Chapter 572 An Unexpected Sight
Chapter 572 An Unexpected Sight
Back on the island, Ran Xueyi couldn't sleep at night.
She was tossing and turning, feeling a gut-wrenching sensation in her stomach. After what Evgenia told her earlier, she just couldn't take a wink of sleep. And without her husband and son beside her, she wanted to find some comfort from somebody else.
Heading outside her room, Ran Xueyi walked down the empty hallway. Her door was strangely not guarded by some of Evgenia's men. His confidence and arrogance irked Ran Xueyi, but he was right to think that there was no use in putting bodyguards outside her room, as she wouldn't think of escaping alone.
Her only purpose in allowing her kidnappers to take her was to see if Alina was safe and sound.
And that goal was already achieved.
But it wasn't enough.
Just seeing her alive didn't make Ran Xueyi feel satisfied. She wanted to know what happened between her and Evgenia. And to what extent of damage had she done for him to seek revenge from her?
As she took the stairs, a maid coincidentally made a corner. The two almost bumped into each other and were surprised to find somebody walking outside of their rooms in the middle of the night.
"Miss? What are you doing down here?" asked the maid, shooting her doubtful look.
Ran Xueyi knew the maid must be thinking she was trying to escape, so she hurriedly explained before the maid could raise an alarm, "I'm here to find Alina."
Unsure if the maid knew who she was talking about, Ran Xueyi added, "The other girl who came out to greet Evgenia."
Recognition lit up inside the maid's eyes as she said, "Miss Alina is in the basement."
"In what direction is it?"
The maid pointed behind her and directed her, "After that corner, there will be a stair leading down. The guards guarding that place should be able to lead you there."
After thanking the maid, Ran Xueyi hurriedly went to the direction the maid told her. Hearing the word 'basement' made her fear what Evgenia was doing to Alina.
There could be many things that can be done inside a basement. And Ran Xueyi had seen some of them in person when she was young…
Wait, did I?
Stopping in her tracks, Ran Xueyi blinked her eyes a few times. As she did, images that she seemed to be familiar with but couldn't recognize appeared before her eyes.
A narrow and dark hallway filled with a pungent, metallic scent. Doors lined up evenly spaced on either side. The squelching sound of her feet dragging on the cold and wet tiled floor. The lights above flickered along with the sound of the harsh beating of a hard object against a soft one.
And horrific and painful screams bounced against the walls.
Ran Xueyi felt her breath catch up to her throat as if it were burning inside her. She felt unsteady on her feet as she reached her hand toward the wall beside her, but her vision was turning upside down, pulling her to the ground.
Thud.
"What was that?" asked Ran Xueyi in a breathy voice.
Her head was hurting, but it was not so painful that she couldn't tolerate it. Her attention was completely consumed by the images that appeared in her mind.
Were those her memories? Or was it something she'd seen from somewhere else? A movie? A news report? Shaking her head, Ran Xueyi couldn't answer her question. She had so many questions in her head that if she continued thinking, her mind would explode.
At this moment, a guard lurking around the area found her.
"Miss, what are you doing here?"
Ran Xueyi glanced up and asked, "Where's the basement?"
The guard fell silent for a brief moment, then replied, "Do you want to see Alina?"
She nodded to his question.
But strangely, he took a moment to respond to her, as if he found her request hard to accept.
"Is something wrong with Alina?" Ran Xueyi worriedly asked, remembering Alina still had a wound on her stomach. "Did her wound worsen?"
Seeing her panic, the guard quickly responded, "No. Her wound was carefully treated by Dr. Misha and should be fully recovered soon."
"Then lead me to her."
Seeing her resoluteness, the guard didn't find it in himself to refuse her. He also received an order, like everyone else in the mansion, from their master to follow her every request other than escaping the island.
This should be the same as following her request, right?
The guard was unsure if he was doing the right thing. He had just seen Master Evgenia enter the basement room where Alina was staying. It has been an hour since his master entered the room, and he hasn't left since. Although he didn't want to speculate, his master had changed ever since Alina arrived.
When that woman was first captured and taken to the mansion, Master Evgenia only came to see her once a week. The most was once every other day to check if she was still alive.
But the longer she stayed there, Evgenia's visiting hours also increased. He would personally bring her out of the basement and let her sit at the same dining table as him. He'd even accept simple requests from her.
And the strangest thing was that the white fox he had made his pet was now in the hands of that woman. It was the pet that made trouble for everyone. A guard even lost his hands because he touched the animal.
Yet, Alina was safe even after touching it.
The guard looked at Ran Xueyi and wondered why their master had brought her to that place. Does he really plan to make her stay there? What about Miss Alina?
Shaking his head, the guard didn't want to tire himself by trying to guess what his master was thinking. He should just do his job better and guard the place.
"We're here."
They stopped in front of a door.
"Alina is inside that room?" Ran Xueyi's question was answered with a single nod from the guard.
Feeling a bit suffocated, Ran Xueyi thought of the worst.
Behind that door, what would she see if she opened it?
Fear, apprehension, and anger. All three emotions bubbled inside her.
Alina's safety was her priority. If Evgenia dared to harm her, she would make him pay tenfold, regardless of their grievances. Nôv(el)B\\jnn
At the same time, Ran Xueyi was perplexed about her feelings. In addition to the three emotions, she was filled with anticipation. It was as if she was looking forward to what would happen in front of her.
Then she realized.
Her anticipation was targeted at triggering a memory hidden in her brain.
"Open it."
Ran Xueyi ordered the guard, who responded with action.
The door swung slowly with an eerie creak.
And then, the scene before her took away her breath.
This…
What the hell is happening…?