"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 anyway. So why not enjoy ourselves while we still can?" creepily said Sirius's 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.
"Yeah sir! Well, time to dig in," said the kidnapper with an eerie and devilish tone while Emilia was still shaken from Sirius's 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, giggling sinisterly as he licked his lips and then jumped on her.
"N-NO LEAVE ME ALONE!" she screamed in tears, trying to fight back.
"Hahahaa! 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 pair under there. I'll be sure to enjoy myself and take extra good 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 the accomplice standing behind as he sighed, turning his face sideways.
"Huh? What the…?" he said as he realized that Ace's body was no longer where it was supposed to be.
"AAARGH!" the other kidnapper screamed as Emilia, her eyes wide opened 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 as the blood from the kidnapper's 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, his knife dripping with blood as he then yawned.
"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, a spine-chilling smirk on his lips which complimented his bloodstained face and cold piercing gaze.
"A spectator, you say? No way am I gonna believe tha…huh?" responded Sirius as his words trailed off due to Ace's unexpected move.
He broke Emilia free from her cuffs and then leaned 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 eyes, 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, so handle it yourself."
"W…wha-what?" stuttered Emilia, her already dreadful and despaired expression mixing with confusion. "What… do you mean?"
"Still don't get it," Ace's expression was cold. 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."
"B-but…"
Before Emilia could voice her words, 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," replied Ace.
"Me neither. But to me it sounds like you 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 and distant. "As long as I survive, that's all that matters."
"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 as he smirked confidently 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."
"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 is he saying that? What did I do to deserve this? Where did it go wrong? Was it back then? Wha… what am I supposed to do 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?"