"I am going to die... This is literally where I die. Out of all the other ways I could have gone this seems to be the one I won't escape from..." The girl's thoughts ran as though her mind were functioning off a cheetah running on a toy wheel.
"I had a good run... I guess... If traveling to a dictated region is considered life fulfilling then my life must be stuffed right now" The Kyrat "army men" hauled her up a set of stones stairs that didn't seem to end, all while Jessa sweated inside the sack placed over her head.
"Well...I did my best. Got my idiot brother out of here, took down a heroin lab in the process, and survived here for 2 whole fucking years. Yeah... That's some life fulfilling shit right there..." Jessa struggled to stay on her feet as each step felt like it was getting her nowhere. Considering she had a sack on her head blinding her vision to see any end to the stairs.
"I was bound to wound up dead living here." One of the men guiding her up the stairs was now breathing heavily, the incline of the mountain surely proving to be a challenge for him.
"Yet I still have that urge to survive. I know it's a primal human thing to always stay alive no matter what but by now I wish I could just give up. It's not like I'm getting out of this country and it's not like it's fun and easy living here so why does my body ache to attack this weaker guard and run blindly for my life?"
"C'mon we don't have time to stop and break." The clearly fitter man says in their native tongue to the other.
"Just a little rest. Min won't know, besides she looks just as tired as me so it's not like she going to run for it." The tired man relaxed his grip on Jessa's right arm.
"No, he will and he'll have us executed along with this filthy bitch when we make it! We have to keep going!" The man pulls Jessa up the stairs at a faster pace while the other man tries desperately to keep up.
"I haven't eaten in a week Josco you know this... Please I need a rest." The weaker man pleads resting on a step below them.
"Why are my primal urges so strong." Jessa's last thoughts as she tries to angle her back to the tired man.
Josco sighs while simultaneously relaxing his grip on Jessa. "Alright but only for a second... You know I haven't eaten in-" He was cut off by the impact of Jessa's tied fists to his nose.
"Fuck-" The other man panted out before he got donkey kicked by the girls thick mountain boots.
"Fuck get up she's running!" Josco held his nose as he chased after the free prisoner running up the stairs blindly.
"Just keep running! Just keep going! Keep going!" She verbally whispered to herself.
"Woah shit!" She climbed for another step but there were none left so she kept running forward.
"Whatever I run into it will hopefully kill me faster or lead me to freedom." She reasoned with herself giving her motivation to run faster and faster until she felt that she wa-
THUMP!
Jessa slammed into someone, stumbling back and falling down. From the force she landed hard on her side and stayed there to catch the breath she just lost.
"Josco! Wait! Wait!" Jessa could hear them behind her and attempted to get up only to get kicked in the stomach by one of the men.
"Stop." A British voice in front of her directed to the two guards. "What is this."
Jessa could hear one of the men shove the other. "The rebellion leader my Lord..." That being said she was hoisted to her knees and blinded by the Himalayan sun as the sack was removed from her head by the guard. As her eyes adjusted she could make out the smooth stone ground and red leather shoes that stood before her. Following those shoes were pink suit pants that led to a matching pink jacket all towering up to hold the big ego inflated head that was staring down at her with mixed expressions.
"Ah I see..." He spoke again flashing his attention onto the guards. "But is that really a reason to kick a woman." His shoes traveled behind Jessa and out of her sight to the two "police" behind her.
"...no..." His reply was weak; a much different tone from the one he held before being in the presence of the pink suited king.
"Right right... So why did you make the effort to kick my guest in a vital area of their body?" The leather shoes could be heard making steps behind her.
"Guest? Rebellion leader? Who the hell do these people think I am?" Jessa thought still trying to catch her breath.
"She was escaping from our containment sir." The weak tone pleaded its case.
"Escaping? By the looks of it she was practically running into my home on her own." The 'king' growled.
"She was a hazard to your safety my lord." He tried defending his friend.
"Oh! A hazard? Well I can clearly see what a danger she is with her hands bound and face covered... Yes she was a real threat." His voice comes out as though he were half serpent.
Jessa looks up from the ground to see the entrance of the temple she would usually only see from the valley. Beside the entrance are six guards, three on each side. Two of them were looking at the sceptical behind her while the others looked straight ahead holding fear behind a straight face.
"If anyone is a threat..." The shoes behind her scraped against the ground in a swift movement and the man could be heard gasping for air. "It's you! And your reckless deficient behaviour!" The British voice snapped in a fierce ton far more frightening than she expected.
Jessa squeezed her eyes shut grimacing at the sound of the man struggling to breathe. It's one of the sounds she never really got used to but finally it stopped. She opened her eyes again to see all six of the men staring straight now. Her ears perked up when the sound of shoes pivoting on stone fractured the silence.
"Now that the 'threat' has been taken care of..." The voice relaxed and started to get closer to her."...it is time to get our guest settled." The red shoes appeared yet again in front of Jessa directing her attention to the man that wore them. His expression was eerily soft and gentle. He began to pick her up, ghosting his hands on her arms once she had risen.
"My, my, no wonder you managed to hide for so long." The corner of his lip rose as he looked down at her. "Such a tiny little thing you are."
Jessa's mind was completely twisted, she knew the self-appointed ruler of Kyrat was Pagan Min and that he was probably a complete dictator but this was pretty bizarre behaviour coming from a so called king.
"Tiny and filthy." His ghosting hand traveled up to tilt her head up by guiding her chin with his thumb and index finger. "Couldn't imagine what it was like to live amongst those... ingrates..." At the mention of the natives his voice lost its calm tone and turned into a growl for a split second.
'This guy is fucking psycho...' Jessa violently shook her head out of his faint support for her chin, snapping her teeth at his fingers and sneering at him. This action only put a smile on his face and an understanding look in his eyes.
"Feisty..." His smirk returned as his voice went back to a low growl. "I like it."
With that he spun on his heel and started walking into the palace, making a hand gesture to one of the guards before entering. One guard from each side moved behind Jessa, before she had time to take another step they grabbed her arms turning her futile attempt to run into a halted jerking movement.
"Don't worry my dear, consider the restraints like a seatbelt used on a roller-coaster." The pink suited man said over his shoulder as the guards followed behind him with the girl in hand.
'This man...' Her thoughts drifted but ultimately landed on a different subject. 'Maybe I could get something out of him if his plans for me don't involve death. He seems like the bargaining type..." She unwillingly followed him through the entrance to see polished white floors clean enough to eat on and white walls to match.
"Get out of my way." He pushed what seemed like a servant in the back sending him down to the glossy floor. 'The hot head bargaining type...' Further past the massive entrance was a blocky stair case leading to higher levels on the right and an open entrance to other rooms on the left. You would have never guessed that outside of the building lay an ancient civilization trying to survive being snuffed out by their new king.
They followed the emperor up the stairs and to the right down a hall and into the last room. Upon entering the room Pagan swivelled back around to face his guest making a wafting gesture to the guards holding her. Jessa looked around spastically as the guards let her go and exited out the doors behind her. For a split second she actually wished they would stay, not leaving her alone with 'him'.
"Well. I hope they didn't manhandle you." The pink suited man smiled with comforting intentions. This really only gave Jessa whiplash as she jerked her head to his sudden output. "You know how some men can be..." He drifted off unintentionally. Jessa stayed silent with furrowed brows for far too long causing his smile to fade as a smirk overtook it. "Or do you?" He glided over tilting his head at the fascinating creature inches before him.
Like a bull exhaling Jessa huffed out air through her nostrils as her warning to him. 'Not the bargaining type.' Jessa stayed still.
He took notice of her defensive action. "Good, I knew you did." He backed up out of Jessa's personal bubble and walked over to the large window wall. He looked out of it, scanning the beautiful exotic horizon with his eyes but his face was blank with no sign of interest.
Jessa stood there in silence, scanning the room for exits and weapons but getting distracted on random items such as the heavenly bath tub off to the far right of the "king". But her eyes darted back to the man as he turned around with his back facing the tub.
"You know..." He started quiet and sincere. "You are really making it hard for me to break... the ice here." His voice started to rumble by the end. "Do I have to introduce myself?" He walked up to her while touching his chest; a gesture made when he referred to himself. The distance between them once again began to dissipate as Pagan stepped closer leaving centimetres between them. "Is that it?" He asked as he stared her down, flicking his gaze from one of her eyes to the next trying to detect something.
Jessa stayed silent, she hadn't planned on it but since it seemed to fluster this man she wanted to keep it going as long as it didn't kill her.
"Well here." He announced before grabbing her hand and shaking it with a firm grip. "Hello little destructive thief my name is Pagan Min, ruler of Kyrat." He let her hand go and paused hopeful for her response.
Jessa kept her cold hard glare on him.
Pagan sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose."I know you've been down there for a long time dear but I need you to work with me."
She held in her smirk.
After releasing his nose he looked at her for a second then spotted the bowl of fruit beside her. Pagan smiled maliciously striding over to pick up a peach. He stood before her admiring the round fruit in his hand. "When was the last time you had a perfectly ripened fruit..." He snickered believing he made check mate. "Let alone one that hasn't been half eaten by fruit flys." His eyes shot to hers after making his last statement.
'The fruit is tempting but his presentation is weak.' Jessa thought staring back at the man.
Pagan continued to smile as he walked up to her smelling the fruit. "Only the finest... Here, have a bite." His grin turned devilish as he held it out to her.
'Really? This man is making a joke of himself, how the hell did he become kin-' Jessa's thought were interrupted as Pagan jutted forward pressing the peach against her closed lips. His other hand held her neck, keeping her head forward.
"Taste the fucking fruit!" He whispered yelled in a controlled manner pushing the peach harder against her lips.
Jessa took back her last thoughts as she held back a nervous look on her face. She kept her mouth shut starting to feel the peache's juice bleed out onto her lips. Her eyes focused on Pagan's, he didn't look as angry as before just focused. But then his face came closer until it was touching the other side of the peach.
'This man doesn't understand boundaries, I never thought he would since he's never experienced consequences but still.' Jessa was beginning to get angry. He was too close to her, again
The peach moved against her lips as Pagan took a bite never breaking eye contact. With that, Jessa's brows finally furrowed in nervousness from his uncalled gesture. Pagan's eyes lit up and the corner of his lip rose devilishly as he felt progress. His fingers pressed deeper into the skin of her neck as he took another bite.
That's it.
Jessa smacked the peach away and backed up breaking away from his grip on her neck. Hate boiled in her eyes as she stared at him while wiping the juice off her face. Her 'harmless' plan to fluster the man backfired badly.
"What do you want." It wasn't a question it was a demand, her first sentence spoken to the king was a demand.
Pagan smiled and let out a breath. "You have their trust..." He glanced out the window referring to the natives. "...and that is something I need to...'borrow' more or less."
"No." She answered flat out causing Pagan to freeze with his mouth open mid word.
He shut his mouth and continued. "I want to sign a peace treaty with the rebellion and other Kyratians. You are to be at my side proving that I mean well."
She sighed. "That's bullshit." Jessa stated boldly.
Pagan winced at her langue, tone, and denial. "Listen." He hissed. "I have been fighting these people for years. I am wasting my money on stupid bafoons that can't carry out a simple fucking order." His face crinkled with anger as he broke Jessa's personal boundaries again.
'Money... Ah well... Who wouldn't sign a peace treaty to save money. Yes...logic.'
"Marvellous. Yes because I really want to help you. Why should I care?" She tiredly asked.
Pagan smirked.
Jessa furrowed her brow in confusion. What could he possibly give to her?
"You get to leave and go back to whatever wonderful western country you were born in." He stated warmly.
Jessa froze staring blankly in front of her in thought. 'I can leave... I can't finally fucking leave... But..."Her mind was racing.
Pagan sincerely smirked and started to orbit around her. "I know how much you want that." He said over her shoulder as he walked behind her. "I don't blame you. If I were you I'd want out too." He coaxed.
'Do it'
"When do we sign this 'peace treaty'?" Her question was his answer.
The corners of his lips cut into his cheeks. "This Tuesday." He proceeded to move in front of her again finishing his orbit.
Jessa froze at this. 'Tuesday...haven't heard that term in a long time... What the hell is today even?'
Pagan saw her confusion and helped her out. "Three days my dear."
She looked up at him. His stupid blonde hair and stupid smug face. Manipulative. Jessa huffed and walked over to the tub turning on the water.
"Who said this was your room?" The happy smug look on his face was taken over by an angry one.
"I did. Right now." She tested the water... Not the real physical water.
There were many ways he could have corrected her behaviour here. Smash her head off the tub, throw her out the window, drown her. But he couldn't, he couldn't touch a damned hair on her damned head. She had to look willing and 'okay' at his side, not like she had been beaten to keep her mouth shut. Everything had to follow his plan precisely, and this girl was not cuttin it.
Pagan's face relaxed as he found a passive cure. He walked over to the sofa chair and sat in it facing Jessa.
Jessa ran her hand through the tub of water and looked back to see Pagan sitting while watching her.
"Are you going to leave?" She forgot how nice it was to speak English.
"You may own the room, but I own the house." He half crossed one leg over the other while stating his metaphor. "And everything in it." He growled with a smirk.
Jessa turned off the tub. He's smart but a pain in the ass. "Where's my room?"
He smiled with victory and stood up walking out of the room across the hall into another room. She followed.
"Here is your bedroom suit." He lifted his arms up and spun around referring to the space he occupied. "If you need any room service just call." He grinned making Jessa confused as to if he was being serious or sarcastic.
She stepped into the center of the room checking it out, escape routes, make-shift weapons, HD TVs… a TV… been a while since she's seen one of those.
Pagan raised an eyebrow watching the girl as she spaced out looking at the TV. "Well… Goodnight and have fun." He placed a hand on her shoulder getting her attention but removing it quickly enough so she didn't do it for him. "Get some rest. We have a busy day tomorrow." He enticed before leaving her in the room alone.
She stood there for a minute processing everything that just happened. The room got darker as the sun disappeared behind the mountains. Jessa never really noticed; she was too focused on thinking everything through. 'So… I get to finally leave this place… for good.' She glanced at the door. 'I just need to be there for the peace treaty… and not piss him off.' Jessa was about to throw her bag to the ground but stopped in her realization that it wasn't there. 'Fuck, I need my bag!' The bed beside her looked oh-so-inviting causing her to relax. 'I can always steal it back later…' She turned around to see the tub surrounded by title flooring. 'Yeah I can wait.'