Take Me Away novel Chapter 121

That afternoon, Fiona secretly sent Spencer multiple text messages to inform him that Celine didn't seem to be in Cherry Grove Residence.

To this, Spencer replied that she should stop worrying about Celine and focus instead on finding her way out. "Be ready. I’ll be there by the wee hours on the day after tomorrow. We have to be quick and careful. I’ll get you out of there safely, I promise," he typed.

The two then talked more about the details of the rescue plan. The conversation gave Fiona so much hope.

Later that night, Charles came back to the mansion and asked for Fiona. As soon as he saw her walking down the stairs, his eyes narrowed and his expression betrayed a mix of emotions.

"I heard you went to the small building today," Charles said with his hands in his pockets. "What did you do there? Did someone bully you?"

Fiona’s eyebrows furrowed before she eventually shook her head in confusion. "What are you talking about? I just dropped by to chat with Leona."

Looking into her eyes, he ordered with authority, "Come here."

Fiona hesitated for a bit, but did as she was told. He had been acting so strange. As soon as she walked up to him, he grabbed her by the hand and pulled her into his arms. He held her so close, she could feel his breath against her cheeks. His masculine scent overwhelmed her senses.

Charles chuckled bitterly all of a sudden. It was then that Fiona noticed the faint smell of alcohol in his breath. He raised her head until her gaze met his and said, "Let me show you something interesting."

Fiona was initially confused, but after seeing an evil glint in Charles' eyes, she trembled with fright.

"Let's go." Before she could protest, Charles had dragged her by the hand into the yard. "I heard that a woman provoked you when you went here earlier."

"What?" Charles' meaning was lost on Fiona. She tried to recall what had happened earlier that day, until she finally remembered the woman Emily called "Miss Feng." Was he referring to her?

"Please, Charles... I don't want to be here!"

Just then, Fiona heard the shrill cry of a woman. A shiver ran down her spine despite the weather being warm. "Where are we going?" she asked.

"Don't look away, Fiona! You're going to miss something fun! Look!" A cruel smile played on Charles' lips. Turning to Fiona, he pointed to a brightly-lit spot in front of them. "Do you know what T Country is famous for?"

Fiona shook her head, trying to avoid his gaze at all cost. But when she finally looked up, she saw a trembling woman surrounded by a dozen bodyguards. She looked scared out of her wits.

"Snakes, Fiona. T Country is known for its snakes," Charles whispered into her ear, emphasizing every word. "There are many species of snakes in this area, and most of them are highly venomous. Tonight, we're going to watch as these snakes torture this woman to death."

"Charles, don't. Please, I don't want to see..." Fiona retched before she could finish her words. Her fear and panic were so great that she couldn't help but vomit. By instinct, she covered her face with her hands, but Charles gripped her arm and dragged her nearer to the scene for a better view.

"Sir! Sir!" Miss Feng rushed to Charles as soon as she saw him approaching. With tears in her eyes, she begged, "Please don't push me into the snake pit. I was wrong. I'm sorry. I said something that I shouldn't have. It won't happen again! Please, sir! I've been with you for a long time. Please spare me!"

"Fuck off!" Charles kicked the woman onto the ground before ordering his men, "Throw her in!"

"Yes, sir!"

Fiona froze on the spot. She watched in horror as the guards dragged the hysterical woman. When she tried to look away, she unintentionally caught sight of the snake pit. It was a small glass cage swarming with snakes of all lengths and colors. They were crawling all over the place and were collectively making a loud hissing sound.

"Oh my God!" Fiona felt paralyzed by fear. Cold beads of sweat started trickling down her forehead.

"What a wonderful view! Don't you agree?" Charles grabbed her by the hair and forced her to look at the pit. "This is what happens to disobedient women," he threatened when she struggled.

Fiona could only watch horrified, as the men pushed Miss Feng in the cage after Charles gave them the signal.

"No!"

The woman's loud shriek pierced through the silence of the night and echoed in Fiona's head. Her mind had gone completely blank. Seeing the snakes bare their fangs and attack their prey, she felt too powerless to even react.

"Please! Help me!"

The woman kept screaming even as the snakes swarmed all over her body. In a matter of seconds, the reptiles had completely coiled around her. When she opened her mouth to shout, a small snake even slipped into her mouth.

Fiona bent over and threw up once again. As she did, she kept her eyes lowered, intent on not looking at the snakes and their poor victim.

Inside the cage, the snakes had bitten Miss Feng beyond recognition. Her body was lacerated all over and her face had swollen twice its size. After twitching a couple of times, she drew her final breath.

"How boring! She died so soon." Charles stared at the dead woman without batting an eye. "I've always thought you were arrogant. But look at you now."

Hearing Charles' words, Fiona's face lost all color. She had already thrown up everything she had eaten, but her body still retched uncontrollably.

"This is why you must listen to me, Fiona." He took a white handkerchief from his pocket and gently dabbed her face clean. "I don't want to have to do that to you."

Fiona's eyes widened. She shoved Charles away and screamed, "You devil! You're crazy!"

"Ha-ha!" Charles face contorted to a malicious grin. "I didn't expect you'd see through me so clearly. Yes, I am a devil. So do as I say and don't challenge me!" He then walked up to her and lifted her over his shoulder in one swift move.

"What are you doing? Let me go!" Fiona struggled desperately. "Put me down! You bastard!"

Despite her efforts, Charles only tightened his grip as he carried her all the way into the main building. When they finally reached the living room, he threw her down onto the sofa.

"What are you doing? Stay away from me!" Fiona yelled hysterically, holding onto the couch for dear life.

"You can start now!" Charles said flatly.

"Yes, sir!"

Only then did Fiona realize that they were not alone. A doctor and three nurses dressed in white gowns were standing on the other side of the room.

"Go away! Leave me alone!" Tears rolled down her face as the nurses came to pin her down.

"Miss Ji, please don't struggle!" Holding her arms, the nurses forced her to lie on her stomach so that her back was facing up.

Fiona had never felt so helpless. Raising her head, she saw the doctor walking over, holding the biggest syringe she had ever seen in her life. She cried as the nurses stripped her down, exposing her back and wiping it with alcohol. The next thing, a sharp needle pierced her skin and went straight through her bone.

The pain seemed to split her like a knife. A whimper broke out of her mouth and bullets of sweat dripped from her forehead. When the doctor pressed the plunger, she felt a strange liquid jet into her body.

"It's just anesthesia," Charles explained. "It's a new product we developed. Don't worry. The pain will be over in a couple of minutes. When you wake up, you will be perfect."

The nurses eventually stopped pushing her down when they sensed that she could no longer move. Before finally drifting off, Fiona mumbled, "What are you going to do to me?"

"There' a good girl." Charles bent down over the sofa and gently kissed her on the forehead. "Didn't you say you hate the scars on your back? I'll have them removed and tattoo a special mark on your back. I can't wait to see you tomorrow."

"No... Don't..." Fiona could only murmur before she lost all consciousness.

"I told you I'd give you anything you want as long as you follow my orders." There was a trace of anger in Charles' eyes when he spoke. "But I had to use force because you've been going against me! Why, Fiona? Is Spencer that good?" But just then, a warm and tender look spread over his face. "We're currently developing a new drug that will be ready soon. It will help you forget about your past. Once we've succeeded, you will lose all memory of Spencer. You will only remember me. When that time comes, you will choose to stay by my side. Who cares about Spencer and Ryan? The one who will have you is me!"

With that, Charles stood up and ordered the medical team, "Prepare her for the surgery."

"Yes, sir!"

It was supposed to be a time for sleeping, but inside Fiona's bedroom, all the lights were on. The room had been transformed into an operating room, and the unconscious Fiona lay on her bed, prepped for a surgery.

Sitting on a sofa opposite the bed, Charles said in a cold tone, "Remember to leave my mark on her."

As she slept, Fiona felt her body growing cold. It was like something was crawling on her back. And while she didn't feel any physical pain, she felt hurt for some reason.

Back in P City's base, Spencer had been lying awake on his bed.

He had spent the last couple of hours staring at his phone. He was desperately waiting for a text message from Fiona, but it seemed as if it he was waiting for nothing. She said that she would message him before going to bed. Could something have happened to her?

Restless, Spencer stood up and paced back and forth in his room. He tried his best to dismiss all negative thoughts.

He remembered hearing from Fiona that

everyone in Cherry Grove Residence called Charles "sir." The members of X also called their leader "sir." Surely, this wasn't a coincidence.

He shared this information with everyone in a meeting that afternoon. Most of the people were shocked.

But knowing Charles' true identity only made Spencer more scared for Fiona's safety.

Just then, Spencer's musings were interrupted by a knock on the door.

He rushed to see who it was. "What's wrong?" he asked.

It was Eric. He stood outside with a grim expression on his face. "Leo's asking for an emergency meeting. There's a new message from X. They said they have someone you might be interested in."

"Someone? Do they have another hostage?" Spencer clenched his fists. "Who is it?"

"It's Celine Cheng!"

Spencer couldn't believe it! He immediately stepped out of the room and locked the door behind him. "Let's go!"

"Yes, sir!"