Virgin At 25-Chapter 100: NUMB AND DUMB

HOSPITAL HALLWAY

The hallway smelled of antiseptic and cold metal, the kind of air that never felt warm no matter how many bodies filled the space. Maxie had been standing for hours. Time didn’t exist for her anymore, not since Marcus was dragged into the emergency wing with blood on his shirt and his pulse disappearing under her fingers.

She didn’t sit.

She didn’t talk.

She barely breathed.

Ryan stayed beside her the entire time, silent, hands shoved in his pockets, eyes fixed on the double doors.

Then the doors finally opened.

The surgeon stepped out, mask lowered around his neck, wiping his hands with a tired, practiced motion. His hair was out of place, and tiny beads of sweat shone on his forehead.

Maxie bolted forward before Ryan could stop her.

"Doctor... " Her voice cracked. "Please, tell me something. Tell me he’s alive. Tell me my brother is okay"

"Ma’am ," the surgeon said gently, placing a steady hand on her shaking shoulder. "Calm down."

"I can’t... please just tell me..."

"He’s fine."

The hallway tilted. Her knees buckled. Ryan grabbed her arm before she hit the ground.

The doctor continued, voice steady and reassuring

"The surgery was successful. We were able to stop the internal bleeding and stabilize him. He’s unconscious for now, but his vitals look good. He’ll wake up once the anesthesia wears off."

Tears flooded down her cheeks without warning, her shoulders trembling violently as she covered her face with both hands.

Ryan held her up, one arm tight around her waist, steadying her as she cried into his chest.

"Thank you," she gasped, voice shaking uncontrollably. "Thank you so much..."

The doctor nodded, exhaustion softening his features. "I understand your relief. But we need to keep him under observation for a while. You’ll be informed when you can see him."

Maxie immediately stepped forward. "Can I see him now? Please, just for a minute"

"Not yet," the doctor said firmly. "He needs time. I promise one of the nurses will call you."

Her lips trembled but she nodded.

The doctor gave her shoulder one last reassuring squeeze before walking away, disappearing down the hallway.

The moment he left, Maxie’s legs collapsed again, and she sunk to the floor like a doll losing its strings.

Ryan crouched beside her.

"Maxie..."

She didn’t respond. Her face was buried in her palms, tears still streaming, her breaths harsh and uneven.

Ryan sighed quietly. He slipped a hand under her arm and pulled her gently but firmly to her feet.

"Come on," he murmured. "Not on the floor."

He guided her to a chair, sat her down, and crouched in front of her. Her hands were shaking so violently he had to hold them to keep her grounded.

"Listen to me," he said softly. "Marcus is safe. He made it. You’re safe. Breathe."

For a moment she tried, tried to inhale, tried to pull herself together but her chest only tightened again.

Then a vibration cut through the silence.

Ryan reached into her bag and pulled her phone out.

"It’s been ringing for a while," he said, frowning. "I didn’t want to bother you."

Maxie didn’t even look.

"I don’t want to talk to anyone."

Ryan almost put it back... until he saw the name.

"Tory has been calling," he added. "And... he texted. Says it’s very important."

Maxie’s head snapped up.

"What?"

He handed her the phone.

She immediately dialed back, hands trembling as the phone rang once...

And he picked instantly.

"Maxie?" Tory’s voice was sharp, breathless. "What’s wrong? Why weren’t you picking up? You’re putting me on the spot here."

Maxie’s voice wavered despite her efforts to sound normal.

"N-nothing... just, nothing."

Tory heard the crack in her tone. He paused but didn’t push.

Instead, his voice shifted, calm but serious.

"There’s a huge situation going on right now. I need you to come to my house."

Maxie scoffed breathlessly.

"Tory... it can wait."

She was exhausted. She couldn’t handle anything else. Not now.

She was about to end the call when Tory’s next words slapped the air out of her lungs.

"Aec is with me," Tory said flatly. "But he’s unconscious."

Maxie shot to her feet so fast the chair clattered behind her.

"WHAT?!"

Ryan stood immediately, alarm flashing across his face.

Tory continued, tone cold, clipped, urgent.

"He woke up for a minute, panicked, and tried to hurt himself. I need you to come now."

"I’m coming!" Maxie practically screamed, grabbing her bag. "Send your address!"

Tory sent it immediately.

Ryan leaned close.

"What’s going on?"

"Aec," she breathed, shaking. "Tory has Aec. He’s unconscious."

Ryan didn’t waste time.

"I don’t know who that is but let’s go."

He grabbed her hand and guided her toward the exit.

Maxie took one last look at the hallway where Marcus had disappeared, chest tightening with guilt, with fear, with everything.

But she had no choice.

Sharon was missing.

Aec was unconscious.

And someone had sent Maxie a picture of Sharon’s body.

Everything was falling

Outside the hospital, Ryan practically jogged her to the car and opened the door for her. She slid in shakily. The moment he was in the driver’s seat, he started the ignition and drove fast, tires screeching slightly on the hospital pavement.

Maxie’s hands were clasped tightly in her lap, her mind racing ahead of the car.

"Are you sure you can go in alone?" Ryan asked when the navigation announced they were close.

Maxie shook her head. "I’ll be fine."

"You sure?"

"Yes," she repeated softly. "This... this is very serious "

Ryan didn’t argue. He pulled up in front of Tory’s house, a quiet, dark building on a narrow street, guarded by tall hedges and motion-activated lights.

He parked.

"If anything feels off, call me."

Maxie nodded.

"Thank you... really."

Ryan paused, then reached out and touched her wrist lightly.

"Take care of yourself."

She gave a small nod and stepped out.

Ryan waited until she reached the entrance before driving off.

Maxie walked up the pathway, heart hammering, the air heavy, the night too quiet.

She raised her hand to ring the doorbell but the door swung open before she touched it.

Tory stood there, expression unreadable, posture relaxed but his eyes sharp as knives.

"Hey, Max..."

"Where’s Aec?" she cut sharply.

She stepped inside before he could even finish speaking, her breath shallow, her pulse racing.

Tory shut the door behind her.

His face finally shifted with worry, frustration, and something else she couldn’t identify.

"Follow me," he said quietly.

And Maxie did, stepping deeper into the house...

Maxie’s heart hadn’t slowed since the moment she stepped into Tory’s house. Aec lay unconscious on the bed, wrapped in blankets, his breathing shallow, his lips pale. Tory hovered anxiously, pacing from the window back to him every few seconds.

"His fever isn’t dropping," Maxie whispered. "Tory, this isn’t normal. This isn’t just exhaustion."

Maxie swallowed, wiping sweat off Aec’s forehead. "Zion isn’t picking up and now Aec is like this. Something is wrong, Tory. Something is very, very wrong."

Tory nodded tightly, but her eyes flicked toward the door again. "I didn’t want to get in that family’s shit"

Then Maxie’s phone rang and she picked immediately, it was Ryan

"Maxie?" He called out

"Yes Ryan... Are you close to your house now?" But there was a short silence before he answered her

"Actually... I parked a little away from the house."

Maxie froze. "Why?"

"I don’t know. I just... didn’t feel good pulling all the way up. Something isn’t right around this place."

He paused, voice low, sharp. "Are you and Aec inside already?"

"Y... yeah," she whispered. "Why?"

"Because I swear I saw two men in dark clothes walk past the streetlight and stop in front of Tory’s gate."

Maxie’s stomach dropped.

Tory’s eyes widened when he saw Maxie’s face drain of color. "What? What??"

Maxie whispered into the phone, "Ryan... describe them."

"One tall. One bulky," Ryan said. "And Maxie... the tall one... I think his... ."

"Victor Langley." Maxie completed

Maxie felt the air drain from her lungs. "Ryan... Ryan... what do we do?"

"I’m coming in from the back," he said, voice switching instantly into command. "You need to move Aec. Now. Get him out of the house before they step in."

As if on cue, the sound cut through the house... A car door shutting.

Then another.

Then another.

Tory ran to peek through the curtain.

"Maxie..." he whispered shakily. "There are four men now. He brought four."

"Don’t panic," Ryan said. "Go to the back door. Quietly. I’m almost there."

Then Tory cut it "Ryan be careful, I’ll talk to him while you leave"

Maxie grabbed Aec’s arm. He was limp, too weak to stand. Tory slid under his other side.

"Come on, baby" Maxie whispered, voice breaking. "Please wake up just for a second."

Aec’s eyes fluttered barely but he couldn’t lift his head.

"I’m not your baby, Max" Aec spoke out coldly and clear. Maxie just scoffed...

Footsteps echoed outside.

Then a slow, deliberate knock on the front door.

Three times.

Another knock... harder.

Maxie’s heart pounded so loudly she almost didn’t hear Ryan’s hushed voice behind the back door

"Maxie. Open."

She unlocked it as silently as possible.

Ryan slipped inside like a shadow, eyes sharp, jaw clenched, every muscle ready to fight.

"Give him to me," Ryan whispered, taking Aec effortlessly into his arms. "Stay behind me."

Tory locked the back door again.

Another knock at the front door, this one violent enough that the hinges rattled.

Tory’s eyes darted toward the hallway. "They’re coming in."

Maxie felt her chest tighten. "Ryan... let’s go "

Then she turns back to to Tory "please be careful"

"I know," he said. "Move."

They slipped out the back, staying low, Ryan leading them through the narrow corridor between houses.

Behind them, inside the living room the front door exploded inward...

Maxie covered her mouth to keep herself from crying out.

Ryan didn’t stop moving...

Then Victor Langley’s cold command sliced through the night

"Search everywhere. Aec should be here ."

Maxie’s blood froze and she stared at Ryan but he didn’t even look at her ....