Page 69 of Pain and Possession

"I love you little doll."

And suddenly it's like none of them exist at all.

"I love you too."

Chapter sixteen

Pain

Ilookupfromthe register watching my table of old lady's whisper to each other. Probably gossiping about the intimidating man and woman sitting in the back corner. Choosing the same location Noè did the night he came in. Rem's eyes meet mine, giving me a brief scowl before turning back to nurse the unsweet tea she's been working on for the past hour, which is mostly water now. Liner on the other hand is on his fifth cup of coffee and bouncing his leg like he's been holding his pee. An incoming call makes my phone vibrate loudly against the worn surface of the server's station. I quickly snatch it up hitting answer. Frank gives me a weird look, probably confused by pretty much everything going on with me today.

"Go on, I'll cover you." He grumbles before casting my followers another odd glance. I know despite my reassurances, he's worried about me. Concerned I've gotten myself into trouble, and I suppose I have. Only now I'm a willing participant. Not sure if that's better or worse.

"Hello?" I answer a little too urgently, my heart hammering in my chest as I dash out the back door into the alley. I didn't realize how late it had gotten; the setting sun reflects off the puddles of rainwater on the broken-up pavement.

"Hi Olive. It's Dr. Nelson with the test results, do you have a moment to speak?" I nod my head, clenching my hand tightly around my phone before I remember he can't fucking see me.

"Y-yes." I stammer.

"Good, your blood tests look fine. Your iron is a little low, but I already have a prescription bundle ready for you at the pharmacy Mr. Arcuri uses."

I don't fucking care about any of this.

"Miss- Olive, we tested with your urine and blood, you are in fact pregnant. Based on what we know about your last cycle I'd guess a little over a month along. Now you'll need to…" My throat feels like it's closing up on me, my lungs not drawing in nearly enough air.

That doesn't make sense, I would've had to… gotten pregnant around the first time we were together. Like the very first time. God, I've drank so much since then.

He keeps talking but I can't make out any of the words he says. It all sounds just like jumbled garbage in my ears. I let the back door I had been clinging to fall back in place, the automatic lock signaling I'll have to walk around the full line of buildings. My head feels light as I press my back into the alley wall beside the door as the sprinkle of rain putters on my forehead.

Jesus…

"Olive are you there?"

I clear my throat before replying, "Yes sorry."

"I understand this isn't the news you wanted, there are options for you. I suggest you talk it over with Mr. Arcuri, I'll forward your results to his email-“

What?

"No!"

He pauses, "Olive normally I would never but I was given explicit instructions by Mr. Arcuri-“

"Please, Marcus." I beg, tears threatening my eyes. A bit of wild anticipation slams into me, "I want to tell him."

Do you? What options do you really have?

"Take a deep breath for me. I can hear you hyperventilating."

I do or at least try to as I slide down the wall, my ass hitting the pavement. Normally I would try to save the integrity of pants worth more than my life but all that seems kinda silly now. I take another deep breath.

I'm pregnant.

With a child.

An actual baby.

That's inside me.

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