Chapter 99: Chapter 99

Hands on his waist, Damien stood by the balcony of his hotel suite, whiskey bottle in hand as he stared into the distance.

His mind was in disarray, and he’d been pacing earlier on but he had decided to channel all his anger, worry and frustration into drinking.

The investigation on Madison’s disappearance was already underway, and even the suite was abuzz with police offers stationed about, his guards and some other security officials.

The chief detective and his personal investigator, Mr Rudiger as well as some other officers were already on their way to the Connor’s family house, and now Damien was just waiting for them to come back.

Since they had no suspects still, the officer in charge of the case had decided on questioning each member of her family. They would have heard about the kidnap by now, and his eyes shutting briefly, Damien could only imagine the horror and pain Mrs Connor was going through right now.

If there was anyone he pitied right now, it was the elderly woman who’d been the last person to see Madison.

He couldn’t bear to face her, and that’s why he had refused to follow the team of officers to Madison’s family house.

Chugging a large gulp of whiskey down his throat once more, Damien briefly opened his eyes the second he felt his phone vibrating in his pocket.

Who could be calling by now? He wondered already scrambling to bring the device out.

Due to the gravity of the situation he was in, he couldn’t bear to miss any call.

Who knows if someone had seen Madison, and was calling to divulge some information.

However, his hopes were soon dashed when he glanced at his screen and saw the name of his mother.

Letting out a sigh, as his chest tightened for the umpteenth time today, Damien swiped the answer button and then placed the phone in his ear.

“Hello Mother.”

“Hello son. How are you feeling?”

“Mother…” He began to say, but paused trailing off as a whimper escaped his lips.

He was so close to breaking down, and he’d been trying his possible best not to but now he couldn’t hold himself anymore.

“Oh Damien, I’m so sorry. I heard the news of Madison’s abduction from Alvarez yesterday. I couldn’t call cause I knew you would be grieving and…”

“I’m still grieving mom. I still am. Once again I’ve failed Madison. I know deep within me that whoever must have planned this, is someone I know. An enemy or something. And if anything happens to her… If any motherfucker dares to touch her, I swear to God I won’t mind killing him or her.“

“Son, I’m so sorry.” His mother said again, and he could hear the trace of worry in her voice as she broke into tears too, “When Alvarez told me at first, I didn’t even want to believe him until I watched the news and I saw her pictures. I saw the pictures of the scene and… Oh Damien I’m so sorry.”

“I don’t know what to do mother. I don’t know. I’m just so confused. Even with the hefty bounty placed on her head, no single person has come forward in the last 24 hours to report a thing. It just feels like Madison has vanished. She’s now out of my grip forever, and I have a nagging feeling that I might not…”

He broke into a sob, his words dying on his lips, as guilt coursed through him. Placing the whiskey bottle in his hands on the fall, Damien proceeded to grip the railings of his balcony as he began to sob heavily.

He was crying for everything happening, and the worst which was yet to come.

Try as he may to be positive, there was this nagging voice at the back of his head which reminded him that he’d lost Madison forever and he wouldn’t be able to get her back.

“But… but is there any suspect still? Do you have anyone in mind or…?”

“Ka…” Damien stopped himself halfway from mentioning Katherine’s name.

Even though he had a feeling that she might be indirectly connected to this case, there still wasn’t any proof and he had no right to accuse her.

“Son…” His mother called out softly again, waiting for him to say something, and clearing his throat he said curtly, “We don’t have any real suspect now mother. We have no one.”

“I’m so sorry about that son.”

Damien said nothing, his heart clenching as he continued to sob brokenly.

“How are you doing though? Hope you’ve eaten? Have you?”

“Mother!” He half yelled exclaiming as he continued, “How can I even think of eating? How can I eat when Madison is out there in the hands of some unknown men possibly getting tortured and… oh shit!” He finished with a curse, his left fists clenched in anger at the question his mother just asked.

All through last night and even till this hour he’d barely eaten anything, and surprisingly he wasn’t even hungry.

He had no appetite, except for alcohol and he stuffed himself with more than enough of the unhealthy liquid.

“What if she’s dead mother? What if all these investigations are just in vain, and I might have lost my most valued possession. What if she…”

“Oh son, say no more. My prayers are with you, and Madison’s not dead. I can feel her presence with us, and I want you to know that you’re going to get her. Have faith son.”

“What if my coming to London initiated this? Mother I freaking caused this! I’m to blame for this, and for anything that’s happening to her. I feel like shit mother! I don’t even know what to believe and…”

Trailing off, he closed his eyes painfully as guilt washed over him.

He could hear his mother saying some words of comfort, but he duly ignored her. There was nothing anyone could literally say to him at this moment, that could take away this ache in his chest.

Absolutely nothing!

“Mother, I think I need some space to myself now. Thanks for calling.” He interrupted her speech, still in a haze and having no idea what she must have been saying since.

“Okay son. I’m so sorry for everything and like I said I’ll be praying for Madison. If you need anything, or you want to talk to someone just call me. I’m here for you always.”

“Thank you mother. Thank you so much.” Damien muttered after a while, this time sounding genuine.

After exchanging some farewell pleasantries with her, he hung up and grabbing the whiskey bottle close by again, he walked back into his suite.

His guards and the police officers in the room all turned to look at him as he sauntered in, their faces at alert as if he wanted to say something to them but he just waved them all off.

Walking straight to an empty couch, Damien plopped his ass on the soft foam, and taking a large swig of whiskey, he grimaced at the taste as tears lurked at the corner of his eyes.

Not caring that he had eyes on him, Damien placed his hands over his face as he began to cry his heart out.

This pain was just too much. So so much.

…….

As the masked men continued to whip Madison brutally, the only sounds she could hear apart from her screams, were the manic laughter gurgling from the throat of her enemy.

The woman who’d caused her misfortune. The woman behind her abduction. The woman who seemed to hate her pure existence.

Katherine Scott. Damien’s fiancée or ex girlfriend.

At this point Madison was confused on what to address the lady with, but still she was sorely reminded that she was in this position because of Damien.

As if the pains and misfortune he’d caused weren’t enough, throw in a jealous girlfriend to top off the list.

Could she even blame him for this? Madison wondered, as tears fell down her cheeks and her bloodied lips quivered in ache and agony.

Yes! He’d caused this because if he hadn’t come to London, then all this wouldn’t have happened. He’d shown interest in getting back with her, and in the process he’d neglected Katherine, hence giving her the push to do this.

“Whip her well! I want her body to peel, before I deliver the final blow! Pour her more ice cold water. I want her screaming and begging at my feets…” Katherine yelled like a crazed human, and with every word she uttered, Madison’s hate for Damien increased all the more.

She felt like screaming back at the bitch, wanting to tell her to believe everything she said about Damien, and the fact that they weren’t together but she just couldn’t.

She was weak, limp, battered and bruised.

“Hand me that whip and rod.” Katherine said again, and Madison’s ears perked up at that statement.

What did she want to do now? Madison could only wonder as fear coursed through her slowly.

“By the time I’m done with you today, I bet you wouldn’t have the power to scream in pain or say a word.” Katherine mocked and her feets clanged heavily on the floor.

Madison opened her swollen eyelids, her gaze trailing Katherine’s footsteps, and she slowly counted the steps until finally her adversary stood in front of her.

“You bitch!” Katherine blurted out, her hands going to Madison’s hair.

Letting out a yelp, tears burned at the back of Madison’s eyes and even though she was trying to stifle her sobs, she couldn’t anymore.

“I’m going to show you what it feels like to mess with me.” Katherine threatened, a smirk on her lips, and anger in her eyes as she stared her down.

“Please…” Madison begged, swallowing her pride and trying to plead for the umpteenth time today but all her pleas fell on deaf ears.

Letting go of her hair roughly, Katherine raised her hands ready to begin whipping Madison, when suddenly one of the men called out to her and she froze.

From the corner of her eyes, Madison watched as Katherine’s countenance changed to one of pure frustration and she glared at the man walking up to her.

“What is it?” She asked, and inaudibly the masked man leaned in her ears to whisper something.

No matter how hard Madison craned her ears, trying to see if she could hear a thing… Oh well she heard nothing.

“God just saved your lucky ass from my wrath.” Katherine spat out loudly after some time, and Madison watched as she dropped the whip and rods in her hand on the floor, taking a step back.

Throwing a harsh look her way, Katherine further said to her men this time, “Continue with the torture. Make sure she screams so loudly, that I would be able to hear it from the other room.”

“Okay boss.” One of the men replied, walking over and picking the torture materials his supposed leader had dropped on the floor.

“I’ll be back for you, I promise.” Katherine warned yet again, her fingers pointed flailingly, and Madison could only mutter a string of gratitude words.

Even though she was still going to be whipped, it would be better coming from the masked men, rather than Katherine herself who’d surely put extra effort in torturing her.

As she walked away, before Madison could even let out a satisfied exhale, she felt a lash on her already scarred back and she let out a loud piercing scream.

Another lash landing on her back, Madison yelled crazily and this time she couldn’t bear it anymore.

She struggled against the whips but her efforts were useless, because two masked men were by her side ready to steady her in place, if she tried anything obviously.

Eyes dropping, and blood spilling out her lips, Madison’s shoulders dropped as the whipping intensified and she gave up at last.

Not even fighting the darkness overwhelming her, she let out her last scream, and then fell to the floor with a thud, collapsing head first on the stoned brick ground.

There was no use screaming anymore, and so she’d given up!