Chapter 8 - The Cornered Rat
I scrambled backward on the dusty bed, pressing my back against the cold concrete wall.
"Stay away from me!" I screamed, kicking out blindly.
Aaron simply smiled, that perfectly practiced, patient smile that used to make me feel safe.
"Anna, please stop this hysterical behavior, it is bad for the baby's heart rate," he scolded gently.
"You are insane," I spat, my voice shaking with raw hatred.
"You put a machine inside me, you poisoned me!"
Sylvia stepped forward, holding the silver cup tightly in her manicured hands.
"We did not poison you, dear, we elevated you," Sylvia corrected smoothly.
"The Mitchell bloodline requires perfection, and your genetics were woefully inadequate."
"The serum was simply optimizing the fetus, ensuring my grandson is a prodigy."
Aaron tapped the syringe, flicking the needle to remove an air bubble.
"Unfortunately, Dr. Reed removed the port, which means we have to finish the induction manually."
"You are going to have the baby tonight, Anna."
"No!" I screamed, desperately looking around for a weapon.
There was nothing but dust and old linens.
Aaron grabbed my ankle, his grip like a steel trap, dragging me closer to the edge of the bed.
"Do not fight me, Anna, I am a doctor, I know exactly how to make this painless," he whispered.
I kicked him squarely in the chest with my free foot, knocking the breath out of him.
He stumbled backward, dropping the syringe onto the dirty floor.
His face flushed with sudden, uncontrolled rage.
"You stupid, ungrateful bitch," he snarled, raising his hand to strike me.
Before his hand could connect with my face, a heavy metal fire extinguisher smashed into the back of his head.
Aaron collapsed instantly, hitting the floor like a sack of bricks.
Dr. Reed stood behind him, chest heaving, holding the red metal cylinder.
Sylvia screamed, dropping the silver cup, the dark liquid spilling across the floorboards.
She lunged at Dr. Reed with surprising speed, her fingernails clawing at the doctor's face.
The two women fell to the ground, struggling violently in the dust.
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I knew I had to act.
I rolled off the bed, ignoring the sharp pain in my side, and grabbed the heavy pistol Aaron had dropped.
