Ten Minutes Ago

Prologue

"On the 12th hour of the first day of October in 1989, 43 women around the world gave birth. This was unusual only in the fact that none of these women had been pregnant when the day first began. Sir Reginald Hargreeves, eccentric billionaire and adventurer, resolved to locate and adopt as many of the children as possible."

He got seven of them. He would have gotten eight, but a newly married couple opted not to sell their child.

October 1, 1989

Angie and Roger Hughes were sitting having breakfast. The couple had only been married a week and were enjoying their newly joined union. Eventually the two planned to have children, but they'd decided to wait for a little while before seriously trying.

Angie suddenly let out a pained gasp.

Roger instantly looked up from his newspaper. "Honey? What is it?"

The two watched in a mix of awe and horror as Angie's stomach grew from flat to that of carrying a nine month baby.

"Rog, I think we need to get to the hospital," she said before letting out another pained gasp.

"Right." Roger quickly stood, knocking his chair to the ground.

He grabbed his and his wife's shoes and her coat.

As he was about to leave, Angie said, "My water broke."

"How much time do we have?"

Angie, who was a doctor, shook her head. "We're not going to make it to the hospital." She groaned. "This baby is coming right now."

Roger laid his wife down on the floor and lifted her skirt. "I see the head. What do I do?"

With some instruction from Angie, Roger delivered the baby.

He smiled, holding the baby so his wife could see. "Darling, we have a little girl."

Angie took the little girl and held her to her chest. "Hello, little one."

A knock sounded on the door and the couple exchanged a confused look.

Roger opened the door to see a man in a nice coat wearing a monocle. "Can I help you?"

The man pointed to the baby. "That child. When was it born?"

"She was born today."

"And was your wife pregnant before this day?"

"Well, no, but-"

"How much?"

"How much for what?"

"How much for the child? I am willing to offer a great sum of money. That child is far from ordinary."

"She's not for sale."

"She will grow up with other such children like her in a school I am creating."

Angie clumsily stood and held her daughter close to her chest. "Guinevere Hughes is not for sale. If you don't leave right now, the police will be called. Good day, sir."

Sir Reginald tipped his hat and left the house.

Roger moved closer to his wife and kissed Guinevere's head. "Mommy and I will keep you safe, little girl."