Take the deal

“Works for me.” You hold up your free hand, palm out. “I promise I will destroy all the names and stuff I just recorded and do my best to forget those names.”

“And I in turn swear to not seek vengeance against you, nor to encourage any of my colleagues to do so, trusting that the gods will grant you the punishment you so richly deserve.”

You feel a tingle like static electricity from the lasso, and you know instinctively that the deal is set and binding. You take out your phone and log into your secure coms app. You message your buddy to go ahead and delete the video you sent and any backups. A few seconds pass before he responds, acknowledging that it’s done.

You show the messages to Diana. She nods, businesslike. “Very well then. Untie me and you may do with me what you will.”

“In this matter I think you’ll find I have a great deal of will. But no, I don’t think I’ll be untying you. For one thing, I prefer you this way. For another, you didn’t actually promise not to escape.”

There is absolutely zero humor in her face or voice as she says, “No. I did not.”