Chapter 79 Chapter 79
CHAPTER SEVENTY-NINE
Irina's POV
Darkness surrounded me. It was thck and heavy.
I could not see anything. I could not move.
Was I dead? Was this what death felt like?
No, I could still hear sounds. Though it was distant and muffled.
I tried to move but my body would not respond.
The drugs must still be working.
I fought against the darkness, trying to wake up. But it was like swimming through mud. It was impossible.
Then I felt a sensation. Pressure was put on my stomach. I felt something touching me.
Panic flooded through me immediately. What were they doing?
"Scalpel," a voice said. It was cold and clinical.
No no no.
They were starting the procedure. They were going to cut me open.
I tried to scream but no sound came out.
My mouth would not work and my body was paralyzed.
"Beginning the incision," the voice said.
I felt a sharp pain like a line being drawn across my stomach.
Tears fell from my closed eyes and I could not stop them.
My baby. They were taking my baby.
I tried to fight, tried to move, tried to do anything, but the drugs held me down. I was trapped in my own body.
"There is some bleeding," another voice said. "Normal levels."
"Continue," the first voice ordered.
More pain shot through me.
I wanted to die. I wanted this to be over. But I could not even do that. I could not escape.
My baby, my innocent baby. What did it do to deserve this?
"We are almost there," a voice said. "Prepare the extraction."
No! Please! Stop!
I screamed in my mind but nothing came out.
Then suddenly an alarm started blaring.
It was loud and piercing, cutting through everything.
"What is that?" Someone asked.
"Security breach," another voice replied. "Someone is attacking the facility."
"What?" The doctor sounded angry. "Who would..."
Gunfire erupted and even through the drugs I could hear it clearly.
Men were shouting, and screaming orders.
"We need to evacuate!" One of doctors yelled.
"What about the procedure?" The doctor asked.
"Leave her here. She would die anyway. She has lost too much blood already!" Another voice commanded. "We need to go now!"
They hurried out, slamming the door shut, leaving me here to die. Gunfire erupted immediately just outside the door, almost deafening me.
Then everything went silent briefly.
The door burst open again and I could hear heavy boots stomping the ground.
"Clear!" A man's voice shouted.
"Check the rooms!" Another voice ordered.
I heard footsteps getting closer to me.
"In here!" Someone shouted.
The door to my room opened.
"Oh God," a voice whispered. "What did they do to her?"
"Is she alive?" Another voice asked.
Cold hands touched me, checking my pulse.
"She is alive," the first voice confirmed. "But barely."
"We need to stop the bleeding," another voice said urgently.
"Get the medic!" Someone shouted. "Now!"
I felt hands on my stomach. They were probably using bandages.
"Stay with us," a voice said softly. "You are going to be okay."
But I was not okay, nothing was okay.
My baby, was my baby still alive?
I tried to ask but still could not speak.
More footsteps came running this time.
"Move!" A commanding voice ordered. "Everyone move!"
That voice, I knew that voice.
Dimitri, that was Dimitri's voice.
He found me, he actually found me.
"Irina!" Dimitri's voice was close now. He was right beside me.
I felt his hands on my face, gentle and warm.
"Oh God Irina," he whispered. "What did they do to you?"
I felt his tears falling on my face.
"Is she going to be okay?" Dimitri asked someone.
"The drugs are wearing off," a voice replied. "She should wake soon."
"And the baby?" Dimitri asked and his voice cracked.
There was a brief terrible silence.
"We do not know yet," the voice said quietly.
"No," Dimitri whispered. "Please, please let the baby be okay."
I tried to respond, and tell him I was here.
My fingers twitched, just slightly, but it was movement.
"She is waking up!" Someone exclaimed.
"Irina?" Dimitri said urgently. "Irina can you hear me?"
I tried to open my eyes but the light was blinding.
Everything was blurry but I could see shapes.
"That is it," Dimitri encouraged. "Come on baby, wake up."
My eyes focused slowly and I saw him. His face was covered in dirt and blood.
But his eyes, his beautiful blue eyes. There was tears in them.
"Dimitri," I whispered and my voice was barely audible.
"I am here," he said. "I am right here. You are safe now."
"The baby," I managed to say. "My baby."
Dimitri looked at someone I could not see.
"Check," he ordered. "Check if the baby is still alive."
A person in medical scrubs approached and they had equipment.
They placed something on my stomach, a device that made sounds.
Everyone waited and the room was silent.
Then we heard a sound. It was faint but clear.
Thump thump, thump thump, thump thump.
It was the baby's heartbeat.
"The baby is alive," the medic said. "The procedure was stopped in time."
Relief flooded through me and tears poured from my eyes.
"Thank God," Dimitri whispered. "Thank God."
He leaned down and kissed my forehead gently.
"You are both going to be okay," he said. "I promise."
"Dimitri," I whispered. "How did you find me?"
"It does not matter, you are safe now." He said softly.
"Katya," I said weakly. "Where is Katya?"
Dimitri's expression darkened. "She escaped but I will find her."
"She wanted to kill the baby," I said. "She wanted to take everything."
"I know," Dimitri said. "And she will pay. I swear it."
Suddenly gunfire erupted outside.
I froze.
"They are coming back!" Someone shouted.
"We need to move her!" Another voice yelled. "Now!"
"Can she be moved?" Dimitri asked the medic.
"We have no choice," the medic replied. "She will die if we stay."
Dimitri gently lifted me and I winced in pain.
"I am sorry," he whispered. "I am so sorry."
He carried me towards the door and his men surrounded us immediately, protecting us, firing at anyone who approached.
We made it outside and a vehicle was waiting.
Dimitri placed me carefully in the back seat.
"Drive!" He shouted to the driver. "Go go!"
The vehicle sped away and bullets hit the metal.
But we kept moving, getting farther from that terrible place.
I looked at Dimitri and he was holding my hand tightly.
"We made it," I whispered. "We actually made it."
"Yes," Dimitri said. "We made it."
But his expression was troubled. He looked worried.
"What is wrong?" I asked.
"Viktor Orlov," Dimitri said. "He knows I took his documents."
"He will come for us." He said.
My heart sank. "So it is not over."
"No," Dimitri said quietly.
Suddenly the driver shouted. "Boss! We have a problem!"
"What?" Dimitri demanded.
"The bridge ahead," the driver said. "It is
blocked."
"What do you mean blocked?" Dimitri asked.
"Cars are blocking it," the driver replied. "Dozens of them with armed men."
Dimitri looked out the window then cursed.
"It is a trap," he said. "They were waiting for us."
I could see them too. So many men with so many guns. All pointed at our vehicle.
"What do we do?" I asked fearfully. I was fighting to stay conscious.
Dimitri looked at me with a determined expression.
"I’ll fight," he whispered. “To keep you safe.”
Then the window exploded as bullets tore through the glass.