THE OPEN SECRET

Chapter One -The Night Everything Changed

The rain had finally stopped, leaving the streets glistening beneath the yellow glow of the streetlights. Water trickled along the edges of the road as cars passed by, their tires hissing against the wet tar. Inside a silver Toyota Corolla, Mwansa gripped the steering wheel until her knuckles turned white. A sharp pain ripped through her abdomen. "Ahhh!"

She doubled over, fighting for breath as another contraction tightened around her body." No... not yet," she whispered through gritted teeth. Her due date wasn't for another two weeks. This wasn't supposed to happen. Not tonight. She glanced through the windscreen.

The bright red sign reading EMERGENCY appeared in the distance. Relief flooded her tired eyes.

"Just a little further," she murmured, resting one trembling hand on her swollen stomach. "Mama's trying." As if answering her, the baby kicked. A small smile broke through the pain. "I know, baby. We're almost there." Another contraction slammed into her.

The steering wheel almost slipped from her hands. Tears blurred her vision. She blinked them away and forced herself to stay focused. The hospital gates opened before her. A security guard took one look at her pale face and immediately waved her through. She barely remembered parking. Everything became a blur. The engine stopped. Silence filled the car. For one brief second, she closed her eyes. Then pain exploded through her body. She screamed, with shaking hands, she pushed the driver's door open and the cold air rushed over her skin. She swung one leg out and then the other. The moment she tried to stand, her knees buckled beneath her.

She crashed onto the wet pavement.The impact stole what little breath she had left."No..."She crawled forward towards the emergency entrance which was only a few meters away.

Doctors, nurses, patients. People walked in and out beneath the bright hospital lights and yet no one noticed her.

"Please..." Her voice was barely a whisper as she stretched out her hand. "Help..." Another contraction forced a cry from her lips.

She squeezed her eyes shut."I can't..." Hot tears rolled down her cheeks. For the first time in her life.She was truly afraid but Not for herself she was afraid for her baby. She felt a strange feeling settled over her, like someone was watching. Slowly, she lifted her head and turned to the left and there standing beneath a flickering streetlamp was a man dressed in black. His long coat swayed gently in the breeze. He stood perfectly still watching and waiting. She couldn't see his face clearly but his eyes where a Silver she had never seen before. Cold and calculating, some might even say beautiful. Yet they looked and felt strangely familiar.Her heartbeat slowed. She didn't know why...But she felt safe looking at him.As though she'd known him once a Long ago or even in another life.

She stretched her trembling hand toward him. "Please..."Her voice cracked.

"Sir..."

"I beg you..."

"Help me..."

Darkness swallowed her before she heard an answer.

•••

Michael stood frozen. His body screamed at him to move, to run and catch her. Carry her inside and save her. Instead... He remained exactly where he was. His jaw clenched so tightly it hurt.

The King's words echoed inside his mind.

Observe.

Protect the prophecy.

Do not interfere.

Watching an innocent woman collapse went against everything he believed as a warrior. Yet he couldn't move. Not if he wanted to live. The hospital doors finally burst open.

"Oh my God!"

"She's pregnant!"

"Quick! Bring a stretcher!"

Within seconds doctors and nurses surrounded her. Michael stepped back into the shadows and watched silently as they lifted Mwansa onto a stretcher.

"Blood pressure is dropping."

"We're losing her."

"The baby's coming."

"Move!"

The stretcher disappeared through the emergency doors. Michael followed at a distance.To everyone else...He was just another worried visitor. No one paid him any attention. He preferred it that way. The smell of antiseptic filled the hospital corridors. Doctors hurried from one ward to another with machines beeped endlessly. Families prayed quietly outside closed doors.

Michael followed until the stretcher disappeared behind a pair of heavy double doors.

Above them a red light switched on.

OPERATING THEATRE

His heartbeat quickened.

"No..."

He whispered the word to himself.

"If they operate..."

He ran a hand through his dark hair.

"This changes everything."

Failure wasn't an option on his Earth Z.If the child was born tonight, it meant that the prophecy would begin. And if the prophecy began... The King would know he had failed. Failure meant only one thing. Death while he was still lost in thought, a firm hand landed on his shoulder. Michael spun around instantly ready to fight anything. Blue energy flashed beneath his skin before disappearing just as quickly. Standing behind him was someone he never expected to see. His eyes widened.

"Chola?"

The Oracle looked exhausted, and his breathing was uneven. Dark circles surrounded his eyes.

"You shouldn't be here," Michael whispered.

Chola looked towards the operating theater before meeting Michael's gaze.

"I know."

His voice was barely above a whisper.

"But the prophecy..."

He swallowed hard.

"...has changed."

Michael's heart pounded against his chest.

"Chola?"

The Oracle looked nothing like the confident man Michael had left behind in Earth Z. His breathing was uneven and he had dark circles rested beneath his eyes. Even his normally neat robes were stained with dust.

"You shouldn't be here," Michael said, lowering his voice.

"You know the laws."

"I do."

Chola's gaze drifted towards the operating theater.

"The laws don't matter anymore."

Michael frowned.

"What do you mean?"

"We need somewhere private."

Michael hesitated.

Every second they wasted brought Mwansa closer to surgery.

"They're preparing her now."

"I know."

"If they operate—"

"They will."

Chola interrupted him before taking another glance around the corridor.

"There isn't much time."

Michael finally nodded.

"Follow me."

The two men walked quickly down the hallway until they reached an empty consultation room. Michael quietly locked the door behind them. The room fell silent and for several moments, neither man spoke. Then like children who has done something mischievous, they burst into laughter. The tension that had been building between them melted away. Michael shook his head.

"I haven't seen you in years."

"And yet," Chola chuckled, "the first thing you do is point magic at me."

"You nearly gave me a heart attack."

"I could say the same."

The laughter slowly faded and reality returned. Michael leaned against the wall.

"Now tell me why you're here."

Chola's smile disappeared.

"I had another vision."

Michael's stomach tightened.

"You saw the prophecy?"

"I saw... something different."

Michael folded his arms.

"I'm listening."

"The future changed."

Those four words drained the color from Michael's face.

"That's impossible."

"I thought so too."

"The future has always been fixed."

Chola slowly shook his head.

"Not anymore."

Michael stared at him.

"The child was never meant to be born tonight."

"I know."

"But she is."

"And once she's born..."

Chola looked directly into Michael's eyes.

"Everything begins."

Silence settled between them. Michael turned away.

"This wasn't part of the King's plan."

"No."

"It wasn't."

"He'll have my head."

Chola sighed.

"He'll have both our heads if we fail."

Michael rubbed his temples.

"What exactly did you see?"

The Oracle closed his eyes.

"I can't tell you everything."

"You know the cost."

Michael nodded as he understood that every vision Chola shared shortened his life.

He had already sacrificed more years than anyone knew.

"I saw two worlds burning."

Michael remained silent.

"I saw the royal palace covered in blood."

His breathing became heavier.

"I saw a crown..."

"...lying on the ground."

Michael slowly lifted his head.

"And?"

Chola swallowed.

"I saw a child standing between both worlds."

"The child?"

"Mwansa's child."

Michael's eyes widened.

"The child shouldn't even exist."

"I know."

"But it does."

"And that's why I'm here."

Michael walked towards the window. Rain began falling once more outside. Tiny drops rolled down the glass.

"The King sent me here to observe."

"He believes the prophecy can still be controlled."

Chola gave a humourless laugh.

"No prophecy has ever been controlled."

Michael closed his eyes.

"What do we do?"

"For now..."

"We wait."

Before Michael could answer... A loud alarm echoed through the hospital, causing both men to look towards the corridor leading to the theater.

Doctors and nurses suddenly rushed past the room. One nurse shouted as she ran.

"We're losing the baby!"

Another voice answered.

"No pulse!"

"Get Dr. Banda!"

Michael's heart nearly stopped. He looked back at Chola. The Oracle had gone completely still and his face had turned deathly pale.

"What is it?"

Chola didn't answer.

"What did you see?"

Still nothing.

Michael grabbed his shoulder.

"Chola!"

The Oracle slowly lifted his eyes.Fear. Pure fear.

"I've seen this before."

Michael frowned.

"What?"

Chola's voice was barely a whisper.

"The prophecy..."

"...has already begun."

The operating theater doors burst open. A doctor rushed into the corridor.

"We need more blood!"

"Now!"

Michael instinctively took a step forward. For the first time since arriving at the hospital...He ignored the King's orders.If Mwansa or the child died tonight then There would be nothing left to protect.