Fatal Alliances: Chapter 25

My wet hair soaked his sleeves as I pulled myself away from him. All I could think about was how those men killed that woman. Looking back up at the balcony from the room I jumped off, I noticed that the men were gone.

“The- They killed her,” I said trying to find my voice.

“What? What are you talking about?” Donnie asked.

“Adr- the – lady you were with.” I replied, turning back to Vandermir, “There were two men, I saw.”

“What happened?” Ricardo’s voice echoed from afar.

Both he and Finny rushed up to us with concerned looks.

“Juliet was trying to fly.” Donnie laughed.

“Stop laughing!” I snapped, “It isn’t funny, someone just died and-”

“What exactly happened Greene?” Adrian interrupted with his straight authoritarian expression.

“After I met Finny, I was getting out the hotel that’s when I saw the woman you were with shouting at two men. They were talking really strange things.” I answered.

“Like what? What did they say, Julie?” Finny pushed for more information.

“Well, what I got from it was that I think the men were working for Rocillie. She wasn’t.”

“She works for the SC,” Adrian stated.

“The what?” I questioned confused.

“Sovereignty Cult, that’s what they call themselves. They’re the ones who killed Frank Dawnly. Our little third-party friend.” He smirked.

She worked for the men who were against Rocillie? Against Vandermir? It was so confusing. Rocillie didn’t want to end the partnership while Adrian wanted to. So what exactly did the ‘SC’ wanted? What was their motive?   

“The men were the ones who set up the smoke gas,” I continued, “That’s what I heard the woman say. They…I believe she said they were looking for something? Or someone? I’m not sure. And I –well, I had accidentally hit down a vase, that’s when the men saw me and killed the lady. They probably came after me because I saw too much.”

Adrian looked as if he understood something yet he kept silent.

“It’s my fault, I shouldn’t have let you leave the hotel alone.” Finny sighed.

“It isn’t your fault.”

“We shouldn’t waste any more time then. I found out the main address of the SC, they have a speakeasy in Japan- Tokyo.” Donnie noted seriously.

Wait, so they didn’t before? What were they previously going to do in Japan anyway? Roam around the place until they somehow found the men? I highly doubted that. It isn’t the approach I believe Vandermir would ever take. As I looked at him, I realized something. He knew more than anyone else here on the matter. But why wasn’t he saying anything about it? Why was he being so hushed on the matter?

“We can’t use the private jet again Adrian,” Ricardo stated.

“Fine,” Vandermir stated while walking away, “Make sure we get it on our way back.”

The flight to Tokyo wasn’t all that long, providing that I had slept through the entire way there. By the time we arrived, it was already dark. I was thankful nonetheless that Ricardo suggested to Adrian to let me change my wet clothes before we went on the plane. Leave it up to Vandermir and he would have dragged me along like a defrosting piece of meat. While still in the airport, I got stuck in the crowd with Donnie. Vandermir and the others must have been on the way anyway.

“Give me a minute,” Donnie said to me and left to collect something from someone afar.

I sat on the bench feeling a bit strange that I had no clue what the people here were saying. Maybe I should have learned Japanese while in university, it would have come in handy today.

Suddenly, I noticed a little boy crying by a vending machine. He looked ragged and beaten. I couldn’t stand seeing a child like that, no one was taking notice of the child begging for money. Looking through my purse I found some cash and went up to him.

“Hello.” I smiled.

He didn’t understand me but he stopped crying when I neared him.

“Are you hungry?” I asked as I got a snack from the machine for him. He nodded and took it.

“Well here you are, you can buy all the snacks you want.” I continued as I gave him the money.

He seemed like he was looking at gold, something so unreal when he got the money. The smile on his face that moment was unexplainable. Hugging me in return, he quickly left. I sighed at the sudden easy feeling I had inside me. When I was about to walk back to the bench, I saw someone outside hold the child by the collar and took the money. The man slapped the boy on his face as tears poured down his fragile pale face. What was wrong with that man! Exiting the building, I walked up to the man when I felt someone suddenly muff my mouth from behind. This person was too strong, I couldn’t fight back, I couldn’t breathe. Slowly, my vision dimmed. Then, there was nothing.

My head ached brutally. Waking up, I found myself locked in a small room with a large iron door. I sat upright on a thin tiny bed. Where was I? What was this place? Oh my God, was I kidnapped? That too in Tokyo where I don’t know anyone. Getting off the bed, I tried to open the door but it was of no use. I was locked in. Banging on the door was of no use either. What was going to happen to me? I didn’t like the feeling of this. Sitting on the cold dirty floor, I rested my face on my knees as I hugged them. The place was disgusting and damp. Water dripped from the crack above the moldy ceiling into a bucket that was infected with mosquitoes. It had only been about twenty minutes when I heard loud voices nearing. The large metal door groaned open revealing three Korean-looking women. Their faces were thick with white face powder, bright red lipstick, and deep purple and green eye shadow to match their bright green skirt and purple top. Their hairs were all styled the same way, in a tight high bun.

“Takumi San would be very happy to see her, isn’t that right Akiko?” one of the girls said to the other on her right.

“I agree Yumi Li, but it isn’t fair that he chooses girls like her over us. But she belongs to him now.” She replied.

I wasn’t sure whether to be happy I understood them or frightened about the fact that she just said I belonged to some man.

“What is this?” I asked angrily.

“My, she has a tempter. You must be careful Miss, he might chop your tongue off. Isn’t that what he did to the blonde girl we brought here Chiyo?” the first girl laughed wickedly.

“Yes.” The girl named Chiyo replied.

That moment I took in the surroundings of the place outside the room, there was a large long wall in front of the door, it seemed to be a narrow hallway. The ambiance of the place was eerie and cold, it smelt like urine and alcohol. The smell was nauseously unbearable. I just felt like throwing up.

“Eat.” One of the girls stated as she gave me a platter filled with unrecognizable ‘food’ or whatever that was.

Slamming the door on me, I observed the food once more. Honestly, I was insanely hungry but this looked like shit on a plate and I wasn’t going to dare put that anywhere near my mouth. I sat at the corner of the bed trying to get a hold of myself. I knew hours were passing by, it felt so long. The door abruptly screeched open, this time revealing two men wearing masks. Panic and fear shot through me. There was nothing I could use to defend myself in this room. The men said nothing but shut the door and stood at both sides. They were here to guard me against escaping? Wait, was I in that speakeasy Donnie was talking about? The Sovereignty Cult base? That would explain why the place reeked of alcohol. So that means that they would come here right? They had the address anyway. That thought gave me a little hope.  

As the hours kept passing, my hope died down.

Suddenly, there was a knock on the door. One of the girls from earlier stood in front of the door and spoke something to the men who were guarding me. When they left, she entered the room and stood in front of me.

“Get up.” She demanded, “Takumi San wants to meet you now.”

Takumi? That was the man they spoke about earlier. Fear permeated me. I didn’t want to meet this man.

“Get up!” she shouted and yanked me up by my hair.

My head felt like it was literally ripped up when she did that. Clutching me by the arm, she dragged me out the room through the hallway. Her long fingernails dug into my skin.

“Let go of me! Wait!” I screamed at her.

“Shut up girl!”

She stopped in front of a big wooden door as the two other girls met up with her. Opening the door, she pushed me in and slammed it back shut. The room I was in smelt smoky, and different from anything I’ve ever smelt before. It was disgusting. Although the items within the room were quite expensive, there were antiques and large gold statues at every corner. The scent of alcohol swam through the air. A large leather couch sat at the side and an enormous desk in the middle of the room.

“What do you think?” a voice echoed from behind me.

Swiftly, I turned around to take in the sight of a man, around the age of forty-five or older probably. He wore a large dusty black coat and dark boots. His face was quite appalling honestly, sweat drizzled at the sides of this oily face, it was so unclean. As he neared me, I got a nauseous smell from him. It was a rotting kind of scent. Did he ever bathe?

“Stay away from me,” I warned as I took a step back.

Upon hearing this he grinned, showing his cavity-filled yellow teeth. I even noticed that there were a few black ones as well. Trying not to throw up seemed impossible at the moment. He walked past me putting his hands behind his back and staring out the window.

“Why am I here? I demand to be let free! You have no right to kidnap me and keep me here! It’s illegal!” I stated with anger seeping through me.

“Look around you Miss,” he chuckled, “Everything is illegal. This business, these people, my services, and as sad as it is even you’re illegal.”

“What?” I asked feeling a bit uneasy.

“You’re a criminal just as I am Miss Greene, or shall I say, Miss Lucian? Which do you go by?”

“Shut up, I…I’m not a criminal.”

“But if I shut up how will we know anything about each other?” he quickly turned around and grinned at me again.

“You- you run this speakeasy? You’re the leader of the Sovereignty Cult?” I questioned carefully remembering that this man can be dangerous.

“Yes and No.” He replied walking up to me again.

Every step he took towards me, I took a step back.

“What?”

“You see Miss, I am indeed the owner of this here business but unfortunately I’m not the leader of the Sovereignty Cult.” 

He probably noticed my confusion and continued, “Michael is. Mr. Bronte wanted to meet you.”

“Mr. Bronte? Why? That’s why you kidnapped me?”

Takumi sighed with a wicked smile, “I believe so. But he’s not here yet, I believe he might be here in a day or two. He’s a strange man you know, coming to me for help when he now started. I’m thankful though I did lend my services to the man, I own millions now.”

“Services? Wait, what did he start?”

“A long time ago he had a little trouble with certain matters. As for my services, I simply lent him some of my men and arms. It’s concerning the Rocillie business. Personally, I’d rather stand on the side for that and let him do the work. I only gain from him through my services.”

Hearing this, I felt the air seem chillier and I was unable to breathe.

“It’s unfortunate Vanessa had to die so suddenly.” He chuckled.

“Vanessa? Who’s Vanessa?”

“Poor girl, Bronte sent her to find out about what Rocillie wants. I think she did, but alas Rocillie’s men ended up killing her. I usually don’t send my girls out there but I did somehow.”

This Vanessa girl, was she the one from the hotel?

“Vanessa Harper?” I asked remembering that was the surname Adrian addressed her as when they were in the room.

“Oh, so you know her,” Takumi smirked.

“Not very well.”

“She used to take care of me so very well.” He laughed.

I hadn’t realized but he had gotten close to me. Suddenly, he pulled me towards him and trailed his long dark fingernails on my face. I tried to get out of his grip but it was useless.

“Honestly, I had no idea the ‘Lucian’ was a woman, that too a very desirable one.”

“Stop it!” I snapped and elbowed him in the stomach as he released me.

I ran to the door but it was locked. He laughed at my futile attempt to escape.

“Vanessa could be nothing compared to you my dear. Prove it to me. You can even be her replacement. I could give you the world, money, fame, anything you ask for.”

“If Bronte wanted to meet me, I don’t think I have anything to do with you then.”

“He doesn’t have to know a thing.” He slyly smiled.

“You’re insane! You think I would give myself up to a man like you! A filthy piece of crap like yourself? I don’t take bribes, Mr. Takumi, I’m not that needy.” I hissed.

He didn’t seem to like my sudden attitude, his fist clenched as his jaw tightened.

“Akiko! Yumi! Chiyo!” he roared when suddenly a second after the door flung itself open revealing the girls, “Teach our guest what she gets when she refuses me.” 

The girls forcefully gripped onto either side of my arms dragging me and pushing me back to the room. As one held on to my hair the other shut the door and the third stood in front of me.

“Stop,” I said, trying to pull away from them but she pushed me down on the floor causing me to hit my head on the edge of the bed.

The other girl yanked me up again and twisted my hands behind my back. I screamed in agony. I felt one of the girls placed her hand on my face and tried to dig her nails into my skin but I kicked her away. That seemed to make her even madder. She suddenly slapped me. It felt like fire whipping me on the face. Another of the girls brought some kind of silver spray tank while the two held me. It looked like some sort of weed sprayer spray tank. What the hell. I suddenly felt it burn my skin. It was the most brutal thing anyone’s ever done to me. It felt like someone was literally peeling every layer of my skin off slowly and mercilessly.   

“Please stop!” I begged.

They didn’t stop, my throat felt sore how much I screamed. Tears streamed down my face like a waterfall. Oh God, this pain, I can’t take it. They stopped. Dropping me down, I felt myself burn with a tormenting ache, my whole body. The door shut close when they left. Crawling myself into the bed, I tried to close my eyes, and tried to shut out the burns. Was my skin still even there?

When I woke up the pain faded, not entirely but it was a lot better now. Strangely, my skin was in perfect condition except for the bruises for being slapped, beaten, and held by the girls but the spray hadn’t had any negative aftereffects on my skin thankfully. It had still been the night I realized from the clock on the wall, only an hour had passed. I saw one of the men guarding the door still. I couldn’t stay in here anymore. I had to get out. Juliet Greene never gave in to anyone, she fought her own battles. I tried. I had to be strong now because I knew counting on Vandermir was no use again. Getting off the bed I went up to the guard.

“I need to use the washroom,” I stated.

“You can’t,” he replied with a thick accent.

“You expect me to keep my pee up? I hope you know I have a very weak bladder and I could die like that. And the last thing you want is Bronte coming to find me dead. He could cut all your salaries, even put you in jail if he doesn’t get anything out of this because so far I know I’m a very important asset to him at the moment. So be a good little creep and let me out.”

The man seemed to ponder on this for a moment and opened the door shouting something in Japanese. I saw one of the girls coming up and looking at me with a nasty snare.

“There’s a bucket right there.” She stated.

I laughed at that and stated firmly, “I’m not using that.”

I was just so tired of being picked on and tortured like that. I wasn’t going to take any nonsense from anyone again. She sighed and held me with her until we reached a large washroom. I had to think of something fast. The hallway seemed clear, maybe I could have run through it fast enough and get out but this pest of a sinner was with me right now. She was my only problem. I went into a cubicle and rubbed my head.

Think Greene, think.

Gosh, I hope this works. I stood on top of the seat and silently climbed my way over to the second cubicle. The girl stood there looking directly at the cubicle I was supposed to be in. Okay, good. Silently, I took the top of the toilet tank off. Please be heavy enough. It was within a second, I darted out and struck it on her head. She staggered a bit. Before she was able to yell, I slammed it on the front of her face. Turning the door to get out, I ran as fast as I could through the hall. My life literally depended on it. I was almost there, I saw the last room door. Once I got past there, I’m free. Abruptly, I felt hands grabbing me back.

“Where do you think you’re going?” one of the girls said as the other angrily clutched me.

They both held either side of my arm, as much as I tried to kick away they never let go.

“Don’t! Let go of me!” I yelled.

“We should carry her to Takumi San, he’ll fix her. Wouldn’t he Chiyo?”

“Yes, Yumi Li.” The girl replied.

That was one thing I feared, going back to that man. Oh my God, what if he….No, don’t think about it. They lugged me into Takumi’s room, shutting my eyes I struggle to getaway.

“Please! I don’t want to! Let go! I don’t want to! Let go of me!” I shrieked trying uselessly to kick away.

Opening my eyes, I stopped my commotion. He stood there with Takumi, both looking at me. His eyes, that stormy grey colour.

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