eed to tell you about our baby girl,

th curiosity. "Ok

the courage to speak-because what I

-

: TWENTY

frantic, lost in my own helplessness, moving in circles like a man with nowhere left to go. My shirt was wrinkled and damp from swe

any attention. Not o

king lot, slumping against a pillar and starin

h glowing fireflies. I barely had time to react before it engulfe

, only walls lined with what looked like antique lanterns casting an eerie glow. The place felt ancient, surreal. My fee

t the far e

n't or

stared into the void. He wore a long black cloak, gloves, and dark boots. The air a

ly standing before me-silent and imposing. Instinctive

ibrating through the hall. "Your wife is in labor. As we spea

art s

tinued. "The question is...

found no words. My v

ld born to your bloodline. A daughter. She is meant to rule beside me. When she turns twenty, she

silence

d," he said, "you must agre

implications. But at that m

"Please. Just save them. I swear to giv

aised a gloved hand an

in the hospital parking

ke a madman-three days in the same clothes, smelling of sweat and dirt. People s

was giving instructions

ife... she was bleeding heavily during lab

ise, then smiled. "Oh! You

ife," I replied,

incredibly lucky. She pulled through-both mother and child a

e. I let out a jubilant cry tha

fear crep

?" I asked, my voice turning low and firm. "Don't p

ey're both fine. No complications. We ran every t

without warning, startling her. But instea

"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to ruin your uniform

all right. You've

ls?" I asked sudd

e covered everything," she said.

least get his name?

o records of him, and even if we did, we wouldn'

sappointment b

a step back, relief flooding my en

toward the ward-toward

re none of us