[ this episode includes adult themes and language, reader discretion is advised ]

Season 02 - Episode 13

‘wide eyed dripping’

“This had better be worth it,” says the big man, cracking his knuckles.

He stands facing a door, a couple of dozen other men crowded behind him. Just like him, they all wear brown and red rags and have half their heads shaved clean. The man at the front looks like an enlarged copy however, several inches taller and broader than any of them.

“It will be boss,” says a nervous looking man beside him. “I promise. I've never heard anyone so posh! Stupid old bitch, she must be minted.”

“How long's she been in there?” growls the boss.

“Ages,” says the smaller man. “More than enough. It'll have torn her to shreds by now.”

“Fine,” says the boss. “Kill the lights then, get your torches. We're going in.”

The smaller man moves to the side of the door, flicks the light switch and undoes the bolt. He swallows, glances at his boss and then opens the door. His boss takes a step forward and all behind follow but then almost run into him as he pulls up short, taken aback.

“What the...” he says.

At the threshold stands a figure wearing a simple grey cloak, face covered by a huge, deep hood. The boss glares at the smaller man then cracks his neck.

“So you survived our little trap then,” says the boss. The hooded figure doesn't move. “For all the good it's done you. We'll just have to do this the old fashioned way. Maybe we'll have a bit of fun with you first, pass you around.”

He gestures to those behind him and they begin to sing, leering and jeering as they fan out on either side of their boss to close around the figure.

“We are The Sons of Kro!” they chant. “Lady of The Levels, Mistress of The Scapes, giver of light by which you see! All shall bow and know her name and we, her sons, will now have thee!”

The figure's hood slips backwards, revealing a young, heavyset blond woman. Her hair is dishevelled, her face dirty and her large blue eyes squint in the light as her lips wobble in terror.

“I thought you said...” the boss begins, turning to the smaller man.

Suddenly the fear on the young woman's face twists into rage and she leaps at the boss, knocking him to the ground. The crowded men all fall silent then take a step back as one, shocked and confused.

The boss grunts and flails under the raging woman who sits on his chest. He tries to strike at her but she tears at him wildly, all teeth and nails, broad shoulders and powerful arms. She shifts position, bracing her feet on his shoulders and grappling with his face.

The confusion on the men's faces turns to horror as their boss's voice chokes into a wet, sloppy gargle followed by a terrible, terrible ripping sound. The woman staggers upright and backwards, panting heavily, her face and hands awash with blood. She is holding the boss's wide eyed, dripping head in front of her.

She snarls and rages, glaring at each man in turn as if ready to explode again but unable to decide which to attack next. She hurls the head at the nearest man who catches it instinctively then looks down at it and flings it to the floor with a squeal.

Meanwhile, behind the young woman, Pho steps out of the corridor and walks gracefully to the panting woman's side. She places a hand on the younger woman's heaving shoulder and then gently pulls the hood up and over and down, covering her face.

“Shh now, Ri,” says Pho gently. “Shh, you're ok, you're ok now.”

Ri relaxes instantly, settling into a crouch beside Pho who places a hand on her head. The older woman looks slowly around the ashen faces of the gathered men. When she speaks her voice is quiet and calm but somehow also heavy and hard.

“You are The Sons of Pho,” says Pho. “Lady of The Levels, Mistress of The Scapes, giver of light by which you see. All shall bow and know my name and you, my sons, will worship me.”

Slowly at first, in ones and twos, then quickening in groups, all the men in brown and red, with their neatly half shaved heads, get on their knees and press their faces to the floor.

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