Sorry for being a bit late with this! Hope you enjoy the chapter!
Russia looked up. He was all alone. But where? He felt his neck…where was it? Where was his scarf?
"Looking for something?" He heard a chuckle. Russia tried to get up to get it back. He couldn't move. The dark figure grinned.
"What's so special about this? Huh? It's just a…scarf."
"Give. It. Back."
"Or what? You'll stare at me to death? I'm so frightened."
The figure stepped towards him. All he could see was a grin on its face.
"Do you know where you are?" The voice purred.
"Will you tell me?" Russia scowled
"That's very demanding Russia, or Ivan-what do you prefer- considering I rescued you from the dados…" It chuckled
"How do you know my names?"
"Why shouldn't I? I expected you."
"Why did you save me?"
"Because I need you to do something for me." It hissed
"Can I at least know your name? Then I might consider it."
"Oh no…we can't do that...you have to! But I guess you should know who I am…"
They stepped out of the shadows. Its grey hair stayed stock still on its shoulders, and they're piercing eyes stared right into his. But what stood out…was that 'it' was a woman. (Bet you didn't see that coming!)
"My official name is Quillian, but I prefer you'd call Karine NaeRow when it's not just us. You are also on the territory of Quillian."
"Territory? But…"
"Would you like to know what I need you here for?" She cut him off
"Yes."
…
He didn't know to be shocked…or impressed.
"Also, though the others may not mention it, Saint Dane has a partner named Nevva. They like to forget her. I would to, but her mother's my traveller. So what do you have to say to all this?"
"I say…give me my scarf back." His arms folded.
"Are you that thick? This isn't about the bloody scarf!" She scoffed irritated.
"If you give me the scarf back, I'll consider it."
A dark smirk appeared on her face. "Fine, but…" She turned around, but glanced at him.
"If you want it in one piece, you're going to have to tell me yes, and mean it."
"That's from my sister!"
"Well, decide quickly, because if you don't…" She pulled on the scarf, breaking a small seam.
"Fine! Give it back! I'll do it!" He screamed at her.
"Good choice." She threw it at him.
He caught it before it hit the ground.
"You don't have any friends, do you?" He stared at her, trying to get a reaction. After that, he deserved one.
"From what I've heard, you don't either. Besides, in this 'game', friends stop you from what needs to be done. So you are correct. I have no friends and I'd like it to stay that way." She smirked.
He didn't say it out loud, but he wondered if he was lying about the last part.
"Now, considering you were out here for a few minutes before I saved you from the dados…"
"Dados?"
"I'll tell you later." She spoke each word with a breath, attempting to keep her temper under check.
"As I was trying to say, what all happened when you came to Quillian?"
"Well…" He recounted everything that happened, then noted something. "By the way, are we alone in here?"
"The rest are waiting for you to be briefed…"
"Come out! Come out! Come out wherever you are!" He hollered out.
Confused as to the lack of answer, Quillian laughed. Hard.
"What's so funny?" His arms folded, and a scowl was eminent on his face.
"You really need to stop interrupting me, or else you'll look even more an idiot that you are…"
Russia quickly placed his hand on his scarf. She was really getting annoying.
Quillian looked at him, as if to ask him why he did it, but she held her tongue. Thank goodness. "Everyone is outside the building, which is soundproof, in case you didn't know."
Russia blushed slightly. Oops.
"Alright. Now back to business! The people I have been with are Tylee-also known as Challenger Green, (Author's Note: I can't remember her last name, tell me please!) and Elli Winter, as well as Fourteen, one of the few dados who assists. In fact, it's a good thing that all the dados have medical programming, or we might have had to amputate your arm." She hid her satisfaction when his eyes widened, and he didn't let go of the scarf with the arm in question for a long time.
"Please continue…" Russia just wanted to get out of here with this woman.
"If you insist. Quillian is run by a company called Blok, which has supremacy over all of their lives, and the company is run by the trustees-which is where 'Mr. Kayto' came in question-while the rest of the population run other things by Blok, or are in the Tarz, which will kill you if you spend too long. But, one of their most powerful enterprises is the games. They are horrible. People are forced to bet on their own lives, even their children's lives to feed them. And if they lose, off to the Tarz they go! And the games themselves…well, many a time has a competitor been seen dying. Many a time. But we are trying to change this. Tylee was the leader of the resistance. We were going to reintroduce our precious art to the world, but the dados have almost destroyed that hope. Almost. As much as I hate to say this, we need outside help to ever change the territory into something joyful."
"So in other words, you need me."
"We need everyone. You and Elli just happen to be the representations of 'everybody'."
"Where are we anyway? Like, this building."
"Oh! This was the old Mr. Pop. We used to keep our culture here. But it was destroyed. Personally, this gives me the kick I need to destroy the…"
"So I'm just here to help? How will this benefit me?"
She froze. Fury shone in her eyes.
"Well, for one, it'll make him weaker when he comes for Hetara. Your territory." She hissed. "It could save your sister's life, for one."
"Why would he go for my sisters? They're not strong…economically, anyway."
"Because it would bother you. The man's a monster. Don't forget it."
"You think he would?"
"I wouldn't put it past him." She smirked, feeling a little less angry.
"We have to stop him!"
"Glad you care now." Her eyes rolled.
"If he tries anything, I'll kill him!" He spat. Russia didn't appear to be listening.
She snuck around and put a band on him. She figured she tell him when he calmed down.
You have no idea how excited I was for writing this chapter! The first female territory! Next chapter, Ibara and…what's-his-face(?)!