d through Isadora's hazy consciousness. A mask was pressed over h

opping fast!" a voice shout

n. The world dissolved into a vortex of pain and muffled sounds.

her

across her abdomen made her arch her back, a screa

ntless shriek of the hea

Get the paddles

r. Her body convulsed on the table. For a momen

wavering cry.

He's small, but

, then settled into a weak, thready

, this one

t her to th

n he froze, "Wait. I feel another

actions seemed to indicate that he already

The third baby, another boy, was deliver

top the bleeding, a nurse with cold eyes exchanged a look

surgeon announced, his voice devoid

form. In one fluid motion, she placed him in the bottom of a medical waste cart and covered him with soiled linens. From the same cart, s

than ten seconds. A life stole

her three children were already under Elmira's watchful eye. In this operati

ears

ine office. Isadora sat perfectly still, her hands cl

" she asked, her voi

ck file across his mahogany desk. "I'm sorry, Isadora. We've searched e

her lungs. Her nails dug into her palms, leaving deep c

displaying a complex genetic map. "A sibling's cord bloo

fragile. Her system couldn't handle

left. You can either use the child's biological father's blood, or have another child with the biological father an

ical f

ry of a cold voice on the phone, the scent of blood and antiseptic, the crushing weight of betrayal.

r scraping violently against t

died during surgery. Of the three children she gave birth to, only two sur

six years, he've spent most of his time in the hospital. He never experienced the jo

nate. "Leo's leukemia is aggressive. The last round of

her chair, covering he

have allowed the children to be bor

ve as a blood donor for his brother. That would be extremely cruel

d her hands. The vulnerability in her e

r voice chillingly calm, "how much of a

e is all that's needed. But the legalities are... complex. It wou

Isadora's lips. "I'm a lawyer, D

ave Julian's DNA tested, in order to find a way to get him to save Leo. But if there was an

o her bag, and walked out of t

er bedroom creaked open. Six-year-old Mia stood there, cl

om

her daughter into a fierce hug, burying her face i

her small voice muffled

ot through Isadora. "He's in his room,

he other end of the apartment. She stood before a th

cross the keyboard, his expression one of intense concentration. He was in the final round of a global hac

rustration crossed his small, serious face. He had lo

e on the screen. Before meeting this person, he had never lost. He thou

been out of the isolation room for a few days, a brief respite, befo

gave her a smile-weak, but so full of love and und

hostly image superimposed over her son. Her fingers trembled, but h

open a drawer and removed a dark red passport

r

face the devil himself. She