The air was thick, almost suffocating, as the muffled screams from inside the room echoed through the narrow hallway. The night was cold, but sweat beaded on Derrick's forehead, trickling down the side of his face as he stood rigidly by the door. Every sharp cry from within sent his heart racing, his palms damp against the fabric of his trousers. Beside him, Tomas leaned against the wall, arms crossed, his expression unbothered, even casual—almost as if the chaos behind the door was some distant affair.
Another scream ripped through the tense silence, and Derrick flinched, wiping his brow, unable to calm his rising nerves. Tomas, still as a statue, glanced over at him, an amused glint in his eyes.
The door creaked open. A woman in her late forties stepped into the hallway, her face pale, cheeks flushed, but her eyes sharp with purpose. Her graying hair was pinned back hastily, and her strong, calloused hands clutched the edge of her apron. She looked like someone who had seen both life and death too many times to be shaken by it.
Her voice was calm but firm. "I need more warm water. And another maid."
Derrick blinked, momentarily frozen by the command, before he nodded and hurried down the hall, the sound of his rapid footsteps fading quickly. The woman's gaze followed him for a second, her lips pressed into a thin line, before she turned back into the room, shutting the door behind her.
Tomas exhaled slowly, shifting slightly but still unfazed. His eyes lingered on the closed door, a faint hint of curiosity in the way he stared at the wooden barrier.
Moments later, Derrick returned, clutching a basin of steaming water in one hand and leading a nervous maid with the other. He handed the supplies to the woman, who glanced over them with a curt nod of approval before disappearing again.
The screams continued, now accompanied by urgent whispers and the sound of hurried movement. Derrick stood frozen, his breath coming in shallow bursts. Time seemed to stretch and bend under the weight of anticipation, the seconds crawling by like hours.
Then, the sound they had all been waiting for. A sharp, piercing cry.
Derrick's knees nearly buckled with relief as he released the breath he hadn't realized he was holding. His shoulders sagged, and for the first time in what felt like forever, he allowed himself to exhale fully.
A second cry followed—the unmistakable sound of new life filling the air once more.
His tired face morphed into a satisfied smile.
***
The cry of babies filled the room, it had been a full twenty-four hours since the birth of the children.
A woman who looked like she was in her late twenties sat cradling one of the babies, while she rocked the other in a baby rocker.
She was one of the two women that just gave birth while the other had left for the hospital due to some complication.
She stared intensely at her blonde-haired baby girl with so much love even as she cried.
"It's not the end, my little Lena." she said. "I'll still be here, of course." she cradled more. "I just need you to live better, okay?"
The baby stopped crying all of a sudden and stared at the woman carrying her. Then her dim eyes fluttered closed.
At that moment the fates of the babies were switched and sealed.
The room fell silent finally after a while as both the babies slept peacefully.
The woman carried the baby she craddled to a luxurious nursery and placed her gently on the baby bed before kissing her forehead.
"Good luck my Lena. This is the best I can give you for now." She said as brushed her forehead softly with her thumb. "I love you."
The woman left the room satisfied.
It was done.
***
Years later...
"Mommy." A little girl called with thick black hair wrapped in a ponytail, that bounced as she ran towards her mother who was in their small kitchen cleaning.
"I passed the exams mommy. I passed!" The little girl screamed happily as she got to her mother stood waving a paper at her.
The woman took one look at the girl and huffed not looking at her daughter. "Good for you."
The little girl looked taken aback by her response but maintained her jolly. "Look mommy, it said I got a full score, aren't you proud of me." The little girl said wearing a pride smile herself.
"Anyone can get a full score, its middle grade work. Don't get it over your head." She spat as she continued clearing the dishes in the sink.
"But mommy I worked hard on it." The little girl countered almost daringly.
"As you should. That family is pouring a lot of money unnecessarily on you for that fancy school!" She said, her voice growing louder with every single word from anger.
"Bb- but-" Her mother interrupted.
"Shut that trap of your's before I do it myself." The woman screamed once more. "It's the least you can do you ungrateful brat."
Tears fell slowly down her red cheeks.
"Now get up to your room!" She ordered.
"Mommy please be proud of me" The little girl begged, still standing near her mother in tears. "Please mommy, please." She begged more."
This only angered the woman more. "Lena go to your room!"
"Mommy I will just say you're proud. I promise I won't ask again. Please mommy." She begged even more this time tugging at her mother's dress.
"Lena Kadon go now and shut that trap of your's." The woman threatened.
"Mom. Please." The girl begged again and before she could see what happening, a plated had landed on the floor with the shards scattering all over the place and three of those shards shooting at her leg and her arm.
Blood followed.
A scream escaped the little girls mouth filling the small kitchen.
The woman stood shocked at the scene unfolding in front of her but did nothing.