A Slender Child

Chapter Thirteen

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

Pain.

Pain was blinding white and smelled like rubbing alcohol and sterilizers. Pain was beeping monitors and IV needles in my arms. Pain was a convulsing mass and a suffocating pressure concentrated in my belly.

Before today, I thought I knew pain, but this... this was unlike anything I'd ever experienced before.

My room was plain and uninteresting. The bright whites that screamed 'hospital' were the only elements of the color scheme besides a pale green strip that ran halfway up the wall, parallel to the floor. I focused on a spot on the white tile ceiling above me, trying to block out everything else - the pain, the nurses, Slendy pacing back and forth in front of the window in my little room.

Another contraction hit me like a wrecking ball and I moaned, causing Slendy to appear at my side in a heartbeat. He looked so peculiar - the cowl of his black hoody did a good job of keeping his face in the shadows. His sunglasses glinted beneath, effectively hiding his blank eyes. The tension radiated off of his body in waves, and I could tell he was frightened.

He grabbed my hand and I squeezed tightly. "Be strong, my Sky," he encouraged me. He gently brushed the hair from my sweat soaked forehead.

The nurse and the doctor were having a hushed discussion over by the door, and while I couldn't distinguish the exact words, I sensed an urgent tone in their voices. Apparently Slendy heard their tone too.

"Is something wrong?" he asked them without leaving my side.

The two women looked up. "Um," the younger of the two - a pretty blonde nurse - looked like she didn't know what to say.

The doctor, a middle aged brunet, put a smile on her face as she walked towards us, but the skin around her eyes were tight, giving away that she was actually a bit concerned. "Well, as we were just discussing, it appears, Ms. Steele, that you have gone into what is called 'prolonged labor,'" she informed us.

I blanched and Slendy went ridged. "What does that mean?" he asked tersely.

"Ms. Steele's been in labor for twenty hours now. At this point it starts to become a concern that she may not be able to deliver the baby on her own," she explained.

I groaned. 'No, no, no! I wanted to do this myself!'

The doctor continued, speaking to me. "We'd like to administer a medicine to you called oxytocin that will strengthen your contractions. If that doesn't work, then we'll have to prep you for a C-section."

"No C-section," I mumbled. I was so tired...

"Sky, listen to the doctor," Slendy commanded.

"I wanna push it out myself," I insisted weakly.

"I know Ms. Steele. Hopefully the oxytocin will work and the baby won't have to be delivered by C-section," the nurse said as she prepared to administer the meds. "If you can, it would probably be a good idea to get a little rest now."

I nodded, more than willing to give into sleep right now. 'Yes. Medicine. Rest. No C-section...' My eye lids slowly drooped closed and I felt Slendy gently kiss each closed lid.

"Rest my little one. Don't worry, I will protect you," he murmured softly.

I chuckled weakly. "Protect me from what exactly?" I asked.

"Everything."

There was a small smile on my face as I let sleep over take me...

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