Rei trotted along the dark path, the forest was still and quiet but the sound of crickets
resounded into the darkness. Suddenly a bolt of lightning strikes bringing along with it a
terrifying thunder and as big drops of rain descended from the sky it soon began to pour,
tired and fatigued she sits under a huge tree and leans on it, drops of rain fall on her face
and roll down along with the tears she had been holding in for a long time. Drenched and
spent she places her cold hands on her belly while holding onto her trembling self.
"My precious, what are we going to do now?"
She looks around only to find darkness everywhere, nothing could be made out, and
suddenly she felt like she was being pulled into the abyss. The pitch black forest and the
loud sounds of the crickets cut through her brain like a jab of hundred needles
simultaneously, she held onto her head feeling nauseous and dizzy making her throw up .
Panting she held onto the tree trunk for support and lifts herself up, "I need to hurry and
find a safe place".
Saying this she trots into the darkness. After walking for what almost seemed like hours
she sees a faint ray of light far off ahead, this gives her some courage and strength to go on.
She finally reaches the source of light and finds herself standing in front of a huge wooden
gate and she barely manages to bang on it before blacking out and the last thing she saw
was a blurred image of a person opening the gate before her eyes closed.
Rei opened her eyes weakly but quickly closed it again as the bright light stung her eyes,
she slowly opens them again and manages to adjust her eyes to the bright light. The rain
seemed to have stopped a little. She looks around to find herself in a room with brick walls
painted red and the wooden floor looked rough and damp. 'what is this place' she thinks,
then it finally sets in that she had passed out in front of a huge gate, soon her thoughts shift
towards the incident in the forest, 'what did he mean …Lady Rowena..Why would she...What
did he mean she would keep the Gai…company…What's going on...I don't get it' a throbbing
sensation shoots through her head, she holds onto her head in pain.
"Ah I see you've woken up... are you alright dear?" a gentle voice caught Rei's attention, she
looked over to see an old lady clad in a dark blue robe, her white hair seemed to look silver
against the light, her kind face and a warm smile was all Rei could make out as everything
around her began to blur.
''What were you doing alone in this part of the forest, dear?'', the old lady's voice echoed in
her brain, Rei blinked weakly trying to answer but before she could open her mouth to
speak the old lady tells her to rest then leaves the room. Rei closed her eyes and lets sleep
take over her. Rei had barely dozed off when a surge of pain shot through her stomach. She
let out a blood-curdling scream and along with it came a flash of lightning and roaring
thunder bringing down heavy rainfall again. As another surge of pain shot through her she
screamed again breathing heavily. The old lady accompanied by an old man hurries into the
room. Rei could barely form the words she wanted to say but in soft whispers she says, "I
...I think...my wa-water..b-br..oke..".
The old lady quickly motions to the old man, "Go and get a bowl of warm water and lots of
towels, hurry!!"
The old man quickly hurried out to do as he was told meanwhile the old woman rushed to
Rei's side and began wiping her forehead with a piece of cloth that was lying on the table.
Wiping her forehead she asks, "What is your name dear?"
"Huh? My name?" Rei replied weakly then taking a deep breath she tells her name to the
old lady.
"Okay Rei, relax and take deep breaths" the lady says, "It's time for your delivery so calm
down" she gives out a smile while continuing to wipe off the sweat of Rei's pale face. Rei
could only manage to nod her head while trying to maintain her composure. A few seconds
later the old man hurried into the room with the required items. The old woman quickly
lifted the sheets off Rei's fragile body, placing towels under her legs she continues "now,
calm down and push with all your strength"
"I ... I cannot…my stomach hurts..." she responds quivering as tears form at the corner of
her eyes.
"You must dear or both you and this child could be in danger, don't fret everything will be
fine" she reassures her.
Rei knew she had to give her all so she gathered all her strength and kept pushing out
gradually in between deep breaths. The lady quickly began to get the baby out with the old
man assisting her with the delivery. After minutes of labor and agony the baby was
delivered.
"Congratulations!! It's a baby girl" cutting the chord the old lady lifts up the blood covered
baby and smiles but soon her smile disappeared and was replaced with worry, her thick
white eyebrows furrowed and she let out a gasp nodding her head and whispering 'no' over
and over.
"What's the matter? Why...Why do you have such an expression?" Rei expresses concern
her voiced laced with worry and anxiety.
"The baby...it's not making a sound, it's pulse is too weak and her breathing is irregular",
wrinkly aged hands held onto the baby wrapping a towel around the blood stained frail
body, she carries on speaking "at this rate, it's impossible to save the little one" her droopy
eyes reflected sorrow at her own words.
Rei slumps dejected on hearing those words "What do you mean?!" her breath hitched in
her throat as tears began to well up ready to flow any second. The tired elder gave an
apologetic look at Rei who looked like she would break down into pieces.
"No..." she almost choked "No...No...this...can't be…I can't let her die…no...no…my baby" the tears that had welled up broke out at once. Unable to see such a sight the old assistant who watched the
proceedings went over to the lady and whispered into her ear, her droopy eyes widened in
an instant and she immediately shook her head as if like a robot, "Remus!! No it's too
dangerous...It has never been done before..."
"Joletta, I know but the baby is dying" the old man whose name was Remus spoke out
trying to be reasonable.
"We have no knowledge of its consequences, we cannot take chances" Joletta the old lady
retaliates placing the baby on the bed beside Rei.
"What is it?! What did he say?" Rei questions Joletta.
"Put it out of your mind Rei, it is too risky and I don't thi-"
"I DEMAND TO KNOW!!" Rei cuts her off, she then lowers her head and in a pleading tone
she continues "I beg you, please tell me…please help me" she lifts her baby into her arms
embracing it. "I …I don't care how dangerous...but please...don't let my baby die..."
Joletta glares at Remus who avoids her gaze instantly, knowing that she had no other
choice but to go on with it she lets out a sigh and says, "There is a way to save this child"
On hearing this glimmer of hope reflects in the dejected mother's eyes "So...there is a
way...right?"
"Yes there is... But" Joletta's face hardens "you should know that it's not a safe process and
even if it succeeded there is no guarantee that it will not be troublesome in the future...so
reconsider your decision Rei"
Rei takes a deep breath as a memory of her beloved husband flashes across her mind.
"Rei will it be a boy or a girl?" a man on his knees says placing his ear over her belly. She
giggles softly gently caressing his head "Dear I'm not quite sure we have to wait and see".
The man looks up at her and smiles, "I hope it's a girl just like you" saying this he stands up
and holds her in his embrace. "This baby is a sign of our love, I love you my wife and I love
our baby as well, together we shall protect it".
His words echoed in her head as she closed her eyes she says to herself 'yes, my love we
shall protect it'.
Saying this she opens her eyes and with a firm resolve she utters the words she always did,
"I will do anything to protect her...I will do it no matter the consequences".