'd make a good meal for one of my less civilized friends~"
You were screwed no matter what you'd pick, that much was certain. Which dreadful option should you go with then?   indicates the next chapter needs to be written. |
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