「 The Professor & I 」VOLUME II

(260) Imitation Game

Charles' POV

Before Stryker marched out of our filthy confinement discontentedly, he subtly nodded towards his personal assistant and she strutted towards Lynn without question, whipping out something from her back pocket.

Rings of keys jingling was perhaps the most optimistic sound this vile den had ever heard but no hint of excitement featured on Lynn's face, just an empty one as the cuffs around her wrists were unlocked.

Unfortunately, with her arms prolonged in their inclined positions, her muscles had been significantly drained and failed terribly to function, causing her upper limb to crash limply upon the natural effect of gravity.

As her severely disfigured wrist speedily impacted the ground, Lynn grunted sharply and once her other hand was likewise released, her entire body collapsed feebly back onto the concrete. Clumsily scrambling to stabilize its violent twitching, she curled up her body on the floor and scurried to cradle her vigorously spasming arm but the reflexive symptoms could hardly be appeased.

Although her physical torture had not spread to my own body, helplessly watching her face scrunching up in agony with tears of misery squeezing themselves from her eyes was just as trying, moreover her cries that terribly pierced my ears and heart.

Stryker's subordinates were contrastingly unconcerned, with his uncompassionate henchwoman blatantly leaving Lynn in the lurch as she trudged indifferently towards the exit. Similarly, despite Lynn's aching wails, the military officer, Smith, manning Jason's highly modified wheelchair never even flinched, maintaining his callous disposition throughout her suffering.

Suddenly, however, her grimacing expression faded and despite the prevailing discomfort from her trembling joint, an elated smile beamed from her face as she happily stared into blank space.

"Charles?" Lynn blurted in delight, instantly fazing me.

"Lynn, I'm here," I whispered tentatively but it seemed she barely noticed I spoke.

"You're alright," Lynn remarked in relief, completing ignoring me as she continued to grin at thin air.

Automatically, my eyes shot wide in astonishment and I swiftly faced my gaze towards Jason, noticing his intent gaze in her direction.

"Jason, stop it!" I ordered furiously.

Immediately flicking his head towards me, Jason glared his eyes, one blue one green, ferociously into mine and the electrostatic surges generated by the quaint gadget surrounding my skull promptly inflated at exponential rates, with the intensifying blue sparkles probably illuminating every wrinkle on my grimacing face.

Clenching my fists tightly, I gritted my teeth together and arduously choked back every single yelp that threatened to burst but a couple spilled through the gaps nonetheless. Momentarily, through my diminishing sight clouding with tears, I vaguely spied Lynn's figure crawling up into a seated posture and her head tilted slightly, as if scrutinizing me.

"Charles?" Lynn sputtered in a confused tone.

While I had my blurred gaze fixed to Lynn, Jason, apparently flustered, hastily snapped his head back to her in my peripheral vision and shortly, a series of her sweetest giggles resonated pleasantly to my eardrums simultaneously as the irritations stemming from the abusive headpiece gradually faded.

"Oh, thank god. Yes, I'm fine," Lynn conveyed cheerfully.

Hurriedly, I blinked several times to clear my eyes and the rough shuffling against the cement translated into Lynn struggling to untangle her legs from mine. After several unsuccessful attempts, she finally rose to her feet and despite wincing slightly upon pressuring her left leg, a giant grin curved onto her lips.