"By the way, wouldn't it be a waste not to have a taste of her? After all, the transporter still hasn't arrived yet, and once she's inside the lab, she'll basically be dead. So why not enjoy ourselves while we still can," creepily said Sirius' partner with a deranged grin on his face.
"Suit yourself, but don't damage the goods too much. Just because I paid you to help me, don't think I'll help you if you get in trouble," replied Sirius as he simply sat down and lighted his cigarette.
"Yessir! Well then, time to dig in," said the kidnapper with an eerie and devilish tone while Emilia was still shaken from Sirius' words and the memories that flashed in her mind.
Coming back to reality as the kidnapper stood in front of her, "N-no! Stay away! D-don't come any closer!" Emilia pleaded, panic rising while the kidnapper continued to advance toward her in delight as she struggled in vain against her restraints.
"Don't worry. I'll be extra gentle," said the kidnapper as he licked his lips and then jumped on her.
"N-NO LEAVE ME ALONE!" she screamed as she was trying to fight back.
"Hahahaha…! Stop struggling. You'll enjoy it soon enough," he said as he ripped her shirt off, revealing her underwear.
"Well, would you look at that. They're still small, but you've got quite the nice pair under there. I'll be sure to enjoy myself and take extra care of them. Now, spread your legs wide," he said as he unzipped his pants and spread out her legs, her panties showing as he found it exhilarating.
"NOOOO!" resounded the screams of the young girl.
"What utter trash," said Sirius, standing behind as he sighed and turned his face on the side.
"Huh? What the…?" he said as he realized that Ace's body was no longer where it was supposed to be.
"AAARGH!" Sirius' partner screamed as Emilia, her eyes wide open, had witnessed the quick and brutal demise of her captor, the scene unfolding in surreal horror before her.
In an instant, the head and arms of the kidnapper disappeared in an instant as the blood from his body splattered all over her, flowing out into a giant pool.
"Huh? What was that?" said Sirius, unable to follow what had just happened.
With a long sigh, "I was wondering who was causing such a ruckus while I was sleeping so soundly."
It was Ace, blood dripping at his feet as he yawned, holding the kidnapper's missing head by the hair while the arms were sprawled right beside him.
"But… it was just a little girl in tears and a messed-up pedophile," casually remarked Ace, his tone belying the gravity of the situation. "Seriously, there is a proper time and place for these things, you know?"
"Hey you! Who are you? And how did you get out of your binds?" snarled Sirius, his hostility and caution palpable.
"Who am I? Just a spectator," cryptically replied Ace as he tilted his head and a spine-chilling smirk played on his lips, complimenting his bloodstained face and cold, piercing gaze.
"And sorry to say this, but those things don't really work on me," he added, dropping the kidnapper's head on the ground as he then pulled out the bindings they put on him.
"A spectator, you say. No way am I gonna believe tha… eh?" responded Sirius as his words trailed off due to Ace's unexpected move.
He threw away his bindings, took out and knife, and then broke Emilia free from her cuffs before walking and leaning back on one of the metal pillars which held the old warehouse in place.
Not only Sirius, but Emilia was also perplexed by Ace's sudden actions.
With a cold tone which was reflected in his cold distant gaze, Ace glanced at Emilia.
"I'm not some hero of justice or some knight in shining armor. Seems to me like you've got history with that guy or the person he's working for at least. So handle it yourself, will you?"
"Eh?" exclaimed Emilia, her already dreadful and despaired expression mixing with confusion. "What… what do you-?"
"Still don't get it," Ace's expression was cold as he broke off Emilia. Not a shred of sympathy or pity was present in his eyes. "Either you fight and kill him. Or you stay still like the frozen little puppy you are, and you suffer a fate worse than death. Whatever your choice is, I won't interfere."
Emilia's heart sank deeper in despair as her body was still paralyzed by fear and whatever trauma she had.
And while her eyes seemed to lose any life they had in them, Sirius's laugh boomed, echoing throughout the warehouse. "Sorry, sorry. Hey kid, I really took a liking to you."
"Sorry, but I don't swing that way," coldly replied Ace.
"Me neither. But to me, it sounds like you two know each other. Are you really saying that you would abandon her to her fate without a shred of guilt?" curiosity etched itself on Sirius' face uncontrollably.
"It doesn't matter what I have to do or what sacrifices are needed," his gaze turned towards Emilia, colder, distant and darker, as if she was no more than insect. "I'll use any means possible to achieve my goal."
"HAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!" Sirius's amusement hit its peak as he laughed harder.
"Haaah. You're one sick bastard, you know that?" said Sirius whose sides hurt from too much laughing. "But…"
He regained his composure. "Don't you think you're taking me too lightly?"
"On the contrary," said Ace, his expression stoic and aloof as he locked eyes with Sirius before redirecting his gaze towards Emilia. "The strong take from the weak while the weak can only take the pain, unable to do anything. If she doesn't even have the will to fight and struggle, then it'd be even better if she simply died, don't you think?"
"Man, you're cold. Even demons would consider you worse than them," said Sirius in response to Ace's words.
As she heard their exchange, something inside Emilia broke. 'Why? Why? Why is he saying that? Aren't we friends? What did I do to deserve this? Where did it go wrong? Wha… what am I supposed now?'
'Did she break?' thought Ace as he continued to observe Emilia, her empty and confused eyes flowing with endless tears while she grappled with his words.
'Guess that's all she amounted for. I have no obligation to save her, nor do I have any intention to. It's kill or be killed in this world. If you can't make a choice even in this type of situation, then you're better off dead. I only have one job here… and that's to figure out what's going on here. Anything else, even collateral damage, is acceptable as long as I fulfill my objective. So, what will it be, Emi?"