FAR AWAY CITY
The sterile hospital room was silent except for the rhythmic beeping of the machines keeping Maxandra alive. Tubes connected to her pale, motionless body, supplying her with the air her lungs struggled to take in. Dominic sat outside the room, his head buried in his hands. For two weeks, Maxandra had been trapped in a coma, fighting for her life, her mind teetering on the edge of oblivion.
Dominic was a man of action, but now he felt utterly powerless. Pacing back and forth in the hospital hallway, his thoughts raced like a storm. What if she doesn't wake up? He couldn't allow himself to think that. He had promised Charles on the man's deathbed that he would protect Maxandra with his life, and now, he was failing. His dark eyes, usually sharp with focus, were clouded with guilt and desperation.
His mind flashed back to that horrible night. The faint beeping of a bomb planted in the car. Maxandra walking toward it, unaware of the imminent danger. Dominic had acted instinctively, sprinting toward her and tackling her out of harm's way. But it was too late. The explosion threw them both into the air, glass shards embedding themselves in their bodies. He remembered carrying her limp form on his back, his own injuries ignored as he ran to the hospital he never wanted to treat her in Valemont the black dragons and others might have her killed,on the other hand the wound kept on bleeding and her blood soaking into his shirt.
Now, Dominic stood in the doorway of her hospital room, gazing at her fragile form. Despite the bruises and bandages, she looked beautiful in her stillness, her brunnet hair cascading across the pillow like rays of sunlight. Her lips, usually so full of life, were pale and chapped.
He clenched his fists. He had one last hope—a faint one, but a hope nonetheless. Lamia. Perhaps only the bond between mother and son could reach Maxandra now, pulling her back from the abyss.
Dominic bent over her one last time, his voice breaking as he whispered, "Hang on, Max. I'll bring him to you. Just... hang on." He brushed a stray strand of hair from her forehead and left the room, his boots echoing through the quiet hospital halls as he made his way to his motorcycle.
---
Maxandra's consciousness drifted into a vast, glowing hall. The space was ethereal, shimmering with a golden light that seemed to pulse gently like a heartbeat. In the center stood a figure—tall, radiant, and achingly familiar. Charles.
Maxandra's breath caught, and tears welled in her eyes. Charles. She hadn't spoken his name in so long, and now here he was, as real as the ache in her chest.
"How are you, baby?" Charles asked, his deep voice resonating with warmth.
She ran to him without hesitation, throwing her arms around his neck. Their lips met in a kiss so fierce it felt like it could mend every fracture in her soul. She clung to him, her fingers tangling in his hair, as if afraid he might vanish if she let go.
"I've missed you so much," she whispered, her voice trembling.
He pulled back slightly, cupping her face in his hands. "I've missed you too, Maxine. More than you can imagine." His eyes were filled with a love that transcended the boundaries of life and death. "But tell me—what's happening out there? How's the world?"
Her face fell, the weight of her sorrows pressing down on her like an anchor. "It's all gone, Charles. My daughter is dead. You're gone. Everything we built... everything we dreamed of... it's fallen apart. And Lamia—" Her voice cracked. "Our son is struggling, Charles. He's facing challenges I don't know if he can overcome."
Charles smiled softly, his hands sliding down to hold hers. "Then you have to go back to him."
A romantic melody began to play, drifting through the glowing hall like a whispered promise. It was their song—the one they had danced to on their wedding night. Charles extended a hand, his smile tinged with sadness. "Dance with me, Max. One last time."
She hesitated, tears streaming down her face, but then placed her hand in his. He pulled her close, guiding her gracefully across the glowing floor. The world seemed to dissolve around them, leaving only the music and their shared love.
As they danced, Charles spoke softly into her ear. "You've been here long enough, my love. It's time for you to go back. Lamia needs you. He'll need your strength, your guidance."
"But, Charles—"
He silenced her with a finger on her lips. "I miss you, Maxine. I miss you so much it hurts. But I can't let you stay here. Our son needs you more than I do. And one day... one day, we'll be together again. But not yet. Not like this."
The music faded, and Charles led her to a wall that shimmered with images. Scenes from Lamia's life played out like a movie—his first steps, his mischievous smile as a child, his determined expression as a young man.
Maxandra laughed softly, pointing at a picture of Lamia as a toddler with chocolate smeared across his face. "He was always so messy."
Charles chuckled. "He got that from you."
Her laughter faded, replaced by a deep worry that etched itself into her features. "What if something happens to him, Charles? What if I don't get to see him again? What if—"
Charles pulled her into his arms, holding her tightly. "You will see him, Max. Trust me. And not just him—you'll see your grandchild too. But you have to fight. Don't let go. Don't let yourself fade away."
His voice softened, and he placed a gentle kiss on her forehead. "I love you, Maxine. Always."
As his form began to dissolve into the light, Maxandra reached for him, her heart breaking all over again. "Charles! Don't leave me!"
"I'm not leaving," he said, his voice echoing even as he disappeared. "I'm with you. Always."
---
Maxandra's eyes fluttered open in the hospital room, tears streaming down her face. The machines around her beeped wildly as nurses rushed in, calling for the doctor. Somewhere in the distance, Dominic was on his way to find Lamia, unaware that his madam was finally waking up.