An Unexpected Surprise

Chapter 2

Mare POV

6 weeks later

As I come back from training early, I slam the door shut, frustrated with myself. I have never been too tired to train, or not been able to keep up with the other electricons, but for some reason, I have felt off all week. I have been more tired than usual, not just mentally, but physically. I feel each and every ache in my body more acutely than before, and I just don't seem to have as much energy as I used to.

I was able to manage it fine so far this week, but for some reason, I just couldn't do it today. I was slow and my movements weren't nearly as sharp and quick as they needed to be. The other electricons saw it too, and started to go easy on me to make sure that I wouldn't get badly injured. I eventually pushed myself too hard, overexerting myself so badly that I felt like I could faint. Ella noticed and instructed me to sit down and watch for a bit, then Tyton suggested that I come home and get some rest. I tried to persist, but they were firm and threatened to go and tell Cal if I didn't listen, knowing full well that he would tell me the exact same thing that they did.

He got back from Norta about three weeks ago, and has been here ever since, but his work or training regime haven't slowed down, and he is still as busy as ever. At least he his here, and I still get to see him everyday when I wake up and every night when I go to sleep, curled up against his warm body.

I take a deep sigh as I throw myself down on to the couch, running my hands through my hair. My stomach churns at the motion. I have been feeling nauseous recently, but I haven't actually been sick, so I have just put it down to early symptoms for my period.

I stand up to go and grab a glass of water from the kitchen, but as I do, a wave of nausea passes through me, and I redirect my path to the bathroom, bending down over the toilet as I empty the contents of my stomach.

I sit back and lean against the wall of the bathroom, rubbing my hand over my face.

Maybe I have a stomach bug or the flu? That would explain my tiredness.

I reach up to touch my forehead, testing for a fever but I feel nothing out of the ordinary.

Not the flu then.

I continue to think of possible reasons for my symptoms in my head until a single thought sends a splinter of fear through me and makes me freeze where I am.

It can't be. We've been careful. I've taken the pill every time.

Not every time.

Dread courses through me as the realization strikes. When I was in Norta a few weeks ago, my final night there, I forgot to take the pill afterward. I was rushing to get to my flight on time, and never took it.

I try to tell myself that it is just a coincidence, that this is just a scare, and that I will wake up and feel perfectly fine tomorrow and everything will go back to normal. But I still have this lurking feeling deep down that my suspicions are correct.

My breathing starts to get heavier as I realize what this means. My thoughts start to spin, thinking of all of the possible scenarios before I stop myself. There is no use stressing over this if I don't know for sure. For all I know, I could have eaten something that I shouldn't have or gotten overheated during training.

But I have to know. I have to know for certain, one way or another.

And there is only one way to find out. Gathering up my courage, I stand up, grab a quick glass of water from the kitchen, then leave the house, heading to the hospital.