Chapter 25 – Hero

Clara

The day continued without any other incidents, and the weekly check didn't have much going on other than the additional growth and weight of my baby. However, for some reason, the ultrasound today wasn't very clear, and the screen even had glitches when the doctor tried to check the other side of her pregnant belly.

Even though they didn't tell me directly, I'm already getting some suspicions, but I just hope that they are all what they are intended to be: suspicions. It was kind of odd because the doctor and Betty, his nurse, were taking detailed notes and a lot of photographs from the ultrasound. It almost looked like my pregnancy was something out of the ordinary and that this was the first time they had seen a pregnancy such as mine.

I need to have a conversation with Dana about it to find out if she has any additional information about their behavior. I came to a complete halt and gave some thought to this proposition. Even though I probably come across as insane and maybe even impulsive in nature, though I may not seem like it, I'm confident that Dana will listen to what I have to say and will never judge me as a consequence of my worries. The fact that I am beginning to have doubts about the people who are responsible for taking care of me is not helping matters either. However, Dana is the one who is aware of what needs to be done, and perhaps she can also provide me with her own perspectives on the matter.

I got off the elevator and proceeded through the glass sliding doors to enter the lower underground parking lot from underneath the building where I had parked my car. I had every intention of getting some lunch after I got out of the clinic, and I might even take a nap soon after that. My body is understandably craving those few hours of rest and sleep. These days, both my body and mind favor staying in bed for the entirety of the day while remaining wide awake and restless throughout the night. And at this very moment, all I wanted to do was load myself full with cinnamon rolls and meat buns, along with some fruity, tangy lemonade and perhaps a small ramekin of crème brulee. Perhaps even a large bowl of salad if my stomach has the capacity to still hold it.

I was completely oblivious to anything that was going on around me as I fumbled and tried to search for my car keys in my purse. "What the heck am I going to do if I can't find my keys this time?" I murmured under my breath as I rummaged through the other pocket on the interior of my purse.

I thought I had looked everywhere for my keys, but when I checked the side pockets of my purse, I found that they had been hiding in plain sight the whole time. I had been rummaging through my purse placed on top of the hood of my car, and I was so thrilled that I had finally found it after about five minutes of frantically searching when I heard an extremely loud and ear-splitting screech of automobile tires coming from the opposite side of the parking lot, where the ramp for cars that were supposed to get to the upper level was situated. The sound was too close for comfort. It took just a few seconds, but a massive silver truck emerged out of the ramp and headed straight for me and the spot where I had parked my car. I had parked there on purpose so that I could easily reach the ramp when I got out of my car. Unfortunately, this is no longer a good idea with the truck ramming straight at me.

My eyes widened as I came to the realization that I was about to be crushed between that speeding truck and my car. The runaway truck doesn't appear to have its driver in the front seat anymore, which is consistent with the fact that it is traveling at a high rate of speed with indications of slowing down at any moment.

My little baby!

My body seemed to wake up from the thought fog I was currently captivated with, and I attempted to move it while I instinctively understood that it was already too late. I won't make it out of here alive, and dread has simply further paralyzed my body to the point where it has just stopped functioning.

I felt two steel-like arms snatch me from where I stood and carry me, with one of his arms supporting my back and the other underneath my legs. With his back turned towards the running truck, he placed me up on the hood of my car, protecting my entire body as he made sure that I had my legs curled up as he placed both of his hands around me. He then turned his back towards the truck and held me. At this point, I knew that this tragedy had come to an end, so I closed my eyes.

I'm going to die in this parking lot, and I'll never see my child or any of the children I desired.

I shed a tear. I was shaking with panic, and I could feel his arms clenching around me more tightly.

He whispered, "Don't be afraid; I'm here, baby." The man grabbed me in his arms and racked me back and forth while cooing gently, almost like he wanted to comfort me despite the imminent death of the two of us. I didn't even understand why he would be here, sheltering me and giving me comfort, when he could have left me to die and saved himself. How did he even get here so fast?

Despite my confusion and questions, I held on to him for dear life and held my breath while I waited. And kept quiet. And I prayed hard, my heart beating so fast that I was sure the man could hear them well.

I did hear a crash as well as the unbelievable sound of metal cracking and creaking, but for some reason, my body felt like it was still intact, and I can confirm that I am still breathing. I am still engulfed in the hug of a complete stranger, and for some inexplicable reason, I felt so secure in his arms that I didn't want him to let go of me. In fact, I don't want to let him go either.

After a few seconds, I cautiously opened my eyes and tried to see past his shoulders before I realized what I was seeing: the front end of the vehicle had been severely damaged and was no longer completely whole. The truck was several yards off the side, and a few cars were crushed and dented by the truck, which got the most damage.

"How did you..." I asked, looking at the rampage and his form, when realization struck. "You saved me and my baby." I mumbled my thoughts, tears running unconsciously from my eyes to the point that I could not even make out his speed anymore.

"I've got you, baby," he whispered. "I always have you."

That was the very last thing I heard before everything around me went completely dark.