The Runner Records

5th Chapter

"The baby's coming now?" Donovan asked, sounding a little panicked himself. All Petra did to answer was nod and hold her baby bump in obvious discomfort.

"We need to get her to the hospital, now." Rina said, always being the voice of reason. But Donovan shook his head.

"No, we can't do that." He said as he quickly crossed the room and held his wife's hand. "If someone high up in the corporations thought I was a threat, then they can't find out I have a child. Or a wife. It would only endanger my family and I can't risk that."

"So what do you suggest then? Do you know how to deliver a baby?" I asked, wondering if I sounded as panicked as I felt. It was obvious that Donovan and Petra were good people, they've really helped the Runners out. We couldn't just do nothing and let them figure out what to do. Well, it turns out that Ray could.

"Oh no, I came here to ransack the house and then leave. That's all. I cannot deal with a birth. You're on your own." He declared as he turned and left the room. But it's not like we needed him anyway.

"Rina, how much do you know about delivering a baby?" Donovan asked and we all turned to her.

"Um, not much." She answered looking a little frightened. I don't know why, but someone giving birth is somehow scarier than all the K-Sec guards I've ever fought. "I mean, I know about as much as anyone does about birth. But not enough to really know what's happening."

"Alright, that's fine. Just do want I tell you to." Donovan said as he started hurrying around the house. "Cade, grab as many blankets as you can from the closet over there," he pointed at a door in the corner of the room. "and Rina do anything you can to make Petra more comfortable."

"Wait, we're going to deliver the baby? Here? That's the plan?!" I asked, already pulling as many blankets as I could hold from out of the closet. Donovan ran out to kitchen and came back with a bottle of water, which he passed to Rina.

I heard somewhere that giving birth is one of the most painful things anyone can experience. And Petra's face confirmed that. Her brown eyes were shut in pain and her usual tan skin was pale, making the freckles on her face stand out.

"I don't see any other option," Donovan explained as he rushed around the room, bringing anything he though Petra would need. Water, blankets, towels, and pillows. I couldn't think of anything else she might need, but Donovan kept rushing around. Rina was sitting next to Petra on her bed holding her hand and trying to calm her down. But Petra was the opposite of calm. And I think I was freaking her out.

"Don!" She screamed. "Get this boy out of here! I don't want some random kid seeing my baby be born!" Everyone turned to me and I guess no one really saw any need for me to be here.

"Cade, maybe you should go." Donovan told me. "I think Rina and I can do this." I looked at Rina and her face said the same.

"Go make sure Ray isn't stealing something or anything." She told me and turned her attention back to Petra. I couldn't think of any argument, so I just turned on my heel and walked out the door, careful to close it quietly. I didn't realize I was making Petra so uncomfortable.

When I looked around the living room, Ray wasn't trying to steal anything. He was just sitting on the couch, going through something on a data pad.

"You'd rather be out here doing whatever you're doing than help a pregnant lady give birth?" I asked him making sure my judgement was in my tone.

"They kick you out or something?" He replied without even taking his eyes off the data pad. i rolled my eyes, but I knew he couldn't see it.

"Turns out Petra wasn't crazy about me watching her give birth." I told him as I sat down on the couch next to him. He didn't say anything and for a couple of moments all we could hear was the sound of Petra's painful cries. God, giving birth must be hell. Eventually, I decided to try and start a conversation with Ray.