Reminder that underlined speech means that it's spoken in English!

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Chapter Eighteen – The Torture

"Get her to talk. We want to know everything she knows on BK-201."

"I know."

"You have two hours, or else the deal is off."

"I already said I know," she snapped.

"Fine. I'll be back."

Glaring as he walked out of the building, Amelia finally turned towards the hostage in front of her. How pitiful she looked, curled up on the ground with her eyes covered and her arms and legs bound behind her. She couldn't even understand what the big obsession was. But they had promised to pay her for this; a sum larger than she could make with a lifetime in service.

***

Misaki turned her face towards the sound as she could hear footsteps approaching her. Shrinking back, she wasn't sure what to expect. They obviously wanted something from her; enough to kidnap her on foreign soil. But who was it and what exactly did they want to begin with? She couldn't tell if it was the man or the woman who approached her, but she was frightened nonetheless.

The footsteps stopped a foot away from her body and whoever it was, they knelt down. A hand touched her cheek and she guessed female as her skin was soft, fingers slim. Her fingers caressed her cheek and Misaki jerked away from the touch. Why didn't she state what she wanted?

An eternity seemed to draw out as she was helped back up into a sitting position. Drawing her legs close in front of her, Misaki knew it didn't really do anything to help her, but it helped her feel slightly safer. The fact that she wasn't speaking scared her more than anything else as people usually made demands in this type of situation.

"I bet you never expected to be here."

Misaki was surprised when she was spoken to in Japanese. After all, she was in America. And the only American she knew who understood Japanese was Amelia... She couldn't believe that Amelia would be here, but she recognized her voice.

"Amelia, what are you doing here?" she asked softly.

"Oh, I didn't kidnap you, if that's what you're thinking."

"Did you lie to me?"

"No, not at all," she replied congenially. "What makes you think that?"

"You said you would get someone to drive me and then I ended up here."

"But I did get someone to drive you. This part wasn't my doing. They just asked me to come now."

"I don't understand," Misaki replied. "Why would you do this and who are you working for?"

"Why? Because they offered me more money than I could ever imagine."

"But I thought you wanted to work for justice."

"Oh shut it," Amelia snapped. "Don't pull your righteous act on me."

"At least tell me why you helped me with Jacob."

"That? I needed you to trust me. Besides, he's an idiot and he would have ruined everything."

Misaki shook her head in response. It didn't make sense, that she could just throw away everything for money. She didn't believe it; she didn't want to. Amelia had been nothing but helpful during her time here. To have her in front of her in such a position...

"Hard to believe, isn't it?" she asked, her hand cupping her cheek. "But believe it. It's actually perfect; too perfect."

"What do you mean?"

"They only want to know about BK-201 and they think you're the one to ask. But regardless of what you say or do, you're going to die anyways."

Misaki knew the Syndicate was behind this when she mentioned BK-201. She should have known. But that didn't explain why Amelia's voice had taken on a malicious tone at the idea of her death. It sounded like she wanted to be the one who killed her.

"Why do you care about BK-201?" Misaki asked.

"BK-201? I don't care about him. I only care about you."

Misaki shuddered as she had whispered in her ear. She couldn't understand why she should be the target when she had only been in America for less than two months. She hadn't even known Amelia before this. She couldn't understand any of this!

"I know you're confused, but that's fine by me," Amelia whispered.

Misaki flinched as she kissed her cheek and eventually found her lips pressed against her own. She tried to pull away, repulsed, but Amelia's hand held her head steady. Finally, she did what she had to and bit her lip. Cursing as she pulled away, Misaki heard her spit on the ground.

"I should have known... You're a little bitch like the rest of them. I was going to play nice you know."

"What do you want? Why are you doing this?"

"I'll explain in time... But you better start talking. You're running out of time."

"I don't know anything about BK-201," she stated defiantly.

If she was going to die anyways, she refused to help them find him. Besides, she really didn't know anything that would help them. He usually came to find her and that was because of Yin. Since this was the Syndicate asking, they already knew about the doll's existence. The only thing that she could tell them was that they were in a relationship, but that wasn't going to help if she was dead.

The pain spread across her cheek as Amelia slapped her, her ring scratching across her cheek. Even so, she wasn't going to say anything. They could beat her and hurt her, but she would never give up information on Hei. She would rather take that to her grave than help the Syndicate.

"Talk. Tell me," Amelia demanded.

"I can't tell you what I don't know."

"I won't believe it. You've been working long hours. You must know something, so tell me."

"No."

Amelia continued to hit her, but Misaki was made of sterner material. Even if she had CIA training, she refused to cower to this woman who had pretended to be the same as her. She wouldn't sell Hei to the Syndicate, even if they promised her life in exchanged. The Syndicate wasn't her enemy just because they were also Hei's.

"I thought you liked Japan," Misaki stated when Amelia seemed tired of hitting her.

Since her cheeks were swollen, she could imagine that her hands also stung from the impact. Amelia was still hiding something from her and she was determined to find out what it was. Nothing she had said so far answered the question of why she hated her so much.

"You were willing to move there to learn the language," Misaki said, trying to draw her into conversation.

"Don't change the subject."

"I already told you I can't tell you what I don't know."

"Stop it! You're lying!"

Misaki just let her as she wrapped her hands around her neck and started to choke her. Eventually, she stopped as she must have realized that she wouldn't get answers from a dead person. Misaki sat back, gasping for air. What could she say to make her explain?

"So why do you hate me?" she asked directly. "It doesn't make sense to learn about a place you despise."

"That again! You're really annoying, you know that?"

"I'll stop asking if you tell me why."

"Just tell me about BK-201!" she demanded.

"Only if you tell me about your reason – the real one – first."

"You want to know that badly? I'll tell you."

Amelia punched the metal behind her and Misaki was startled by the impact, but Amelia didn't seem to notice the pain. Instead, she started pacing beside her in hurried steps. To get her this worked up, Misaki was curious to know what it was.

"You know, I really do love the Japanese," Amelia finally said, kneeling beside her as she stroked her cheeks. "Especially the women."

Misaki sat there nervously, wondering if this woman would kiss her again. She didn't think Amelia swung that way, but anything was possible at this point and she seemed unstable psychologically.

"Their small stature, silky smooth skin and most all, their pleasant and congenial submissive personalities," Amelia murmured as her fingers continued to touch Misaki.

It seemed like she had calmed down, but Misaki knew otherwise. She was just explaining herself, like she had asked, and she had a deep rooted reason to despise her. It just seemed like she was getting to it in a roundabout manner. She tried to remain calm as Amelia started to unbutton her blouse.

"Yes, that silky smooth skin," she said, her hands touching her at the base of her neck.

"But really, that's only what they want everyone to think!" she snapped. "Just because they're small and cute. Yet I've seen them worm their way into men's lives and ruin everything! I was rejected by my boyfriend of three years for a conniving bitch like you! He was with me, for three years! Then do you know what he turns around to tell me? That I'm not cute enough and that I'm like a gangly giraffe compared to the sweet little Japanese mouse he cheated on me with. Just because I'm blonde. Yeah, I love the Japanese women alright. I love to hate them that is."

"But I'm not like that."

"No? You just seem especially docile next to someone like April," Amelia snarled. "I was so pleased when I saw Jacob try to force himself on you; to sully a Japanese woman... But then everything would have been such a waste."

"Let me guess, you conned this out of some poor fool," Amelia commented as her eyes caught sight of the ring on her necklace. "Let's just say that I'm doing everyone a favour when I kill you."

"They'll kill you too when you don't give them any answers."

"Then I'll just have to force you to tell me something!"

Misaki could only wonder what this vindictive woman meant by that as she finally let go of the ring she had been holding. Even if she was going to die, she didn't mind as much, with Hei's promise ring to go with her. But she couldn't believe that someone would turn down Amelia like that. To her, she was model material. Though she was blindfolded, Misaki closed her eyes, hoping she would die in a quick manner.

A breath of relief escaped her lips when she heard Amelia walk away. She was probably trying to determine the best way to eliminate her, given her twisted nature. Misaki was surprised she had been able to hide it for so long as they had worked together on numerous occasions...

"Now, what should I do to make you talk?" Amelia inquired upon returning.

"I don't have anything to tell you."

"Nothing? Maybe they'd spare you and your little boyfriend if you talk."

"Not like you would," Misaki retorted.

"How right you are. Now say good-bye Misaki-chan," Amelia said, kissing her again. "I'm afraid I'm going to have to ki-..."

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A/N: I bet no one expected Amelia to show up in this chapter!! How's that for a plot twist? :) Did she come across as crazy as I wanted her to? I was hoping that she seemed psycho, but when I read it, she seems pretty tame... It might just be because I know what happens though, so please let me know if I was successful in that regards~

Lolz, and I bet lots of people are not liking me right now... Yet another cliff-hanger... It's all part of how the story is laid out though, so yeah...