Prologue
I couldn’t tell them about the drugs, not when the baby was dying to get out of Daphnie. If I speak and think about myself, I’m sure it’ll harm the baby.
No, that can’t happen.
As a doctor, I have to preserve the life God gives, even if it means I have to trade my own life. So without waiting, I ran into the clinic and demanded to be led to the room where the Carters stayed. I did the prep, washed my hands, and placed on my scrubs. Given this, I rushed a bit, feeling the drugs in my system flow through my bloodstream. My fingers were heating up, but I refused to focus on that.
That baby needs to be born.
Rushing to the room, I heard Adam yell, “No! No one is touching my wife!”
His wife must have had enough because when I walked in, she had Adam by the throat, yelling in his face.
“ADAM!” How moronic can the man be not to let the workers tend to his wife?! Pushing him out of the way, I checked Daphnie’s cervix to see how dilated she was. She was entering the active labor stage. Thank God I made it in time. “Kim, I need the epidural ready as well as the other things we’ll need. She’s not ready to push yet, but she’s close.” Turning my attention back to Daphnie’s brute of a husband, I scolded. “You could have harmed the baby. Next time, let my people help.”
“I only want you to deliver this baby.” Adam’s voice was lethal. Usually, I would flinch but not anymore.
I don’t have long. The drug Phil injected me with is coursing through me. It’s the same one he’s been packing into Maybell. She survived, but I won’t be lucky; I know this. My heart skipped a beat, which was not a good sign.
“What’s wrong with you?”
“Nothing.” I hid the uncomfortableness with a feigned cough. “Anyways, your daughter is ready to come out in a couple of hours; I suggest you help your wife remember her breathing exercises.”
The next few hours consisted of Daphnie yelling at Adam, making threats, and calling him names. She also got a few slaps and punches in, which served Adam right.
My mind was past the point of fuzzy, but I forced my arms steady as I held the baby. She was healthy and screaming. “My my, little bird.” I weakly cooed. “You’re going to be a fighter.” Seeing stars, I hurriedly handed the bundle to her crying parents.
My feet were cold, and that tingling sensation was now a numbing coldness. My heart was slowing - I could feel it. Adam approached me, saying something, but my hearing went out. Everything is…fading.
“This is it.” I didn’t know I said that aloud. Adam made a pretty funny face that I’m glad I could witness. Unable to handle the strain anymore, I fell.
“Quinn!” Adam stopped me from hitting the floor.
My breathing became labored, and a cardiac arrest would soon set in. Now I will be the one lying on an operating table with many people trying to figure out what was wrong with me. They won’t find anything, though, not when they don’t know what to search for.
Adam will know, though, and with his help, Abigal will know. With Abigal, the world will know what a monster Phil Sweetheart is and what sick things he put those women and children through - all in the name of science!
I almost wanted to laugh at how cliche this was. It was like those animes I loved watching as a child; a girl who all her life was treated as second best - told by the men in her family that my only job was to get married and raise children. I wasn’t allowed to go to war or train like my brother…That is probably why I took the unconventional route of medicine; I was told to be a nurse for the elderly.
I was called a quack.
A daydreamer.
To grandfather, I’m not a soldier at all. However, his blood runs through my veins, too, the same as Chad’s! Straining to focus on something - anything that wasn’t spinning, my eyes landed on the tiny baby again.
She was given life, and mine is being taken. I would much rather prefer if she and I both lived…but I regret nothing. I may not be a soldier or the hero of this tale. Still, I’ll happily be the messenger, especially if it means children like the newborn Carter can have a better future.
Maybell will be free from Phil.
Chad, my sweet brother, will no doubt follow wherever she goes.
The kids will know safety again; my death won’t be in vain. God, I know You are listening up there. I’m not mad that my life is being cut down; I just pray for my loved ones to be happy.
I’m sleepy.
I’m so sleepy.
“Adam.” Weakly, I forced his ear close to my lips. “Pocket.” I swallowed hard, forcing the words to form. “My sweater has a secret pocket; inside, on the left side. It has everything I found on Dr. Sweetheart.” I shoved off the hands that attempted to pull me away. “It has everything.” I heaved. My lungs were hurting now. “Another thing; Tell Chad not to blame himself - that I said if he blames himself, I’ll haunt him.”
Goodbye, Mom, Dad, Chad, and his one-day-to-be wife - Maybell. May God look after you all.
Mixed-matched piebald eyes shot open.
