Mommy

Chapter 53: Rosabeth

He noticed my confused expression and laughed, walking slowly up the stairs.

"What're you staring at kiddo?"

I opened my mouth to say something, but nothing came out. The sadness quickly filled my lungs as I realized I couldn't speak anymore. But he knew what I was trying to say, and chuckled, readjusting his hold on me.

"Do you remember that large piece of wood we passed—it was sticking out of the ground?" I nodded, realizing that was how he got across the water. But that didn't explain how he got past the Babysitter. I didn't understand why he still had his eyes if he turned back.

He looked down towards his chest, showing where his bloody blindfold from earlier was. Where the blindfold he slipped on his face before I thought he turned back to death before. He chuckled, noticing my bewildered expression.

"The Babysitter wants your eyes, and she can't get to them if you're wearing a blindfold. Besides, our torches went out and I would have to feel around it darkness for the piece of wood to get across anyways. The Babysitter was able to follow me and get close, but she couldn't do a thing when I had my blindfold on."

He winked at me, as though he was proud of his idea, and I softly laughed, wincing as my chest began to hurt. I was in pain all over, and the wounds on my legs and the bottom of my feet would get infected with the dirt covering them if I didn't wash it off. I winced as his grip tightened on me.

Kai walked next to us, behind Anna. Anna was struggling more than usual to get up the stairs, holding her stomach in pain. Her breathing was heavy, and I began to worry about her. Kai tapped on my arm, whispered my name. I looked down at him from Carson's height, raising an eyebrow.

"What happened?" He asked, pointing down to my legs and feet. Carson looked down at him, shaking his head. "Not now. We'll explain it in a bit when we are back in the room and Harper is all cleaned up and rested. She went through a lot—by herself."

Carson didn't seem to have any scratches or wounds anywhere on him except for the cut across the bridge of his nose from earlier, and the small holes no longer leaking blood from his feet. He seemed fine, as though he didn't struggle at all. But I could see his eyes glance off to the side and his face fog up with memories, and I knew he experienced something. Something in number three...

I gasped painfully as I remembered what Alex said, how he hinted he might be alive. I had to tell them...I had to tell Anna. She would be much happier if she knew what I knew-- if she figured out what happened in number three.

But when I looked up to her on the stairway, I could see her frozen in shock, staring straight ahead. She was holding her stomach, her arms shaking in horror. Something that resembled water poured from in between her legs, dripping down the stairs towards us. She whimpered.

Carson didn't think twice as he set me on the ground, running towards Anna. She was crying and her eyes were squeezed shut in pain. "Anna! Anna!... Can you hear me--Anna?" She grabbed onto his arm, shivering in agony. She looked like she was struggling to breathe.

"Carson...ah...the baby--it's coming--"

Before she could even finish her sentence, Carson scooped her up, running to the bedroom. I stumbled up the stairs, along with Kai. My legs ached and my feet burned, but I didn't care. Anna was having her baby.

I ran into the room to see that Anna was laying on the bed, light red watery liquid soaking she sheets. She groaned in pain, clenching onto the bed for dear life. She looked our way and hissed, gritting her teeth. "Get them out--please! They can't be here...Carson, help!"

Carson shooed us out of the room, leaving us waiting in the hall. Kai's face was pale as he stared blankly at the door. "Is Anna...having her baby?" I nodded, shaking in fear for her. I hoped and prayed with every ounce of my being that both the baby and Anna would be okay. I was scared for her, as though the baby was my own.

Kai began to cry in fear, so I led him up the stairs into the attic. We hid in the tunnel, listening to Anna's screams in pain and moments of silence in between. Kai covered his ears, but I couldn't get myself to. I had to know that Anna was still alive--and her call out in pain was the only way I knew.

This went on for hours and hours, up until the sun was once again rising and shining through the small, dusty window. And suddenly, everything stopped. I waited a few minutes to see if I could hear anything again, but I heard nothing. The worst possible situations ran through my mind.

What if Anna died during labor? What if Mommy went upstairs and found them--and the child? What if the baby died?

I began to grow dizzy, fear swallowing me up. No, Anna couldn't have died. Just hours after I almost died saving her life--no, that can't be true.

I crawled out of the tunnel, Kai following me. I began to feel sick as I painfully walked down the stairs. I didn't want to see Anna dead, or her child either. I didn't want to believe that they had both passed away. They couldn't have--that can't happen.

I swallowed in fear as I stood next to the door, listening closely. I heard nothing.

I was about to believe they were dead, to believe they actually were gone until I heard it. A small, soft cry from a child--a newborn, and a gentle, feminine hush. I gasped in relief. Anna, Anna's child--they were alive.

Before I could enter, Carson opened the door--his hands covered in blood and the watery liquid stuff, He looked sick, and he ran past us into the bathroom. I could hear him turn the bathwater on, and I could hear him violently get rid of the remains in his stomach. I felt bad for him, he had to be the one to deliver the child.

Anna was on her bed, holding the child in the blood-stained sheets. Her face was red, and she looked as though she had been crying. But a smile was on her face, and she looked happy.

"It's a girl," she laughed. "I didn't expect that."

I wasn't the least bit surprised. In number three...it was a girl. Maybe it was a sign. Maybe some things there happened here too. She kissed the child's cheek, the baby girl yawning and breaking into another fit of tears. Anna hushed her with ease, smiling as more tears ran down her face. "I wish Alex was here to see her."

I thought about telling her what Alex from number three told me. How those simple words led me to believe he was still alive. But I felt now wasn't the time. She was exhausted and aching, and I'm sure she wouldn't want to be getting stressed over something at this time. I'll tell her later, when she's healed.

The baby was red, and it's skin was bloody and wet, but it was healthy. It was the most beautiful thing I have ever seen. Anna smiled, pushing the baby's full head of hair out of her face.

"Her name...her name is Rosabeth."