Chapter Twenty One
Soifon's P.O.V*
Upon regaining consciousness, Soifon observed Ace positioned before her. 'Are you awake?' he inquired, a smirk playing on his lips, while firmly grasping her cheek. Several days had transpired since both Soifon and Erin were abducted, and despite the passing time, Soifon remained suspended by chains in the same precarious state, with blood coating the floor.
Soifon's body was coated in dry blood and perspiration, causing one half of her shirt to adhere to her chest. Her wounds remained covered in blood and continued to inflict pain with each movement. Furthermore, her condition was aggravated by the onset of a gradually intensifying feverish state.
Soifon observed him with a resentful gaze, attempting feebly to free her head from his grip. "Please refrain from giving me such a disapproving look," Ace murmured softly, his hand gliding through her damp hair. "Before you can set eyes on your beloved, it is necessary to endure another round of punishment." His words caused Soifon to struggle against her restraints, but she halted as her energy dwindled and sweat cascaded down her face.
Ace gently tapped her cheek before proceeding towards the same medal table that he had visited two days prior. Soifon observed him with a piercing gaze and inquired in a raspy tone, attributed to her dry throat and heavy breathing, "Have you had your fill of this? I understand that you emerged victorious. Now, kindly permit us to depart." Despite her coughing while speaking, Ace disregarded her plea.
"Please, Ace, I implore you not to disregard my plea. In light of your victory, I kindly request that you release Erin and myself from this situation." Soifon pleaded earnestly, as Ace approached with a leather whip, amusement evident on his face.
"I'm afraid that won't be possible. I shall only grant your freedom once I have dealt with you and Jack has satisfied his desires. After our purposes have been fulfilled, you will be released momentarily. However, be aware that we may choose to pursue you again at a later time." Ace responded, cruelly running the whip along her neck before slowly tracing it down her body, savoring the fear evident in Soifon's blue eyes.
Ace leisurely traced the rope along Soifon's frame, briefly pulling it away. Soifon observed his every move and attempted to speak but was met with a sharp, agonizing pain as Ace forcefully cracked her with the whip.
"Were you planning on saying something?" Ace inquired, a smirk gracing his lips. Soifon bit her lip as the whip connected with her once more, followed by another crack.
Ace smirked every time Soifon emitted a cry, as he repeatedly struck her forcefully with the whip. Mocking her, he uttered, 'Atta girl, cry.' After one final whip crack, he casually returned to the table to retrieve something else. Soifon, with her vision blurred and blood dripping from her recently inflicted wounds on her chest and stomach, watched him. Her shirt was barely intact.
Ace placed the whip down on the table and approached Soifon, who mistakenly believed the torment was over. However, he shattered that hope with a powerful punch to her abdomen. He interrogated her, 'Did you think I was finished?' Catching her eyes, Soifon turned her head away, provoking another fierce blow to her stomach. Ace hissed, 'Don't turn away when I'm addressing you, you wretched woman.' He forcefully grabbed her chin and directed her gaze back towards him.
Soifon struggled to liberate her face from his grasp," she pleaded, "Please release me." Ace tightened his grip on her chin, a smirk adorning his face, and responded, "You can continue to implore, but I will not grant you freedom, little one." Releasing her chin momentarily, Ace struck her forcefully across the face before exiting the room, leaving her hanging. "Thomas will arrive in a few hours to escort you to the larger room, where you will have the opportunity to see Erin," he stated, closing the door behind him.
Soifon observed as the door closed behind Ace, her thoughts filled with curiosity about Ace's words, hoping they weren't merely an assurance that she would cross paths with Erin. She anxiously bit her lip, concerned for Erin's well-being. As she glanced down at the floor, she couldn't ignore the ache in her arms, a result of them being suspended above her head for an extended duration.
ยท Erin's P.O.V*
Erin awakened as a door opened, marking two days since her capture alongside Soifon. She experienced excruciating pain coursing through her body, inflicted by Jack who had violated her. Bruises covered her pallid skin, accompanied by bite marks scattered across her neck and chest. She didn't need to raise her gaze to comprehend the identity of the intruder. 'Have you returned for another round?' the brunette inquired, shifting her head to glare at Jack, who confidently entered the room with a smirk.
Jack approached the bed bearing a stack of garments in his grasp. 'Not on this occasion, but if you want to then I can,' he asserted condescendingly while depositing the clothing set onto the bed. Taking a seat beside Erin, he leaned in to plant an coarse kiss on her lips. However, she turned away, expressing her vehement refusal with the words, 'Absolutely not.' With a smirk on her face, she further provoked him by proclaiming, 'I have had far superior companions than you.' Observing his furious countenance, she taunted, 'What troubles you, Gray? Have I struck a nerve?' She inquired, gazing into his azure eyes.
Despite Erin's current immobility and inability to take action, she indulged in her favorite pastime of taunting him, relishing in the sight of his flustered expression.
A growl emanated from Jack's throat in response to Erin's taunting. "What is the issue, big boy?" Erin inquired, observing his approach. "I advise you to shut your fucking mouth, woman, before I forcibly do so," Jack retorted, his eyes filled with anger. Erin responded with a smirk, questioning, "And how exactly do you plan to accomplish that?" As she moved her head to make eye contact with him.
Jack proceeded to hold her head down onto the pillow with his hands. "Do you truly wish to discover how?" he sneered, forcefully gripping her throat and covering her mouth. "Perhaps a thorough beating will succeed in silencing you," he proposed, inquiring if that would effectively stop her from speaking. In an attempt to remove herself from his grasp, Erin attempted to move her head, but Jack refused to release his grip as he continued to apply pressure.
Erin attempted to free her face from his grasp, yet he maintained a firm grip on her throat and mouth, effectively immobilizing her. 'What seems to be the issue? Have I finally silenced you, woman?' Jack taunted, eyeing her with a smirk. Erin desperately struggled, attempting to break free from his grasp as he constricted her airways.
In a split second decision, she decided to strike his hand, maneuvering herself so that her mouth was positioned near it, and bit down as forcefully as she could. This caused the blond man to release his grip on her and clutch his throbbing hand in pain.
Jack stared at Erin's confident expression as he cradled his injured hand. 'You despicable woman,' he growled, rising to his feet and forcefully striking her abdomen with his knee. 'You will face the consequences for your actions.' The blond hissed, landing a few blows on her face before storming towards the exit. 'Just you wait, your day will soon come to an end,' he snarled, turning back to her with a smirk. 'Oh, I almost forgot. In an hour or two, Brian will escort you to the main room, where you will reunite with your little lover.' With that final remark, he slammed the door shut.
Erin observed as the door closed behind Jack, her emerald eyes widening at the mention of seeing Soifon soon. A glimmer of hope sparkled in her gaze. 'Oh, Little Bee, we will be reunited before long,' she mused, a soft smile forming.
Voight's P.O.V*
Two days have passed since Soifon and Erin were captured, and the team has not yet found any leads. Rain was falling from the sky as Voight stood at the window in his office, watching with a worried look in his dark eyes. He had called Justin yesterday and informed him about the situation, despite urging him not to worry due to his responsibilities with his son.
However, Justin made it clear that he would be coming down to help. 'Erin is my sister, damn it, she may not be blood, but she's still my sister. The same goes for Soifon. I'll be down as soon as I can,' Justin reiterated firmly. Voight sighed, acknowledging that Justin had a valid point.
He knew that he could use the assistance in the search, as he had not uncovered any significant evidence thus far. 'It appears that whoever Ace hired made sure to employ individuals capable of avoiding detection by the cameras,' Voight mumbled, absorbed in his thoughts about the case. As he contemplated, the door suddenly opened.
Directing his attention towards the door, Voight noticed Antonio cautiously peering inside. 'Hank, we may have stumbled upon a potential lead. There is a young gentleman present who possesses some knowledge,' Antonio informed. Acknowledging the information, Voight nodded and exited his office.
'Apprise Platt to bring him up,' he firmly instructed before firmly shutting the door. A sense of relief encompassed him, instilling a glimmer of hope within his heart. 'We will locate you, Erin. I promise,' he quietly uttered, observing Antonio return with a curly-haired young man. 'May I inquire about your name?' Voight queried. The blond individual cast his eyes downward and responded, 'Mike.'
Voight nodded, leading Mike and Antonio to a closed-off room. Antonio handed Mike a cup of soda and leaned against the window. 'What do you have?' Voight asked politely as he sat across from the young man. Mike looked at him and heard him let out a sigh before explaining how he and a few others were ordered to set up cameras in Soifon and Erin's apartment.
'And who ordered you to do this?' Voight asked patiently. 'I don't really know the boss's name,' Mike admitted. 'Don't worry, we know who it is. Who ordered you to set the cameras in the women's apartment?' Antonio explained. 'Brian O'Melly was the one who asked me and the others, and that's all I know,' Mike replied, looking guilty. 'Is that all?' Voight asked. Mike nodded. 'Yes, Brian didn't say much other than telling us to put the cameras in the apartments.'
Voight and Antonio exchanged glances before shifting their attention back to Mike. 'You may be excused for the time being. We appreciate your assistance,' Voight conveyed, granting Mike permission to exit the room. 'I will proceed with uncovering any information pertaining to this individual, Brian,' Antonio stated resolutely as he departed, leaving Voight in solitude. 'We are on the verge of locating him, rest assured,' he assured Erin and Soifon, before leaving the room.