A Demon's Lapse

Nora woke up screaming. She sat on the floor with her hands were chained against a pipe on the wall. Realizing that she wasn't in immediate danger she looked around to see where she was. The room was windowless and was made of concrete. The fluorescent tubes overhead gave it a dreary feel. She looked at her hand she had cut with the glass shard and saw a bandage on it. Then she remembered what happened. The pirates and the boat. And, Kiyohira. She was terrified to even remember the sight. Did he save her? He probably only did so to torture her later. Nora's head fell down in sadness and defeat. Everything had gone wrong. Why was this happening? She would never see her sister again. Now that literal demon would surely kill her. She sobbed in silence.

The door opened and she quickly scooted away, in fear, from whomever had entered. She was met with Kiyohira once more. He was wearing a gray dress shirt, a black vest, and black slacks. Nora looked up at him nervously. He gave her his usual stare.

"You stupid girl, did you really believe you were going to escape," he said.

Nora gulped and then spoke, "What are you?"

He kneeled down and glared at her. "I'm the one asking the questions here," he quickly replied.

"If you're going to kill me just do it then but please leave my sister alone," she said quietly.

"Kill you? That would be too easy. I will find your sister and make you watch as I destroy her and then you will be next," he retorted.

Nora began to sob again.

"Your tears won't work on me. From now on, I'll work you to the bone until I find her. You are not to go anywhere unless I allow it," Kiyohira declared.

All Nora did was look down. She didn't have the strength to say anything anymore. Kiyohira walked out of the room and left her alone. He surely was a heartless man. She was so sorry for the fate that had befallen Rosie and her because of her actions.

In the following days, Nora was made to do more intensive labor around the island than before, with supervision of course. She was still fed and allowed basic amenities. Her days consisted of working and being locked up in her room. She was glad that she was still allowed outside even though it was only for work. Matsuda noticed that she wasn't her usual self.

While he was accompanying Nora to her assignment he abruptly spoke, "Ahem, I hope you've learned your lesson, young lady. The boss is a dangerous man."

She looked at him and responded, "What's his problem? Wouldn't he also try to get away if he were held prisoner?"

"If you had only obeyed his orders you wouldn't find yourself in this situation, Miss," he said. He was right. She acted rashly and made things worse.

"Isn't there any way to change his mind? He can do whatever he wants to me but I want him to leave my sister out of all this," she pleaded.

"I'm afraid that once the boss sets his mind on something, nothing can change it," he said.

Nora sighed in defeat. Maybe if she just kept playing nice it would change something but as of right now the situation wasn't looking good.

"If you keep working hard though, it might redeem you in his eyes," said Matsuda. Nora looked at him with a glimmer of hope. "It's not a guarantee, just don't do anything foolish anymore, understood," he told her.

She nodded.

"Mr. Matsuda," Nora asked, "what is he? I saw him. He was a devil, literally!"

"He's not a devil! He has powers that I don't understand. I'm sorry but I cannot disclose anything about it," he said curtly. Kiyohira being a devil was fitting, she thought.

Later that evening Matsuda told Kiyohira that Nora had done well completing all her assigned tasks.

"She has done a very thorough job, sir," he added. Kiyohira seemed unmoved. He was too proud to admit that she was able to exceed his expectations.

"Sir, if I may say, I think the girl acted out of fear and perhaps you can go a bit easier on her. She's doing very well--," Matsuda said but was cut off.

"You seem to be very close to her. What did I tell you about second guessing me," snapped Kiyohira. "That insolent little brat must pay for her insubordination! I'm very close to reprimanding you too Matsuda! This will be the last time you will ever bring up this matter because next time I will not allow it to be said," he said. Matsuda just bowed his head.

Kiyohira wanted to unwind. "Send me a girl for tonight," he ordered. Matsuda nodded and left the room and Kiyohira walked toward the window with the ocean view. He lit up a cigarette and stood there. He could've left the girl on that boat but he didn't. Every time he saw her he had this gnawing feeling inside him that drove him crazy. It must've been because of her reckless behavior. Now Matsuda was defending her? What was going on? He closed his eyes as smoke escaped through his nostrils.

After dinner, Kiyohira retired to the parlor where he had a glass of brandy. The girl he requested had arrived. She was a brunette with a beautiful and curvaceous body. She had pale ivory skin and bright blue eyes. Her hair was all parted to the side. He sat in a chair and beckoned her to come closer. She smiled and happily sat on his lap. He cracked a smile as he began to caress her voluptuous body. She put her hands on his neck, massaging it. Suddenly, Kiyohira felt a sharp pain on his neck. The woman had injected him with something she pulled out of her gloves.

He tried to throw her off him but she had incredible strength and began to strangle him. He started to feel off due to whatever she had put in him. He didn't give up, grabbing her by the neck, he threw her across the room. She had quick reflexes and got right back up. She lifted her dress and took out a knife from her garter. She lunged at him but he dodged it. The reaction was starting to get worse. He didn't know how much longer he had. He yelled to get his men's attention but they didn't show up. Something was wrong.

The woman kept lunging at him but all he could do was try to stay away from her since his strength was dissipating. She did a flip, jumping on top of him and he grabbed her tightly and threw himself over, crashing through the glass railing, landing on the living room floor below.