AllFreeNovel
Share Us
I remember how long and lonely the road from here to the main street seemed and there's no chance I can make it in my condition. But for my babies’ sake, I have to try. I holdone hand under my stomach and continue to run, hearing his yells getting closer as he stays in my pursuit.
“Madalina, stop running!” he calls out and when I see two cars in the distance, speeding down the straight road in front of us, my relief is short-lived when I feel his hand wrap around my arm and drag me into the woodland.
“I don’t want to shoot you but I will,” he warns, as he shoves me hard in the back and forces me deeper into the trees. My feet get shredded open by the fallen branches and rough ground, and when I trip and fall I manage to use my hands to stop me falling on my front.
“Get up!” Cassio takes a fistful of my hair and tries to drag me on my feet.
“I can’t.” I stroke my stomach and wince in pain. “I think the babies are coming.” I look up at him and watch his expression switch from anger to panic.
“No, theycan’tbe. You have weeks left. They can’t come yet, it’s not part of the plan.” He shakes his head.
“Well, tell that to them.” I keep hold of my stomach and breathe in through my nose and out through my mouth, just like Dario’s been making me practice.
“Madalina!” I hear his voice echo through the trees and close my eyes with relief. I was sure the car was his but I couldn't be certain, now I know that it was and that he’s seen us. I have some hope.
“Cassio!” I hear Serena calling out too and when my husband, my stepmom, and my brother all come to a standstill in front of me, I wonder why they aren’t doing something to help me.
“Don’t move, pretty girl, you’re going to be okay.” Dario looks white and very, very afraid.
“Don’t make her promises you can’t keep, Dario, you'restarting to sound like our father.” I feel the gun press against the back of my skull and realize why they are all paralyzed.
“Get away from my sister, you sick son of a bitch!” Nic goes to step forward but Serena holds out her arm to stop him.
“Cassio, sweetheart.” She forces a smile. “Let Madalina go, you don’t want to hurt her.” She takes a step closer and I feel the gun push deeper into my skull.
“That’s where you’re wrong. I waited, Mama, I waited all those years and then he…hejust made his demands and took her.” I hear Cassio’s voice getting weaker.
“I know, but Madalina’s happy, and if you truly love her you’ll let her go. Look, you're scaring her. You don’t want to scare her.” She smiles at him as if everything’s going to be okay.
“We should be together,” he whispers and when he shows no sign of dropping the gun to my head, I decide to try myself.
“Cassio, please the babies are coming. I need to go to the hospital,” I plead with him.
“The babies arewhat!?” The look of Dario’s face changes from worried to petrified. “Listen to me, you shoot me if you have to. But let Serena and Nic take her to the hospital.” He looks at his brother desperately.
“I need to be with her, she’ll be scared,” Cassio tells him.
“Right now, the only person scaring her is you,” Serena tells him a little more firmly. “Cassio, this isn’t the way. Let me take her. We can talk about this once she’s safe and the babies are here. Just,please, put the gun down,” she begs him.
He tugs tight on my hair, forcing me to get up on my feet and when Dario goes to step forward, Serena has to stop him too.
“Madalina.” Cassio spins me around to look at him and I see the pain in his red-rimmed eyes.
“Answer me this with all honesty,” he whispers, holding the gun to my temple with a trembling hand.
“For all he’s done, and for what he will continue to be, do you love him?” he whispers weakly, with a glint of hope in his eyes. And as I glance over to the man I married and see all the anguish and pain he’s staring at me back with, I smile through my tears.
“I do,” I whisper back. The words I said to Dario on our wedding day meant nothing to me, but so much has changed since then. To admit that I love him, despite everything he is, feels like I’m making a vow of sin, but it’s the truth.
“Then so be it.” Cassio’s words force me to glance back at him and I see the pain I’ve caused him when he nods his head back at me. The pressure from the gun releases from my temple and as I breathe a steady sigh of relief and glance back to my husband I’m confused by the horror I see on Serena’s face.
“No!” she rushes forward, and suddenly that familiar popping sound is followed by warm splatters of blood that settle on my face and stain the lace on the dress I’m wearing.
“No…No.” Serena slides onto her knees and lifts her son's head up from the floor and I stand and stare at his limp body and the brain matter that slips down the trunk of the tree beside me.
“Madalina!” Dario grabs me and kisses my face, despite the blood I can feel on my skin. “Fuck, we need to get you to a hospital. I’ll call Dr. Walsh.” He presses one hand against my stomach while he takes out his cell.
“No.” I shake my head still in a complete trance from all that's happened.
