A Ruin Of Roses (Used to be: My Mysterious Husband)

THIRTY-TWO

𝚄𝚗𝚔𝚗𝚘𝚠𝚗, 𝚄𝚗𝚔𝚗𝚘𝚠𝚗, 𝟷𝟸:𝟺𝟸 𝙿.𝙼 𝙰𝚄𝙶 𝟷𝟶𝚝𝚑 𝟸𝟶𝟷𝟾
[𝙿.𝙾.𝚅 𝚁𝙾𝚂𝙴]

As I stand by the boarded window, my senses are on high alert. I strain to listen, hoping to gather any clues about our whereabouts. The room remains eerily silent, with no discernible sounds or signs of life outside. I'm well aware of my current predicament, feeling utterly helpless as I have no way to assist Jaxon in his search for us.

The room we're in is dimly lit, and the walls are covered in rough wooden planks, giving it an ominous, prison-like atmosphere. It's hard to determine whether it's day or night from the feeble light filtering through the boarded-up window. The uncertainty gnaws at me, and my heart races with a mixture of fear and determination.

Just as I'm lost in my thoughts, Emily enters the room. Her demeanor is unsettling; her eyes are clouded and vacant, and her face is flushed as if she'd been crying or had suffered some kind of physical altercation. She motions for me to sit down, and I follow her instructions, my curiosity piqued despite my unease.

"Time for a check-up," Emily murmurs softly, her voice laced with an air of detachment. It's clear that she's merely carrying out orders and doesn't have much say in the matter. I sit down on a nearby chair, my heart pounding in my chest.

As Emily prepares to conduct the check-up, her hands move with a mechanical precision. She takes my blood pressure and listens to the baby's heartbeat with a stethoscope, her professional training evident. The baby, at 18 weeks, has a strong and steady heartbeat, providing a momentary sense of relief amid the chaos and uncertainty.

Afterward, Emily performs an ultrasound, carefully applying gel to my abdomen before running the transducer over it. The monitor displays a grainy but moving image of the baby. I watch in awe as I see the tiny form, its features slowly becoming recognizable. Tears well up in my eyes as I catch a glimpse of the life growing inside me, a beacon of hope in the midst of darkness.

As the check-up progresses, Emily also takes a moment to check my overall well-being, asking about any discomfort or complications. Her professional demeanor contrasts sharply with her emotional fragility, making the situation all the more unnerving.

Throughout the procedure, my mind races with a million questions and concerns. I'm not just responsible for my own safety; I'm also carrying a life within me. The thought of Jayden and the unknown dangers he might be facing weighs heavily on my mind.

𝙻𝚘𝚜 𝙰𝚗𝚐𝚎𝚕𝚎𝚜, 𝙲𝚊𝚕𝚒𝚏𝚘𝚛𝚗𝚒𝚊, 𝟷𝟸:𝟺𝟸 𝙿.𝙼 𝙰𝚄𝙶 𝟷𝟶𝚝𝚑 𝟸𝟶𝟷𝟾
[𝙿.𝙾.𝚅 𝙹𝙰𝚇𝙾𝙽]

I scan the surroundings, my eyes darting from one traffic camera feed to another, in the hopes of catching any sign of John's gang. The situation is tense, and their hidden presence adds to the sense of unease. Despite the lack of any immediate leads, I can't shake the feeling that they're lurking nearby, keeping themselves well-concealed.

Colby and his group have departed, leaving me to my own devices. The silence of the room is broken only by the occasional hum of the traffic cameras and the distant sounds of the outside world. The lack of movement and activity in the area only deepens my suspicion that they are intentionally lying low.

My thoughts drift to Rose, and my heart aches with the desire to be reunited with her. I know that today marks her eighteenth week of pregnancy because I've been diligently counting the days from the moment we first slept together. The baby's image on the ultrasound serves as a poignant reminder of the life we're both fighting for.

With a soft sigh, I trace a single finger over the ultrasound image, my touch gentle and full of tenderness. "I'll save you," I whisper, as if speaking directly to the tiny life growing inside Rose. "And then we can run away, the four of us together."

I close my eyes briefly, imagining a future where we can be a family, free from the looming threats and danger that surround us. "I'd give up everything for you, Rose," I murmur, my voice filled with unwavering determination and love. "Just stay strong."

In this moment of solitude, my resolve is fortified, and my determination to rescue Rose and protect our children burns even brighter. I know I'll stop at nothing to reunite with her and ensure our family's safety, no matter what challenges lie ahead.