Chapter 14: Good Friend
The space chamber door hissed open with a rush of sterile air. Oliver burst in, his face pale with concern - but what he saw made his blood run cold.
Xavier lay motionless in a spreading pool of his own blood, the crimson liquid stark against the chamber's pristine white surfaces. His body was twisted at unnatural angles, his face a mask of bruises and swelling. The metallic tang of blood filled the air, mixing with the antiseptic scent of the chamber.
Oliver's hands trembled as he knelt beside Xavier, carefully checking for a pulse. The faintest flutter responded to his touch - Xavier was alive, but barely.
His device chimed with an incoming call. The hacker's voice came through, crisp and professional despite the gravity of the situation. "I've got the footage. Five minutes of high-definition recording from all angles."
Oliver's voice was tight with emotion. "Did you get everything?"
"Complete coverage," she confirmed. "My team is already processing it. We'll have it ready for distribution within the hour."
A pause. Then her tone softened slightly. "Oliver... is he...?"
The unspoken question hung heavy in the air. Oliver swallowed hard. "I don't know. I've called for help. I am taking him to a private hospital outside the academy."
The hacker's voice turned grim. "They went too far. This wasn't just bullying - they intended to kill him." Her tone hardened. "My entire team is furious. We're going to make sure those bastards pay for this, no matter what it takes."