35 Rescue Operation (2/2)

His eyes grew frantic as he nervously looked around the room. Then he noticed her, a female figure laying on the cold ground, completely unclothed and covered with an extreme amount of cuts and bruises. He didn't recognize her, but it was Aoba's pet Leashed, Hitomi. Her arms had been bound behind her back and her tail tied to one of her thighs. She weakly glanced up to see Miles from her position, letting the collar clank against the metal chains that held her captive.

Drawing closer, Miles could see that her face was swollen, and one of her eyes blackened with a bleeding lip; as well as human-like bite marks on her breast, with some on her arms and legs. Miles seemed concerned on what to do, also taking notice of some white sticky residue left on the stone, not far from where she laid. It was clear she had definitely been bludgeoned and forced upon not long ago.

”K-Kyu.....” Hitomi whimpered again, much more desperate this time.

”I-I don't understand what you're saying...” Miles breathed anxiously, only able to stare at her naked form.

”K...Kyu.... Kyu.....” Hitomi begged, tears streaming down her face in fear. She seemed to be asking him to help her, but it wasn't transmitting.

Miles had no idea what to do, but he found himself walking towards Hitomi. He crouched to her level, feeling his body trembling. His hands reached for Hitomi, gently touching her leg that her tail was strapped to. Hitomi flinched, trying to pull away, but Miles set his other hand on her tail.

”Don't be scared...” Miles furrowed his brows, as he began to untie the bondage holding her tail against her thigh.

There was a sudden creak on the stairs behind them. ”Hitomi!?” Gasped a male voice.

Miles turned quick, notice Hige rushing at him. ”Hey! Wait a sec!” Miles gasped, retreating his hands away from her quickly. ”I'm just trying to-”

BAM. That was the sound the metal pipe made upon connecting with Miles' head, before his body hit the ground. Hige was panting for a moment, before rushing to Hitomi's aid, quickly moving to untie her, and pull her into a worried embrace.

”H-Hitomi... What did he do to you?...” Hige held onto her tightly, as tears streamed down his face.

”K....Kyuu...” Hitomi whimpered, her ears backwards.

”What?” Hige pulled back to look at her and then to Miles, who laid unconscious on the ground. ”He wasn't...? It was Aoba? AOBA!?” Hige's expression grew darker, as he gritted his teeth.

”Kyu, kyu....” Hitomi mewed fearfully. Hige quickly turned to the door, hearing footsteps approaching.

”Someone's overstepping their bounds.” Spoke the sinister tone of a dark silhouette in the doorway.

”Dammit... Talk about hook, line and sinker... Hurry Hitomi.” He spoke under his breath, as he unshackled her collar and helped her move.

The two of them quickly hid, as Gaigas emerged from the shadows to investigate the room. Then he noticed Miles laying on the ground. ”Hmph. What do we have here?” He grunted, moving over to where Miles laid.

Hige noticed this and took the opportunity to pick up Hitomi, and sneak out the room quickly, while the dragon was distracted. Hige glanced back before they left the chamber, his eyes on Miles. Shadows casted over his face as his grinned in his creepy way. ”Sometimes others gotta take the blame for our actions. Ku-hoo hoo. Only way any of us will every really survive.” He muttered with a smile, before the two of them vanished out into the halls.

Gaigas grabbed Miles by the back of his shirt collar, with a slight scoff of boredom. ”Tzz...” His eyes trailed around the room, seeing no sight of Hitomi. ”Just what were you doing in here?” He asked boredly, before he picked up the unconscious feline, and dragged him up the stairs before proceeding down the corridor, and disappearing around the corner.

”Wait. Was that?...” Muttered a soft whisper, from Ashewyn as he stepped into the opposite end of the hallway, seeing Gaigas drag Miles off somewhere.

Ashewyn proceeded to follow them, traversing the hallway. As he rounded the corner he halted abruptly, nearly running into a familiar elven woman. Eclipse gawked, watching in shock as Ashewyn managed to maneuver himself out of the way in time, before he could crash right into her.She turned his direction, as he continued to run.

”Hold on! Ashewyn?!” She called, in surprise.

This made the red head suddenly stop, as he glanced back to her in confusion. It took him a moment, but then he recognized her. ”Eclipse?” He quickly realized he shouldn't be talking to her, and abruptly turned away as he prepared to take off again.

”Wait.” Eclipse called again, stepping closer. ”Are you.... an Amygdala?” She asked softly.

Ashewyn turned back around, with furrowed brows. ”I can't....”

”You don't have to say it. It's just. Aoba... He might have a friend of yours.” Eclipse explained quietly.

Ashewyn fully turned to face her this time. ”You know about Nye?”

Eclipse nodded. ”Yes. I'm here with some others who oppose him. Please. If you are indeed friends with this 'Nye', we must work together to put a stop to Aoba.” She explained, seriously.

”Hang on. You're the one Zyron mentioned, aren't you?” Ashewyn was surprised.

”I see, so you're friends with Solitaire and Zyron then. That's good. We have some allies in common.” Eclipse forced a smile.

”I'll help you, but only if you tell me why you're betraying him. We already have a plan, and I don't know what your motives are.” Ashewyn replied, showing caution.

Eclipse sighed, as she closed her eyes. Her hand trailed to her sleeve and she pulled it all the way passed her elbow, to expose many cuts and bruises that have seemed to be healing. ”This... This is just a sample of what that madman has put me through... Please... I don't know if I can do this on my own... I'm really scared now that I'm here... The others... I can't show them this weakness...” Eclipse pleaded, her voice cracking. She was restraining tears the best she could, before they inevitably trailed down her face. ”I promise to tell you anything you want to know, once this is all over.... Aoba can't remain King... He just can't.”

Ashewyn grew concerned as he saw the marks of bludgeoning on her body. Without saying anything he stepped closer to her, and placed his hands gently to her shoulders. ”You don't have to say anything more. I'll help you. If you need anything... Just let me know. Okay?” Ashewyn looked to her in worry.

”Thank you. You have no idea what this means.” Eclipse smiled, before looking back the way she came. ”I need to check in with my friends. Can we meet in the Ballroom? It should be the safest place to blend in with Aoba's followers.”

”Sure thing. I just need to check a lead real quick. I thought I saw someone I knew.” Ashewyn explained.

”Of course. Meet me there in a few minutes. Thank you again.” Eclipse smiled softly to him before rushing off to find the others.

Ashewyn watched her go, before turning quick to go investigate what he saw leaving that room.

Back on the dance floor, Aoba was still looking to Nye, as Ayame came to Aoba's side. ”Grand master, I have word of some new developments.” She informed him.

”Oooh do tell.” Aoba grinned like a fox, as Ayame murmured something into his ear. His eyes then shifted back to Nye, dropping her back to the ground. As she glanced up at him with an angered expression, Aoba regained that whimsical expression as he held out his hand. ”Come now woman. We have a dance to resume. If you do not comply, then I'll see to it that your little friend we captured doesn't survive the night. You wouldn't like that, now would you?”

”Friend?” Nye was taken back, realizing that one of her friends got caught while trying to save her. ”....” Nye lowered her head, letting it cast with shadows as she took Aoba's hand. She flinched as their hands connected, bruises already showing from here he stepped on her.

”That a girl.” Aoba replied, carrying a cunning grin.

Meanwhile, Miles was starting to come back to his senses. Attempting to sit up, he realized he had a collar around his neck, and a chain connected from it to the ground. His shirt had also been removed, which caused him to grow uneasy. ”What?” Miles muttered, still somewhat dazed from being knocked out.

”Aaaaaaahhhhhhh!!!! AKKKHHHHHHHHHHHH!!” Screamed a terrified voice.

Miles frantically turned to the sound, seeing a man strapped to a torture table. His head was in the process of being cut open, with blood spraying out from under the manual saw. A silver haired man with feminine features only smiled as he severed more of the prisoner's head. Miles quickly realized he was inside a torture room; watching fearfully as the man's screams slowly died out, before his body fell limp in the puddle of his own crimson ooze. The silver haired man placed down the saw, wiping some blood from his face as he turned to Miles.

A finger rose to his lips as he gently made a shushing noise to Miles. ”Shhh, don't ruin the surprise for brother now. Dimitri will be so thrilled to have another plaything. Hmhmhm. I hope he enjoys you, then he won't bother spending all his TIME with that... that female Lupis!!!”

”Merric. What in Maker's name are you yelling about?” Called Dimitri's voice as he stepped down some creaky steps.

”Oh! Dimitri! Brother! Y-Yes! I-I have a surprise for you, brother. See. Come, come.” Merric lead Dimitri to Miles, as he pushed up his roundish glasses.

”A leashed...” Dimitri boredly replied.

”Yes. This one snuck into the Grand master's private play room. Gaigas brought him here. Such a good dragon. Yess!” Merric explained nervously, in a very unusual manner. ”You can do whatever you wish to him, brother. Please, have at it. He is my gift to you.” Merric giggled, in a creepy tone.

”What would you have me do, Merric? I grow bored of this.” Dimitri scoffed.

”D-Dimitri. He needs to be punished! This cretin might be the reason that the Grand Master's pet has disappeared! He's a villain, you hear me!!” Merric insisted, almost obsessively.

”Very well. Do inform Ayame so that Aoba knows what's going on.” Dimitri stated coldly.

”Yes. YES! Of-Of Course brother!” Merric hurried for the door in excitement.

”One more thing, Merric.” Dimitri glanced over his shoulder to his brother, with a cold gaze, as he forced Miles against the wooden table, his face shoved into the puddle of blood.

”What is it, my precious brother?” Merric eagerly awaited Dimitri's words.

Dimitri reached for a nearby scalpel. ”Stop trying to gain my approval.” He said in the most sternest tone, at the very moment he slammed the knife down, aimed at Miles' left hand.

The feline screamed loudly, as his middle finger was removed. ”Get moving, you imbecile!” Dimitri snapped at his younger brother, who rushed off in a hurry.

”STOP IT!!!” Miles cried out, tears flowing from his eyes. He was becoming frantic, and attempted to pull away, but Dimitri shoved him back to the table.

”Keep this up and you're going to lose more than just a finger or two.” Dimitri stated, coldly, as he sliced off Miles' index finger next.

”NOOOO!!!! AHHHH!! SOMEONE! Please!! Huhuhhuh... H-H-Help!!” Miles pleaded as he continued to sulk, desperately crying for help. He had the look of terror, while Dimitri could only grin in pleasure at his traumatized prisoner.