Chapter Thirty
Soifon's body writhed in pain as she dangled from her chains, blood pooling in her mouth. Hours had elapsed since Ace and Jack had mercilessly assaulted her and left her suspended like a decorative fixture, promising their return within a few hours.
The raven-haired woman's gaze wavered towards the cold, hard ground as her sapphire eyes glazed over, her breaths becoming shallow. The frigid air emanating from the room sent shivers coursing through her frail body.
"I wonder what the hour might be," Soifon barely whispered, fixated on the ground as it offered her solace – the only option she had. Devoid of strength to battle against her restraints, she uttered softly, "Please, Erin, hasten your arrival." Her gaze shifted upwards towards the ceiling, dread looming in her mind about Ace's ominous intentions upon his impending return.
Soifon emitted subtle hums as she endeavored to divert her attention from her thoughts. Her customary methods for achieving this were either through singing or drawing, yet she found herself limited to only one option: singing. Unfortunately, a cough suddenly emanated from her throat, causing her complexion to grow paler.
Upon the cessation of the coughs, Soifon proceeded to softly sing in order for Ace and the others to be able to hear her.
" There's a place that I know
It's not pretty there and few have ever gone
If I show it to you now
Will it make you run away
Or will you stay
Even if it hurts
Even if I try to push you out
Will you return?
And remind me who I really am
Please remind me who I really am
Everybody's got a dark side
Do you love me?
Can you love mine?
Nobody's a picture perfect
But we're worth it
You know that we're worth it
Will you love me?
Even with my dark side?
Like a diamond
From black dust
It's hard to know
It can become
If you give up
So don't give up on me
Please remind me who I really am
Everybody's got a dark side
Do you love me?
Can you love mine?
Nobody's a picture perfect
But we're worth it
You know that we're worth it
Will you love me?
Even with my dark side?
Don't run away
Don't run away
Just tell me that you will stay
Promise me you will stay
Don't run away
Don't run away
Just promise me you will stay
Promise me you will stay
Will you love me? Ohh
Everybody's got a dark side
Do you love me?
Can you love mine?
Nobody's a picture perfect
But we're worth it
You know that we're worth it
Will you love me?
Even with my dark side?"
Soifon was compelled to inhale profoundly and composed herself, feeling her parched throat. Her gaze diverted downwards as her thoughts meandered, being accompanied by a plethora of inquiries. She attempted to articulate her inquiries but failed to find any words, prompting her to reseal her mouth and allow her mind to delve into into the past.
· Flash-back*
Soifon was seated at the lunch table with her new acquaintance, who was engaged in a conversation about herself. Soifon attentively listened without interjecting. Erin, wanting to share more about herself, said, 'If you are truly interested in learning about me, I will provide as much information as possible.' After placing her Fanta bottle on the table and making eye contact with Soifon's blue eyes, Erin continued.
Soifon nodded approvingly and replied, 'Please proceed.' Placing her Dr. Pepper bottle on the table, Soifon maintained eye contact with Erin's green eyes as the latter began to speak.
Erin started by mentioning that she resides with her foster father, mother, and their son. Biting her lip, Erin glanced at Soifon and added, 'They are kind-hearted individuals who graciously offered me a place to stay when I needed one.' Soifon attentively listened to Erin's narrative without interruption.
"They removed me from the streets last year when I was not in the right state of mind. My biological mother was a drug addict and my stepfather subjected both me and my mother to abuse before he was incarcerated." Erin confided softly, biting her lip. Soifon gently placed her hand on top of Erin's, offering comfort. "If you do not wish to discuss that, we can talk about something else," she suggested, eliciting a small smile from the brunette.
"No, it is fine. It may seem odd that I am sharing my life story with a complete stranger, but it feels right, and I do not believe you would judge me," Erin whispered, causing Soifon to smile. "I suppose it is just my charm," she playfully teased, prompting Erin to laugh. "Perhaps," the brunette agreed.
"Before my foster father, Voight, and his wife, Camille, took me in, I was involved in many things that I should not have been. Though I am still struggling with some of those things, I am slowly distancing myself from them with their support," Erin shared, taking a bite of her fruit cup.
Indeed," responded Soifon with a nod, attentively listening to the brunette who delicately placed her fruit cup on the table. "Now it is your turn," Erin stated, her gaze fixed upon Soifon, who flinched momentarily but quickly regained her composure with a smile. "Very well," the dark-haired girl replied.
"I can relate to some extent with your experiences, as I have also navigated through the foster care system numerous times until my most recent family decided to keep me," she began, idly toying with a dainty bracelet adorning her wrist.
Erin's expression turned solemn as she absorbed Soifon's words. "Are they treating you well?" she inquired, prompting Soifon to cast her gaze back at her. "Initially, they treated me kindly for a few months, but as the third month arrived, my adoptive parents began subjecting me to abuse and more," she began, her voice tinged with sadness. "However, their daughter Julie has shown me unwavering love and treated me as if I were her own sister." Soifon let out a sigh. "Yet, it is not as if I possess the strength to endure it indefinitely.
· Flash-back Over*
"Soifon was abruptly awakened when the door was forcefully slammed open and Ace confidently entered the room with a smirk on his face," Miss me, Soifon?" he inquired as he approached her. Soifon couldn't help but glare at him, responding weakly, "You wish."
"Oh, how unfortunate," Ace sneered as he reached for her face. Soifon boldly asked, her glare less intense than before, "What is it that you want now? Have you had enough enjoyment from tormenting me?"
The man chuckled at her, his hand firmly gripping her face. "Someone certainly possesses a fiery temper," he remarked condescendingly, teasingly running his fingers down Soifon's cheek. "Do you desire for me to grant you freedom?" his icy blue eyes gleamed. Soifon forcefully turned her face away from his touch. "Do not dare lay a hand on me, you despicable person," she hissed, her own blue eyes filled with hatred. "We both know that you have no intention of setting me free." Soifon was well-acquainted with Ace and his true intentions.
Soifon couldn't help but suppress a growl when Ace began to laugh at her remark. She demanded, 'What is the source of amusement?' and added, 'You are well aware that you won't release me because you derive pleasure from toying with me.' Her statement provoked another bout of laughter from Ace.
'Soifon, my dear, you possess profound knowledge of my nature,' Ace responded as he firmly grasped her chin, directing her gaze towards him. 'I will not release you until I am finished tormenting you. Once I tire of you, then I shall grant you freedom.' He ran his thumb across her lips, and despite Soifon's efforts, she refrained from displaying any reaction. Faced with his thumb on her lips, she seized the opportunity to open her mouth and delivered a forceful bite when his thumb drew close enough.
Ace swiftly withdrew his hand from Soifon's mouth, his gaze filled with rage. He uttered in a low, menacing tone, 'You will face the consequences for your actions, you wretched woman.' As he moved away, he approached the leather whip, stained with Soifon's dried blood, causing her eyes to widen in fear.
Soifon helplessly observed him picking up the whip and began to struggle against her restraints. With desperation in her voice, she pleaded, 'Ace, please, anything but the whip. I can't bear it anymore, please.' She continued her futile attempts to escape from the enraged man who drew closer with the whip.
Unaffected by her pleas, Ace disregarded her cries and forcefully cracked the whip against her stomach, causing Soifon to release a cry of pain. He continued to strike her wounds with the whip several times before tightly wrapping it around her neck.
Ace gazed at Soifon's feeble state with a self-satisfied grin. "What seems to be troubling you, my dear?" he inquired, observing as he tightened the grip of the whip around her throat, tears trickling down her pale face. "Please desist… I implore you, you may subject me in any way of torment but please remove this whip," she pleaded in a hoarse tone, hindered by the restriction of air caused by the whip.
Soifon, her lip firmly between her teeth, despised herself for resorting to such supplication and tears in front of Ace. She conceded to him, proclaiming that he could do as he pleased, on the condition that she would no longer be subjected to the lash.
Ace maintained his gaze upon her cerulean eyes, keeping the whip securely around her neck for a prolonged ten minutes before finally removing it and carelessly discarding it onto the ground. "Do not dictate to me what I can and cannot do. I shall act as I see fit," he declared, shifting his hands to her perspiring countenance and brushing a damp strand of hair out of her face.
Unbeknownst to Ace, Erin, Thomas, and Voight were en route to the hideout.