A brutal, dragging pain tore through my lower abdomen. Cold sweat beaded on my forehead. I screamed his name with every ounce of strength I had left.
"Dominic, save me!"
I was shaking with terror, clawing and crawling across the floor, desperate to find a way out for my baby.
Dominic's footsteps faltered again.
He was caught between us, paralyzed with indecision. I bit down on the tip of my tongue to force myself to stay conscious.
"I can't see... please, just save me first?"
I made myself small. I begged. I prayed he would choose me.
But he'd barely taken a few steps before Stephanie's agonized sobbing filled the air again.
Her voice was barely a whisper. "Save our baby." Then she went silent.
The uneven footsteps moved further and further away from me.
Ice flooded my veins. I curled into myself on instinct, wrapping my body around my belly.
A sharp crack split the air, followed by a blast of searing heat.
A burning easel crashed down onto both my hands.
Tears streamed down my face. I writhed and squirmed, dragging my hands free inch by inch.
The skin on the backs of my hands was raw and blistering. When I touched them, all I felt were welts.