The Essence Of The Darkness
EOTL eps 27: Relief

Xavier's eyes flashed with satisfaction. The man held an amused smile, then his hand patted the side of the chair next to him that had escaped Sera's sight with a deliberate striking attitude.

Sera followed the direction of Xavier's hand and her eyes widened when she saw what was being patted by Xavier.

Under Xavier's hand, there was a pile of neatly folded clothes. Sweater**wool and goose down thermal jacket which, when viewed from the brand attached there, is equipped with the latest heattech technology. The technology allows the fabric fibers to absorb moisture released by the body, while the fabric itself is able to produce heat by the method of trapping a layer of water between the fibers, the fabric is able to produce heat, so it does not allow the warmth that has been generated to leak out. Therefore, just by wearing it will automatically warm up.

Because they have used advanced technology, they no longer need to use super thick clothes or layers. The sweater and jacket were clearly not too thick in the folds, almost like ordinary clothes. But its ability to warm up in extreme Russian winters is beyond doubt.

“Have you forgotten that it's winter out there, Sera? We just went straight through the hallway of the hospital's special exit to the parking lot in the room, so I don't feel the need to give you this jacket and sweater. I did not plan to take off my shirt, but now, because I no longer have a shirt, I think I will just wear my sweater.”

With an obnoxious demeanor without the slightest guilt, Xavier unfolded one of the sweaters, picked out a large, black one, then wore it casually in front of Sera.

An overwhelming anger ensnared Sera's mind, making her vocal cords seem twisted to the point of being unobstructed as she tried to make a sound.

Sera clenched her hands and cleared her throat to dissipate the angry trembling mixed in her voice.

“If... if there is a sweater and jacket...why...why should you take off your shirt and give it to me to wear?” Sera opened her fist and grabbed the unwanted shirt. “I... I could have kept my shirt on even if the buttons were broken and.. and directly covered it using a sweater and jacket.” Sera's voice disappeared in her throat, swallowed by the wrath, resentment and embarrassment of having fallen into Xavier's trap so foolishly being played with by the man.

Xavier himself instead put on his sweetest smile, throwing a mocking look at Sera. “You asked why? No special reason,” said the man then in a relaxed voice. “Maybe because I was trying to undress and show off my body to you. Maybe too, because I want you to wear your shirt.”

Xavier watched Sera closely. His eyes anchored on the hand of Sera who was still gripping the shirt he was wearing, as if to take it off.

“Didn't you like how comfortable my shirt is? Then you can take it off and put on a sweater like I did. It's just..” Xavier's voice was low, this time filled with a grain of desire that rolled quickly and deliberately hidden. “This time, I can't promise to look away. I'll really enjoy seeing you unbutton by button my oversized shirt on your body, then displaying your beautiful body under my eyes-”

“Never happen, you pervert!” Sera interrupted angrily, staring intently at Xavier while extending her hand. “Get me my sweater!” ketus's door.

Xavier raised an eyebrow, his lips extended a smile but did not argue and took Sera his light brown sweater and then thrust it into Sera's hand which immediately snatched the rough.

Trying to ignore Xavier's glare that was blatantly laughing at him, Sera hurriedly put on the wool sweater to coat her shirt. At least, now he is no longer seen wearing a shirt Xavier so satisfy the man's dirty mind.

After neatly fitting his sweater on his body, Sera looked at Xavier, raising her head defiantly.

“Why?” he exclaimed furiously, rebuking Xavier who was still shamelessly watching him.

Xavier chuckled, right at the moment the car stopped, a sign that they had already reached their destination.

The smile that softened Xavier's face instantly vanished, changing with a cold face and a sharp gaze that showed real dislike.

“I enjoy chatting with you, but unfortunately we have to stop it temporarily.” Xavier's voice turned thick and solemn. “Get your jacket, we'll go down.”

In a stern sentence, Xavier shuffled the goose down jacket at Sera, while stepping down from the car wearing his own jacket.

***

The cold air instantly grabbed Sera's face as she stepped out of the car and stood stiffly beside Xavier.

Fortunately the jacket and sweater he wore was good technology, otherwise Sera might have given up and immediately rushed back into the car, then huddle up and take refuge in the warm passenger cabin inside.

Unfortunately, even though his face and nose were stiff with cold, Sera had no choice but to follow Xavier's fast-moving steps through a path decorated with neatly arranged natural stone, passing through the gate of a large old building with white walls are shabby and creepy with lush decorated with vines in some corners of the walls.

Sera's eyes watched the surroundings and she immediately gulped her saliva when she saw that there were countless foreign-faced people holding guns that passed by at every important surveillance point around the building.

Xavier said that the building that functioned as a prison was owned by the famous Dimitri.

Sera used to live in Russia, so she knew that Dimitri was the leader of an evil mafia that had an underground power network and was feared by anyone who still had sane thoughts in the country.

The fact that Xavier managed to subdue Dimitri and make Dimitri act like a obedient employee made Sera realize that Xavier's power could not be considered playful.

Xavier and his poison were a terrifying combination that could subdue even powerful people. Really, Sera had really done the fool by thinking that she was worth it and could fight Xavier.

Now, after his body is forcibly poisoned by the cunning Xavier and his loved ones are taken hostage under threat, there was nothing Sera could do but follow Xavier's stride path before then waiting for the right opportunity to attack.

Two guards opened a large wooden door that was apparently the main door of this building. Sera immediately narrowed her eyes as she followed Xavier into the inside of the large building, as the large hall room that greeted them looked very dark, lacking lighting and lacking air circulation.

After his eyes managed to adjust, Sera immediately watched the surroundings and realized that a thick black curtain was closed to every existing window, blocking the incoming sunlight, which was not enough, at the same time make the fungus thrive in these moist and dark shades.

Sera sighed carefully, realizing that this musty and unpleasant scent she was sucking on was probably from the spores of the fungus scattering into the air.

A guard gestured for them to follow in his footsteps. They were carried through the dark, pungent-smelling hallways that made Sera even more uncomfortable.

Unable to be restrained, Sera's hands moved around her own body, as if trying to protect herself from the horrors she would face later.

Sera is not unaware that Xavier will take her to meet the terrible Samantha Dawn, and Sera will be forced to witness the horrific death process of Samantha Dawn due to Xavier's poison.

In fact, facing the living and threatening Samantha Dawn was as terrifying to Sera as facing the sight of Samantha Dawn dying in the terrible process.

For years Sera lived in Samantha's torment and intimidation, mentally and physically destroyed by the woman, instilling an overwhelming fear that tormented her all the way to the bone sunsum. Therefore, every time Samantha Dawn faced, Sera felt a twinge of fear that crawled her spine, then stopped at her nape and created a terrible cold that made her hair stand up.

Along with the increase in his steps, also increased the pounding of Sera's heart because of fear. She tried to hide it by hugging her body, but unruffled, cold sweat dripped down her temple, absorbing her energy and making Sera almost unable to support her body.

“No.” Xavier suddenly spoke while stopping his sudden steps, making Sera who was daydreaming unprepared stop and directly hit the sturdy back of the man.

With a grunt, Sera rubbed her hot face, then hurried to step back and keep her distance from the man.

Xavier himself seemed to ignore the silliness of Sera who had somehow done that day. The man seemed to focus his attention on the guard in front of him, then spoke firmly in a domineering tone.

“I don't want to take my woman down to that place. Who knows what kind of disease seedlings are down there?” xavier said in a dislike tone. “Bring it up here,” the order later.

Sera frowned hearing Xavier's words. Curiously, he looked up from behind the man's back and his eyes instantly widened when he saw that in front of them was an iron door that had been opened wide.

What was plastered behind the iron gate was what made Sera so horrified. There, there was a staircase that snaked down, while a dense darkness enveloped, coupled with a musty aroma mixed with rot that emanated from there, and, piercing directly without permission into Sera's sense of smell.

Is that where the hell prison Xavier was referring to?

Even just from the top of his household, Sera could already feel the horror of the poor condition of the prison of hell.

It is absolutely inconceivable what kind of suffering experienced by Samantha Dawn who suffered from a phobia of dirty environments and fear of germs and bacterial viruses when they have to be locked up in this place.

The guard nodded his head without a rebuttal, then spoke to his companion before then, the two men stepped down to carry out Xavier's instructions obediently.

Sera was curious so she stepped in to align herself beside Xavier.

The man was still staring straight at the door that displayed a dark staircase in front of him. Xavier's expression wrinkled and looked dislike, the same expression after he received the phone that angered him earlier.

Slowly, though disinclined, Sera finally moved her hand to pull up a little bit of Xavier's jacket sleeve, drawing the man's attention to look back at her.

“What will be brought up here? Aren't we going to see Samantha Dawn?” his question was fragile, suppressing the bad premonitions that flooded him.

Xavier thinned his lips, then turned his gaze again to the door in front of him, straining his ears to hear the sound of echoing footsteps that began to climb the stairs below.

“You will know soon,” replied Xavier in a cold and distant tone of voice.

Sera's eyes curiously went straight to the large object that the two guards had transported with great difficulty and she immediately gasped.

A startled suffocating sound emerged from his lips without being able to be restrained, making Sera instantly smother her own mouth and step back in shock.

As if indifferent to Sera's shock, the two cold-faced guards immediately placed the body bag violently on the floor, creating a loud thumping sound that was really uncomfortable in the ears.

Xavier turned his head towards Sera and grinned evilly.

“It seems I was forced to save the poison I prepared today,” he said slowly without slipping a single dot of mercy in his sentence.” Xavier's eyes seemed to observe Sera then the man chuckled. “You reproached me and said that I tried to get ahead of destiny because I wanted to kill Samantha Dawn to punish her. However, it turns out that fate chose to synergize with me and decided to pick up Samantha with his own hands. He was found dead in his cell some time ago, died of a deadly severe pneumonia.”

Sera's eyes looked towards the body bag in horror. The sight of a black body bag the size of a human body looked so sinister, making Sera want to run around like a coward.

If possible, Sera really wanted to force her foot to reverse, then ran away from it, as far as possible, as far as she could. Unfortunately, Sera's legs felt so weak, nailing her where she stands now, unable to move anywhere.

Xavier looked unconcerned about how pale Sera's face was. The man was watching Samantha's body bag, and said as if he were talking to himself.

“It's a shame, isn't it? I want to give you freedom, but it seems that freedom is coming too fast so you can't enjoy it.” Xavier pondered for a moment, then made a decision later. “But, of course you can still enjoy a little bit of your freedom, I will allow you to get that chance.” Xavier's hand moved, gesturing to one of the guards. “Open the body bag, My woman might want to give you a final greeting before this corpse is cremated.”

Sera gasped, her body stiffening out of control. Meanwhile, his brain seemed frozen, slow to think so he was so troubled when he wanted to shout rejection of Xavier's decision was very cruel.

It was too late, when Sera opened her mouth to let out a hoarse groan of rejection, that was when the body bag zipper was opened, right on the head.

Sera's eyes immediately met the deathly pale face of Samantha Dawn's corpse which seemed to have met its end in agonizing pain. The old woman's mouth was gaping half grimacing, and her eyes….

The guards didn't seem to bother closing Samantha Dawn's eyes when they put her in a body bag….

Samantha Dawnm's eyes were still glaring horribly, with a blank look that Sera was sure would continue to haunt her for some time to come.

A suffocating sound briefly escaped Sera's lips, as darkness instantly snatched away her consciousness without warning.

Unable to bear the burden of the great horror that befell him, Sera lost consciousness instantly, making her body instantly collapse, falling down smoothly on the floor.

***

Warm. Comfortable. Peace.

Sera coiled happily, rewinding her back towards the source of the pleasant warmth that surrounded and pleased her heart. The smell of citrus mixed with vanilla that gently greeted his sense of smell, felt familiar and immediately made Sera review the smile because she was happy.

If only she could, she wanted to continue like this forever, hugged by a warm arm that held her in its arms as if nurturing, making Sera want to let go of all her burdens, then be freed to be happy.

Unfortunately, behind this beautiful and pleasant dream, the logic turns out not to want to fall asleep, without giving up whispering in the cavity of his head, shouting awkwardness that Sera must be aware of.

Cuddled? Hugged who?

That thought made Sera gasp. He blinked and for a moment his originally tightly shut eyes in peace, was forced to open, followed by a consciousness that filled his head, making him frown in confusion as he was overwhelmed to digest all the memories that came one by one filled him.

Prison hell….

Horror immediately filled Sera's mind, but it did not hide a piece of guilt that burst into the surface of her heart, breed and finally filled the entire space.

Yes, really Sera felt that she was very evil. He wanted to hide his deepest feelings, but he could not lie to himself.

Although the condition of Samantha Dawn's corpse was terrible and Sera felt as much pity in her soul…. But somehow, Sera was relieved.

Relieved. It was as if his fear vanished unceasingly and the heavy burden that had plagued his soul all this time was released and lightened him.

Sera knew that she could not be pleased or relieved at the death of another human being. But that's how he feels.

That made him afraid, because Sera did not want his soul to turn cruel and evil as Xavier who took revenge by taking the lives of others.

Thinking about Xavier made Sera's eyes explore the room she was in. This room is spacious and filled with furniture with a minimalist look that has a monochrome color, matching each other, combined with furniture, walls, carpets and even window curtains.

Sera suspected that the room she was lying in was a hotel room.

Slowly, Sera moved her legs trying to get up. His forehead wrinkled when he realized that he was not wearing his trousers anymore under his blanket.

Her underwear was still neatly attached, the top and bottom were still complete. Also with the Xavier shirt he still wears.

But other than that, his clothes seemed to have been removed. Even her pants….

She had faintly passed out after seeing Samantha's corpse and now she was lying down wearing her trousers no more….

Did Xavier do it?

Surprised, Sera tried to get up, only to be struck with shock whose intensity was many times greater.

Sera was unable to move, let alone get out of bed. There was a strong hand that grabbed him and hugged him from behind. Circling his plate with a possessive attitude with the front of his muscular body that seemed to not dress, docked not spaced with the back and the back of Sera's body.

There was no question who the figure who hugged Sera from behind was.

The brash man had taken a chance on Sera's stupor and forced Sera to sleep with him on one bed!

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___PRACTICE FROM AUTHOR___

- Thank you for the contribution of POINTS used for VOTE author so that EOTD can enter the ranking.

- Thanks for the encouragement, favorite, likes, points, comments, and also the five star rating

- Read the author's other novel title INEVITABLE WAR, click on the author's profile, then search for the work and scroll to the bottom.

why aren't there pictures like before? Because the picture novel long passed its review. Meanwhile, novels without pictures very quickly pass the review.

So, the author uploaded a plain script without pictures first, let's quickly pass the review first.

If you have escaped and can be read by you, the new author edit and add pictures (if you don't believe, please check episode 1 to 20 an, already full image visualization all).

Sincerely Yours - AY