Angel practically burst the door of the masters office down and stormed in. He looked up at her, confused.
"Angel? What can I do..."
"We have a problem." Angel interrupted, glaring at him, Apocalypse close behind her. He gave her a curious look.
"What is it?" Angel crossed her arms, feeling her rage building.
"No one except the six have permission to the prisoners cells, correct?"
"that is correct"
"Well, someone was in there" This caused the master to become quiet and broody. Angel knew he placed treason at the top of his list of things never to do as a member of Phantom Dove.
"Are you sure, Angel?"
"One of them was raped." The word cast an eerie silence in the office.
"What the hell are you talking about, Angel?" Apocalypse demanded.
"someone took advantage of the raven haired girl," Angel replied. "And I think we all know one of the six wouldn't do that" The master nodded quietly, deep in thought. "I don't plan on taking this sitting down. Not only is it treason, but what they did to her is beyond sensible, or even understandable "
"I agree" Apocalypse spoke up. "I mean, I'm all for torture, but..." He shook his head. "There's a line you don't cross" Angel waited impatiently as the master thought it over.
"If you don't take action," Angel began. "I will. I can guarantee whoever violated her will not have the proper assets to do it again"
"Your gonna cut his dick off?" Apocalypse asked, sounding lightly confused. Angel flinched at the blatant way he said it. The master remained quiet.
"I see what you mean," He finally spoke. "Although the deflowering of that girl is not my highest priority, I will not stand for treason. I told the guild not to even approach them unless they are one of the six, correct?" Angel and Apocalypse nodded. They'd been there, they heard it. "I will seek out who did this momentarily. Apocalypse, I want you to accompany me. Not only to find out who did it, but too... how did you put the punishment, Angel?"
"His assets?" Angel asked, hoping that was the correct answer. Master grinned darkly, and Angel almost felt bad for whoever did violate Elise, right until she remembered what he was guilty of.
"Yes, his assets. Apocalypse, I would like you too find the most painful way to dispose of them, preferably one that keeps him awake throughout" Angel felt her stomach turn as Apocalypse grinned darkly.
"With honor, Master" Apocalypse replied, bowing slightly. "Shall I use number sixty-five?" Angel didn't know what that meant, but it made the master chuckle.
"Ah, the nutcracker, correct? Yes, I do believe that will do, fetch your hammer. Perhaps you should retrieve you finest bone saw as well, after all, he did commit treason." The master said as he chuckled, wrapping an arm around Apocalypse's shoulders as they turned to leave. He paused.
"Oh, and Angel dear," He spoke up, turning to face Angel again, who stood up straighter. "Block the exits. I'd hate it if one of those treasonous bastards made an escape while I addressed the others."
Escape.
The word rang clear as day in Angel's mind. This was her chance to get them out. The whole guild would be busy in the meeting hall, she could sneak them out without anyone being aware of it. Now she even had an excuse, shutting off the exits.
Perfect.
Angel flashed one of her perfect smiles at the master.
"Of course, master. No one will be able to get in or out until you find our treasonous culprit." Master nodded, and proceeded to leave the office, leaving Angel with her own thoughts.
I won't let anyone leave alright, Angel thought, a smile growing on her face. But that's because they'll have escaped before I blocked the exits. Convenient, wasn't it, Master Jose?
Drake was terribly lonely. Both girls were in the cell with him mind you, they weren't talking though. Elise for obvious reasons, and Nashi hadn't woken up from taking Elise's torture session the day before. Drake sighed as he picked around the food on his plate. It was one of those days were the food sucked more than usual. Drake fondly remembered the one time during week one Angel had managed to sneak down a small chicken. That had been the best they'd all eaten since. Drake cast a worried glance towards his dark haired comrade, who was currently sitting with her knees up to her face, not even touching her food. Drake felt good she'd gone from total seclusion from him and Nashi, too sitting up relatively close to him. He hoped she was okay mentally, yet he had a terrible feeling she wasn't. She hadn't spoke since she screamed at him, and he could understand why.
"Elise," He spoke up, garnering no response. " You should eat, try to get yourself filled up. I'm against it, but we could take Nashi's portion and split it. I don't feel like she's waking up soon" Elise stared into the distance, and Drake couldn't tell if she'd even heard him. He sighed again, and cast another glance, this time at the unconscious body across from him. Nashi's bruises, all colored like a rainbow, plastered all over her frail figure. She looked peaceful enough, but Drake knew she must've been in a lot of pain. They all were.
Elise coughed, and Drake felt a little sad he was so happy she'd emitted a sound. His sound magic allowed him to hear him breath and her heart beat, but hearing a sound others could too made him happy.
"Elise," He started again, softer this time. " Can you check on Nashi? I'm worried that she hasn't woken up yet" He still got no response, and Drake was preparing to give up himself when Elise shuffled as quietly as she could manage over to Nashi, and looked down at her, worry in her eyes. Drake watched as Elise put a hand on Nashi's forehead, and jerked back, widening her eyes. He hurried towards Drake, and pulled him towards her. "What?" , Drake asked, "Is she okay?"
Elise said nothing as she grabbed his hand (Drake made a mental note as to her shaking) and placed it on Nashi's forehead. Drake felt his own eyes widen.
Nashi was freezing.
This worried him greatly. Nashi's internal flame had kept her warm, but she was as cold as death, and twice as stiff. Drake looked over carefully at Elise.
"Do you think she...?" He trailed off, not wanting Elise to spill more tears over Nashi. Drake listened intently for something, anything. He couldn't hear anything, not even a heart beat.
Thump Thump *Exhale*
Drake let out a breath he hadn't realized he was holding. She was alive.
Thump...Thump *Exhale*
Drake felt dread overtake him. Nashi's heartbeat was unsteady, she was fighting to stay alive as he sat there, not able to do a thing.
"We have to get out of here" He said, turning to look at Elise. "Nashi won't survive another few days, let alone a week or more." Elise gestured around and shook her head. "I'm not a mind reader, Elise. Talk to me" Drake watched as Elise gave him a look of despair and shook her head again.
"Alright, well if you won't talk this could be a problem." Drake thought for a moment. Thought. That was it! He turned to Elise. "Just think it" He told her. "I can hear it" There was a silence before Drake felt his heart soar as Elise's voice echoed in his head.
Does Angel have a plan yet? She asked. Drake stopped himself before he looked too excited.
"I don't know, she hasn't exactly said anything"
Is she legit or no?
"I don't ask her yourself"
I can't... oh you bastard Elise slugged him in the arm, and Drake noted the slightly playful look in her eyes. He wasn't gonna start tickling her, or anything though. That'd be weird.
"In any case, what do we do about Nashi?" Drake asked, rubbing where she punched him.
I don't know, try and feed her something, that'd help her stay alive, right?
It was better than nothing, so Drake picked up Nashi's drink and poured a little into Nashi's throat. She didn't even cough or anything, she just swallowed it. He then picked up her bread and slightly opened her mouth, sliding the bread in. Nashi chewed slightly, before Drake heard her swallow it, and smiled weakly.
"At least she can eat" He said, turning to Elise, to see her already watching him.
So, now what? Drake was about to respond when the door too the prison opened. They both turned, and Angel swiftly unlocked the door, and walked in, carrying a bag. She threw it front of them, and Drake peered inside. His white trench coat stared back at him.
"Get dressed, and lets get going" She ordered.
Drake would've been happier to have his clothes back if the dirt, blood, and sweat covering his body didn't make his shirt stick to him. He could tell Elise was suffering from the same problem. Drake glanced down at Nashi. Elise had volunteered to dress her, and she looked as if she'd struggled too do so. Her vest and jeans were ruffled and not really done up right. He could fix it later. He turned to Angel who was keeping watch.
"Did you complete your plan?" He asked, sounding way better than before.
"More like improvised a completely new one" She replied, turning to face them. "The whole guild will be distracted for a good while, and I'm using my job too lock down the exits as my excuse to smuggle you out." Drake didn't need to ask what the lock down was for, he heard what Angel didn't tell him. Something about the guys who'd taken Elise away and a nutcracker, but he didn't need to know. Carefully picking Nashi up and wrapping her arms as tightly as he could around his neck, he shifted, getting a better grip on her legs as she leaned against his back, breathing quietly. He and Elise followed Angel up the stairs. It was a strange feeling walking up the stairs fully dressed and not being pushed by Angel. Angel strode through the empty halls of the building, but Drake and Elise stuck to sneaking. Angel could walk freely around, they could not. They waited by a door as Angel went inside, and then reappeared with a small box, handing it too Elise.
"Food and water" She told her, taping the top of the box once. "There's also directions through a secret path towards a town in the west. It's the long way back, but It'll be a safer route than the town you came from, seeing as the guild will check there first"
"Makes sense" Drake replied. Angel pulled a piece of paper out of her pocket and gave it to Elise, along with a small vial. She placed them in her other hand.
"That's the route I was referring too." Angel said. "The vials for you, Elise. It's antidepressants."
I don't need these Elise hissed.
"Yeah, you do" Drake replied, glad Angel had thought of that. Angel ushered them through the next doorway and Drake felt a breeze- the first breeze he'd felt in weeks. The front door was right in front of them. Angel stopped.
"There you go," Angel replied. "When you get to Watercliff town, ask around for Meredy. She'll help you get home, she's a friend." Drake smiled at her wearily as Elise opened the door.
"Thank you Angel, for everything." Angel grinned.
"Don't thank me yet kid, your not at home drinking booze with your friends yet. Oh, and Drake?"
"Yeah?" Drake began to walk out the door, and Angel began to shut it, watching him with a smile.
"Call me Sorano, that's my name"
Drake smiled as the door to the guild shut and he followed Elise, disappearing into the darkness of the forest too the west. Whoever this Meredy was, hopefully she could help.
Hold on Nashi, we'll get you home as fast as we can.
Drake couldn't agree with Elise any more.