Until her last breath

Chapter 3

Anise

The florescent lights were blinding and echoes of voices lingered in my head.

The loud sound of a heart monitor rang in my ears. I was still in pain as I lowered my hands to my stomach to feel my bump.

It was flat, I rolled my eyes weakly and scared before opening them.

"My baby?" I muttered trying my best to rise up but a strong arm held me, pinning me down gently.

"He is safe" the voice whispers and I shifted my gaze to see who it was. The detective. There was something about his look that expresses concern.

What's he still doing here? I shoved my hand away from him and pant slowly while pulling out the intravenous fluid from my hand.

"T-take me to my...baby" I said, my voice was barely above a whisper as I struggled to climb down from the bed.

He quickly paced close to stop me, but I won't be at peace until I see my baby.

"You're weak and need rest, I have my eyes on the baby"

I tried to push him away, but I was too fatigued and just ended up holding his arms for support.

"Let me see my baby!!!" I barked with every energy inside me. His eyes searches mine and left with no choice, he assisted me to my child's ward and I found my child in an incubator.

I never wanted this life for him and it shatters my heart.

My tears was a mixture of sadness and hope, the beeping of machines, and the hum from the incubator made a sterile noise but my focus was on the fragile body inside it.

My eyes searched for a sign of improvement and my fingers trace my child's face.

He'd be my hope and no one would take my child from me but then when I'm gone, who would he be handed to?

I shifted my gaze to the detective who was leaning on the door.

He seems exhausted, as though he haven't gotten enough sleep either. His eyes followed me. He made me stay a while with my baby, ordered a meal for me and questioned if I needed anything else.

However, I wouldn't speak to him.

"Why are you doing this?" I questioned immediately he walked me out of my child's ward. His attitude was bizzare to me but he is the only one that showed me kindness since my arrival here.

On the day I got locked up in jail which was two days after my arrest, he left the country for an assignment and just returned.

He stared into my eyes, his gaze soft and enthralling.

"I don't know, but I'm doing this for the baby, he shouldn't be involved in all this right?" he muttered in a low tone.

A sudden ray of hope flushes inside of me, perhaps I'm not alone. If there's anyone to take care of my child when I'm executed, it would be him.

For the first time since 7 months, a smile left my lips.

He drew closer to me. His eyes searches mine and i swallowed hard, jinxed. He exhaled softly and his warm breath poured on my face making me mousey.

"I'd get you out of here, I promise before the execution" he declared with all seriousness but I couldn't tell if I should believe him or not.

I didn't utter a word as that might be an impossible task, I have surrendered to my fate. He locked his fingers with mine, giving me that assurance while stared at him, wearied and wondering what would unfold next.

***

3 months later

I cradled my baby in my arms, his tiny hands grasped my finger as I stared blankly into space. He was a bundle of happiness as I have forgotten my grief for a moment.

I exhaled deeply. My name would be cleared soon, he was working on it and now i believe him, the detective.

Rather than being executed, my case was adjourned because some investigations needed to be carried out, thanks to the detective.

I already had hope in my heart, and I'd be leaving this place with my child. He had made sure I had a room all to myself here with no one troubling me.

It's 3 months now after being discharged, even though I was sad, I'd say his return lighten me up a bit.

While I was lost in thoughts, I suddenly heard some prisoners outside my ward, gossiping.

I wouldn't have been interested if it wasn't relating to the detective. I paced closer to listen.

"News has gotten to us this morning, that detective Zane has been found dead in his house..." A crook voice whispers and I heard a thud on my door.

"I guess it's murder, poor man, he has really worked hard to get innocent people out of prison" another added in a distress tone.

"Anyone involved with inmate 75 ends up in a crucial fate, I am forced to believe she's a witch"

My jaw dropped as I froze where I stood, tears flow down, mingling with the soft whimper of my child who sensed my distress.

It's not true, he can't be dead. He promised to get me out of here.

I gently rocked my baby back and forth as I cradled him tensed. My eyes were dull and lifeless, heavy with the weight of grief.

"Detective" I whispered with trembling lips and my baby looked up at me with wide curious eyes. It was true, he is dead!

Why do bad things only happen to me? I sob in silence, it hurts so much. Who would get me out? I asked myself questions that I couldn't find answers to.

In my arms, my baby stirred reaching out to touch my face and guilt ate me up for not being able to shield my baby from the pain of loss.

Soon, the door of my ward was flung open and I saw the prison warder appear to me like a predator who had been waiting for this moment.

The death of the detective must be goodnews for her because he made sure she was demoted for abusing me but now, she's back to get back at me.

She came with vicious looking prisoners who the detective had charged with heavy task and constrained when he learnt they bullied me.

"Take the baby from her" she instructed immediately and the prisoners dragged my baby away from me roughly.

I fell to the ground while struggling to take my child from their gri

p but my effort was vain, they left with my baby.