Where was he? He didn't know... The pain in his head was so intense that his vision was blurred.
He had just awakened, unable to think of anything else but escaping.
He tried to move, but his wrists and ankles were bound by some kind of chain, restricting all his movements. The place reeked of metal, an oppressive atmosphere permeating the space.
As clarity gradually returned, his mind stumbled through a confusion of thoughts: how had he been captured? Where was he? And who would go to such lengths to get to him?
'What the hell happened?!' he thought frantically as his head spun, panic starting to creep in. But the faint glow of flames illuminating the room revealed a figure standing before him.
It was a tall man with fiery red hair that contrasted with the glow of the flame. He stood there, merely observing Alexander's every reaction with an oddly calm smile.
His presence was heavy, as if it filled every corner of the room, his unyielding gaze waiting for Alexander to grasp the situation.
"Did you sleep well, Alexander?" The man's voice was firm, deep, and carried a mocking tone.
The sound made Alexander shudder; memories of the last moments before he lost consciousness returned in flashes—the ruthless touch of the woman who captured him, the desperation and fear. And then he understood: Dante.
"You...!!" Alexander whispered. He had met Dante once before, during the rulers' meeting, but seeing him alone like this, especially behaving this way...
Dante chuckled, a sound that seemed to slice through the heavy air of the room. "You look scared; have you forgotten the Ghost you helped to kill? I imagine you already know what that means for you, don't you? I hope you haven't forgotten what I said I would do." He stepped closer, each step resonating against the floor, heightening the tension around Alexander.
"You... you don't understand, Dante," Alexander tried to speak, but his voice wavered. "I did what I did because it was necessary, I had to—"
Dante interrupted with a cold laugh. "Necessary? Interesting choice of words. You sacrificed a fourteen-year-old child, for what exactly? Your arrogance, your honor, and for what? A mere whim. But now, Alexander, I'm the one who decides what's necessary."
"I... couldn't foresee what would happen, Dante," Alexander responded in a trembling voice. "At the time, it was the only option I had. You... you were a danger to all of us!"
Dante moved until he was mere inches from his face, and Alexander could see the merciless glint in his crimson eyes, a look that knew no forgiveness. "I was a danger?" Dante repeated, his tone dripping with sarcasm. "Interesting. Tell me, Alexander, when did I ever show any danger to you and your troupe of vermin? As far as I recall, even after defeating all of you, I stayed far away from everyone. But of course, there was the opportunity to kill that woman's son... HAHAHA," Dante laughed loudly as he recalled what had happened.
The memories of that day still lingered in his mind... Simply because, after those horrific moments, Dante fell in love with his third person... Nagasawa...
From the shadows, a second figure slowly emerged. Nagasawa. Her eyes glowed a deep crimson, a fierce gaze radiating contained fury. She walked toward Alexander, each step echoing in the room like the beat of a war drum, bringing with her a presence as imposing as Dante's.
"Oh, Alexander..." Nagasawa began, her voice low and threatening. "You have no idea how long I've waited for this moment."
Alexander swallowed hard, fear evident on his face as the two women stared at him, predators about to pounce on their helpless prey. He tried to pull away, but the chains held him firmly.
Dante smiled, crossing his arms, watching the scene with a certain dark delight. "Welcome to your own judgment, Alexander. And since you seem to enjoy memories from the past, these two... have some memories for you as well."
Nagasawa moved even closer, leaning down to meet Alexander's gaze, her red eyes fixed on his, full of disdain. "You've run for so long... But the time has come to face what you've sown."
The other woman grinned, revealing sharp teeth in a gesture that was both a warning and a promise.
Nagasawa approached slowly, her steps carrying a dangerous calm. Stopping behind Alexander, she slid her hand over his shoulder, her fingers cold and firm resting lightly on him.
When she pressed her hand against his shoulder, Alexander felt a strange warmth, a tingling sensation that quickly transformed into pain. His shoulder began to bubble under her touch, the skin disintegrating into tiny fragments, as if it were... melting.
"Ughg!!" He tried to scream, but terror paralyzed him, and all he could manage was a strangled whimper.
Nagasawa simply smiled, leaning in close enough for her voice to be a whisper directly in his ear.
"The pain you feel now... is just a fraction of what you caused, to me and my husband," she murmured, her voice cold and satisfied. "Every inch... every second... you will feel it, Alexander." She whispered, releasing more poison from her hand...
Nagasawa's touch intensified, and Alexander felt the pain spreading like fire through his veins as her venom seeped into his skin. The sensation was a mix of burning and paralysis, every fiber of his being in agony as the poison advanced.
"Please... please..." he babbled, his voice barely audible as panic consumed him. He knew he was at her mercy, powerless to defend himself or escape.
Nagasawa leaned in even closer, the proximity making the moment more claustrophobic. "You don't understand, Alexander," she whispered, her tone soft as silk but laden with contained rage. "You took everything from me. Now... it's your turn to experience what it's like to be destroyed, piece by piece."
"Evangeline... how about you grab that?" Nagasawa asked, smiling as she kept her hand on his skin.
"Yes, ma'am."