Beauty of a crystal

CHAPTER 26

Her eyes, filled with disbelief, couldn't mask the disquiet taking root within her. "Is this why you didn't want me to come to work today?" she asked a question that echoed ominously amongst the gathering storm clouds of trepidation.

Xavier, ever the enigmatic character, rose from his chair, his sigh a physical manifestation of the tension cracking the air. He wrapped his arms around her waist, anchoring her to the floor as one might an untamed beast. His gaze bore into hers as he spoke, words heavy with unspoken histories and dark intentions. "You aren't supposed to be here Crystal," he said, his eyes afire with an unwholesome desire that turned the stomach.

Amid this sinister tableau, a whispered name, "Crystal?" fell from Chris's lips, a sound halfway between prayer and condemnation. The sight of Chris, battered and bruised, struck a match to the dry tinder of Crystal's turmoil.

Questions bubbled up from her as natural as breath. "What did you do to him?" she inquired, her eyes assessing the gruesome tableau.

A lone voice answered her query. Matthew, revelry incarnate, sat leisurely, his mere presence exuding an unnerving air of cruel satisfaction. "Relax little heart, we were just having a nice conversation," he drawled, his dismissiveness as sharp as shards of broken glass.

"You are sick," was Crystal's whispered indictment as she mustered courage from reserves unknown and stepped forward to assist Chris. It was then, at this crucial juncture, that an unseen hand yanked her back, pulling harshly on her hair ranks amongst the cruelest acts.

"Take one more step and I end him, Crystal," Matthew said.

"Let her go, you sick bastard!" Chris shouted at Xavier as he held Crystal back by her neck and hair.

"Tell the little insect to shut up or else I will do something about it myself, Crystal. We planned on letting him crawl out of here alive but that can be rearranged if you so much as let him touch you" Xavier whispered in a slow seductive voice.

A man's life was at stake here and all she could think about was the way Xavier's voice sent shivers right to her core lighting a desired effect that left her breathless.

But from an outsider's perspective, you'd think she was in pain. That the man holding her back had a harsh grip, choking her and taking pleasure from her demise. But that wasn't the case

As the seconds ticked by, Crystal found herself experiencing a strange inner conflict. Although she cared less about what would happen to Chris, a darker, unsettling part of her wanted to witness him experience pain. However, that disturbing thought swiftly crossed her mind and dissipated into the horizon before it could materialize into anything more.

Unfortunately for her. Matthew was staring right at her eyes and his focused gaze watched for a comical second as her eyes darted an already bloody knife on the floor. A knife responsible for Chris's left thigh to painfully bleed on the floor.

"What do you want from him?" She asked in a seemingly calm voice.

"Like I said, Crystal. A harmless conversation" Matthew's voice grew darker with each passing moment as he replied.

"Don't talk to her like that" Chris foolishly attempted to assert himself by standing up to Matthew's towering 6'5" frame, but his efforts were in vain as he struggled under the weight like of a bag of soil.

"Chris unless you still hold value to your life I suggest you keep quiet" Crystal harshly spoke her voice filled with annoyance.

"I'm doing my best to figure out a way to get you out of here," Chris said, a mischievous smile slowly spreading across Crystal's face, her eyes glinting with determination.