"Yes, of course, I remember her very well," Ethan said, a slow, predatory smirk spreading across his face. "How could I ever forget her delicious flavor? I actually had quite a longing to taste her again."

Alexandria rolled her eyes, despite her fear. "You're unbelievable. Is all you ever think about sex?"

"Not just sex," Ethan said, leaning closer, his eyes twinkling. "I also think about you. Well, maybe about screwing you, haha."

Alexandria shook her head, but the slight tension was gone, replaced by desperation.

"The problems are far more serious than sex, Ethan," Alexandria said, her voice dropping to a frantic whisper. "They kidnapped my friend, Victoria. They are blackmailing me, forcing me to do illegal things, but I have always refused. Now, with the kidnapping, they forced me to resign, and they are going to install someone in my position who will obey them."

She became serious, her eyes wide with a chilling clarity.

"Listen to me, Celestial Garden is not what it seems," Alexandria said. "It is an organization with real, tangible power. They are an entity rotten to the core that controls state politics. They specifically want to dominate the MIT—not the Massachusetts one, but this one. Since our university is one of the most prestigious on the West Coast, our published articles are considered factual and hold enormous academic weight."

"They want to push through certain patents and they need the unquestionable backing of a university at this level," Alexandria explained. "They want their products to appear far more advanced and legitimate than they really are."

"I refused to put my professional credibility on the line for them, and that's why they forced me out," Alexandria said. "I resisted, but then they found out that I was having a relationship with Victoria, and they threatened to harm her."

"I didn't believe them at first," Alexandria confessed, tears starting to trace pathways through the residual dust on her cheeks. "Victoria was just a simple saleswoman, and she worked for them. I never expected them to actually kidnap her."

Alexandria fumbled for her phone, her fingers shaking, and quickly navigated to a specific folder. She thrust the screen toward Ethan.

"Look at this," Alexandria said.

Ethan took the phone. The image displayed was horrific. Victoria Sterling was recognizable, but barely. Her elegant dress was torn, her breasts partially exposed. Her face was severely bruised, her mouth bleeding, and a large, ugly bruise blackened her eye. Worse, there were obvious, savage bite marks visible on her exposed chest.

Rage, cold and immediate, tightened Ethan's jaw.

"It's not the worst of it," Alexandria choked out. "Look at the side photo."

Ethan followed Alexandria's panicked instruction and realized the "photo" was a static image from a video file. He tapped it. The video immediately began playing silently.

On the screen, a large Black man came into view, holding his exposed dick in his hands. Another man held Victoria, lifting her skirt and pushing her underwear aside. Just before the situation escalated, a voice rang out, stopping the man.

"Hold on," a harsh voice ordered from off-camera. "If you don't want us to rape and then kill your little girlfriend, you'd better cooperate, you bitch."

The video cut out abruptly.

Ethan stared at the black screen for a long, silent moment. He looked up, his eyes now cold, hard obsidian.

Alexandria finally broke, collapsing against the small, makeshift office wall, sobbing uncontrollably.

"Why didn't you report them?" Ethan asked, his voice low and dangerous, forcing her to hear him through her despair. "You have the complete evidence right here."

Alexandria managed to stop her weeping enough to let out a short, pathetic laugh, full of bitter cynicism.

"Report them?" Alexandria said, shaking her head wildly. "I am not that naive, Ethan. They have completely bought the police. If I reported them, the police wouldn't help me; they would hand me right over to those psychopaths."

She let out a long, desperate hiss, her body shaking. "They control everything. They control the city. Reporting them would just guarantee that they come after me immediately, and then Victoria will be dead."

Ethan's eyes narrowed, accepting the reality of the pervasive corruption.

"I understand," Ethan said. "Did they give you a location, or tell you where you should go after you resigned?"

"No," Alexandria said, wiping her eyes with the back of her hand. "They only told me they would send my replacement, who would take over my position. I genuinely hope that once I'm gone, they will release her and not hold her any longer."

"Do you believe her?" Ethan asked skeptically. "Do you really trust that this isn't just a trick?"

"I trust her," Alexandria said, her voice strained. "She has been my friend since we were children, so I know she wouldn't lie to me about her own peril."

Ethan studied her face. "Do you need my help, Alexandria? Or would you prefer to handle this alone?"

"I would love it," she confessed, her voice thick with need. "But what can you possibly do against a super-organization this powerful? If you get involved in this, you will truly regret ever having met me."

"Maybe," Ethan said, a dangerous certainty in his tone. "But I can't exactly leave you to face this alone either."

[My Master, you are truly such a hero, rushing headlong into a galactic-level political conflict to save a couple of girls. How very cliché.]

"You took your time", Ethan thought mentally, ignoring the System's sarcastic remark. "You've been far too silent.

Alexandria continued, oblivious to the internal digital dialogue. "I appreciate your concern, but they are already clearing out my things. I just need to leave, and everything will be over."

"Let's go, then," Ethan said, taking her arm gently. "I'll walk with you. I've been expelled anyway; if you don't come back, I probably won't be able to return myself anytime soon."

Alexandria gave him a knowing look. "I don't believe you're being sincere. You have some kind of backing that could buy your re-entry. Why are you so attached to me?"

"Would you believe me if I told you that you completely captivated me when your ass bounced off my face just now?" Ethan said, grinning.

Alexandria laughed, a sharp, genuine sound that cut through her distress. "You are an idiot, Ethan Blake, but thank you for making me laugh."

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