Chapter 33: Breakfast
Kai woke up with a headache.
The first thing he noticed was the cold stone beneath him.
The second was the smell.
Damp.
Rotting.
Underground.
He slowly opened his eyes.
Darkness greeted him.
Not complete darkness.
A faint orange glow from a torch somewhere down the corridor illuminated iron bars.
Iron bars.
Kai sat up immediately.
His head spun.
Bad idea.
"...Again?"
he muttered.
For some reason, every major city he visited seemed to involve prison.
A voice spoke from the corner.
"You're awake."
Kai flinched.
He hadn't noticed anyone else.
A young man sat against the opposite wall.
Black hair.
Slim build.
School-like clothes that clearly weren't from this world.
A Drifter.
Just like him.
The stranger closed a book.
"Took you longer than the other guy."
"What?"
"The one you came with."
Kai's eyes widened.
"Harun?"
The stranger nodded.
"Yeah. Him."
Relief washed over Kai.
At least Harun was alive.
For now.
The young man stood and offered a hand.
"Udit."
Kai accepted it.
"Kai."
"Nice to meet you."
"Not exactly ideal circumstances."
"Could be worse."
Kai looked around the cell.
"How?"
Udit pointed upward.
"We could already be breakfast."
Silence.
Kai stared.
Udit stared back.
"...What?"
Udit sighed.
"You're new here."
"I would hope so."
The young man walked toward the bars.
His expression remained surprisingly calm.
Almost bored.
"The people in this village aren't normal."
Kai folded his arms.
"I figured that part out."
"No, I mean really not normal."
Udit lowered his voice.
"They worship a rabbit god."
Kai blinked.
"A what?"
"A rabbit god."
"..."
"A giant rabbit."
"..."
"A divine rabbit."
Kai rubbed his forehead.
"This world gets stranger every day."
Udit nodded.
"Agreed."
For a moment neither spoke.
Then Kai remembered something.
"Wait."
"The rabbit god isn't the weird part."
"It isn't?"
"No."
Udit pointed toward the corridor.
"The weird part is what they do for it."
Kai suddenly wasn't sure he wanted the answer.
Unfortunately, Udit gave it anyway.
"They eat people."
Silence.
"...What?"
"They eat people."
Kai stared.
Udit stared back.
"No joke?"
"No joke."
Kai immediately walked to the bars.
Looked outside.
Then back at Udit.
"They're cannibals?"
"Religious cannibals."
"That's worse."
"I know."
Kai suddenly remembered the villagers.
The smiles.
The staring.
The questions.
His stomach sank.
"Oh."
"Yeah."
"Oh."
"Exactly."
Footsteps echoed through the corridor.
Both men immediately became quiet.
Several figures approached.
Robes.
Hoods.
Lanterns.
At the center walked a man wearing white ceremonial robes.
Unlike the others, his hood was lowered.
Rabbit ears protruded from his head.
Long.
White.
Unmistakably real.
Kai froze.
"What the hell?"
The priest smiled warmly.
Far too warmly.
"Good morning."
The rabbit ears twitched slightly.
Kai looked toward Udit.
Udit simply nodded.
"Told you."
The priest stopped before the cell.
Several hooded followers stood behind him.
Watching.
Waiting.
"My children."
The priest began.
"The Rabbit God continues to bless us."
Several cultists nodded enthusiastically.
"We have received new offerings."
The priest looked directly at Kai.
Then at Udit.
"Healthy."
A pause.
"Strong."
Another pause.
"And well-fed."
The followers cheered.
Kai suddenly regretted eating the stew.
The priest clasped his hands together.
"The feast shall be glorious."
One of the cultists began drooling.
Another actually applauded.
Kai slowly backed away from the bars.
"Okay."
"This is bad."
The priest continued speaking.
"Tonight we shall celebrate."
"The Rabbit God shall smile upon us."
"The village shall prosper."
"And our guests shall fulfill their purpose."
The cultists erupted into chanting.
"Rabbit God."
"Rabbit God."
"Rabbit God."
Kai had never wanted to leave a place more in his life.
Eventually the priest raised a hand.
The chanting stopped.
He gave the prisoners one final smile.
Then turned away.
The group disappeared down the corridor.
Their voices gradually fading into the distance.
Silence returned.
Kai immediately grabbed the bars.
Pulling.
Twisting.
Trying every angle.
Nothing.
The cell didn't budge.
Udit watched for a few moments.
"Already tried that."
Kai kicked the bars.
Nothing.
"That too."
Kai groaned.
"We need a plan."
"Agreed."
"Any ideas?"
"None."
Kai looked at him.
"You're surprisingly calm."
Udit shrugged.
"Panic later."
Before Kai could respond—
A familiar voice echoed from outside the cell.
"Took me forever to find this place."
Both men froze.
The sound of keys jingled.
Footsteps approached.
Then a figure emerged from the darkness.
Andre.
Holding a ring of stolen keys.
He looked at Kai.
Then at Udit.
Then back at Kai.
"You making new friends?"
Kai stared.
"Andre?"
"Who else?"
The thief smirked.
"Were you two planning to sit here until dinner?"