.: Shinohara :.
Snapping out of his trance when Z asked what exactly he saw, Shinohara responded with a shake of his head.
"I'm not exactly sure.. but it's big, isn't it? some sort of lump in the road.. don't suppose someone dropped a camel?"
Shinohara bitterly joked, his signature horrible humour coming into play. Although his gut began winching with anxiety upon each step he took towards that lump in the road.
The man had a very bad feeling about approaching whatever was in their way, be it a trap or something else, Shinohara knew that this mansion only held misfortune and sorrow for all those that entered it, this place shouldn't even have existed in the first place, however the S.W.A.T. member felt confident that he could put an end to all of this agony and suffering,
However, no one would have to feel the amount of despair this mansion bestowed upon them ever again once he apprehended Charles and took the senile old fool away for good.
Although nothing could prepare Shinohara for what his eyes were about to see, not even his years of training back at the academy to be ready for any situation at any give time would help him as his eyes met the most horrific sight that Shinohara could of even imagined.
Just ahead of Shinohara and Z, in tattered clothing laid a familiar Albino upon the cold marble floor, the stitched boy was covered head to toe in cuts and bruises, his body just laying there unmoving in what appeared to be a mess of his own blood, some of the red liquid still slowly escaping his nearly severed leg that was cut clean through, yet despite all of the abuse done to Suzuya's body somehow the stitched boy looked peaceful, upon closer inspection there was even a small smile upon the boy's lips that made Shinohara pray that this was somehow a joke that the stitched boy was playing.
Shinohara's heart dropped into his stomach while he felt his breath hitch in his throat, the man took a wobbly step forward, swallowing down the saliva inside his mouth as he stared in utter pure terror towards the scene laid out in front of him, his legs shakily carried him over to his son, and dropping to his knees besides the albino, Shinohara grabbed Suzuya and desperately pulled the stitched boy into his lap.
"Quit playing around, this isn't the time... hey... hey.. it's time to wake up, this isn't funny, you know?" Shinohara started to beg his unmoving son, tightening his grip on the boy as he gave him a reassuring squeeze, as if telling Suzuya that it was okay to stop playing around now, that he couldn't handle this kind of joke, that this was too much.
Shinohara felt his throat start to tighten up and his breathing grew heavy as he couldn't help the tears that filled his eyes and stung his cheeks, seeping out without warning when only silence came from his son.
"This isn't happening... this isn't happening..." Shinohara weakly choked, not really wanting an answer as he only continued to stare at his son, praying for any signs of movement or even a laugh to come from the Albino, then lightly beginning to rock Suzuya back and forth in a comforting motion within his arms.
Only seconds ago had the S.W.A.T member been so sure of himself, cracking idiotic jokes and being so ready to take down the master of this mansion, to end this charade and to be able to come home with his son, enjoy the simple life as they both watched television and played stupid games that helped them bond, Shinohara also wanted to get his son into law enforcement soon, and was going to introduce him to the business when they escaped this hell hole, because he felt like his son was ready after experiencing something like this, that he deserved a change of pace and to work along side his father.
Shinohara couldn't help the way his body shook, he was in utter disbelief and refused to accept this reality as one that he would be able to live in, he wouldn't accept that his son was really dead, there had to be another reason for this and he was going to find it, Shinohara would make sure that Suzuya woke up, that the stitched boy would come home with him just as the father had planned.
This wouldn't be the reality that he accepted, this was all wrong, and he wasn't about to let this happen, there was no way he would let this become his reality.
Because Suzuya wouldn't allow this to happen to himself, he would of fought, he would of struggled to live, and with this conviction buried deep within his mind, Shinohara bit his lip until he drew blood as he slowly whispered out, giving instructions to Z as he continued to sit there withering in his own insecurities and denial.
"Go on ahead... leave us alone, just leave us alone.. just take my keys... and go.." His voice came out strangled and shrill, the man was struggling to even whisper, his entire mind having a breakdown as he cradled the limp body of his son in his arms, squeezing tightly as he was afraid to let go of Suzuya.
.: Charles :.
"I wouldn't be so quick to suggest that.." Charles scolded Evan as he drug the investigator along the floor like nothing more than a garbage bag that the old man had to dispose of before the smell got too putrid and rotten, Charles continued to dig his nails into Evan's shoulder to reinstall his grip as he turned the corner, then upon seeing Jasper up ahead the old man grinned at the sight that brought a sense of relief to his system.
Knowing that he wouldn't have to keep up this tedious work too much longer, after all, Charles wasn't one for manual labor, he had servants to do this kind of thing, for a man his age, Charles figured that he was getting too old to be lugging around bodies throughout his own mansion.
Coming back to look at the boy he was dragging behind him, Charles decided it wouldn't hurt to give Evan some of his own advice.
"If Shinohara were to come now.. wouldn't that put both of you in more danger than you already are? simply foolish, to suggest your own deaths.. or maybe you consider yourselves noble for it?
Oh, but it doesn't matter either way of course, I'm just curious what causes cattle like you to act heroically.. although I will assure you that man won't come if he truly cares for your safety."
Charles knew fully well that Evan would probably just disregard his words, yet that didn't stop the old man from giving his input, perhaps as the truth could always hurt more than any lie could if it was used correctly, in fact, in this particular situation the truth revealed just how helpless and vulnerable the investigators were, they were being used as bargaining chips and there was no guarantee they would even make it out of this alive.
Now, if their precious Shinohara cared for them at all as Charles knew the man did, the S.W.A.T. member would make no move, being smart enough to figure out that if he did anything to interrupt this exchange or turn the tables, Charles would have to just hack off an arm or two for the investigators acting recklessly and disobeying his servant's orders.
Charles considered himself to be a stickler for rules, he liked to follow them and would always make sure that the participants in any game would as well.
Nevertheless, Charles soon came upon the door to the study, and waltz right on in and with a forceful shove the old man threw Evan to the floor rather harshly, suddenly asking the most obvious thing he noticed amiss within the study.
"Hm... I don't see my traitorous Z... Did someone not hold up their end of the bargain?"
