Death's Exception

Chapter Twenty-Five

My stomach growls, and I wrap my arms around my stomach. It has been a day since Dr. Thorn had ordered Mr. Trout to get me food. He did not obey, and I am sitting on this cold ground, starving. I let out a grown, and lay staring at the ceiling. Titus is probably worried sick about me. But I trust Carter to the right thing. I trust him to hold Titus to his moral. Because though the heart is much more pleasant, it is foolish, and blind. I rub my face, and let out a sob. As much as I want Carter to keep Titus from putting himself and Molly in danger, I really want to see him. I really want him to hold me.

The door opens slowly, and a delightful smell of food follows it. It is a woman I have never seen before. She is young, maybe in her twenties. She is very pregnant, and her curly blonde hair is pulled up into a bun over her head, a couple strands straying to fall in her face. She has lovely dark blue eyes, and a face full of freckles. She lays a tray of food in front of me, and backs away quickly. I assume she thinks me a monster in the same way that most of the world does. I smile to seem welcoming, but she only backs up more. I frown, and look down at the tray. Is it really worth it? Trying to convince the world that I am not a monster? It is a big bowl of lentil soup, a piece of bread, and a tall glass of water.

"Thank you." I say stiffly. She nods, and turns to go out of the door, "Wait," She freezes, her muscles tensing. "When are you due?" She turns around, and looks down at her bulging stomach.

"Febuary 21," I stand, and a look of panic fills her eyes.

"Oh, so soon! Is it a boy or a girl?" She backs up against the wall, terrified of me. I look down at my bare feet, hating myself silently.

"We are waiting for it to be a surprise." I nod towards the door.

"You can leave. I didn't mean to pry," She looks at me curiously. I smile a bit.

"My name is Kate." I look up, surprised. She eases towards the bench, and sits down. I wince as I watch her act out of kindness despite her fear. I feel her pity in my bones, and I don't know whether to be grateful or furious at it. I sit beside her.

"I am Rory. Rory Destiel." She purses her lips together.

"My father is insistant on calling you Aurora."

"Your father is Dr. Thorn?" She grins, slowly trusting me with her personality.

"Yes, that is him. He told me to take you food, because he suspected that Mr. Trout did not listen to him." She rubs her stomach, as most pregnant women do. Protecting the human being that they spend so much time growing, and taking care of. How much love they hold for the unborn is beautiful.

"He was correct," I say, still staring at her stomach. She laughs gently.

"Would you like to feel it kick?" I look up at her, suddenly feeling bashful. I nod my head a bit, and she places my hand on her stomach. I tense my arm, in case I should take it away from her immediately. I didn't want to harm it.

"I feel it." A girlish tone rings through my voice, and Kate laughs and touches my cheek. I tense at her touch.

"You are not a monster. Only those who don't know you would doubt your humanity."

"Ms. Kate, you bes' leave. I have some business to take care of." I look up and see Mr. Trout standing by the door. My stomach churns with fear. Kate stands defiantly.

"If you hurt her, I will tell my father." Mr. Trout mock bows, and she leaves. I wish she hadn't left me with this man. This terrible man. I feel my body go rigid as he steps toward me. He smells of rotten fish, and alcohol. I bite back a gag. He grabs my hair, and yanks it towards him. I bite my tongue to keep from screaming.

"My daugh'er hasn't come yet, monster. Do not make me threaten you!" I clench my jaw, and stare into his dark brown eyes.

"I have no idea where they are! How do you expect me to beckon them from this little room, idiot?" He elbows me in the face, and I slam against the wall. I grit my teeth. My right eye is now swollen shut.

"DO NOT INSULT ME AGAIN," I wince, and shrink closer to the wall in fear. "I love my Molly. I do. She is all I have left of my wife." He sneers and backs away from me. Guilt tugs at my heart.

"You do a terrible job of showing it! She thinks you hate her." A glimpse of horror flashes across his face, but he drives it away almost immediately.

"She will be here by tomorrow. Or I will contact the police." I shake my head, as he slams the door behind him. I feel my stomach churning. I don't know what to do. Do I want Titus to bring Molly back? What is the right thing to do? I can only imagine the fear that Titus must be feeling. Sometimes the right path is the muddiest path there is.

I inch to my tray, my head aching, and my eye unable to open. I feel my heart beg for some kind of comfort. I want Kate, or Dr. Thorn to come back. I feel so human around them. My feelings always take from those around me. I am no longer able to be my own person. I am either Titus' love, the Demon's monster, Mr. Trout's kidnapper, Dr. Thorn's dawn, Kate's mistreated little girl, Molly's friend, or Carter's adventure.

The right path is muddy, because my personality is the same.