Page 69 of Second Draft

Pain.

Pain.

That’s all there is, blinding and paralyzing.

When I finally can catch my breath, I reach between my legs, then pull my fingers back.

Blood.

Thick and red, it runs heavily down my legs, staining the pink pajama bottoms I’m wearing, and begins pooling at my feet.

No. No. No.

This can’t be happening.

A strangled sound comes from my throat.

“Oh my God, Layla.” Travis’ hands are on me now, and I try to push him away. “Shit. I didn’t mean to hurt you.”

“Call. Carter. Please.”

“Okay. Just sit down.” He takes my elbow and helps me down to the floor, hovering over me like he doesn’t know what to do.

Another stab of pain that feels like my stomach is being shredded from the inside causes me to gasp, and my vision to darken.

“Call him,” I cry.

“Okay.”

I lay down on the floor, pressing my cheek against the cool wood. Nausea rolls over me, mixing with the sense of impending doom. It’s a strange feeling. Fear and panic begin to fade, replaced by a sense of detachment. Like I’m floating somewhere on the edge of consciousness.

Stay awake, Layla. I bite my lip hard, tasting blood, anything to keep from fading into the emptiness that threatens to consume me.

“He’s not answering.” Panic edges Travis’ voice.

I can feel myself losing consciousness. I blink and my vision goes blurry. One black spot appeared, followed by another.

I can’t lose this baby.

“What do I do?” Travis is kneeling beside me, blue eyes now sober, but so full of alarm that he seems frozen to doing anything.

“Call…911,” I choke out, struggling to stay conscious.

I’m going to die. I can feel it – death. A cold darkness that presses in, ready to take me. Blackness swims through my sight, sucking me under, until it’s all I know.

Chapter 26

Carter

I couldn’t go to New York. Something in the back of my mind warned me not to. And the minute I pull up to the house, I know I was right listening to that voice inside my head.

The front door is slightly ajar, but the house is dark.

I flip on the hallway light and my heart stops.

Fresh blood stains the hardwood. And it seems to be everywhere.

No.

---