cradle of life (the forsaken #2) [WangXian FF]

1

Jane Monroe was jogging as usual in the park near her house. She was a beautiful, athletic girl, who jogged daily at the same exact time and same exact place, rain or shine, like a clockwork. 

The park was beautiful, with a natural lake on the south side, which was the way she preferred to jog since there were not many people there to disturb her. She needed to be ready for her next triathlon competition next week since it was the ticket for her to get an athletic scholarship to college. 

She was head to head with another girl in her class, but she was confident she could beat her previous record this time, and by extension–Layla, her competitor. Her grandmother would be so proud of her if she could get the scholarship. It was basically a guarantee that she would be sponsored full time until she graduated. Of course she still had to work part time for her living expenses, but it would be a lot easier if she only needed to work in one place rather than three.

Ever since her parents died in an accident, she lived with her grandmother, who always encouraged her to do what she wanted to, as long as she was happy. And she was grateful for that. This scholarship would help ease her grandma's worry too, that's why she had to get it.

She was halfway into her time when she saw a woman approaching her from the opposite side. She wore a pair of tights and a sport's bra, her body was exquisite, and she was carrying a three-legged sports baby stroller. Jane saw her a few times before and they nodded at each other for their third meeting. But this time Jane took a peek inside the stroller and she stopped.

"Wow, your baby is so cute!" 

Jane rarely approached strangers, especially when she was jogging alone like this. But she lowered her guard when she saw a familiar face and a cute baby gurgling at her. The baby was making spit bubbles and then giggled at Jane, making her coo at him.

"Thank you." The mother replied with a beam in her face. "He is a good baby, never troubles anyone." She wiped the spit and the baby giggled again. "My name is Marie, I think I saw you a couple of times before. Do you live around here?" The mother offered her hand to Jane, which Jane took. 

"Yes, I do, I live with my elderly grandma near campus." She smiled, but then she felt the sting on her palm and she retracted her hand quickly. "Ouch!" Jane saw that there was a red, bleeding mark on her palm. "What was that?" She wiped the blood and looked at the other woman suspiciously.

"Oh my god, I am so sorry, I think my ring just snagged your hand. May I see it?" Marie took Jane's hand and examined it, when suddenly Jane felt her knees lose their strength and fell into Marie's embrace. She tried to speak but somehow she could not form a word. She started to panic but now she could not move at all, and all she could do was look at Marie with her big, teary eyes.

Help, please help!

Marie closed her eyes and kneaded her eyes, then out of nowhere, a man appeared behind her. He looked at the incapacitated Jane, and then he held Marie tight and kissed her hair.

"I know it's hard for you, but think about Max. We did this all for him." He had this hardness within his eyes, and he looked at Jane with some kind of sadness in his eyes. "I'm sorry for what we're about to do. I know God will punish us for all that we've done, but we have no choice." He gritted his teeth as he stood up and carried Jane easily in his arms.

He walked to the direction of the lake, entered the body of the water halfway, and stopped short before they fully submerged, to say a prayer.

"Our Lord who arts in Heaven, I know You may not forgive us sinners, but at least deliver Max from evil."

And with those last word, he let go of Jane.

He saw how scared the young woman was, but he had no choice. It's either her, or Max. He then walked back to the shore, to the direction of the sobbing Marie who cradled the crying child in her arms tightly.

"It's done." He hugged both his wife and son. "Three done, four more to go."