The HazeWalker

Standing at the window of the penthouse Joshua had reserved us, I was in awe. I had never seen an urban night that compared to New York's. The skyline, the lights, the shuttered stores. It was December and it was cold. It had snowed the night before and snow covered the tops of the stores, and the brightly lit signs. There was frost on the windows that obscured some of the lighting. It was almost indescribable. I had wanted to visit New York since I was a little girl. Joshua and I were finally expecting our first child and he insisted we visit New York before she was born. I was due any day now, but I couldn’t resist the temptation of this city. Oh how I wish I had. Now we were locked in this room, fearing for our lives, and the life of our unborn child. “Come my love, you must lie down so that we can get started.” Joshua’s voice broke through my thoughts. “Yes dear I’m coming.” I told him as I came away from the window and sat down on the bed. Joshua and I had been followed from our village. I suspect they had been spying on us, waiting for us to go off by ourselves so that they could attack. Joshua was a strong Alpha male, but not strong enough to fight off six walker’s at once. We had noticed them following us since yesterday, and then tonight they had made their move trying to corner us in an alley just off of Time Square. I had been terrified, but not for us for our child. She was so special, one of the most special skinwalkers that would ever live, and we had to protect her. Another tribe had found out about my mothers abilities, and mine. Now they wanted to stop the birth of another one of us fearing what she may be able to do, and wanting to keep the line of the skinwalkers pure. They had said she was an unholy abomination. Our secret had been in our tribe for so many years and we had no idea how it had gotten out, but it had and now we were facing the consequences of the actions of the one who told of our abilities. We had to do the only thing we could think of to keep her safe. Joshua is preparing an IV of pitocin, a drug used to induce labor. I am going to deliver my child, here in the hotel room, and then I will leave her somewhere safe, most likely a church or hospital, whichever one we can find first. This way no one will ever know what or who she is, that is until her instincts lead her home. “Hold still Isabelle.” Joshua said to me as he pushed the IV needle in my arm and easily found the vein. Joshua had been taught by our medicine man when he was a teenager, so that he could assist him if needed. He had delivered a child before and I trusted my husband to do what was necessary to ensure our child's survival. He had stolen a few medications including pitocin and pain medicine, and also the materials from a clinic we had found in the city, and then we had came back here to prepare for the arrival of our baby. An hour later and the contractions were intense. I was trying to breathe how Joshua was telling me, in my nose and out my mouth, but it was hard to think through the pain. Joshua administered Morphine through the IV dulling the pain minimally. “You can do this my love, you are the strongest woman I know.” he encourage as he massaged my back. “It hurts Joshua.” I cried, as I tried to breathe through another contraction. Eight hours later my water had broken and my contractions were a minute a part. It was time to deliver. Joshua washed his hands, my hands and my v****a with antibacterial soap and water. He grabbed a bunch of towels and a bucket of warm water that he sat beside the bed. He then took the shower curtain from the bathroom and placed it under my bottom and spread it over the bed. Joshua stood below me and positioned his hands on my feet holding my legs up and bent at the knee. “Try not to push love, you will hurt yourself, let your body do it for you.” he explained to me as he looked into my eyes trying to relax me. He had been so amazing through this process encouraging, and massaging me. He would check me every hour to see how dilated I was. I know it kills him to see me in pain. There was so much pressure and I wanted to push so bad, but I resisted the urge and panted through my contraction. “I see her head, on your next contraction I need you to push my love” he told me smiling bigger than I had ever seen. He let go of my feet and I held my thighs keeping my legs bent. Another contraction and I pushed with all I had, I could feel Joshua gently guiding her out of the birth canal. It felt as though I was ripping into, but then there she was. Joshua laid her on my chest and belly and we began towling her off, and keeping her warm. Joshua suctioned her mouth and her nose, and stimulated her breathing. Suddenly she let out a loud and strong cry. It was the most beautiful sound I had ever heard. I quickly guided her up to my n****e so she would start feeding, and it would help me to expel the placenta. She latched on immediately. Joshua grabbed the sterilized tools we had taken from the doctor's office and clamped her umbilical cord and cutting straight through it. I then felt another contraction and my placenta expelled from my body. He then grabbed the shower curtain and disposed of it in a trash bag and put a towel underneath me. “I need to give you a couple stitched my strong woman.” he smiled as he rubbed my head. “Okay love.” I answered not being able to take my eyes off of our precious baby girl. Joshua was finally done, and we could adore our beautiful girl. He went about cleaning her with the warm water. She had a head full of hair with tiny white curls everywhere. Her little chubby cheeks and blue eyes were stunning. She had her daddy's mouth, but besides that she was my little twin. A picture of perfection. I was instantly in love with her. “What is her name.” Joshua asked me with tears in his eyes, as he diaped, dressed, and swaddled her. “Eliza, after my mother.” I said with a smile. “Eliza Isabella Baker.” Joshua told her as he rocked her in his arms. It didn’t seem like no time had passed when we knew it was time. We had to leave our beautiful Eliza to keep her safe. Joshua wrapped a padded stomach he had made around my waste making me appear as if I were still pregnant. We then bundled her up and stuck her in a purple duffel bag, that I had picked out for her. She was covered with the pink and purple blanket I had knitted for her throughout my pregnancy. I left a note on top that read This is our precious Eliza, Isabella. Please make sure she is always safe and happy, and that she knows her parents loved her, but had no choice. EI~GA. “Are you ready my love.” Joshua asked as I placed the note inside with Eliza. “No, but I have no choice.” I told him as tears streamed down my face. There is no way for me to ever describe the feeling I had when knowing I had to leave my child behind. “She will be fine, and one day she will find her way back home.” He told me with a smile as he kissed me on the cheek. I noticed him wiping his tears away. “Hopefully we will be waiting.” I said as I looked down at her. “Regardless my love, one day we will meet again.” Joshua said as we both gave her one last kiss. “We love you Eliza.” I told her as Joshua picked her up and we started out the door.