It's that time of the week again:) Thank you everyone for all the reviews, hope you enjoy this chapter too!
Anika took a look at her surroundings drinking every aspect and feature in.
She looked up to see the last strands of light fade away through the high up windows that obviously could not open. The floor was cemented and she could only imagine how cold it could get. The ceiling was held aloft by wide square pillars that occurred every few meters. All she could see of the ceiling was that it was grey; she could not make out much else since the light was fading fast.
The room itself was quite square and not as large as it initially seemed. She had been in bigger warehouses but the extremely high ceiling accounted for the great echo.
The place smelt dank and dusty. Disused. The thought made her cringe. If Kaiba did not get her call, she had no way of knowing if he had, how would they be found in a place no one visited?
The chair she was bound to was silver, metal, nothing she could break with any amount of force.
She turned around as far as she could to have a look at Mokuba. He was bound to a chair just like hers. Finally, her gaze landed on the women before her. She knew Andrea and Kuro but could not quite place the third woman. It nagged her, she looked so familiar. All three of their sneering faces promised a torturous time for Anika. She shivered despite the warmth. Goosebumps rising on her arms, her hair standing on end.
"Like the setting Anika?" Andrea asked looking around. Anika said nothing in reply. She needed a better grasp on what was going to happen and she did not want to risk saying anything that would endanger them both any further.
"It's wonderfully warm now, but just wait, it gets frigid in here at night." Andrea continued. "You really should have brought a jacket. Oh, wait..." She laughed.
"Are you okay Mokuba?" Anika whispered.
"Fine."
"Be as quiet as you can be. Just trust me please."
"Okay." He replied. There was something about Anika right now that reminded Mokuba a lot of his brother. He trusted them both immensely and even though he did not know what she was thinking and as hard as it might be, he would listen to her.
Just then the third woman ran her fingers over the bridge of her nose sliding them to her hairline as if to dust whatever had just landed on her face away, Anika caught the movement in the corner of her eye and it struck Anika like a swift punch to the gut. She realized immediately why she looked so familiar. The last time she saw her, those eyes were filled with terror.
"You!" Anika said. "You were on the plane."
"Ten points!" She exclaimed. "You remember me."
The second piece of the puzzle then fell into place as Anika remembered watching the video in Kaiba's office of a female intruder who had such familiar eyes.
"Kaiba Corp." Anika said softly.
"Well done. You really are quite bright. I should introduce myself. I'm Fumiko."
"You almost killed us all."
"I knew Seto would save us." She said his name with such affection and adoration. It clawed at Anika's insides and she wished she could punch that smug look right off her face.
"It's Mr Kaiba to you." Anika and Mokuba said together.
Kaiba was impatiently pacing back and forth in his lounge waiting for Mike to call him back. He wished he had not accepted Mike's offer to help right now because he was holding them up. Every minute that passed put Mokuba and Anika in even more peril. The only reason he allowed it was because he knew if he acquired any information through less than legal channels, it would not be usable later on. Well not to Mike or Anika but Kaiba had a ruthlessness none of them have yet seen.
Mike suggested that he be allowed to trace Andrea using her mobile. He also said he would put out an A.P.B. on Andrea and was running a facial recognition scan for Erizawa using all accessible cameras in Domino. Alex had gone to Facet Inc to get a copy of Andrea's previous employee file so that they would have all her details on hand. He had not yet returned and Kaiba decided that he had done enough waiting around for one night.
"Roland." He spoke into his communicator, "Retrieve Anika's car from the parking space at Arabica and I want the chopper at the mansion ASAP."
Kaiba's attention was suddenly diverted as his phone rang. He did not recognise the number; he hoped this was the call stating their demands.
"Kaiba." He answered.
"Seto." It was Anika. Her voice was laced with anger.
"Anika. Where are you?" He asked hurriedly.
"I'm with Mokuba. Actually I have Mokuba." She said. Kaiba was silent, contemplating just what it was she was saying. "I suppose you should have listened to people when they warned you about me." Her voice shook almost imperceptibly and for the first time in his life Kaiba was confused. Anika continued as if Kaiba had replied and slowly he was piecing things together. "It's dangerous to trust anyone you know. Now Mokuba is in danger. Why you ask. Because Kaiba, I wanted to destroy you for your power." He knew something was wrong here. He had been silent the entire time but Anika continued on as if he had said something. They were listening. They had to be.
"Are they listening to this conversation Anika?" Kaiba asked.
"I'm afraid so. I think right now you need to remember what I told you at the mansion the last time we had dinner there completely alone." Anika slipped and he heard the desperation in her voice. She was willing him to remember.
The last time they were completely alone was the night she told him that she was going after Erizawa with Mike's help. He could hear her words right now. "Seto, I know you always try to protect me, but sometimes I can do the same for you. I will always look out for you and Mokuba. And if by some chance I was ever in trouble, I would find a way to get word to you."
"I understand." He said.
"Goodbye Kaiba." The line went dead.
Kaiba now knew that Mokuba was fine for the moment but he had no idea what sort of condition Anika would be in.
Alex walked in just at that moment, took one look at Kaiba and knew the cogs of his mind were spinning furiously.
"What's happened?" Alex asked.
"I got a call from Anika." Kaiba said simply.
"What?! Is she fine? Is she free? Do you know their demands?" Alex quizzed, close on hysteria.
"No. There are no demands." The weight of what Kaiba just said settled on Alex and he was horrified.
"We have to get her out." He said softly.
"I know." Kaiba replied irritably.
"Tell me exactly what she said."
"She insinuated that she was responsible for the kidnapping and is holding Mokuba. She was trying to get a message across to me. Mokuba is fine for now but I don't know about her."
"Why? Would..."
"You know why. You just don't want to think about it." Kaiba shot at Alex. "Why not just get rid of her? It would be easy enough. No, they want to destroy her, every aspect of her."
"If they got you to believe that she would do something like this, got you to hate her, it would rip her apart." Alex said, catching onto Kaiba's thoughts. "What was the key to understanding her message?"
Kaiba was not sure he wanted to tell Alex. He wanted selfishly to hold on to it himself but Alex had a right to know.
"She wanted me to remember something she had said to me at dinner when she told me of her plan to get Erizawa. She said that she would always look out for Mokuba and me and that she would find a way to get a message across to me. And she has done, twice now."
"Mike is trying to get a trace on the number."
"Trying?! I could do it in my sleep." Kaiba said balling up his fists.
"I know. We just have to wait. He has already warned me that if we do anything outside the bounds of the law he will not hesitate to take us in as well. It's his job to." Alex wished that Mike had not interfered in the first place. He turned around and noticed a picture frame on the table of Anika looking beautiful and happy. He realized the picture was taken on Kaiba's birthday. He picked it up careful not to touch the picture of Mokuba on the left and prayed a silent prayer that they found her soon.
"So what did Seto see in you anyway?" Fumiko said, studying Anika. "There are plenty of smart women out there."
"What? Like you?" Anika snorted derisively.
"Yes you bitch. Like me. I would tone down the attitude." She snapped. Instead Anika held her head up and stared at her defiantly.
"You're not very attractive either with your dark hair and your skin; nowhere near as fair as mine. Maybe you're just a good shag. But he will get bored eventually." She mused. "After tonight though, he will never think about you again." She said with a mad grin.
The words were not lost on Anika and whatever they were planning she knew she had to get Mokuba out and fast. She let go of Mokuba's hand and discreetly felt his binds trying to understand the knots that were made.
Just then she heard the heavy footfalls that could only belong to a man. He strolled casually before her in a black suit and white shirt. He was a portly man with his obvious paunch hanging slightly over the top of his pants. Erizawa was back.
Their last interaction came flooding back to her and his threat played over and over in her head like a song she could not forget.
"Hello Facet. Miss me?" He said with a smirk.
"How did you get out?"
"I told you before, it's who you know." He winked. "Looks like you're in quite the predicament."
"Looks like." She deadpanned.
"I see you've met my girls. Aren't they wonderful?" He beamed.
"If you think psychopaths are wonderful, yeah sure." Anika replied. "At least now I know what you were busy with for those five months."
"You know, you just don't appreciate the logistics involved in the kidnap of a high profile individual such as yourself. You just always make things so difficult Anika."
"It's my life's goal." She said sardonically.
"Well, I'm going to make things a little more difficult for you." He dropped down before her so he could look her in the eye, "You see, none of us really want you to walk out of here, so in a democracy the majority rules. Naturally that puts you at a disadvantage, however that isn't quite enough for us." He said conversationally.
Anika had never had to come to terms with her mortality before and here it was now wearing the smug expression of Osamu Erizawa. She could not think of a worse way to go. Still she had knowledge now and with knowledge comes power.
"So you can have my life, but not Mokuba's."
"So you're looking down the barrel and you plead for him. Touching. I tell you what. I will think about that but, this is what you have to do." He pulled out a cell phone pressing a few buttons as he went along. His technology was as primitive as he was. "You're going to call your loverboy and tell him that you were behind Mokuba's kidnapping."
"I see. So you don't just want my life, you want every memory of me tarnished. Destroy me in the eyes of the one person you know you can't beat."
"Something like that." He replied. Anika snorted in derision.
"Yeah, that's not going to work. You see Osamu, Kaiba is a very highly intelligent man and he knows me better than you can ever imagine. Don't you think he would figure it out?"
"No, because you are going to sell it to him."
Mokuba laughed at Erizawa.
"What are you laughing at you brat?"
"It's never going to work. Seto will never believe it."
"Well we are just going to have to make him. Maybe you need some incentive to perform Facet." Erizawa looked at Kuro and nodded in Mokuba's direction. She sauntered over, standing in front of him raising her arm and pointing her gun straight at his heart.
"So will you make Kaiba listen to you now?"
"Fine. Make the call."
"Good girl." He said condescendingly.
Erizawa hit the call button and placed the phone to her ear. After a few short rings Kaiba answered.
"Kaiba." He said in his strong tone and it took everything she had to not fall apart.
"Seto." She said filled with rage. She knew she had to think clearly if she was to use this opportunity without making them suspicious.
"Anika. Where are you?" He sounded irritable and slightly frantic.
"I'm with Mokuba. Actually I have Mokuba." She said clearly. "I suppose you should have listened to people when they warned you about me." She felt herself losing her edge and pulled herself together. "It's dangerous to trust anyone you know. Now Mokuba is in danger." She had an idea and continued to speak as if Kaiba was making all the sounds Erizawa wanted to hear but at the same time Kaiba would figure it out. "Why you ask. Because Kaiba, I wanted to destroy you for your power." It sounded ridiculous to her own ears. She would lay down her life for her family and maybe she would be.
"Are they listening to this conversation Anika?" Kaiba asked and she internally rejoiced.
"I'm afraid so. I think right now you need to remember what I told you at the mansion the last time we had dinner there completely alone." Anika was desperate for him to remember.
"I understand." He said after a pause.
"Goodbye Kaiba." She said with an edge of finality. If this was her last night on earth at least he knew that she loved him. She did not dare say "Seto". She knew that one little word would be her undoing.
"Nicely done Facet. Now what did you say to him at your dinner?" Erizawa asked, eyes narrowed.
"Just that it's always dangerous to let people in because you never know what their intentions are." She lied. "Now would point that fucking gun somewhere else." She seethed.
"My my, aren't we in a bad mood." He looked at Anika but gestured to Kuro to lower her weapon. She rejoined her partners in crime. "Well, I best be off. See you in the morning Anika." He winked and turned around but stopped. He slowly rotated on the spot and stepped back towards Anika. Erizawa grabbed a fistful of her hair and yanked her head back whispering her ear. "You might get to see one more night but you can be sure the countdown for your life has begun. I will make you beg for death but not before I destroy every bit of your soul." He released her and swiftly exited the building.
Anika was amazed at what she felt right now. Yes, she was afraid but she felt calm as if knowing made it better for some inexplicable reason.
"So here's what I don't get Fumiko." Anika started, "What's in this for you? Andrea I get. I fired her and made it known. She'll be lucky to have a job with anyone but Erizawa. I also understand Kuro the jealous girlfriend of a bad ex. I suppose she feels I humiliated her in some way but you; you I just don't get."
"I'm just in it for a piece of your demise. You stole my life."
"How have I stolen your life? The first time I saw you I thought you were an air hostess." Confusion evident in Anika's voice.
"I met Seto before you did. We had something. You stole him from me." She said clearly upset. Mokuba snickered. This woman was ridiculous.
"I see, so we have the vengeful psycho, the pathetic girlfriend and a crazy." Anika summarised.
"I'm not crazy you slut!" Fumiko launched forward flicking open her knife. She held the black rubber grip running the pointed, triangular blade along Anika's jaw. "See this, it's one of the best Italian knives made. The blade is super refined, able to cleanly slice through anything."
"That may be, it still doesn't change the truth. You think because you saw Seto Kaiba once that you were going to bear his children?! You are delusional. You know, if I wasn't so repulsed by you, I would get you some help. Start a proper life."
"Look around. You are the only repulsive one here."
"Hardly." Mokuba said. He was trying really hard to listen to what Anika wanted him to do but it was incredibly hard. He knew she had a plan of some sort so he just had to hold his tongue or at least attempt to.
Fumiko still had the knife to Anika's face. "I say we start the fun and games."
"Not yet Fumi." Andrea spoke out casually leaning against the wall. "Erizawa wants to be here for that."
A smirk played on Fumiko's lips, her eyes alight with malice. Anika felt the steel blade pierce her skin on the side of her face, close to her ear. She felt her run the blade down only stopping once the metal met her strong jawline. Anika's heart was hammering in her chest, time slowed down. The slice was surprisingly painless. Fumiko pulled the now crimson blade away proud of her work. "Just a little bit of fun won't hurt." She smiled evilly. Anika immediately felt the cut start to throb as warm liquid spilt down her neck and turned the collar of her white shirt blood red; blooming like a red rose on the snow covered ground.
Anika's head swam and she knew she had to fight the urge to close her eyes. It was just a flesh wound.
The warehouse was already rapidly cooling down and Anika was trying to fight off the cold as shivers assaulted her body.
"We shall see you in the morning. Don't go anywhere." Andrea called as the three of them headed for the door.
Anika waited a few minutes before speaking to Mokuba. She needed to make sure the coast was clear. She could easily help Mokuba escape now.
"Mokie, are you okay?"
"I'm fine. How bad it is?"
"Not too bad. I sliced my fingers in the kitchen worse than this." She lied. "Listen to me carefully now. I'm going to get you out. I don't think you will have too much hassle getting out but I'm not sure where we are in Domino so be careful when you get out."
"They could have a guard stationed." He thought aloud.
"I doubt it. Think about it, two women abduct us and only one has a weapon then the blindfold was one piece, it was cut in half for the two of us. And here, cuffs on me but a rope on you. No, they only expected me. You were just in the wrong place at the wrong time."
"I can't leave you Anika. They want to kill you." He said desperately.
"That's exactly why you need to go. Find Seto. He is the only chance I have left. Please Mokuba, listen to me." Anika knew that Mokuba had no money or means of communicating with Seto so it would take him a while to get help. If he did not return in time, she would be dead and that was something she would not let him witness.
"I can get these binds off you. Just hold still." Anika fiddled with the ropes trying to undo them. It was slow going. Soon enough though, Mokuba was free. He stood up flexing his fingers and feeling rather stiff. He walked around to Anika, lightly stroking her right cheek and winced at the amount of blood that covered it.
"Go Mokie. Quickly." She pleaded.
"I'll be back soon. I promise. He kissed the top of her head and carefully left the building.
"Good luck Mokuba." Anika whispered. She was exhausted, famished and freezing. Alone, a sense of hopelessness overcame her.
Anika could see the bright night sky outside and her mind went back to her previous evening with Seto. How long ago that seemed now. A single silent tear escaped her eye, kissed her cheek and fell onto her lap disappearing in the black fabric of her pants.