"She had taken many more punches to both body and soul than anyone should ever have to endure. But she had been able to rebel every time."
― Steig Larson, The Girl Who Played with Fire

Chapter 24

"Kyoko?"

At the sound of Makotos' voice, everyone surged forward and surrounded the Ultimate Detective as they all began to talk at once. Byakuya gripped Kyoko's shoulder and leaned closer to the tablet held in his friends hand to hear better. A few months ago, the old Togami would have scoffed at the mere thought of calling these people his friends.

Oh, how the times had changed.

It was almost eight o'clock at night. Instead of everyone going back to their dorm rooms, Togami and everyone else had gathered in Jin Kirigiri's office to try and make contact with Naegi. Despite the tight fit nobody complained, all of them too restless to care or sit down in whatever chairs were available in the office.

"Makoto, are you all right?" Byakuya asked leaning forward. With some prodding, he'd managed to take a shower and eat a small meal before changing into one of clean his suits and rushed to the headmaster's office.

"Where are you?" Hinata asked with furrowed brows. He sounded out of breath from running all the way here. His spiky brow hair still looked a little damp from the quick shower he'd taken.

"Are you safe?" Nanami asked as she brought her hands close to her chest.

Kyoko shot a glare at everyone and held a hand up to quiet them down.

It worked like a charm.

Nanami had to place her hand over Hinata's mouth to shut him up and ignoring the glare he sent her, the Ultimate Gamer beckoned for Kyoko to continue.

Kyoko leaned in close and spoke to the tablet, "Makoto, are you hurt?"

There was a bit of shuffling from the other end before their friend spoke, "It's nothing too serious," she finally said, Byakuya narrowed his blue eyes, "I'll be fine. What about Komaeda? And Yukizome? And Byakuya? How's everyone? Are you okay?"

There were a few chuckles in the room as some people shook their heads in amusement. Asahina wiped a tear from her eyes as she shook her head. Figures Makoto would be worried over everyone else despite the fact that she'd been the one kidnapped.

"Everyone's fine," Kyoko answered calmly.

Komaeda leaned in close from where he was standing beside Byakuya to speak, "I'm all right Naegi." The Ultimate Luckster bit his lip and when he spoke again his voice was oddly quiet, "This is all my fault. I'm so sorry."

There was a bit of static on the other end before Makoto replied, "Komaeda, that's not true. You did your best so don't blame yourself. I let down my guard, the fault lies with me."

"Makoto," Munakata said as he surged forward, Byakuya scowled at him but made no move to stop him, "Do you know where you are?"

Makoto sighed on the other end, "Unfortunately no. When I woke up, I was in a dark cell before some guys came and dragged me to this big coliseum place." Her voice turned excited. "And get this! Those twelve girls? They're alive!"

Akashi whipped his head to the tablet from where he was leaning back on the headmasters desk, his blue eyes wide, "Are you sure?"

"Yes," Makoto replied. "I'll need to ask them their names just to be sure but I have a pretty good feeling that it's them." She paused, her voice turned a little subdued. "I also found out who the leader of this little cult of theirs is too."

Sakakura, Munakata, and Akashi shared a look before the FBI agent asked his next question, "Who is it?"

"Dmitri Baranovsky," Makoto answered, "He has all these men thinking that if they sacrifice me and the rest of the girls here, this god that he believes in will make them rich."

Toko and Hagakure let out a whimper before Asahina spoke up. She looked a little angry and baffled at the same time. "What do you mean sacrifice?"

Makoto grew silent. If it weren't for the sounds of someone fidgeting they might have thought they lost the signal.

Byakuya took the tablet from Kyoko's grasp and tightened his grip on it before scowling, "Makoto," his voice turned firm, "Answer the question."

"Okay, don't freak out." Makoto started after another few seconds of silence.

Everyone shared a look: this couldn't be good.

"They kind of burn their victims at the stake," Makoto answered in a rush.

Chaos ensued.

Hinata and Kuzuryu started cursing as Peko and Nanami tried to calm them down.

Hagakure looked like he'd started praying.

The adults in the room were oddly quiet but Akashi looked a little pale.

Komaeda, Junko, and Sakura looked ready to storm the place. Byakuya and Kyoko shared a look. Not on their watch.

"It won't be anytime soon," Makoto hastily added after everyone had calmed down. "They're going to have this big ceremony and invite all their members to participate."

Byakuya narrowed his eyes, "When is it?"

"According to their leader, it'll take place in two weeks."

"We'll have you out before then," Munakata promised. Yukizome and Sakakura nodded from where they stood next to him.

Makoto hesitated on the other end, "Actually," Byakuya and Komaeda narrowed their eyes, "I was kind of wondering if I could stay until the last day."

Several people sucked in a sharp breath through their teeth.

"The hell did she say?" Kuzuryu barked.

Junko started cackling. "I love this chick!"

Ibuki leaned down to whisper in Nanami's ear. "Am I hearing things?"

"I'm sorry," Hinata scowled as he tapped his ears. "I don't think I heard you right."

Togami had gone pale. Komaeda was looking at him in worry.

Kyoko ignored her babbling classmates and calmly took the tablet from the frozen heir's stiff fingers. "Why do you want to stay Naegi? Explain yourself."

"These people have been doing this for years right?"

Akashi furrowed his brows where he was leaning against a desk. "Yes, that's right."

"If you guys wait for two weeks," Makoto paused on the other end. "Then all the members in this cult, all the people who had a part in the killings of the previous girls will be there that day of the ceremony."

Akashi's blue eyes widened in realization. "We'd be able to catch them all in one fell swoop."

"Exactly and –"

"No."

"Byakuya?"

"I said no." Togami clenched his fists at his sides, his blue eyes were blazing. "You're not staying in that place for two weeks Makoto."

"But –"

"I said no!" Togami turned his eyes to Akashi. "And you. How dare you try to use her."

The FBI agent sighed. He had the decency to look guilty at least. "I don't like it either, but this is the chance of a lifetime!"

"I don't give a damn!" Togami barked as he raised his voice. Everyone shuffled uncomfortably. "I'm not letting her stay there any longer than she has to. We're getting her out of there."

Sakakura groaned in annoyance. "Look kid," Togami bristled. "I get that you're worried about your girlfriend. Hell, I'm sure everyone else is too." His pink-ish eyes narrowed. "But this is a good opportunity."

"Makoto is right," Munakata added. "If we wait for two weeks not only would we be rescuing Makoto but we'd also be rescuing all the other girls there and putting a stop to those people's actions."

Togami's nostrils flared.

"You guys want to leave Makoto with those maniacs for that long?" Asahi's eyes were blazing and despite Sakura rubbing her back to try and comfort her she looked livid. "She's a girl! We need to get her out of there!"

"Guys –"

"Who gives a shit if she's a girl?" Kuzuryu rolled his eyes at the Ultimate Swimmer. "Need I remind everyone that she can kick some serious ass?"

"My master is right." Pekoyama added quietly. She pushed her thin rectangular glasses higher up her nose. "Makoto has been taught how to defend herself –"

"Yeah, but she still managed to get captured." Hagakure grumbled under his breath.

A few people turned to glare at him.

Pekoyama ignored the comment.

"The girl can kick some serious butt!" Owari cheered. "Gave her plenty of meat too so she's in good shape."

Nidai nodded with a proud smile. "She's definitely a good student."

Mukuro and Munakata nodded where they stood.

Togami couldn't believe he was hearing this. Were these people seriously considering this? Did they not care what happened to Makoto?

"I don't like it," Hinata grumbled as he crossed his hands over his chest. "I get that we'd be saving a lot of other people too but leaving Makoto in that place with all those crazy people that want to kill her just doesn't sit right by me."

"Agreed," Komaeda nodded. His light grey-green eyes looked troubled. "I don't wish to leave her there either but –"

Togami rounded on him. "But what?"

Komaeda raised his hands in a placating manner. "Think about this. If we get Makoto out of there, what's to stop them from trying to take her again?"

The room grew quiet. They hadn't thought of that.

"They probably would try again." Owada cursed under his breath. "Those fuckers tried their hardest to capture her in the first place."

Ishimaru frowned at his friend's language.

Leon cursed and rubbed his orange goatee. "Then it's definitely better to wait, huh?"

"Those brutes." Celestia murmured.

"We shall put a curse on them!" Tanaka howled as he raised a fist in the air.

Saionji rolled her orange eyes and flipped her long blond hair over her shoulders. "Yeah, like that'll work."

Sonia pursed her lips as Koizumi worked her bottom lip in worry.

"It doesn't matter," Togami snapped. "I'll get her away and take her somewhere where they won't be able to find her."

"Togami." Kyoko's quiet voice made him turn in her direction. "You can't do that."

"And why not?"

"Togami," Komaeda placed his hand on his friends' shoulder and gave it a squeeze. "Naegi will be on the run if you do that."

"Damn it, he's right," Hinata rubbed at his forehead with a sigh. He looked troubled. "Look man, I don't like it either but if we can get rid of the guys that want Naegi all at once, then I say we do it."

Togami looked ready to throttle him.

Jin Kirigiri gave him a stern look where he sat behind his desk that had Koichi rolling his eyes.

"There's a man that I trust in here." Makoto interrupted quietly.

The Ultimate Mechanic's pink colored contacts widened. "That red head right?"

There was a bit of static before their friend's voice came back. "Yes," Makoto answered. "I trust him. He said he'd make contact with you guys soon. Trust him."

"See?" Kazuichi looked around the room with excitement. "Told you!"

Akashi took out a notepad and a pen. "This guy, do you know his name?"

"I just know his first name," Makoto answered. More static followed before the Ultimate Mechanic gave it a good smack. "It's Christoph.

Kyoko sighed and flipped a strand of her long lavender hair behind her back. Her purple eyes narrowed as she surveyed everyone in the room. They nodded grimly. "Then it's decided." She turned her attention back to the tablet in her hand, ignoring the searing gaze of the Togami heir. "We don't like it but we'll wait for two weeks before rescuing you."

Makoto exhaled in relief on the other end. "Thanks guys. You can count on me."

"Are you all deaf?" Togami snapped. "We're not doing this! If you guys won't help, then I'll get her out myself!"

"Byakuya," Makoto sighed. "I understand where you're coming from. If you were in my shoes, I'd be hesitant to let you stay here either. As much as it pains me to be away from you for that long, I need to do this."

Togami opened his mouth to retort but before he could Naegi cut him off.

"These girls look like they've lost hope in anyone coming to save them. Let me give them hope again. Let me save them." Naegi paused. "Please."

Togami's blue eyes softened a fraction. He glanced around the room to see everyone smiling encouragingly at him. Akashi looked like he was holding his breath.

The blond heir pinched the bridge of his nose and breathed in deep. "Fine." Everyone exhaled. "But I want constant updates from you. And if someone's so much as touches you then I won't hesitate to pull you out of there. Is that understood Makoto?"

Naegi sighed in relief on the end. The sound of approaching feet on Makoto's side made everyone go eerily silent. "I understand," Naegi whispered. "I have to go. The guards are coming back. Stay safe and be on the look out for Christoph." She paused. "I love you Byakuya."

Before he could utter the words back the line went dead.

Hinata and Komaeda placed a hand on his shoulders. Komaeda pushed back a strand of white hair away from his face and gave him an encouraging smile. "She'll be all right Togami."

He seriously hoped so too.

Naegi woke, stiff with panic. Someone was shaking her. She sat up and scrambled against the wall, her heart hammering in her chest.

"Get up," a raspy voice grumbled.

The strange voice shattered whatever remaining haze of sleep she still had. The voice belonged to a man with a weathered face and a skinny body. It was still dark in her cell but with a few more blinks, her green eyes began to adjust.

"Get up," the man repeated again. He sounded impatient.

Naegi took a wobbly step to the floor and reached for her boots before the man clicked his tongue and curled his hand on her forearm before he began to drag her out. "No shoes. You'll get new clothes and shoes after your shower."

"Shower?" Her voice sounded more like a croak. She cleared it. "We can take showers?"

Then why had the girls that they'd passed yesterday looked like they hadn't had one in weeks? She opened her mouth to ask but before she could the man opened the door to her cell, a high-pitch screeched came from it, before bright lights made her close her eyes with a hiss.

Another set of hands grabbed her wrists. She felt something cool before there was a click. Naegi's hands had been bound. She fought the urge to grimace. The man who had put the handcuffs on her wrists had an angular face, a strong jaw, and a set of brown eyes. They looked at her in distaste.

He pushed her forward, down the cold hallway and through a door that led to another hallway that looked to be made out of stone. It smelled of urine and stale smoke. "You're lucky," the man said in a rough voice. The man who had woken her up trailed after them, a hand on his firearm as his obsidian eyes looked around with narrowed eyes. "If we'd gotten you a day later, you would have had to wait another two weeks before you could shower."

So the girls here could shower. Just not often.

Naegi's whole body ached, and every time she pulled at her restraints they only seemed to tighten even more. The ground felt uneven and she swore she saw more than one cockroach skitter past her. It made the hairs on the back of her head stand.

She wondered what Byakuya was doing. Was he eating right? Was he taking care of himself? Naegi really hoped that he hadn't pushed Komaeda and the rest of their friends away. They needed each other and despite what Byakuya might say, he enjoyed their company.

She hoped the injury Komaeda had suffered in her behalf was not life threatening. Tsumiki could look after him. Hinata and Nanami as well.

By now her family must have heard the news of what had happened to her. Her little sister had always been strong. She could keep their spirits up until they got Naegi back.

Her mind wondered off to Christoph. Had he made contact with her friends yet? Is that why he wasn't here?

She seriously hoped so.

The room they came upon had warped-glass windows and wide iron bars. They weren't the only people in the room. The other girls that Naegi had seen were here as well. Some were shaking. Others had their heads down as their arms curled around themselves protectively.

Out of all of them, the blond girl with the curly hair was the only one who was glaring at the men who had come in with Naegi. There was a fire in her light green eyes.

Defiance was written all over that face.

The girl was a little shorter than herself. And Naegi was pretty short compared to all her friends so that was saying something. Was she the youngest out of all of them combined?

Two more men appeared from another door and with the help of the other two men who had come in with Naegi, they ushered all the girls to stand with their backs against the wall in a single line. After that they placed wooden buckets in front of them.

Their handcuffs were removed. Though she'd only had them for a short time it didn't stop her wrists from aching.

One of the new men who had a scar running from his right eye all the way to his jaw surveyed them with a predatory look that made Naegi stiffen. "Put your dirty clothes in the buckets in front of you. Socks and whatever remains of your slippers as well."

Naegi hesitated.

The man who had first woken her put his hand on his firearm in warning. She didn't have much of a choice it seemed.

Naegi's hands shook as she reached behind her back to unzip the maid costume she was wearing, wrinkled now from the night she'd spent in it. It had already been ripped in certain areas so it hadn't provided much warmth during the night.

Still, parting ways with it made her feel a little sad.

Her classmates and herself had worked their butts off trying to make them perfect before the festival started and Naegi had managed to ruin in by having it damaged during her little scuffle.

Her maid outfit dropped to the floor.

The man with the scar on his face narrowed his hazel eyes on her. "Everything."

Naegi felt dread at the pit of her stomach. Her hands refused to stop their trembling as Naegi reached behind her back once again to remove her bra and then her underwear and socks. Her hands crossed over her chest to hide her assets. She felt the urge to cry but managed to hold the tears at bay.

She had a feeling these men wouldn't appreciate someone crying.

She'd never been naked in front of anyone else but Togami and Hinata before, the latter mostly by accident but still. She felt vulnerable, her body ached, and she didn't like the hungry looks that passed over the men's faces.

A man with a handsome face and slicked black hair, stepped forward and went down the line collecting the buckets with their clothes as the man with the scar on his face inspected each girl, one by one.

The other man brought in new buckets and placed them on the opposite wall.

New clothes perhaps?

Naegi didn't know what the man who was inspecting them was looking for but kept her mouth shut. It didn't stop her from glaring though. A few girls started crying. The girl next to her with brown skin and light blue eyes cried a little louder than the rest. The other man who had first put the handcuffs on her wrists turned his attention to her and scowled. "Shut it, or I'll throw you into the isolation cell."

The girl tried to be quiet, but she couldn't quite manage it. The man reached for her.

Naegi opened her mouth to say something, anything, to keep that man's attention away from theat girl but before she could someone else spoke before her.

"She's just scared," a soft English voice said down the line. It was the curly blond haired hair. "She doesn't like the look you're giving us." Her light green eyes narrowed. "And frankly, neither do I."

The guard was in her in front of her within seconds. "What the fuck did you say?"

The girl lifted her head, she was a good deal shorter than everyone, and scowled. "I said you're a pervert."

The man backhanded her so hard that she stumbled backwards. But she didn't cry out. Her cheek already swelling, she made her way back to the line and glared defiantly at the man who had struck her.

Naegi and the rest of the girls could only watch in awe.

The man with the scar down his face barked at them to face the wall, raise their arms, and spread their legs. The other three men with him started grinning. Naegi refused to move. Neither did the curly blond haired girl. Some of the others began to cry once again as they slowly began to do as the men asked.

"I'll take it from here," a familiar voice rang out from the doorway.

Naegi felt immediate relief at the sight of Christoph's appearance. He was leaning against the wall, his green eyes looking bored as he surveyed everyone in the room before his eyes went to the man with the scar down his face. He was wearing army pants, a tight black T-shirt and brown combat boots. His red hair looked a little damp.

The man scowled at him. "Says who?"

"Says Dmitri," Christoph said as he looked down at his nails. "You guys tend hit the girls a little too much for his liking." His green eyes narrowed. "You sully them."

The man's whole face turned red and he moved towards Christoph. "You son of a –"

There was a grunt and a thud and suddenly Christoph had the man on his stomach and one hand behind his back as Christoph's booted foot put pressure on his back. "Don't test me Lionel."

The other men swallowed nervously.

With a scowl, Christoph released his hold and Lionel scrambled to his feet, his whole face reddening as it turned into a sneer. "You better watch yourself Christoph," Lionel growled, but Christoph merely smirked.

"You know where Dmitri draws the line," he said.

Lionel spit at his feet before he left the room in a huff, the other three men following closely behind him.

Christoph turned to Naegi and the girls and his green eyes softened. He made sure to look them in the eye only. "Sorry about that ladies. They won't trouble you anymore."

"Thank you Christoph," the curly blond haired girl whispered as she tightened her arms around her chest.

His green eyes narrowed on her red cheek. "I'll get you an ice pack for your cheek later."

The girl nodded in thanks.

Some of the tension left the other girls and they mumbled their own thanks.

"You know the drill ladies," Christoph sighed. "You have five minutes to shower before the water is cut." He turned around to give them a little more privacy. "I'll be here if you need anything."

Nodding, Naegi and the rest of the girls stepped under the hose. There were no walls, or curtains to separate them. Turning the knob, Naegi watched as quickly as she could. There was a bar of soap embedded on the wall that could easily be plucked out. It smelled like lavender. No shampoo though. When she got to her face, she hissed.

It still hurt.

Someone nudged her shoulder. Startled, Naegi looked down to see the curly blond haired girl washing next to her.

"The names Sasha Turner," she inclined her head.

"Makoto Naegi," she mumbled as she brought the soap to her hair.

Sasha grinned. Water ran down her face. Her cheek must be hurting but she didn't show any signs of discomfort. "Well Makoto," Sasha gave her a Cheshire smile. "I think you and I are going to be great friends."

Yes, Naegi had the same feeling too.

Reviews are more than welcome!