"Drink this!"
Three Face's voice sounded out, her tone as dry as the sand below their feet.
"What is it?" Aiden asked as he collected a vile from her gazing at its contents with a suspicious look in his eyes.
"It's crack," Three Face's voice sounded out again, the dryness in her tone persistent.
Before Aiden could bicker with Three Face again, he suddenly heard the sound of swallowing from the side.
Feeling surprised, Aiden looked towards Mai and noticed that she had consumed the substance, and upon seeing that she was fine Aiden followed suit.
"Gulp!"
The sound of swallowing sounded out as Aiden gulped down the contents in the vile, it was tasteless, like normal water.
Aiden was a bit confused until Landon's voice sounded out in his head, "A foreign energy has invaded your body, the energy has been devoured your soul energy has recovered by 2%"
Upon hearing this Aiden narrowed his eyes as he quickly turned towards Mai. Sure enough, her face was pale as she lowered her body almost falling to her knees.
Seeing this Aiden quickly supported her, but Three Face's voice sounded out, "Shake it off, it's only temporary."
"Yes ma'am," Mai swiftly replied as she shook Aiden off, earning her a frown from Aiden.
Mai's condition persisted for a few minutes before she managed to recover and stand on her feet.
Glancing at Aiden who seemed completely unaffected by the unknown substance, Three Face thought, "I forgot how sturdy this one is."
By the time Mai had recovered, Three Face was already walking away, prompting Aiden and Mai to follow behold.
As they followed, they observed the facility around them intently, it was an open space filled with helicopters. In the distance, you could see some warehouses as well, but strangely there were no workers to be found.
After the chopper dropped them off at this place, it flew off, leaving them to fend for themselves.
Aiden recognized this place, it was the place where they were dropped off before they had been sent to the enclave.
Soon enough, the group reached the gate of the facility, a strange silence lingering as they moved.
Bringing out a card from her pocket, Three Face scanned it on a short pole, a mechanical beeping sound echoing as the gates opened, revealing a man in a butler's uniform standing in front of a Limo.
Without a word, Three Face approached this vehicle, prompting the butler to silently open the door with a bow.
"This woman, be mindful of what you say around her," Landon's voice sounded out in Aiden's mind, his tone one of caution.
As they approached the sleek, black limousine waiting at the gate, Aiden couldn't shake the feeling of unease that gnawed at his gut, and Landon's warning didn't help at all.
The vehicle loomed ominously, its tinted windows hiding whatever secrets lay within.
"What are you waiting for?" Three Face suddenly said with a cold, business-like demeanor, gesturing for Aiden and Mai to enter, and so they did prompting the butler to close the door behind them, swiftly moving to the driver's seat to begin driving.
Inside the limo, the air was heavy with silence, broken only by the distant hum of the engine.
The plush leather seats felt more like a trap than a refuge, and the soft music playing in the background seemed to mock their predicament.
"What's this feeling, what is Three Face up to this time?" Aiden's mind raced with suspicion, while Mai sat tense and watchful, her eyes darting nervously around the dimly lit interior. Unlike her usual self, she seemed quite nervous around Three Face.
The interior of the limo was devoid of warmth, with cold metal accents and harsh lighting casting long shadows. Aiden and Mai felt like prisoners in their own luxury, the opulence serving as a stark reminder of their captivity.
As the limo crept along the desolate road, Aiden and Mai exchanged wary glances, Aiden could see the unease in Mai's eyes, and she could feel his caution.
Looking out the window, Aiden gazed at the stores, he also watched the buildings and the people that walked by, "it's been a while since we saw this many people isn't it Mai?" Aiden asked.
Startled by Aiden's sudden question, Mai snapped her neck as she gazed at him as though he was a threat, "um, yeah, it's been a while," she replied, the caution in her tone evident.
"Haha," a short giggle suddenly sounded out, it came from Three Face, and by the sound of her voice, one could tell she was amused.
"I'm surprised you didn't get whiplash with how quickly you turned your neck, why are you so nervous, be free, after all, we're like family," she said.
"Hmm," Mai hummed with an awkward smile, as she too gazed out the window.
Aiden couldn't shake the feeling that they were being watched, while Mai's nerves seemed to fray with each passing mile.
The limo journey stretched on endlessly, the oppressive atmosphere weighing heavily on Aiden and Mai as they struggled to maintain their composure.
The rest of their journey was quiet, with Three Face watching them, her expression veiled by her blank white mask.
"How does this bitch even see in that thing?" Aiden yelled in his mind earning him a chuckle from Landon, it was quite the question.
Three Face's mask had no breathing holes, it was just a blank mask of pure white that covered her face, it had no straps as well making the object look like it was glued to her face.
Looking around Aiden noticed that they had changed route into a forest road, the ground ahead littered with fallen leaves.
Eventually, the limo pulled up to a foreboding mansion shrouded in darkness, its imposing facade giving Aiden a feeling of apprehension.
"What are we doing here? I thought we were heading for the Silence's headquarters?" Aiden's voice sounded out his brows furrowed as he spoke.
Mai also listened in as well, eager to know the answer.
After a moment of stillness, Three Face finally replied, her voice lazy as she said, "You both look like beggars, you smell like them two, I brought you here to freshen up."
Saying this Three Face walked ahead, pushing open the rusty gates as she moved.
Gazing at Three Face's figure Aiden couldn't shake off the odd feeling he was getting about this place. Three Face's cryptic explanation only served to deepen his sense of threat, leaving him in a constant state of caution.
Mai on the other hand silently followed behind Three Face prompting Aiden to follow as well.
As they entered the mansion, Aiden and Mai were greeted by an eerie silence that hung heavy in the air. The dimly lit corridors seemed to stretch on endlessly, casting long shadows that danced ominously across the walls.
"Welcome," Three Face said as she came to a stop, her expression unknown as she continued, "You should be grateful, not everyone gets to visit my home."
"This is your place," Aiden suddenly exclaimed, his sense of threat increasing to an alarming level.
Ignoring Aiden, Three Face pointed to a door behind them, "In there is a room with two bathrooms, you'll find good clothes in the closet, use it."
Saying this she walked deeper into the mansion, disappearing as she turned a corner. Watching Three Face leave, Aiden and Mai exchanged a glance before entering the room.
"Wow,"
Aiden couldn't help but sigh as he observed the room, the bedroom itself was a study in stark luxury, its atmosphere heavy with opulence tinged with a sense of foreboding.
The walls were draped in rich, dark velvet curtains that seemed to absorb what little light filtered in through the windows, casting the room in shadow.
A grand canopy bed dominated the center of the room, its mahogany frame adorned with intricate carvings that seemed to twist and writhe in the dim light.
The bed was adorned with silk sheets that shimmered in the low light, inviting yet somehow menacing in their perfection. Aiden and Mai exchanged uneasy glances as they took in their surroundings, the weight of their situation settling like a heavy shroud over the room.
To one side of the bed stood a massive wardrobe, its polished ebony doors adorned with gilded handles that gleamed in the darkness. Inside, rows of designer clothing hung in perfect order, each piece meticulously arranged as if awaiting its next wearer.
Aiden couldn't help but feel a sense of unease as he looked upon the wardrobe as if it held secrets better left undiscovered.
Opposite the wardrobe stood a vanity adorned with ornate mirrors and delicate crystal perfume bottles, their contents untouched and pristine.
The air was heavy with the scent of jasmine and sandalwood, a stark contrast to the oppressive atmosphere that pervaded the room.
Nearby, a pair of doors led to the two bathrooms, their marble floors cold beneath their feet.
Each bathroom was a study in decadence, with gleaming fixtures and plush towels that seemed to mock their predicament. Aiden and Mai exchanged a silent glance before venturing into their respective bathrooms, the sound of running water echoing softly in the stillness.
Ignoring the room for now, Aiden turned to Mai who was already taking off her shirt, his gaze reserved as he asked, "What's been up with you lately? You don't seem like one to be intimidated."
There was a strange stillness after Aiden's words, but after a bit, Mai let out a sigh.
Turning to Aiden with a calm expression, Mai asked, "Have you worked in a corporate company before? To advance you have to be respectful to your superiors, you'd be surprised at how much they can get away with, I'm not like you Aiden, and for a Contractor, my talent is a bit lackluster, back at the enclave when you were asleep, I had a chat with-"
"Quiet!"
Aiden suddenly exclaimed, his voice above a whisper as he stopped Mai from calling out Jonathan's name.
Realizing what she had done, Mai quickly shut her mouth as she walked towards the bathroom, but just before she entered, Aiden's voice lingered, "You're part of the Silence Mai, you're a real Contractor now, so you should act like one, there's no need to be intimidated."
Watching Mai walk into the bathroom with her underwear, Aiden also followed suit, going into the second bathroom, the only problem was that he didn't take off his clothes.
Inside, the bathrooms were spacious and opulent, with marble countertops and gleaming chrome fixtures that sparkled in the dim light.
Aiden couldn't help but feel a sense of unease as he gazed upon the luxurious surroundings, the stark contrast to their dire situation only serving to deepen his sense of threat, but there was also another feeling, a feeling he was all too familiar with, which was the feeling of being watched.
Looking around Aiden suddenly started searching, he looked under the sink, the bathtub, the countertops, and even the toilet.
Unfortunately, he couldn't find anything, but just when he was about to give up, he caught something from the corner of his eye.
It was a cup, filled with toothbrushes, but one of the toothbrushes in particular caught Aiden's eyes.
It had a red dot, in the middle, that looked like nothing more than a normal design but as Aiden stared at this brush he felt his feeling of being watched increase.
"Snap!"
Aiden suddenly picked up the brush and snapped it in two, and just like that the feeling of being watched disappeared.
At the same time, somewhere in the mansion, Three Face stared at the tablet in front of her with an unknown expression on her face.
In this tablet was a split screen playing two different videos, unfortunately, one of these split screens had gone dark, leaving the video of a red-haired girl taking a shower.
With a small chilling tone, Three Face dropped the tablet as she muttered to herself, "he's gotten smarter."
Meanwhile, Aiden was busy taking a shower, sighing as the warm water touched his skin, he bathed for a long time just enjoying the feeling, as he scrubbed himself.
Looking at his tail which he unconsciously swayed from side to side, Aiden thought to himself, "Should I scrub it too?"
Shrugging his shoulders, Aiden decided to wash his tail, while thinking to himself, "I've cut through people's innards with this thing, better to keep myself clean."
Saying this he scrubbed his tail with the sponge feeling the hard and texture of his new limb, but when he tried to scrub through the tip, he severed the sponge by mistake.
After a while Aiden was finally out of the bathroom, his hair damp as he hid his tail amidst his bathrobe.
Looking ahead, Aiden noticed Mai and he couldn't help but acknowledge her appearance.
She sat in the corner of the room, a striking figure to behold.
Her fiery red hair cascaded in waves around her shoulders, a vibrant contrast to the monochrome surroundings. Each strand seemed to dance with a life of its own, framing her face in a halo of crimson as she waited patiently.
Dressed in a sharp business ensemble, she exuded an air of power and confidence that drew the eye of everyone in the room.
Instead of a traditional skirt, she wore sleek palazzo pants, their flowing silhouette adding an element of drama to her look.
The deep burgundy hue of the pants matched the boldness of her personality, while the wide-leg cut lent a sense of effortless elegance to her ensemble.
Above, she wore a tailored jacket in a complementary shade, its structured silhouette accentuating her curves with precision. Beneath the jacket, a crisp white blouse peeked out from the collar, its pristine fabric a stark contrast to the rich tones of her attire.
As she sat there, her posture was poised and composed, her expression calm yet commanding. Her gaze swept across the room with a quiet intensity, before settling on Aiden.
Meanwhile as Aiden gawked at Mai's appearance, Three Face waited patiently outside the room, her arms folded as she watched the door.