Page 70 of Queen of Vengeance

I grabbed onto my stomach and cried out in pain.

Dineta was beside me the very next moment.

“Something’s wrong with the baby! Why does it hurt so much?” A scream ripped from the core of my being, stirring everyone in the cell as well.

“Your water broke.” Dineta’s eyes went wide. “Okay, we need to get a guard!”

I never thought in a million years I would ever hear Dineta say that!

“Guards! Guards! Come quick!” My cellmates began calling over a guard to help.

I watched to see which guard it was.

His footfalls didn’t sound heavy enough to be the short, stout one or the tall, burly one.

As soon as he came into view, I breathed a sigh of relief. One of the newer guards was far kinder and less likely to beat me up in a corner. “What’s all the commotion?”

“The baby’s coming! She needs to go to the Infirmary!” Everyone started shouting all at once, making it difficult for the guard to understand.

He shook his head, pulled the keys from his side, and unlocked the cell.

Everyone in the cell parted so he could see me lying on the floor.

His narrow face fell upon realizing what was happening. “Damn! It’s you. Uhhhhh— Alright, come with me.”

He crouched down, threading his arms under my shoulders and picking me up from the floor.

Dineta tried to hold on to my hand so she could come with me, but the other guards kept everyone back. “Lea!”

Her voice echoed through the halls as they carried me away.

The next thing I recognized was the white infirmary walls.

I looked around for a familiar face, but I was surrounded by strangers.

I want someone here that I know! Dineta… Mema.

“There’s something wrong. The baby’s not coming out.” I heard a familiar voice that caused me to look down.

It was the kind nurse with big brown eyes. She wasn’t allowed to tell me her name, as it was customary for keeping the inmates dehumanized, but I liked to call her Sally in my head. It was one of my favorite flowers in the Dask forest.

The Sally flower smelled like honey and comforted me in times of trouble. Sally suits her just fine.

“Lea, I need you to relax. I’m going to try to adjust the baby.” She looked over my knees at me. Her big brown eyes were weary from the late night.

I want to relax, but it hurts so much.

I squeezed my eyes tight, trying to bring my mind somewhere else.

The faces of everyone I’ve ever cared for flashed through my mind.

Although I was doing this alone, I remained strong… Just like Miller told me to do.

Miller.

My heart ached thinking of the last time I saw him.

He never came back after he stuck up for me.

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