HELPLESS CHAPTER 59 - HELPLESS +25 BONUS MAYA'S POV I was sitting right beside Marvin's hospital bed , gripping his hand so tight I thought I might crush it . Machines beeped and hummed like they owned the place , but honestly ? I didn't care . His skin looked pale and fragile , like someone had hit " ghost mode " on him with . And the dark circles under his eyes made him look smaller , and weaker ... like the world had already drained him dry . Vulnerable ? Maybe . But who gave a damn . All that mattered was that he was here with me . Breathing with his nostrils and staring at me in the eye with a smile across his lips . And nobody ... literally nobody , was touching him while I was around . " You're here ... again , " he whispered , his voice hoarse , and fragile . " Of course , " I said , brushing a sweaty strand of hair from his forehead . " I'm not He tried to smile , but it faltered . " What if ... what if ... " leaving . " Of all the damn times in the world , my phone decided to scream like a siren and cut him off . I wanted to ignore it but the ringing didn't stop . It was relentless , impatient , and almost mocking . With a reluctant sigh , I fished it out of my pocket , and pressed my palm against the cold screen . The moment I saw her name , a chill ran straight through me , curling into my chest like a live thing . My fingers trembled , and my heart hammered like it was trying to escape my chest . Brandy . What do this slut want ? My brain screamed don't do it , every instinct telling me to throw the phone across the room . But ... guess what ? I fucking picked the call . " What , bitch ? " I literally screamed . Marvin frowned . " Everything okay ? " " I ... I'll be right back , " I stammered , slipping out of the room and into the hallway that seemed to pulse with its own sinister rhythm , echoing my every step like some twisted joke . The fluorescent lights flickered , casting shadows that danced in rhythm with my pounding heart... but that's where my nonchalancy decided to kick in . I noticed immediately..no nurses , no staff , not even a single bloody soul . Every instinct in me screamed to turn , to run , to go back to the ward and slam the door behind me ... to forget this ever happened . But stubborn ... maybe stupid ... I kept walking , pretending the dread curling in my stomach was just my imagination . By the time I felt I was far enough for Marvin not to hear , I begrudgingly answered that call from the stupid , classless daughter of a bitch . Why the hell did I bother answering ? You fucking asking me ? " Hello ? " I snapped " Oh , hello , darling , " Brandy's voice purred through the speaker . " I just thought I'd check in . " Her laugh slithered through the phone very slowly , like she knew exactly how much it was twisting my stomach into knots . " Check in ? " I ground out . " With what purpose , Brandy ? " " Oh , don't be so tense , " she cooed . " Just a little friendly advice .... why don't you go check on your precious brother ? Make sure he's safe . Wouldn't want anything ... tragic to happen , right ? " I felt my chest tighten as every hair on my body stood on end . " Don't play games with me . " A slow , cruel laugh spilled from the line . " I love it when you think you're in control . But sweetie ... you're not . Not even close . " And then ... the line went dead . What the hell did she mean ... ? I didn't know . And I also had no clue why my legs just ... moved running back toward the ward , 1/2 HELPLESS +25 BONUS fear clawing up my throat . Marvin ... I needed to get to him ... now ! I sprinted back to Marvin's room and froze mid - step . The door ... it was locked . My stomach dropped as I rattled the handle . " Marvin ! Open the door ! " There was no answer.... just awful silence . I strained my ears , and boom ... I could here movements from inside . My blood immediately ran cold . Fuck ... someone was with him . Through the small glass panel , I peeked and I saw him ... Larry ! He stood over Marvin , knife in one hand , and a wicked , haunting smile I could never forget . My eye's snapped to Marvin , his eyes were already widened in terror . My hands immediately went numb as my heart tried to leap out of my chest . " Larry ! Get away from him ! " I screamed . " No ! Stay back ! " Larry turned to me and smiled . His smile was sick , all sharp edges and pure madness , his gaze drilling into me like a predator savoring the kill . " Did you really think you could stop me ? " he hissed . " He's mine now . " Marvin tried to shove him away , trembling like a leaf , but Larry's knife caught the light , slicing through the air ... and then ... oh God ... the first cut . Blood sprayed like a grotesque fountain , spattering the f floor and walls in dark , glistening streaks . The metallic stench choked me , and I gagged , pressing my hands to my mouth . Marvin screamed , a raw , primal sound that pierced me to my bones . " Stop ! Please stop ! " I cried , pounding on the door . I pounded and pounded until my knuckles bled . " You'll regret this ! " Larry laughed , cold and merciless , and in one swift motion , pressed the knife against Marvin's throat . Aah ! Blood seeped into his sheets , and ran down the side of the bed like a crimson river . Marvin's hands flailed helplessly , trembling and desperate , grasping at nothing but air . " Please , Larry ! Please ! " I screamed , tears blinding me . Larry turned slowly toward me , his knife dripping with Marvin's blood and eyes like black pits . " You ? " he pointed . " You're next . " I stumbled backward , horror paralyzing both my legs as my throat caught in a raw , strangled scream . I could hear Brandy's voice in my head : " Go check on him ... too late , isn't it ? " I clawed at the door , blood smearing my hands , as I looked at my brother lying lifeless on the bed . " It's all your fault . " I heard him call even if I didn't see his lips move . And the most painful part was that the devil or angel who whispered it inside me was right . I tried to cry , but no tears would fall . I tried to scream , but my voice cracked and died in my throat . " No ! Don't die ! " I shrieked . I turned to Larry . " I'll kill you if you touch him ! Stay back ! " Larry stepped closer , the knife trembling in his grip . My eyes blurred , as the machine alarms blared like warning sirens . Marvin was bleeding , the red spreading across the sheets , soaking them even faster . He screamed as Larry landed another cut carving a line across his chest . The sick , wet sound of it hitting muscle , punctuated by his ragged gasps , made bile rise in my throat . " I warned you . Now it's over , " Larry said , staring Marvin in the face . My hands shook violently . I wanted to throw myself through the glass , to tear him apart with my bare hands , but I was trapped . The world felt like it was spinning , in chaos ... in pain ... and in blood . I couldn't move . Couldn't breathe . Couldn't do anything but scream . And before Larry's knife came down again ... I ... I woke . 2/2 NIGHTMARE RESIDUE