"Sixteen, you heard that? two agreed." One's familiar light hearted voice cut through the darkness.
'I can see' Vance smiled faintly, his vision had adjusted clear, sharp, unnatural.
He turned torward One's position.
"I said five," he replied. "who's next?"
"Tsk., a tongue clicked, "this guy is unreasonable....fine. I'll join your little group"
The ledger on the ground flared as golden chains shot outward binding Vance and Six
''I understand" Vance said, instantly seeing the familiar contract.
Six froze.
"What the...?! I don't accept! I DON'T ACCEPT!" His voice broke into panic.
Everyone turned toward him.
"What happened?" Five asked gantly.
"There's a damn contract!"
"What!" One's tone sharpened.
Vance narrowed his eyes slightly. 'So, only those involved can see it.'
"What type of contract?" One said.
"It's a damn slave contract," Six snapped, still shaken.
"Sixteen... is that true?" One asked.
"The contract changes nothing." Vance said calmly, "I still need four more people."
"Or are you no longer interested."
One's jaw tightened, his grip on the spike hardened.
"How is there even a contract here?" Five said, some murmured in agreement.
"The deal isn't fair," One said. "None of us knew you had a skill like this."
'Skill...' Vance eyes sharpened. 'So that's what this is called'
"Then tell me" Vance replied, his tone steady "If I didn't have this 'skill' would I have to just in trust your word''
He let the question sit, "wouldn't that be madness?"
"The contract guarantees the agreement, it protects both sides," he continued with a faint smirk. "It's fair, unless you have something better to offer."
"Then how are we supposed to make a deal?!" Six snapped.
'Perfect' Vance eyes flickered 'lets test its limits.'
"Six," he said with calm voice. "Work for me for seven days."
A pause
"In exchange, I remove the fourth condition."
Jennifers jaw tightened.
Five years... reduced to seven days, but in exchange for what? That was the question that hung in the air.
A low growl interrupted, "Grrrr..."
The effect of hunger were beginning to show in some.
"Guys, my hands are slipping." someone said weakly yet.
No one responded, everyone was waiting one.
"One...!" His fingers slipped then
Silence.
No one asked if he died, they already knew.
Their grip weaking, their palms coated in sweat now it was a question of who last longers.
Their grip or the negotiations.
"How about this." One said suddenly, "we exchange information?"
Vance's gaze shifted, "what information?"
"Information about this situation." One spoke.
'How much does he know?'
"Fine." Vance said, "but you tell me everything useful"
Silence hung in the air for a moment.
"Deal"
Vance smiled faintly, 'Once I figure out what happened, I can find my debtors'
"I don't know how we got here," One began "but I do know the earth is destroyed."
Silence.
"Everyone has been brought here, not just humans but races from other worlds" One began, "everyone is scattered across the world."
"AAa.." Screams echoed briefly then cut off.
"Some are in the same situation as us while others are facing certain death... or worse."
"What's could be worse than death?" Five asked but One didn't answer.
"From now on we must survive until noon," he said "then the gods will intervene"
His voice softened "They will offer us salvation"
A pause.
"Those who refuse conversion, will be left behind"
Although the words never came from his mouth everyone understood he meant death.
Everything went silent as everyone thought about what One told them, could they survive until noon?
Who were the gods?
Why was the earth destroyed?
Was their teleportation here a way to save them from the destruction of the earth?
Were they teleported here to die?
Why was this happening?
While everyone had their own questions, Vance wondered a single thought 'how many died?'
If his debtors were among the dead, the losses would be unacceptable.
If they were back on earth Vance could cover his losses, take their assets, find their relatives and pass on the debt to them even if it was a distant relative, someone had to pay.
But here how was he supposed to cover up those loses, his teeth grinded at the thought.
'I can't even find their bodies,' his face twitched. 'Inconsiderate bastards'
'If they were going to die they should have at least warned me,' his grip tightened. 'dying without settling your debt is simply mannerless behaviour.'
"Sixteen." One's voice pulled him back, "where are the stone beast?"
Vance sighed there was nothing he could do... for now.
"One is near the broken spike cluster" he said "and the other..."
His eyes narrowed slighty "... by the blood stained ridge."