Bandit blinked and a heavy white light shone all around her. 'Am I dead?' she thought confusedly. Soon, her eyes adjusted to the brightness and she found herself in tiny, suffocating room with a huge steel door on the wall opposite. She sat up.
"Where am I?" she thought aloud. There was no reply. The last thing she remembered she had been in the corridor waiting for Korse to come back from Airi Isoda's office. After that...her mind was clouded. Stepping down from the bed, she noticed she was wearing a plain white shirt and plain White pants. Her feet were bare and the floor was icy beneath them. She was extremely confused. She walked to the door and tried to open it. It wouldn't budge. She tried again and again but made no progress. Soon, she began to quake. Why was she locked here? Suddenly, a small shutter opened on the door and a pair of brown eyes stared down at her.
"She's awake." the owner of the eyes said in a deep manly voice. The sound of bolts opening sounded and soon the door opened. She went to run out but a strong hand pushed her back.
"Stay." Airi Isoda ordered. "You're here for committing treason against this company. You are thereby sentenced to death in two weeks time unless you are proven innocent." Bandit's entire world broke down around her. She crumpled to the floor in absolute devastation, unable to comprehend what was happening. Airi smirked and the door shut. She heard the locks turn. She crawled into the corner and cried against the wall. They knew about everything. Somehow they'd made her tell, though she couldn't fathom how. They would go after Grace. They would go after the Music Makers. The Boss would win. Everyone was doomed to a worthless existence. And she would die. At ten years old she would be killed. She hadn't even lived to be a teenager. And all the secrecy - Grace escaping, the Music Makers whereabouts... It would all be pointless. She would die without ever having made a difference. Her nails groped out at the wall, desperate for something to hold on to and cuddle. Finally she collapsed onto her steel bed and scooped her small pillow into her arms. She missed her teddy bear. But this would suffice. She held it close to her body and pleaded with no one to save her. She didn't believe in God. She just believed in the enemy. If God existed, the world wouldn't have ended up like this. He wouldn't have allowed it. Maybe there was a God once...but he gave up. she didn't know. She wanted Korse...her papa...to come and save her. She felt so alone. Would she die alone? And how would they kill her? Lethal injection? Swing from a rope by her neck? ...Killed at gunpoint? Who knew.
"What delightful things to consider," she sobbed to herself. Finally, she cried herself to sleep.
She didn't know how long she was out for, but eventually she was awoken by the bolts on the door sliding open loudly. She sat up fast, and her head span. Her face was puffy with tears. The door opened and the face of Korse peered in.
"PAPA!" she cried and flung herself into his arms. Hesitantly, he hugged her back. "Papa I'm so afraid! How did they find out?" She bawled into his ruffled shirt. He prised her off of him. He couldn't bear to think that she still thought so highly of him after what he had done. He was the reason she was here.
"B...I'm so sorry," he said sadly.
"For what?" She looked up at him, a confused expression plastered on her face. Her frightened eyes were shining. "...I'm the reason...why you're trapped in here..."
"Don't blame yourself, papa! It's not your fault!"
"Oh but it is, my darling. I was the one who got you to tell us everything. We hypnotised you." He was on the brink of tears as he watched her expression change throughout his little speech. Now she wore a look of absolute hatred. It burned in her eyes.
"Get out..." she muttered under her breath.
"Bandit I'm sorry I-"
"I said get out," she repeated, shaking in fury.
"Please I-"
"I SAID GET OUT!" she screamed, punching him in the chest with her small nimble fists. Although it wasn't hurting Korse too badly, to actually see her wanting to inflict actual physical pain on him was heartbreaking. What had he done? He backed away and closed the door, collapsing against it on the other side. He heard her crying through the tough metal. What had he DONE? He'd given his baby a death sentence. And she hated him. He buried his face in his hands. He heard heels clicking down the corridor towards him and he glanced up to we see Airi advancing down the corridor. She stopped beside him.
"Her trial is in one week. For now, she stays here. If you make Any Attempt at getting her out of here I'll have your head on a silver platter." she raised an eyebrow at Korse's disbelieving expression. "Yes, I CAN make that happen. Now get up." Korse scraped himself to his feet. "Good. Now, I have made plans for you and eight Draculoids to head out to the north in three days time. You will take the Music Makers by surprise and kill them. You will return with Grace so she can be trialled along with Bandit." Korse went to protest but Airi raised a silencing finger. "Do not disagree. You will complete this assignment and not complain." Korse nodded solemnly and she strutted away.
