Chapter 103 She's in
CHAPTER 103
She's in.
Carl rushed out of the hall, as he carried Ruby gently to his car.
Victor stepped forward immediately. “Let me help—”
Before he could even finish Carl snapped.
“Stay back.”
His voice was sharp and controlled. But filled with anger.
Victor froze. “I said I can help,” he insisted, stepping closer again.
Carl turned to him, his eyes dark and unyielding. “Miss Ruby is none of your business.”
The words landed hard. Jane looked between them, startled by the sudden tension.
“Carl—” she started.
But Carl didn’t look away from Victor.
“Don’t touch her,” he added, his tone low but dangerous.
Victor’s jaw tightened. “What’s your problem?” he shot back. “She needs help—”
“And I’m handling it,” Carl cut in.
For a moment, the air between them felt like it could snap. Victor looked like he wanted to argue more. But then he looked at Ruby. Pale and barely conscious and something in him shifted.
“…Fine,” he muttered, stepping back, though his eyes stayed on her.
Jane quickly moved in closer instead.
“Carl, we need to get her out now,” she said urgently.
Carl nodded once already moving.
By the time they reached outside, Ruby’s condition had worsened. Her lips had lost color, her breathing was uneven, her body still trembling faintly from the cold.
“Open the door!” Carl ordered.
Victor rushed ahead this time without hesitation, pulling the car door open quickly.
Carl slid inside with Ruby still in his arms, holding her tightly, trying to shield her from the air.
Jane jumped in beside them. “Drive!” she shouted.
Victor didn’t need to be told twice. The engine roared to life.
The car sped out of the school grounds, leaving behind the laughter, the music, the celebration, as if none of it had ever mattered.
“Ruby… can you hear me?” Jane asked, holding her hand tightly.
Ruby’s eyes fluttered weakly. “…cold…” she whispered.
“I know… I know…” Jane said quickly, rubbing her hand gently. “You’re going to be okay.”
Carl removed his shirt completely, wrapping it around her more securely.
“Stay awake,” he said firmly. “Don’t close your eyes.”
Ruby’s head leaned slightly against him.
Her breathing shallow and strength fading.
Carl’s jaw tightened. “Faster,” he said sharply.
“I’m trying!” Victor replied, gripping the wheel harder as he pushed the speed.
Traffic blurred past them, horns echoed.
Jane’s tears finally slipped free. “This can’t be happening…” she whispered.
Carl didn’t respond.
The hospital came into view. “Almost there,” Victor said.
The car didn’t even fully stop before Carl opened the door. He stepped out quickly, carrying Ruby in his arms as if she weighed nothing.
“Emergency!” he called out immediately.
Nurses rushed forward. “What happened?” one asked.
“She’s been exposed to extreme cold,” Carl said quickly. “She was locked inside—” he couldn't finish the words.
“She’s hypothermic,” one nurse said quickly, already checking her pulse.
“Get blankets, IV fluids—move!” another order.
Ruby was placed onto a stretcher, her body still trembling faintly, her skin pale against the harsh hospital lights. Her lips moved weakly, but no clear words came out.
Jane stood frozen for a moment before following quickly.
“Ruby!” she called.
Carl stayed close behind, his expression still hard but his eyes filled with something deeper now he was scared with all what had happened in just a few seconds.
Victor stopped at the entrance for a second. His hands slowly clenched into fists. “She was locked in there…” he muttered.
Inside, the hospital staff worked quickly, surrounding Ruby, checking her vitals, stabilizing her condition.
Jane stood off to the side, her hands trembling, her eyes refusing to leave Ruby.
Down the corridor, Blake stood just outside Leo’s room, still trying again to reach Ruby on his phone.
The call rang and rang and then voicemail.
Blake exhaled sharply, frustration mixing with worry.
“This isn’t like you…” he muttered.
Before he could try again he heard noises, footsteps and voices the nurses were moving hurriedly and he knew something happened.
His head snapped toward the hallway, and then he saw her being wheeled in, and looking pale.
For a split second Blake didn't move, his mind refusing to process what his eyes were seeing.
“…No.”
The word slipped out under his breath.
Then suddenly he was moving.
“Ruby!” he called, rushing forward.
Carl turned at the sound of his voice.
Their eyes met and Blake saw immediately the anger.
“What happened to her?” Blake demanded, his voice tight.
Carl didn’t slow down. “She was locked in a refrigerator,” he said coldly.
Blake stopped in his tracks. “What?”
Jane, who was right behind, stepped forward, her voice shaking. “We found her… she was barely conscious…”
Blake’s chest tightened painfully.
“This can’t be real…” he whispered.
The doctors didn’t wait.
“Clear the way,” one of them instructed.
Ruby was rushed past them, straight into an emergency room.
Carl followed immediately. Jane hesitated for a second before following as well.
Blake stood there frozen, his mind spinning.
Leo was inside one of the rooms unconscious and now Ruby in the same state.
He ran a hand through his hair, pacing once before stopping.
“No… no, no…” he muttered.
Everything was happening at once and none of it made sense.