Page 43 of Hollow Child

“I saw a pregnant zombie once.” Jovie stared off into the night, her voice sounding faraway. “It was the first year after the virus, and I was still hiding out in Winnipeg. She was alone, stumbling along the road. Her pale pink maternity dress was rotting right off her, just like her flesh. Her stomach had the strangest appearance, almost like a deflated basketball. Her side had been ripped open, exposing her ribs and her rotten womb. And falling out, like tiny brittle little bird bones, was the skeletal remains of her fetus.”

“Holy fuck,” I whispered under my breath.

“When a healthy pregnant woman dies, the fetus has a matter of minutes to maybe an hour to survive without medical intervention, usually a C-section,” Jovie explained. “For our intents and purposes, a person is dead the moment they become a zombie.”

“What does all that mean for our situation?” I asked.

“As far as we can tell, Stella is about thirty-three weeks along, which is considered late preterm,” Jovie said. “It is survivable, even in our current world, but there are always risks with preterm births. To improve the baby’s chances, we should leave them where they are for as long as we are able, so they can continue to grow. But to be completely safe, we do need to take the baby before she turns into a zombie. I can’t even perform a C-section on a properly tied down zombie.”

“Is that the plan then?” I asked, after processing for a few moments. “We watch and wait and prepare, and if things go wrong, you’ll cut out the baby?”

“Yes, I think that is the best course of action,” Jovie replied. “That, and we all should rest while we can. With that in mind, I am going to head in for the night. My bedroom is on the second floor, and my assistant Eden is watching over Stella. Feel free to come get either one of us if you need anything.”

“Thanks,” I said again, and she got up and started toward the clinic. “Can I ask you something before you go in?”

She paused and looked back at me. “Sure.”

“How bad is Stella’s preeclampsia, really?” I asked. “Like, if we hadn’t left our home and walked all the way here, how do you think she would be doing right now?”

“It’s hard to say, because I know she’s under stress from all the recent activities. But if you’re asking if she would’ve been better off if you never left your home?” Jovie gave me a sympathetic look and shrugged. “Maybe, but women and babies have died during childbirth, even in good health and with proper medicine. You didn’t make the wrong choice bringing her here just because things haven’t gone the way that you had hoped.” She smiled tiredly at me. “Good night, Remy.”

“Good night, Jovie.”

26

Stella

Music was playing from the other room, something melodic but scratchy, and I sat up slowly in the bed. At some point, Max had pulled in a chair from another room, and he was engrossed in the copy ofWhat to Expect When You’re ExpectingI had taken from the lakehouse.

“What time is it?” I asked with warm sunlight spilling in through the windows.

Max looked up, startled, and he immediately set aside the book and leaned closer to me. “Stella. How are you doing? Did the music wake you? I can have Jovie turn it down or off entirely.”

“No, it’s nice. Who is it?” I asked.

“Something called Mazzy Star.” He shrugged. “Jovie thought you might find it relaxing.”

“What time is it?” I asked him again since he still hadn’t answered.

“A little after noon.”

“Noon?” Angry tears sprang in my eyes. “How could you let me sleep so late?”

“You were exhausted and needed rest,” he reasoned, sounding bewildered and hurt.

“Max, I don’t have time! I can’t sleep the day away when I only have two days left!” I shouted at him.

He lowered his eyes, and his jaw tensed. “You don’t have any symptoms. We don’t know how muchtime you have left.”

“That’s my point exactly!”

“I’m sorry. I just wanted you to get better.”

“I know. I’m not mad at you.” I softened and took his hand in mine. “I’m just mad because this wasn’t how any of this was supposed to go.”

He was quiet a moment. “Are you hungry?”

“Yeah,” I lied, because I knew the baby needed all the strength they could get.

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