Ficlets

Tipping the Scales

“So, you picked the hard way. Very well, then.”

Cricket, you idiot! Pride and something I couldn’t detect swam around the recesses of my heart. I could identify anger.

Despite the fact that I was nearly bursting at the seams with delight for Cricket’s ardent defense, I also wanted to clobber him over the head for subjecting himself to this.

“I shall tip the scales in my favor.”

And with that, the entire floor from underneath me collapsed, and I was suddenly careening downwards until I smacked into a cold surface.

With a jolt, I realized that I was underwater.

I surfaced, sputtering and choking to get the water out of my lungs.

Something grabbed my hair and painfully heaved me onto a stone floor; I could feel the gritty material beneath my palms.

I hissed in pain when I was towed upwards, my hair pulling at my scalp.

“I am not stupid, Arthur. I know a hardened man when I see one,” Lin’s Master said, a self-satisfied tone in his voice.

View this story's 1 comments.