Serena woke up in excruciating pain. Her eyes needed a second to focus on what was happening in front of her: Alice was gouging a long worm from inside Lancey's eye socket while Henry was cutting the barely healed skin from his amputated leg. The torture the man was going through was so much to bear, that he passed out and started to have seizures. As white foam was forming at the edges of his mouth, Alice shoved her fingers inside his mouth, holding his tongue so he wouldn't choke on it.
Serena looked at herself. Her stomach was sewed up and she was covered in blood. A similar worm was trying to make its way under Serena's stitches. The creature was splurging a yellow substance that was slowly burning Serena's flesh. The woman let out a horrifying yell, making Alice jump her tweezers too suddenly out of Lancey's eye making the worm rip in two.
-FUCK! WHAT THE HELL, SERENA?
-THE MAGGOT IS TRYING TO ENTER ME! HELP ME!
Alice dumped quickly the rest of the mouthwash on Serena's wound making the maggot twitch violently and disintegrate.
-What the hell was that?
-The maggots turned aggressive after the crash, said Alice returning to Lancey's eye. They want to crawl inside us. They attacked Lancey.
-Where is the… baby?
-My baby is fine. Teddy got him out of there. He dislikes these maggots. Seriously, Serena, I'm losing myself. First, your operation, then Henry having both wrists fucked, the maggots, then Lancey being attacked. Not to mention Simon got drunk and almost killed everyone for a second time. I didn't even have enough time to hold my baby.
-Your baby?
-Look. I know you gave birth, but it's my baby, Serena. Don't even think about stealing it.
Teddy entered the room with the baby Alice named Ajal. The creature was struggling to get out of Teddy's arms. His cries resembled a sad humming of growls. Teddy was carrying him in a way in which his tears would fall on the floor, not on him. As the tears cascaded down onto the cold, metallic floor, they began to pool and sizzle, creating small rivulets that traced their way across the surface. The once-solid metal began to soften, warping under the intense heat of emotion, transforming into a shimmering, molten puddle that reflected.
-WHY DID YOU BROUGHT IT BACK?
-He heard screaming and started to be agitated. He nearly threw himself out of my arms and he started crying I think. He wanted me to come back.
-Did you miss mama? asked Alice happy.
Alice tried to take the baby out of Teddy's hands, but he struggled, scratching the woman, and making her drop him to the floor. Ajal rushed and climbed next to Serena inspecting her closely before starting to lick the wound of her stomach from the operation. Teddy rushed to snatch him off of her fearing that he would rip her flesh like he did with Lancey's. Instead, the baby's saliva made the wound heal instantly.
Ajal started to giggle making the sound of a whimpering dog as he crawled on top of Serena and rested his head on her chest, listening to her heartbeat.
-What the hell?
-My baby…
Alice started to shake. " This can't be happening," thought she while watching Ajal snuggling on Serena's chest. Tears started to roll down her face as her knees trembled. She couldn't lose another baby. "Serena doesn't even love him" thought Alice.
-Why did you steal him from me?
-I didn't… I'm confused. I don't understand. Why did he heal me? I thought you said yours was ripping you apart.
-He was… He was scratching and biting and he never did that. How?! WHY ARE YOU A BETTER MOTHER THAN ME? I loved them! You don't even care about them! WHY?
-Alice, calm down, said Teddy unsure of how to handle the situation.
-NO! WHY IS HE CHOOSING HER? I AM HIS MOTHER!
-Alice? said Henry. I finish cutting the infected flesh. He's bleeding. What should I do?
-My baby! SHE STOLE MY BABY!
-Alice!
Serena touched Ajal carefully. She could feel his cold breath on the base of her neck. She was afraid the creature could attack her at any moment, but Ajal looked at her curiously. The two black orbits dilated as he carefully caressed her with his claws.
-He's gonna bleed to death.
-Life is meaningless. I'll never be a mother…
-Teddy, grab your lighter. Henry? Pinch the skin together, Teddy, and burn it until it glues. Put something hard between his teeth. This is gonna hurt a lot, but it's the best we can do. After, pour alcohol on it and wrap it in clean cloth.
The two men did exactly as Serena said. Lancey started to shake violently under the flames. He started to cry, but from the eye the maggot got ripped in two a black liquid started rolling making his eye turn the same color as well.
Alice took one last look at Serena and Ajal and left the infirmary.
-I am a good mother.
What could she do? Another harvest? But the maggots turned violent. She couldn't use one now. Not in these conditions, but she couldn't wait nine months.
-Who's there? asked Simon from the closet.
-She took my baby
-What?
-You said you'll give me another baby if I let you out.
-Yes, Alice. I'll give you all the children you want if you let me out of here.
-You need to do whatever you did to Serena. Ajal loves her.
-Who the fuck is Ajal?
-MY BABY.
-The one we ate?
Alice started violently crying in front of the closet. Simon looked at her confused.