Is this destiny?

Trigger warning: This chapter depicts violence. Read it at your discretion.

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Jesse laughed victoriously. It was just for a second, but she saw that Michael\'s expression cracked. And no matter how much his poker face is practiced, the emotions in his eyes are impossible to conceal.

Jesse walked behind Michael and spoke softly close to his ear: "The girl came in the building shortly after you. I was wondering if she is just a tourist who lost her way and wandered inside, but then… it is too suspicious to be a coincidence. And then we saw the surveillance videos and realized that she is the one who gave you company across the street. I checked her ID and just how your name is not Otto, I assume that her ID is fake as well. I really don\'t care who she is, but I see that you are concerned about her. We already know everything about your family, so she is not a sister or a cousin. It makes me wonder… Does she belong to the same organization as you? Probably."

Michael hoped that they will not connect Oni to him. But they already know that they were together in the cafe. His only concern was how to get Oni out of here and he decided to play on the youth card.

"She is just a teenager and does not know anything.", Michael said.

Jesse bobbed her head. "That is a possibility, but how will we know if we don\'t ask? I wonder if her tolerance to pain is the same as yours. You barely made any sounds while I was breaking your fingers. Do you think that she will scream? Will she call your name? Will she beg you to save her?"

Michael closed his eyes and gritted his teeth. Based on the amount of glee in Jesse\'s voice, he concluded that no matter what he says, they will not let him, or Oni go. This morbid Jesse is enjoying torturing him.

Michael cursed himself. How come he didn\'t see it? For years he believed that Jesse is a delicate girl (and then a woman) who needs his protection. He didn\'t realize how cruel she is, not even a little bit.

And he cursed himself for dragging Oni into the middle of this. This is not her fight. She should not be here. Oni should be home, enjoying with her friends, laughing at her favorite comedy show, looking forward to every next day while working toward her bright future.

He remembers how a month ago Oni returned from her internship and told him that during her break, Ben introduced her to Sarah\'s team at the White corp. Oni was all smiles while announcing that she decided on her education (and career) path: she will pursue a degree in computer science and be a software developer, a hacker, like Sarah. Oni is good with numbers and her analytical skills are exceptional. Michael told her that if she puts her mind into it, she will be the best hacker in the world.

Michael opened his eyes and the happy images of his memories collapsed. Oni is sitting on the chair, tied up, and he does not know where that is because he is looking at the video on the television. A grim thought hit him: what if this is not current? What if Oni was tortured and maybe even killed? He is here for some time, anything is possible.

"How do I know this is not a recording?"

Jesse\'s eyes flashed in amusement before she took her phone out. "Hans, get into the view of the camera and wave for us…"

Two seconds later, Oni on the screen got alerted and her gaze was focused slightly to the right. A man walked behind Oni and leaned closer, aligning his head with Oni\'s before he waved to the camera. He turned to face Oni and inched closer while taking in a deep breath of her scent. The disgusted expression was the only thing Oni could do to retaliate because she is tied up and can\'t move away.

If not for the sounds of footsteps, Michael would assume that this is video-only feed.

"Happy? This is live…" Jesse glanced at the television, to confirm that Hans moved away from the girl (aka Oni). "OK. Where were we? Yes. You were about to tell me things about how you found out about this place and for whom you are working."

Michael saw that Oni\'s gaze moved directly to the camera and he knew that by now she realized that he is held captive and that the camera is for him to see her. What happened also confirmed to her that he is alive. She was always quick to understand the situation. She smiled and her eyes turned gentle, like she can see him through that camera and he knew that she is silently telling him that she is OK and not to worry about her.

Michael\'s mind worked a thousand thoughts per second. He confirmed that Oni is alive and safe, for now. But what can he do with that information?

"Let her go and I will talk.", Michael demanded.

Jesse stared at him for a second before bursting into a laugh. "Do you really think that I am naïve?"

Michael looked at her sternly. "I will not talk otherwise. She is just a kid. Let her go. Once I confirm that she is out of your hands and safe, I will tell you whatever you want to know."

With every Michael\'s word, Jesse\'s expression turned into a scowl. "Why do you think that you can negotiate with me?"

Michael refused to back down. He knew that Jesse will not take it, but it was the only thing he could think of to attempt to get Oni free.

"Alright. I see we need to do this…", Jesse got her phone. "Hans, get back in there. Break her fingers. One by one. Start from the left hand. Pinky first."

Michael watched the scene on the screen while horror invaded all his senses. This is something he can\'t watch. He violently yanked his arms, and other than causing himself additional pain, nothing else happened.

On the screen, that man was next to Oni, reaching for her left hand!

"Wait!", Jesse exclaimed while talking into her phone. "Show me the closeup of her left hand…"

The camera zoomed in and Jesse\'s face was distorted into a crazed grin when her gaze moved to Michael\'s left hand.

"I was mistaken.", she said with glee. "She is not your sister or a cousin or a comrade from the same organization. She is your lover…"

Michael\'s last hopes about Oni\'s safety disappeared completely when he realized that Jesse noticed their matching rings.

His world collapsed when he grasped one more stupid thing he did. He gave Oni the ring as a birthday present, a token of his love, a promise of their future together, and it was a signature on her death certificate.

Jesse laughed manically and walked out of the room, leaving Michael alone with his thoughts in front of the television.

After an unknown measure of time, Michael jerked at the sound of Jesse\'s voice coming from the television\'s speaker…

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