Chapter 54 Xavier, You Madman
The drug's effects lingered, leaving Victoria feeling weak all over, her cries growing fainter with each shout.
Sliding down against the door, Victoria tried to keep calm.
Who tied her up? Ralph? Or maybe another one of Nathaniel's enemies?
Lost in her chaotic thoughts, footsteps suddenly approached from outside the basement.
The sound of dress shoes on concrete steps echoed closer and closer, steady and controlled, exuding an air of authority.
Victoria held her breath, her heart racing.
She quickly got up from the floor, mustering all her strength, and hid in the narrow blind spot behind the door, hands clenched into fists, ready to strike the intruder by surprise when the door opened.
The footsteps stopped outside the door.
A key entered the lock with a crisp sound.
Victoria's nerves were on edge.
As the door creaked open, a tall figure silhouetted against the light walked in.
Now's the time!
Without hesitation, Victoria threw a punch at the man's face!
But her attack was effortlessly deflected.
With lightning speed, a hand grabbed her wrist, the force making her feel like her bones were about to break.
"Ouch!"
Victoria groaned in pain, finally able to see the man's face in the light coming through the door.
It was Xavier, his handsome and refined face now wearing a sinister smile.
"Why you?" Victoria was both shocked and angry.
"Shh..." Xavier put a finger to his lips, smiling like a sophisticated demon. "Keep it down, my dear Victoria. Don't wake up Emma who's sleeping soundly upstairs."
As he spoke, he easily restrained Victoria's other hand, pressing her against the cold wall.
Weakened by the drug, Victoria couldn't resist, only able to glare at him.
"Xavier! You madman! What do you want?"
"What do I want?" Xavier leaned in close to her ear, his warm breath brushing against her earlobe, his tone icy. "To show you a good show."
"What...what show?"
"A grand show," he chuckled, his voice tinged with manic delight. "You'll find out soon enough."
Without giving her a chance to catch her breath, Xavier dragged her deeper into the basement.
Victoria stumbled, the drug making it difficult for her to even stand.
"Where are you taking me?" Her voice trembled with fear.
Xavier didn't answer, instead leading her to a seemingly ordinary wall, where he found and pressed a hidden switch.
The wall made a light sound as it slid open from the middle, revealing a whole new space.
Behind the secret door lay a hidden chamber.
In the dim light, various torture devices adorned the walls - metal chains, leather whips, gags, and some strange instruments Victoria couldn't name, all gleaming with a cold light.
The variety here was even more chilling than what she had seen in the cage at The Greatbird, sending a shiver down her spine.
A chill ran from Victoria's feet to her head. She instantly understood what she was about to face.
"No!"
The instinct for survival unleashed unprecedented strength in her. She struggled wildly, kicking and biting like a cornered animal.
"Xavier! Let me go! Help! Help!"
Her cries echoed weakly in the empty basement, unheard by anyone.
This was Xavier's domain, isolated from the world, her voice reaching no one's ears.
"Go ahead, scream louder," Xavier didn't stop her, instead showing an appreciative look. "Your screams sound so lovely, but unfortunately, here, I'm the only audience."
"Xavier, you're despicable!"
A crisp slap landed on Victoria's face without warning.
Her head jerked to the side, the taste of blood immediately filling her mouth.
Her mind buzzed, momentarily forgetting to resist.
"Despicable?" Xavier seemed to find the term amusing, chuckling softly.
Releasing one hand, he leisurely unbuttoned his suit, tossing the expensive jacket onto a nearby torture bench, leaving only a tight black shirt.
Rolling up his sleeves, revealing his well-defined forearms, he said, "I have even more despicable things. Would you like to see?"
Another sharp slap struck Victoria's face.
The force made her ears ring, the world spinning around her.
Her head was forced to the side, the warm metallic taste of blood filling her mouth.
She could feel her lips cut by her own teeth.
Her mind buzzing, in that moment, her body's instinct overpowered the drug. She wanted to fight back, but found herself pinned against the wall, unable to move.
"Stay alert, Victoria." Xavier's slender fingers brushed her rapidly reddening cheek, their warmth contrasting with his gentle touch as if handling a precious gem.
His voice was dangerously soft. "Don't look at me like that. The more you do, the more I want to..." He extended his fingers, then clenched them into a fist. "Crush you!"
"You're vile!"
"So what if I am? I don't care. You can curse me all you want!"
Xavier led Victoria to a chair, restraining her limbs with metal cuffs.
His gaze scanned the array of torture tools on the wall.
"Tell me, which toy should we start with?"
Victoria struggled, fear evident in her eyes.
Finally, Xavier picked up a crimson candle from a shelf.
Lighting it with a lighter, the azure flames danced in his manic eyes, casting his handsome face in a flickering light, like a devil emerging from hell.
"No...please...I beg you!" Victoria watched the hot wax about to drip, her body uncontrollably trembling.
Xavier ignored her pleas.
Instead of tearing at her clothes, he pulled a small, sharp dagger from his boot, its blade gleaming coldly.
Hissing, he used the blade to precisely cut open her chest.
The fabric tore, revealing a large expanse of her ample skin.
The cold blade slid against her skin, sending shivers of itching and bone-chilling cold deep into her marrow.
"What a beautiful canvas," he praised, then tilted the candle in his hand.
The first drop of scalding wax fell below her collarbone, the searing sting making her flinch, a suppressed gasp escaping her throat.
The pain wasn't intense, but the burning sensation and the tautness of the solidified wax on her skin magnified the humiliation and fear.
One drop, two drops, three drops...
The scalding wax continued to drip on her chest and abdomen, each time causing her to convulse uncontrollably.