Chapter Three: This is me now, I guess?

The Mage woke up gasping for air, as if someone had turned his lungs on for the first time.

Coming to, he found himself in a sterile room, decorated with beige tiles and stainless steel. Unfortunately, the shock of the new caused him to roll off and slam onto the cold hard floor.

Reeling from the impact, he winced and turned on his side.

Urghhh. He thought. Worst wake up call ever. Bleary eyed and disorientated, his vision began to clear up, coming face to face with Terracotta tiles. An unfamiliar flooring. Soon, the frigid room temperature crept into his body, sending prickles all around. Ooh! Ooh! Cold-cold-cold!!

Rubbing his arms, he was surprised to see how thin they were. Not just thin, but hairless and smooth. He also noticed how they would bunch up his chest when he crossed them.  A chest belonging to a female.

“Argh I’m sorry!” He cried, closing his eyes. “I didn’t mean to look.”

He spun around to find where the voice was coming from. It sounded young and feminine, but it was using his words. A psychic spell! Someone was reading his mind!

Say nothing from now on, it can’t attack you.

A wave of dizziness forced him to lean against a nearby the sink.

Not good, not good. Need a pee, need a pee.

Rushing around, he found the toilet area, but was shocked to see someone else in the mirror. Startled, he quickly apologised and left.

At least lock the door, Geez. But something felt wrong. The Wastrel knew the bathroom was empty, so who had he seen?

Cautiously peeking around the door, he slowly edged toward the reflection and caught sight of a young woman with dark green hair, staring back.

The girl yelled again, but this time, there was no mistaking where the sound was coming from.

“WHAT?”

[Cut to Outside]

“WHAAAAAAAAAT?!”

                                                                                   ***

A young dark-haired maid burst through the double doors, let out a scream and covered her mouth. Trembling with shock, the stranger began to do a weird hopping dance on the spot.

“I knew it!” She said, her face flushing red. “I told them, I told them! They wouldn’t believe me. Granted, they are medical experts, but still. This day is the best!” The woman let out another scream, smiled again and started crying.

The Wastrel grimaced.

Hoo-boy, what a weird volcano of emotions.

“Told them what?" He said. "Why are you here? Also who are you? And who am I, for that matter?”

“’For that matter’ ?” The Maid said, wiping her face. “Did you attend a fancy school, when you were unconscious?” She drew closer to get a better look. “I’m getting a weird feeling offa you, like an Aunt people only see at parties. Oh Ruby, is that really you?”

“Yes...It is I, Ruby. The Ruby. R to the B-Y. Ol’ Rubes.”

“Well, your mood has improved.”

Nope, this is just me stalling for more information.

“I’m afraid I can’t remember who you are.”

“Then let me re-introduce, myself!” The stranger said, stepping back. “I am Callie Mazoo, also known as the Blue Bandit!”

She spun around and made a ‘V’ against her left eye, while sticking out her tongue.

Ruby blinked. Once.

“Thank you.” She said. “I’m sure there’s a back story coming, but firstly where are my clothes?"

“Oh, right now your clothes are in storage.  It’s company policy; uniforms can’t be burnt with the corpse.”

“Corpse? What corpse? Who? Me?!”

“Of course you.” Callie said, gesturing to the rows of metal doors. “That’s why you’re in a mortuary; did you not notice the body-shaped freezers?”

“I thought it was primitive form of Capsule Hotel.” Ruby said, sheepishly.

“Ehh, is that a medical thing?”

“Never mind, when can I get some dressed?"

Callie opened a locker.

“This will do for now, " She said, before handing over a bright green Maids outfit. "You can’t get issued a fresh set, because technically you still own the old one.”

“Own it?”

“You have to work off the price of your meal, bed and clothes. It’s kind of insidious, but it keeps people active. ”

“What kind of evil hotel is this, anyway?” Ruby said, buttoning up.

“Hotel?

"The reason why you’re dressed as a Maid.”

“My girl, this ain’t no hotel...” Callie said, as they marched through the reception area. “This place is…” She opened the exit door, with great flourish. “A Prison of MAAAIDDDS!”

They stood on a metal balcony over-looking the rows of cell doors. Each door was open and apart from one sleepy janitor, the floor was completely deserted.

Ruby bit her lip, awkwardly. “You were expecting more people?”

“Kinda.” Callie said, slowly lowering her arms.

“We can do it again later.”

“No, the moments gone, let’s go. I’m pretty sure they’re out to lunch.”

They’re not the only ones.

                                                                     ***

On the way back to their cell, Callie pointed out a few places of note with a little history thrown in.

“Damocles Prison is right in the heart of an endless desert.” Callie said. “So if do manage to get out, you wouldn’t last a day. That is why they don’t station guards in the lower floors, only the higher ups get protection.”

“Doesn’t seem fair somehow.”

Callie shrugged. “It’s a prison, why would it?” She pointed to a place outside, which appeared to be a black tower. “The guard’s house is made up of guards.”

“Genius name, they win at names.” Ruby said, dryly. In spite of everything being new, she could not help but feel a twinge of familiarity about the place.

“I wouldn’t expect the rich and powerful to become creative overnight.”

Ruby laughed, slightly. She was starting to like this girl.

“How long have you been in Damascus?”

“Damocles. About a few years, I got done for theft.”

“They put you Damacus for that?”

“Damocles." Callie said, unfazed by the constant correction. "The thing I stole were slaves, and those responsible for their plight, felt a little detached as a result of my reckless endeavour.”

“Detached?”

“Limbs, heads, torso’s; whatever the opportunity called for.”

Ruby was impressed. “You’re something of a bad ass.”

“Well, I was vice-master of an Assassin’s guild for eight years running.”

“Never wanted to be the boss?”

“A desk job, you mean?" Callie said, grimacing. "It's all administration and politics. A lot of double-dealing, watching your back, sniffing out contracts. I prefer the thrill of intrigue, infiltration and escape.”

“Still, I am so glad you’re not my enemy.” Ruby said.

The other girl stopped in her tracks. “No. You’re so much worse than I am. In a fight, I don’t think I’d survive.”

That took a turn.

“Why would you think that?”

“I’m just saying what the Warden told me. According to her, you and I both got reputations to live up to. I have no problems with mine, but you have suffered a loss that will ripple out. People will need to respect you again.”

Ruby shook her head. “I don’t even know what I did to earn it the first time.”

“You seriously don’t remember anything?" Callie asked.

“No, it’s like my first day.”

“You might want to keep that to yourself.”

“Amnesia is bad?”

“Not just bad, but dangerous. Right now, you’re a lost lamb in a Wolf cave, It’s also considered a defect, something that’ll earn yourself a quick trip to Baboon Island.” She picked up on Ruby’s blank expression. “The crazy house? Those considered surplus to requirements, will find themselves chained up and forced to eat like a dog. So try to look like you belong here.”

“Fake it til you make it.”

“There’s a lot of that going me, trust me.”

Ruby shot her a look. “Can I trust you?”

“Who knows?” Callie said. “A place like this teaches you to follow your gut, if you want to keep it one piece.”

They got to the cell door with their last names stencilled in black lettering.

“Tuxedo.” Ruby said, reading the bottom. “Ruby Tuxedo, that’s me?”

“Wow, you put two and two together, she can  be taught.”

A few doors down, someone yelled in their direction.

“HEY! What the hell is this?”

Three angry looking maids appeared. They all looked like normal women; except for the fact their entire skin was shiny, green and scaly like a Python.

Ruby looked away. It’s weird, but I would totally go for that.

“Bet Noir, leader of the Snake Maids.” Callie whispered. “They’ve had it in for you since you got here.”

“Why am I here?”

“You’re asking now?”

“I asked you a question.” Bet said, her thin tongue peeking out. “We watched you die. We killed you!”

“I got better?” Ruby replied.

The leader turned to her subordinates and smiled.

“She got better, ain’t that something?”

Ruby screwed her face up. “Why are you talking like a gum-snapping waitress from the fifties?”

Bet Noir leaned in. “You got a problem with the way I talk, sugar plum? I’m all ears.”

“Snakes don’t have ears, Chuckles…so back off.”

“Don’t antagonise her!” Callie said, quietly.

“No please, antagonise me. I want to see if she’s just like before; where all the weight is in her mouth.”

“You can’t fight without an adjudicator agreeing to the match.” Ruby said, suddenly getting a flashback to her previous life. “Those are the rules.”

“Rules are meant to be broken.”

“So are bones.” Came a quiet voice from behind.

Everyone turned around to see a masked maid perfectly balanced on the guard rail., her face, body and limbs  hidden under dark bandages.  Large X’s were drawn for eyes and a smiling cartoon mouth filled with pointy teeth.

“The ‘Black Mummy’.” Callie whispered. “Do not talk back or show weakness.”

Starting to get that vibe.

“Hal Caesar.” Bet said, sneering. “This got nothing to do with you.”

“You’d think. Except when an inmate comes back to life, it raises hackles among the higher ups.” Hal jumped down and gently ran a hand through Ruby’s hair, caressing her ear. “Who knows what dark deceptions lurk beneath?” Suddenly, the stranger brought a chopping motion across Ruby’s neck, causing her body to go limp. Hal proceeded to carry the girl under one arm like it was a pillow. “I suppose all will be revealed.”

In an instant they were gone, as if beamed up into thin air.