บท 3: No One To Help

The truck raced through the highway, not minding the signals and the speed limits. And Jerlina was not in the mood to think of the law.

She tried not to lose her consciousness as waves of cramps hit her. She was bleeding a lot and she still held hope.

It will be fine. My baby will be safe.

They were travelling towards the city and Jerlina knew there was a hospital within twenty minutes reach. She knew calling for ambulance would only waste time and hoped this monster would take her to the hospital.

Fearing her loud breathing might trigger him and he'd throw her away, she took shallow breaths. There was a little wolf plushie with a crescent moon shaped bell around its neck hanging in the rear-view mirror.

As the car travelled, the bell made slight tinkling noises and oddly it gave her a sense of comfort and familiarity.

"F*ck! Hold On!"

His big hand held her arm as he took a sudden U-turn. The inertia made her hit her head at the window and she felt her stomach churn at the speed they turned and by the smell of burnt rubber.

She didn't know what happened but all of a sudden, they were getting away from the hospital.

"Why?" she turned to look at him.

Is he not going to take me to a hospital?

He didn't answer her and was checking something on the rear-view mirror and was continuously cussing. She has never heard a person cuss that much and another wave of cramps made her almost lose her conscience.

She heard police sirens behind their car and hope sprung in her heart.

Finally! I can ask help from those who would actually help me!

"Cops... Stop," she said as he didn't slow down the car.

The sound of sirens got closer and TJ slowed the car finally. He didn't stop the car but lowered his glasses.

"Help! He kidnapped me! Help me! I'm having a miscarriage! Please take me to the hospital!" Jerlina shouted seeing that officers in the blue uniform. Seeing them ignoring her existence, she felt her heart slip to the pit of her stomach.

Don't tell me he knows those cops! NO! NO! Why is this happening to me?

"Shut up!" TJ hissed and turned to the cops. "Hey Jake, I... "

Jerlina felt her eyes blackening but she forced herself to stay awake. She looked at the floor of the car and there was already a pool of blood around her legs.

My baby doesn't have much time.

This monster won't help me... Cops won't help me...

Why is this happening?

Ah... I want to sleep...

No!

I can't! For my baby!

"...my mom's clinic... safe... keep away..."

She heard bits of what TJ said as her consciousness slipped back and forth.

He's taking me to his mom's clinic? No! Take me to the hospital!

She didn't have the energy to speak and the pain made her want to faint and kept her conscious at the same time.

At that time she heard a rattling noise that resembled tin cans rattling on the pavement, and her eyes naturally got drawn to the road. A decorated chevy Impala came to her view and at the driver seat was him- Gerard, the one who used to be her stay. Sitting beside him was a familiar face covered in fluffy whiteness and a wide grin.

Ha! So the wedding is already over and they are on their getaway car? Emma, you liar! In the end, you got my man and the wedding I wanted!

Ah, Emma! Wasn't it I who always said I'd tie tin cans to the bumper of my getaway car while you'd laugh at me? Didn't you say you'd marry a Prince and ride a carriage? Why? Why did you have to steal my life?

She could see the car at the other side of the road, slowing down.

Did he recognise this car? Did he see me? Will he stop? Please stop, Gerry!

He's looking at me!

Their eyes met for a brief moment before she felt another wave of pain and she winced and bowed her head.

There sprung a little hope in her heart that he'd stop his car and run to her and help her save their baby.

But her hope was brutally got scorched by the harsh reality.

The noise of the rattling cans drifted further away. She peeked through the window as tears flooded her eyes.

JUST MARRIED

Above the back bumper of the car, amidst the floral wreath, the big sign was pretty glaring as if it was slapping her hard to show her the reality.

Yeah... he is married... to another woman... And I have no one.

"Hey, do you hear me? Jerlina, honey?"

The big hand of her monster that was cold as ice, pressed on her shoulder and her head dropped. She couldn't hear anything and everything looked blurry.

The next time she opened her eyes she was on a stretcher getting wheeled into a room. She saw the woman in her sixties- energetic and kind, in a white coat running beside her as she was talking to the other medical staff.

"Hello Jerlina... We're treating you. Don't move your hand..." Dr. Kruger held her hand gently and spoke with a gentle tone.

"My baby... Please...save..." tears streamlined from the corner of her eyes and some got on her earlobe.

"We'll try our best. Be strong. Do you...."

Jerlina felt her ear going stuffed and her world darkened.

-----

Standing on top of the hill, Jerlina looked up to see the vanilla sky. A gentle breeze made her skirt flutter and her hair danced around in the wind. Fixing her hair, she looked around.

Everything was pleasant, everything was pure. The grass on the ground had little dew drops that glowed like little golden pearls in the setting sun. At the distant plains, she saw wild horses running freely with no one to disturb them.

When was the last time I felt this peaceful? Does this place exist? Or is it a dream?

"Mommy!" she felt a little softness gripping her finger and she looked down to see a little boy.

"Yes baby, what is it?" Jerlina asked crouching in front of the boy who looked like the mini-me of her Gerry. Her heart overflowed with some emotion that she had never felt before.

Is this motherly love?

"I love you, mommy."

"You do?" Jerlina's face bloomed to a smile and she hugged the boy close. "Mommy loves baby too."

"Mommy, I'm going there." The child pointed and Jerlina followed his hand.

Her smile vanished and her entire body got chills seeing the child pointing at the horizon.

"You can't," she tried to hold his hand, but giggling, the child started running towards the cliff.

"Bye, mommy...."

"No! Don't Baby... Don't leave mommy!" Jerlina tried to run behind the child, but she couldn't move an inch. She felt a strong hold on her arm and the coldness of that hand made her shiver and she turned to look at him.

Not this monster!

The sky turned gloomy and thunders rolled in the distance. The giggles of the little child running towards the cliff echoed in the valley.

"NO BABY! DON'T LEAVE ME" she screamed.

"...up... wake up...Jerlina..."

The monster's grip on her arm tightened.

"Let go! My baby... I have to save my baby..." she tried to pull her hand but she couldn't.

Right before her eyes she watched her boy jumping down the cliff...

"No!!!" she screamed with all her might and started to weep. She felt like she was pinned down entirely without being able to move an inch. She was helpless.

But she felt rage seeing the figure beside her and her head throbbed as if someone had smashed bricks on her head.

"You monster! You killed my child! You killed my child! I'll kill you! I'll kill you monster! I hate you! "

She tried to grab him, but she couldn't move.

As she screamed, the sound of thunder got replaced with some beeping noises and the beautiful scenery in front of her became the lifeless white walls of a hospital. She looked around to see few people in scrubs and white coats screaming something.

She felt a sharp pain in her hand and soon she felt her energy getting drained and her entire body relaxed and her eyes closed.

My baby....