Awakened Desires (49 page)

Elaina rushed back into the school’s cafeteria, Claire’s and Nick’s pillows under her arm in effort to make Claire more comfortable. She was getting really worried about her and the baby. Something was off, but Elaina had no idea what it was.

She stepped into the cafeteria and saw Claire on the floor, her arms wrapped around her stomach. “Claire!” Elaina screamed. She threw the pillows down and ran to her side. Claire was unconscious. “Claire!” Elaina shook her. “Claire…please, wake up!”

Claire stirred. With eyes fluttering open and in a groggy voice, she said, “Elaina…what happened?”

“I don’t know!” Elaina was in a panic. “I left to get you a pillow and when I came back, you were unconscious on the floor. I’m going to go find Nick.” As she stood, Claire grabbed onto Elaina’s leg and screamed. Elaina dropped back down and saw blood leaking through Claire’s pants. “Oh, my god! Claire, you’re bleeding!”

“It hurts, Elaina. Help me!” She curled up into a ball around Elaina’s leg and cried out again.

“I need to go find Nick.” But Claire wouldn’t let go.

“No, please stay with me. Don’t leave me alone,” she cried as tears flowed from her eyes. The blood was pooling between her legs, trickling onto the floor.

“Let’s get you to the clinic.” Elaina grabbed her by her arms and pulled her up, but she couldn’t stand straight. She steadied Claire, and they slowly walked to the clinic. A staggered trail of blood marked their path. “Did you hit your stomach?”

“I don’t know,” she panted. “I had a really sharp pain and then… I don’t remember what happened.”

“Jesus, Claire. You’re bleeding everywhere.” Elaina opened the door to the clinic and made her hold onto the door frame while she spread sheets on the cot. “Come on. Let’s get you up here, then I’ll go find Nick.” With Elaina’s help, Claire climbed up on the cot. “I’ll be right back,” Elaina reassured. Sobbing, Claire had a death grip on Elaina’s hand. “Please, let me go get Nick.”

“I’m so scared,” Claire cried.

“I know, sweetie.” Elaina didn’t want to tell her she was scared out of her mind.

After a quick kiss to Claire’s forehead, Elaina took off like a bat out of hell. The side door flew open when her palms punched the bar. She ran to the front of the school and looked around, seeing and hearing nothing. Movement in the storefront across the way caught her attention. She ran to the door and tore it open.

Henry continued his maniacal laugh as I had my Sig trained right at the center of his forehead. I envisioned a bullet invading, making a perfect circular hole, blood dribbling down his face, the back of his head exploding.

The door whipped open behind me, breaking me from my visualization. Two others walked in carrying guns. Josie screamed when the larger of the two grabbed her, covering her mouth with his hand. A muffled scream made its way through his fingers and her tiny body was flailing around, trying to get free.

“Tell your bird to chill the fuck out or I will have my mate, Nick, drain her. It’s been a while since he has had a large quantity, and I do believe he’s past ready for one.”

I glanced over my shoulder at Josie. “Calm down, love. It’s going to be all right. I will get us out of this.” A shared laugh between the three of them made my blood boil. She stopped fighting, but I watched her small body continue to quake with fear.

“Now. Let’s conduct business like gentlemen, shall we? By the way, little bird,” Henry addressed Josie, “proper introductions, yes? I’m Henry, in case you haven’t figured that out yet. And these are my mates, Nick and Thomas.”

“Let her go. She has nothing to do with this. This is between you and me.” I was stern but calm, feeling my program voice on the verge of taking control.

“Hmm…” After a quick scratch at the short beard on his blasted face, he said, “No. I don’t think so.” His smile was evil to say the least. It reminded me of Roger’s.

“So help me, if you harm a single hair on her head…”

He waved his finger at me. “Tsk, tsk, now. She is a little young for you, isn’t she? I thought you were a better man than that. Taking a lass as a lover. You sick, demented, want-to-be man,” Henry growled.

I was a mere moment from shutting him up forever. “She is
not
my lover,” I growled back.

“Right.” Henry laughed, which pissed me right the fuck off. “I know how you are. I never knew a man who dipped his wick more than you.”

“Fuck you.” I still had my gun trained on Henry, my finger hovering closer to the trigger.

“Lower your weapon,” Henry ordered, but I stood firm. “All right. Thomas.” Two soft shuffles and the business end of a gun was pressed into the back of my head.

Josie started screaming and flailing around again. Henry laughed at the alarmed look on my face. “Shut it!” he screamed at her. “This is glorious, absolutely fucking glorious.” He held his hands up, making a rectangle by putting his fingers and thumbs together. “I wish there was electricity. I would post this picture on every social media site available.” He lowered his hands to his sides again.

“Just let her go. You can have me. I will surrender to you,” I muttered.

Surprise crossed his face. “You? Wave the white flag?” Henry laughed again. Apparently, he thought this situation was a bloody sitcom. “Now that would be brilliant, yeah?”

Then I stepped closer, unafraid of the gun pressed to my skull, and pressed my Sig into Henry’s chest. “Do it,” he growled, but I stood silent. His lips curled up into a twisted smirk. “That’s what I thought. No bullocks whatsoever.” Henry swiftly grabbed my Sig from me. “Thomas, take off his pack.” He did as Henry instructed and handed my pack to him, all while still holding the gun pressed against the back of my head.

“You may step back, Thomas. Mr. Erikkson deserves some respect. I suppose I should respect my elders. And Nick, you may let the girl go, as long as she can keep her bloody mouth shut. The first time she screams, enjoy.”

Josie ran to my side when Nick let her go. I wrapped my arm around her, pushing her partially behind me.

“So this was the army you organized then? Did you eat everyone else? What’s the deal?”

“I didn’t form an army,” I snipped.

“Ohh, really?” Henry tapped his lips with his finger. I wanted to break the bloody thing off. “Interesting. You release the virus and you don’t form an army? Is this a suicide mission?”

“I no longer work for Roger.”

Henry laughed. “I find that hard to believe. You were such a company man, Gunther. Born and bred for the program.”

I pushed up my sleeve and held out my left arm, showing Henry the scar where Quinn had cut out the tracking device. “I cut it out.” Henry grabbed my arm with his cold, clammy hands, running his finger down the thick scar.

“Impressive. You decided that the program is fucked up?” I nodded. “You know, it’s a little late for you to feel that way.” I wanted to throttle his tosser arse, but I couldn’t risk harm to Josie. “Hmm…this changes the dynamic slightly, doesn’t it?” Henry paced around, thinking. I could smell the booze on him every time he passed by me. “Are you alone with the emo, or do you have others?”

“I have others in a safe place somewhere else.”

“There isn’t such a thing nowadays, thanks to you.”

Yeah, I got that, fuckface
, I thought. As he still paced in front of me, I had a notion to stick my boot out and trip up his pissed up arse. Then I said, “Let her leave and you can take me. I don’t care if you make me true dead.”

“Gunther, no! Think about Quinn,” Josie cried.

“Shut up, Josie!” I barked.

“Oh, now I need to know. Who is this Quinn of whom she speaks?”

“None of your fucking business.”

Henry stopped in front of me, stepping up to me until we were nose-to-nose. I could have gotten pissed up from his breath alone. “I do believe it
is
my business,” Henry said with a smirk, cocking his head to the side. “Did the freak sex addict finally decide to settle down? Does she know about your not-to-stellar past, or maybe you are still that way and she is just your whore of the week? Does she know all your dirty little secrets? Does she keep you satisfied, or do you walk around with your cock leading the way?”

My body stiffened and my breathing changed. Anger ripped through me. I cocked my fist back.
How dare he speak about my Quinn that way!
I silently begged him to say another word about her. I would fuck his arse up.

“Do it,” Henry growled.

“Shut your mouth or I will do it for you.”

“Did I strike a nerve?”

We were practically spitting in each other’s face. I finally made the first move, shoving Henry so hard that he fell back onto the floor. Nick and Thomas stepped in and grabbed me.

“No!” Henry yelled. “Stand down. He’s mine.”

I was seething. My fists were clenched and I was ready to brawl. Looking unfazed from my shove, Henry got up and stood a couple steps from me. I smirked. “I think you remember the last time we fought. I do believe I kicked your lass arse in front of your woman and the other hundred plus people that were in the bar that evening. That had to have been embarrassing.” Henry licked his lips. “If you want to have a row, it’s just you and me. Or are you too much of a pussy and need backup?”

The storefront’s door flew open, crashing into the wall and startling all of us. “Henry! Nick! Something’s wrong with Claire! Hurry!”

While everyone turned and looked at the door, Henry reached into my pack and found a length of rope. He grabbed me and tied my hands behind my back. Rookie move on my part. “You’re staying with me. Nick, go to her. I will catch up. Thomas, keep an eye on the emo.”

Nick bolted out of the store. Henry was practically dragging me, and Josie followed like a loyal servant with Thomas right behind her. We were about two strides behind Nick when he yanked open the side door of the school. A woman was screaming herself hoarse. It sent chills down my spine and every hair on my body stood up.

“Claire!” Nick sprinted to the clinic and ran through the door.

Claire was curled up in a ball on a little cot, gripping her stomach. “What’s wrong, baby?” Nick rushed to her side.

“It hurts so much,” she cried.

“Elaina, is she in labor?” Nick looked to her for answers.

“I don’t know! I don’t know what’s wrong. She just collapsed and has been screaming. And all the blood.” Elaina looked up and saw Henry come into the clinic. Claire was groaning in pain. “Do you feel like you need to push?” Elaina asked.

“I don’t know,” Claire cried. “It hurts. Help me…” Her voice fizzled out.

“It’s okay, baby. We’re going to be okay.” Nick was kneeling at her side. His fading emerald green eyes were wet with tears. He grabbed her hand and kissed her sweaty forehead. He looked up at Elaina again. “It’s too early. What do we do?”

“We have someone that may be able to help,” Josie said as she stepped into the doorway.

With wide eyes, Elaina looked at her, then turned to Henry. “Later,” he mumbled.

“Well, then, help!” Elaina yelled.

“She’s about fifteen miles down the road.” Josie swallowed hard, nervously looking at Elaina. Henry pulled keys out of his pocket and tossed them to Elaina.

“Elaina, take the emo…”

“I have a name! It’s Josie!” she raged.

“Geez, Princess of Darkness, calm the fuck down,” Elaina muttered.

“Elaina, take
Josie
to where she says and bring whomever back.”

She couldn’t believe that Henry was confident enough with his new emo friend. “It could be a trap,” Elaina snapped.

“No. I’m holding her bloke here. She’ll want to come back.” Elaina peeked out the door and saw Gunther. Her eyes grew huge, then she thought about it for a split second.

“Elaina, just go, goddamn it!” Nick screamed. Claire was writhing in pain on the tiny cot. Elaina looked at Claire for a moment and saw the amount of blood that was all over her.

“Fine. Follow me. I swear to you, if this is a trick, I will kill you myself!”

Elaina bolted out the door, pulling out her gun as she sprinted back down the same hall that they rushed in. Josie, surprisingly, kept up with her. She slammed the door open and sprinted around to the back of the school. Josie looked surprised when they got to the truck…the same exact one Gunther had.

“What the fuck is wrong with you? Get in!” Elaina yelled at her as she jumped in the driver’s seat, fastened her seatbelt, and started it. Then she jammed it into drive and pounded the petal down, leaving a cloud of dust behind them. She was determined to quickly get to wherever they needed to go. “Which way?”

“Left. It’s a straight shot about fifteen miles down. You will see a truck exactly like this one.” Elaina was focused on the road, watching for anything that could jump out at them.

“Is this person a doctor or a nurse?”

“Not that I’m aware of. Gunther’s girlfriend seems pretty knowledgeable of medical stuff, though.”

As soon as Elaina heard Gunther’s name, she slammed on the breaks and they both flew forward. Josie had failed to put her seatbelt on, so she nearly hit the windshield. “What the fuck, you crazy bitch?!”

“That was Gunther?! Holy shit. I thought he looked familiar. He looks much more ragged and less muscular than I remember him. I’m glad Henry got the bastard. Now he can stop obsessing about him and we can move on.” Elaina had such a sense of relief not having to worry about the whole Henry/Gunther thing anymore. “Oh, and you might want to buckle up. I’m not exactly the safest driver around.”

“Yeah, I can tell. Thanks for the warning.” Josie reached over and belted herself in. “You know, he’s not the same person he used to be,” Josie said quietly.

Elaina looked at her and laughed. “Right,” she said with a mighty amount of sarcasm as they continued down the road.

“I’ve watched him change over the past several months. He is madly in love with his girlfriend, and he treats me as if I’m his daughter.”

“He made this happen. He destroyed everything. You do understand that, right? Are you thick or what?”

Josie glared at Elaina. “That’s not him now. I have seen him break down. He nearly killed himself.”

That hit home with Elaina. She, too, had seen Henry’s self-loathing, guilt-ridden breakdowns. It was horrible to bear witness. “Knowing what he did has been really hard on him,” Josie whispered.

Elaina responded quietly, “I guess they are cut from the same cloth. I’ve had to deal with my fair share of Henry’s meltdowns, as well as other things. That doesn’t mean I forgive Gunther for what he did. He killed nearly everyone I know. But what they did to them was awful. I can’t wait to get my hands on that fucker, Roger.”

“You will have to fight Quinn for that. She’s determined to put a bullet in his head if he ever shows his face.” She paused. Elaina looked at her and was curious as to what she was thinking about. “Once Gunther got all of his lies straight and realized he was allowed to have feelings and emotions, they just poured out of him.”

“How did you even get involved with him?” Elaina continued probing, trying to keep her mind off of Claire. She wanted to keep Josie talking, hoping it would distract her.

“He saved me.”

“I assume you are the only one left in your family?”

“Well, Gunther and Quinn are my family now.”

“Nick is my brother, and Claire is his girlfriend and my best friend. Thomas tried to kill Henry a long time ago, but we ended up saving him from himself. It’s a long story.”

“So your brother is one, too?” She remembered his distinctive cool touch back at the store.

“Yes. That’s part of the long story.”

“There.” Josie pointed. “There’s Gunther’s truck.”

“Why didn’t you drive it?” Elaina slowed down. She didn’t think Josie would be overly fond of whiplash twice in the matter of fifteen minutes.

“Nearly out of gas.”

Josie jumped out and ran to the bunker entrance. Elaina decided to get out, gun in hand, but stayed back just in case this was some sort of a trap. She watched Josie brush at the ground quickly and pull on a ring, which pulled up a lid of some sort.

“Brilliant,” Elaina whispered.

“Quinn!” she yelled as she was pulling up the lid. “Quinn! We need you and Cora.”

“Is there something wrong with Gunther?” Elaina heard panic in the woman’s voice. It was the same panic she had when she was worried about Henry.

“No. There’s a woman up in town that’s pregnant. She’s having major problems, but they don’t know what’s wrong. She may even be in labor.”

“Let’s round up the kids.” Elaina heard a different woman’s voice. She wondered how many people they had tucked down in that little hole. Josie reached down and pulled out kid after kid. Then Elaina saw two women emerge.

“Wait a sec…,” Elaina said, worrying what Henry would say about all the kids.

“Who are you?” Quinn asked.

Elaina held out her hand. “Elaina Cooper, Henry Daniels’ fiancée.” Then Quinn pulled out a gun and pointed it at her. “Perfect,” Elaina sad with a hefty eye roll. “I don’t have time for this.” She turned around and headed back to Henry’s truck. She opened the door and saw everyone staring at her. “Are you all coming or not? I don’t have time for all of this bullshit.”

“Please, Quinn…,” Josie begged. “Gunther is there and he’s tied up. I don’t know what Henry will do to him if we don’t go back.”

“Tied up?! Is he okay?!” Quinn panicked.

“Yeah. They almost went to blows, but Elaina sidetracked them with this medical emergency.”

“I’m leaving!” Elaina yelled as she jumped in the truck and slammed the door. As she fired up the engine, the herd of women and children ran to the truck and got in. Elaina threw it into drive and gunned it. She needed to get back to Claire.

“Now, tell us about the pregnant woman,” Quinn asked.

“She’s about six or so months along. We aren’t exactly sure. She collapsed on the floor and she’s in some pretty bad pain. There’s a lot of blood…so much blood,” she whispered as she pushed the truck to its limits trying to get back.

“Did she have the pain before the collapse?” Cora asked.

“I think that’s why she collapsed, but she has been having problems for months.”

Not another word was said until they pulled up to the school.

“Momma, why are we at Kate’s school?” Silas asked in his squeaky voice.

Elaina looked at him with a small smile. “I have to admit, you are pretty cute…for a booger-eater,” she said.

“Quiet, Silas. Thank you.” Cora wasn’t sure if it was a backhanded compliment, so she just brushed it off for the time being.

Elaina jumped out of the truck. “Follow me!” She ran to the door, everybody following. They burst into the school and they could hear Claire screaming. “Hurry!”

Quinn stopped in front of Gunther and reached for him. “Go help the woman. I’m fine,” he muttered.

“But you’re…”

“Quinn, go help her!” Gunther barked. She ran into the clinic.

Josie kept the kids outside of the room, along with Thomas and Gunther. His hands were still tied behind his back, and Thomas stood guard. Henry was lurking at the door, keeping an eye on him, as well.

“It hurts. It hurts!” Claire cried.

“Please, help her. I don’t know what to do,” Nick pleaded.

“Do you have any clean blankets, sheets, towels?” Cora asked.

“Uhh…” Elaina looked around the clinic. “I don’t know what we need!” she yelled in a panic.

They were unprepared for the baby because they thought there was more time. Elaina stood staring at a closet full of supplies. Quinn came over and started grabbing stuff off the shelves, then she ran back over to Claire and Cora.

“I’m pretty sure she’s in labor,” Cora said.

Elaina saw Henry slip out of the clinic. She hoped he wasn’t going to do anything stupid while all of the craziness was going on.

“Let’s try a different position,” Quinn said.

“But it’s way too early!” Nick protested.

“I can see that, but if the baby wants out, it’s time,” Cora said.

“Will they be okay? There’s so much blood,” he choked out.

“I don’t know. I’m not a doctor, but I promise to do the best I can to help.” She looked at Nick. “I’m Cora, by the way.” She and Quinn helped Claire onto her hands and knees. She was groaning in pain, rocking back and forth.

“And I’m Quinn.”

“Please! Help me.” The tears were rolling from Claire’s eyes. Elaina was just standing there in shock. The blood was pouring out of Claire and running down her legs. Her back was soaked. Elaina gasped and turned away.

Everything was moving so fast, but Elaina felt time had stopped. Her body wouldn’t move, but her ears were listening with sharp intensity.

“It’s going to be okay, baby.” Nick was wiping Claire’s face, trying to calm her down.

“I feel like I have to push.” She grimaced as she spoke.

“Okay, let’s get her standing up,” Cora said. “Let gravity do some of the work for her. Hold onto him.” Quinn and Cora helped her stand and wrapped Claire’s arms around Nick’s neck. A significant amount of blood rushed down Claire’s legs, causing Cora to jump back.

“Oh, Christ…,” Nick whimpered. He looked up at Cora and Quinn.

“When you feel like you have to push again, go for it. You need to push hard, bear down. Do you understand?”

Claire nodded. “What if the baby falls out onto the floor?” She was crying hysterically, completely lost.

“I’m going to be right here. I will keep the baby from falling.” Cora looked over at Quinn, who shook her head. There was something gravely wrong, but they weren’t going to say anything to avoid scaring Claire any more than she already was.

“I’m so scared. It’s too early. And all the blood,” Claire cried.

“I know, hon,” Cora said in a comforting tone, “but you can do this.”

“I have to push.” Claire gripped onto Nick and she groaned as she pushed. Elaina decided to leave the room and go be with Henry.

Claire screamed several times. Elaina felt so bad that she was such a wimp. She had been getting better with all the blood that was being passed around, but she was almost certain she couldn’t handle seeing a baby being born. Elaina wished she could help Claire through the delivery, but there wasn’t anything she could do.

After a long time of pacing and listening to Claire cry out in pain, everything went quiet. Frenzied sounds came from the room. Elaina sucked it up and headed back into the clinic, regardless if there was blood and birth stuff everywhere. Just as she blew through the door, Cora and Nick were laying an unconscious Claire down on the cot.

“What happened?!”

“She passed out…probably from loss of blood. I’ll have to pull the baby out somehow. I think it’s stuck in the birth canal.”

Claire came around again and her crying continued. “Elaina…” She was looking around.

“I’m here.” Elaina rushed to her side and took her hand. She brushed Claire’s ginger locks away from her pale, sweaty face.

“I want her name to be Willow. If she makes it, take care of her for me.” Elaina was taken aback. Why would she want her to take care of the baby? Then it dawned on her.

Claire thought she was dying.

“Don’t talk like that.
You
can name her that. It’s a pretty name.” Claire smiled at Elaina and passed out again.

Cora had her hand deep in Claire. “Quinn, push down on her stomach.” Quinn began pressing down. “Okay, I can feel the baby moving down. Keep pressing.”

Shaking all over, Nick slid down the wall and hit the floor with an audible thud. He was breathing through his hands, unsuccessfully trying to keep it together.

“Come on, little baby. Keep pressing, Quinn. It’s coming.” Elaina was keeping her eyes on Claire’s face, which was growing paler by the second. She stroked her face and touched her blue lips. “It’s a girl,” Cora said with sorrow. When Nick heard, he jumped up and scrambled to her. Elaina sucked it up and looked down. The baby was a deep shade of blue.

“Why isn’t she crying? What’s wrong with her? Why is she that color?” Nick cried as he rattled off his questions. Cora was rubbing her, listening for her heart, checking for a pulse. Then they heard a tiny bird-like noise come from the baby.

“Come on, little one. She’s
really
premature.” Cora wrapped her up, but she was still attached to the umbilical cord. “Quinn, help me finish the delivery.”