Kaede Kazama sat perfectly still on a wooden crate.
Lotus position. Spine straight. Breath steady.
Her intricately designed katana rested across the smooth skin of her long legs.
Because of her dangerous speed Emma was still afraid of her blade even when it was sheathed.
The atmosphere was completely hopeless.
And the dull factory lights didn't help matters either.
Kaede didn't blink nor shift.
She didn't even look like she was inhaling.
Her eyes were fixed on the two girls tied to their chairs.
Gwen and Emma.
They didn't drift or soften even for a split-second.
Any movement from them would be caught instantly.
Any attempt to escape would be cut short. Literally.
One wrong inhale would cost them their heads.
A few things had happened during that time.
Gwen flinched when the alarms howled through the walls for the first time.
Emma jolted as well as the wooden chair scraped slightly as she tensed.
But none of that moved Kaede in the slightest.
