The visitors

[Tag you're it]

 "Give me your hand." The woman said, her left hand outstretched and holding a blunt object in the other.

 "What do you intend to do with that?" Yima asked even though she knew exactly what it was. 

 This woman was going to cut into her skin and rub crushed medicine inside each wound. Yima had this done to her when She was five years old and sick. To keep the bad spirits away, her mother always said.

 "This is the only way if you want to see the past." The woman put on a motherly face and smiled gently at her, "It'll hurt but I know you won't mind the pain." 

 Yima hesitated and the woman sighed.

 "The evil this world fears is gone, I made sure of it." The woman stepped closer, " The evil I fear is still around, it takes a bite and it never Let's go, until you give up and run, leaving a piece of yourself in its mouth. Once it has a taste, it'll keep coming back until there's nothing left. Until you stop running away but towards it because you want it all to just stop. You look confused, he would have understood me." 

 "I-" A loud bang interrupted. 

 "You have visitors!" It was a guard. 

 Turning around, Yima walked towards the cell door and waited for it to open. The light that once brought the cell to life went out leaving the place as dark as when she first came.

 "Don't come back." The woman said, her voice barely audible. 

 "Let's go." The guard said as she blindfolded Yima. 

 The stairs seemed to never end as she was being pushed down them, falling countless times. The guard giggled each time.

 "Are we there yet?" Yima asked angrily.

 The guard pushed her against the wall. 

 "Watch your mouth criminal" 

 Yima held her breath in fear of breathing on the guard's face that was inches away from hers.

 "You will show me the same fear and respect that the male guards here get." The guard squeezed Yima's throat once and then left.

 Yima waited until she couldn't hear her footsteps to remove the blindfold.

 The bright light was too much to bear and she closed her eyes a little before opening them again.

 She was against the right wall of a room full of people whose eyes were glued to her. Yima tried to keep in her cough. She stared at the floor.

 "Does your neck still hurt?" Yima's head snapped in the direction of the voice.

 Adelia and Lagon walked towards her slowly, Lagon holding in a laugh.

 "Wait, you guys saw that?" 

 "Everyone saw it." 

 "Kill me now." Yima said and covered her face with her hands.

 "Don't worry you took it like a champ." Lagon said with a chuckle.

 "Speaking of champions, have you met her yet?" Adelia asked, holding Yima's hands.

 "Med's wife?, yes." Yima choked out, "Ouch." 

 "Med's wife is your cellmate!" Lagon and Adelia said at the same time.

 "She scares me." Yima admitted

 "Ignore her, don't try to talk to her or answer her questions, you'll thank me later." Lagon said and Adelia nodded.

 "Then which one were you referring to?" Yima asked.

 "She's the greatest assassin of all time." Adelia proudly stated with a dreamy expression.

 "Then what is she doing here? Is she so great?"

 "She always allows herself to get captured so that she can participate in the fights and after she's done, she escapes." Lagon answered.

 "Is that why you guys steal?" Yima asked, "So that you get caught and come here, All that trouble just so you'll be able to meet her?" 

 "We want to be her Ashin." Adelia said.

 "Two Ashins?" Yima pondered.

 "It's rare, yes but it's still possible. If Lagon and I fail to win or lose-" 

 "A draw." Yima corrected, Adelia rolled her eyes.

 "Whatever, If that happens, which it will, we'll both have to fight her and if we win then we both become her Ashins." 

 "You too want to take on the greatest assassin?" Yima laughed.

 "We've been practicing." Lagon said with a glare.

 "So why did you come here?" 

 "We want you to attend a fight and convince her to join this year's tournament." 

 Yima stared at them like they were crazy.

 "Pumul saw her today by the top cells, she's being kept like an animal. I don't think she'll be able to escape this time." A woman in a cloak whispered to the man next to her, Yima hadn't noticed them until now.

 "She will, she always does." Lagon joined in on their conversation. 

 The man chuckled, "We'll take both your friends eyeballs if you're wrong." He shoved his hand in his back pocket and pulled out a coin sack.

 "Come one." He said to the woman and they left. 

 "Lagon why didn't you just mind your own business." Yima shoved him.

 "He was only stating facts." 

 "You're only supporting him because your eyeballs aren't at risk of being pulled out!" 

 "I'm sorry, but I had to say something." 

 Yima sighed. 

 "So, are you going to talk to her about the tournament?" 

 "I have no choice." Yima said and started to walk away.

 "Where are you going?" Adelia called out.

 "To the top cells to make sure I won't be losing my eyeballs." 

 "She doesn't need your help." Lagon said.

 "Helping her escape isn't part of the plan." Yima replied as she went up the stairs.