Labor

Labor
Ana’s POV

"Ana!" Another yells a familiar female scent that has known never to change in the decade I've known her wraps itself around me together with the arms that pull me to her bosom. "My goodness Ana, thank God you are alive."

"What did she do to you?" Joe questions and I see him from below Oluchi's hands as he squats before me, putting the strands behind me. "You've got bruises on your face."

"You are free," the voice I'm now certain to be Glory's announces, freeing my arms from the now loosened ropes.

"How did you do it?" I ask the female as I'm released by my best friend and rub my wrists while I gaze at her standing aside my brother who is crying silently as he is rooted in shock.

"Always carry a razor in your back pocket," Glory confesses, showing the red single packet.
"The ropes weren't even that solid."

"It finally came in handy," I chuckle, blinking away the tears. "You can hug me Nuel."

"I'm so sorry Ana," he wails, rushing to scoop me in his arms. "You didn't deserve this."

"Shit happens," I console, patting his back.

"What is going on here?" The person I've come to dread raises a question, coming back to see me free and surrounded by my family as Nuel releases me hastily.

"Someone should fucking give me an answer or I swear I'll shoot!" She screeches, swinging her hand in no designated location as she shifts the gun to every one of us.

"You will do no such thing Emily," Ike states as I see him materialize in the doorway, rushing to stand in front of me and spreading his arms wide. "Drop the gun."

"Daniel get the fuck out of the way I don't wanna shoot you," Emily commands, squaring her jaw as I unconsciously wound my hands around Ike's torso. 

"Then drop the gun," he urges, and I see her eyes water from my location behind him.

"Move out of the way Daniel, I don't want to regret this," she says in a shaky voice filled with emotions as she wipes her damp cheeks with the back of her elbow.

"You'll regret this either way Emily," he argues, sounding unafraid. "And I won't move for anything."

"Daniel please I love you, don't make me do this," she pleads, her face turning red from anger and crying.

"You are the one doing this Emily not me," he tries to explain but she shakes her head. "Look at what you are doing to yourself."

"Emily, wait," I come out of hiding and I feel Oluchi tug on my arm, instead I shake it off as Ike swerves to me in fright. "Emily I--"

I don't finish that sentence as the sound of a shot fired echoes through the premises and I see red stains fly around before I slowly slip into the darkness of my mind.

Ike's POV

"I can't push," she says as the midwife aims to spread her legs.

"Yes, you can Ana, just give it a try," I urge, holding onto her wrist.

"No, I can't," she shakes her head and bites her lips, sweat dripping down her face that's covered with the bruises inflicted on her by Emily.

"Why can't you?" The man who claims to be the gynecologist implores, peeking between her legs which causes me to grit my teeth in resentment.

"Can't you morons see that my baby is in a transverse position?" She throws the question at them, her palms causing me to wince as a contraction runs through her. "Ike where is Helena?"

"Helena is not here baby," I explain. "You are at a teaching hospital."

"Why the fuck was I brought here and not to the hospital Helena works at?" She interrogates in between curses she's dishing out due to her state.

"I'll explain later hun, just focus on the moment, focus on--- fuck!" We both scream her from the pain and me from the pressure she's applying to my hand.

"Doctor, you heard her, the baby is in a transverse position, why don't we do it through Cesarean Section?" I inquire in a glare.

"You mean CS?" He dumbly questions, and I calmly tame the urge to fire him a blow.

"Yes dumbass!" Ana screams at him, not having the restraint as I do. "Ike please give Helena a call, I want her in the theater with me, if not I might be cut in the wrong place."

"Yes ma'am," I concur, retrieving the phone from my pocket.

"Don't you fucking take a step further!" She commands as I make a move to disentangle our fingers.

"You know, if you were this commanding in bed, you'll be giving birth to triplets right now," I smirk, getting turned on, regardless of the event going on.

"Shut the hell up!" She shrieks as the medical personals in the room get their shit together.

"I won't say a word," I lift the free arm with the phone in the air.

"Tell her I need her with me in the operation room so she can bring her squad with her if possible," she grunts, eying the midwife. "Because I don't trust these people."

"Okay," I bob my head, and dial Helena, the phone on my ear as I observe the white paint of the private room I brought Ana to after the incident, the newly painted iron bed she's positioned on, a single yellow bulb hanging from the ceiling and the nose wrenching stench of disinfectant which must have been mistakenly put higher than average.

"Hello Helena," I speak as she answers after three rings. "Ana is in labor."

"Where is she?" She investigates. "There's no record of her in the hospital at the moment."

"We are at the Federal Medical Center," I inform, noticing Ana take in deep breathes. "Be here ASAP!"

"I'll arrive in thirty minutes," she responds and ends the call before I can say anything more.

"I'm not shifting from here until she arrives," Ana declares, scratching her weaves through the hair cap she's donning, the same hue as the grey coverall on her body.

Alright," I agree, channeling a fierce gaze at the man in the room as he peers at Ana's bare thighs. To others that glance may seem professional but to me, it raises red flags that I murmur "pervert," in an inaudible volume.