The next day

The next morning I awoke to find her crying out in pain. I rushed to her side to find her attempting to walk to the kitchen. I was shocked when I saw that her state had degraded further. She was barley able to hold her head up.

“Aunt Mel what are you trying to do?” I asked as I walked up to her.

“I know it sounds odd but the baby was hungry.” She replied

“Really?” I replied.

“Yeah for raw meat.” She replied weakly.

“That’s an off craving Aunt Mel.” I said.

“I know but I keep hearing a chant.” She explained weakly.

“Wait we heard chanting that night of the demonic pregnancy had transpired.” I replied

“Ah, it slipped my mind Angel. Blame it on the pregnant brain.” She said weakly, “Angel I noticed I’ve gotten so pale. I need to get some sun.”

“Why don’t we go out onto the porch, I’ll help you.” I said. Again I slowly took her weight onto my shoulders. We made our way to the porch. We found ourselves in the warm summer air. Melanie rested on the swing and I sat with her.

“Angel it’s so warm out here. “She said sadly but weakly.

“What’s wrong Aunt Mel?” I asked

“Angel I’m afraid I may die.” She replied weakly.

“No you’re not. I’ll make sure of it.” I promised.

"Angel I need some water.” She said weakly.

“Ok I have some here for you.” I said holding the cup for her. She desperately tried to lean up for a drink, but to her dismay she fell back. So I held her head up so that she could have her drink in comfort. Soon enough her thirst was quenched. However, the exercise weakened her even more.

“Is that better Aunt Mel?” I asked wiping the water from her lip.

“Yeah that’s much better. Thank you Angel.” She replied weakly.

“Aunt Mel do you fell better now that we’re out doors?” I asked

“Fresh air does the body good. But it’s a bit nippy.” She replied weakly.

“Here maybe this will help.” I said talking off my jacket and draping it over her shoulders.

“Ahh that’s much better Angel, thank you.” She replied weakly snuggling up into the garment, “Angel can you help me sit up?”

“Sure Aunt Mel.” I said offering her my arm, “You want to go back inside?”

“Yeah, that’s a good idea Angel; it’s much warmer in the house.” She replied weakly.

“Ok lets go.” I said. I threw her arm over my shoulder and we walked back into the house. I helped her back into the bed. Then it hit me, a bath would be relaxing. Once I got her to the bed, she shifted in discomfort. Suddenly she sat up, she screamed and gasped. Then as the pain had came, it stopped she was relaxed.

“Aunt Mel what’s wrong?” I asked concerned beginning to rub her back.

“It feels like the bloody thing’s eating me alive.” She said weakly.

“You gonna be ok?” I asked with my voice crackling.

“I don’t know Angel.” She replied weakly. Seeing her like this beleaguered state overwhelmed me. I nodded and the tears came. Now I was baling like a baby. Then she reached up the best she could and grabbed my hand.

“Angel don’t cry.” She said weakly.

“I know but I can’t help it Aunt Mel, I’m worried.” I sobbed.

“Don’t worry Angel. I’ll be fine.” She said weakly. Thinking a warm bath would help her I ran to the bathroom and started the water. I ran my fingers though to check its temperature. To my surprise it was perfectly warm.

“Angel where did you get the idea for a bath?” Melanie asked weakly

“It came to me from Twilight: Breaking Dawn part 1” I replied.

“Well it’s a great idea Angel.” She said. So I helped her undress and enter the tub. After I knew she was comfortable I decided to give her some privacy. Soon enough she was done.

“Angel can you help me out?” She asked weakly.

“Sure.” I said raising her out of the tub and helping her wrap herself in a towel.

“Thank you Angel.” She said sweetly but weakly.  After helping her get dressed I got her in the bed. However no sooner had her head hit the pillow the doorbell rang. I helped Melanie cover herself up and went to answer it. To my surprise the cast of JCS were there. Andrew and Ben brought flowers.

“Hello Janie, is Mel in?” Ben asked.

“Yeah but she’s resting.” I replied.

“Well we wanted to surprise our leading lady.” Andrew added.

“Can we see her please?” Ben asked.

“I guess.” I replied

“Angel who is that?” Melanie asked weakly.

“The cast came to visit.” I replied.

“Ah please send them in.” She said weakly. When they walked into the room the mood shifted. It was as if the well wishes had given her energy. They talked as if they were just hanging out.  It was nice. For a while she seemed happy.

“Mel are you gonna be ok?” Ben asked, “We’re getting worried.”

“I’m sure I’ll be fine.” She weakly reassured “Angel can I trouble you for some water?”

“Sure it’s no trouble Aunt Mel.” I said heading to the kitchen. When I came back into the room, I found Melanie attempting to sit up. Seeing this I quickly helped her prop up. I stuck the straw in her cup and she drank. It didn’t take her long to finish it.

“Thank you Angel.” She said weakly.

“What’s family for?” I joked.

“This.” She said pulling me into a weak hug.

“Aunt Mel are you sure you’ll be ok?” I asked.

“I know I will. After all I have you caring for me.” She replied weakly confidently.

“Aw Janie you’re so caring.” Ben said.

“Well what do you expect? She’s her niece.” Tim added.

“She’s a great help, grand really. She’s a great nurse.” Melanie said.

“Come on Aunt Mel you’re making me blush.” I exclaimed embarrassed.

“Mel I’ve been concerned about the show.” Andrew said.

“I know Andrew, I’m sorry. The show needs me but I can’t help this.” Melanie said.

“Mel as a fan I’m worried. I noticed how weak you are and I just wanna see you better.” Ben said.

“Yeah our hearts are with you Melanie. You’re more important then any play.” Andrew added. Suddenly she started to spasm in pain. She gasped as she leaned up on her arm. She began to whimper as the pain became too much. Then finally she fell back. To my dismay she was completely exhausted.

“Well Mel we’ll pray for you when we rehearse, unfortunately we must go.” Andrew said.

“Yeah it was great seeing you though.” Chris said walking out of the room.

“That was nice of them to come and visit.” I said after they left.

“I know but I need rest.” She agreed.

“Aunt Mel I saw the new costume for your character in JCS for Mary Magdalene, it freaked me out.” I said warmly.

“Honestly me too Angel. It’s weird how we think alike.” She replied weakly. She looked at me. She looked as though she would faint at any moment. I was surprised when she leaned over the edge of the bed and began spitting up blood into the garbage. I was frozen in fear, the baby was killing her. By The look of her pale skin and malnourished body she wouldn’t last much longer.

“An-gel I’m scared.” She said,

“I know I am too.” I said leaning down to hug her, “here I’ll wipe the blood off of you.” I said wiping the blood with a damp cloth.

“Thank you Angel.” She said weakly and she starts rubbing her back, “Angel could you help me sit up? This bed is uncomfortable.”

“Of course.” I said helping her up into a relaxed siting position. Suddenly she froze. Then she shook her head and closed her eyes. She reached for me blindly. I could tell something was wrong with her eyes. As she opened them again, I saw that they were completely glazed over.

“Angel why are there 2 of you?”  She asked weakly.

“Oh no, you’re getting weak enough for double vision.” I said.

“Angel I feel so tired.” She said weakly.

“Ok Aunt Mel just rest you’ll be ok.” I said.

“Please stay and watch over me Angel.” Melanie asked weakly.

“I will Aunt Mel.” I said.

“Thank you.” She said weakly.

“Here this will help you relax.” I said rubbing her back.

“That feels good Angel.” She said sleepy but weakly as she smiled sheepishly up at me. While she slept, I kept my word and watched her. This gave me the chance to see her in this emaciated state. Her skin was so thin I could see her veins though her pale skin. He bones were even visible. The way her skin clung to her bones made her tattoos look slightly deformed. The cross on her left arm was slightly distorted. I couldn’t even make out the calligraphy on the right. The dragon on her right leg was even unrecognizable. It was odd. Furthermore the star on her right hand was more akin to a poorly drawn picture. The one on the left forearm was in worse shape. Her wrist tattoos jutted out due to the bones. This made the malnutrition horrifying evident. She started to talk in her sleep.

“No…no…. please don’t come near me. Please NOO!!!” she said groggy.

“Aunt Mel, wake up.” I said shaking her gently.

“Angel I had the most terrifying dream.” She said sitting up and sobbing.

“What about Aunt Mel?” I asked.

“Well I dreamt that I was being raped by a man in black.” She sobbed.

“That’s terrible.” I said.

“I’ve had it since I got pregnant.” She added.

“You said you’ve had them ever since you got pregnant?” I asked

“Yeah the same dream every night.” She replied weakly.

“Aunt Mel the night you got pregnant I saw a red light enter you’re stomach.” I said.

“Are you serious?” She asked weakly. Suddenly she turned in her bed. Suddenly she began to shake spastically then she began to cough up blood. She leaned over the edge of the bed and began vomited up blood into the garbage. This was horrific to me.

“Aunt Mel are you ok? All that blood looks bad.” I said.

“I’ll be fine Angel.” She replied weakly as she sat up afterwards.

“We can’t let that blood stay there.” I said wiping it away with a damp cloth.

“Thank you Angel.” She said drowsily but weakly. Suddenly my normal instincts took over. I was so use to helping her now that it was natural. I even started humming her song Weak from her 5th album. When I looked at her I saw her face at that moment. She was looking at me like I was crazy.

“Sorry is the humming bothering you Aunt Mel?” I asked.

“No Angel it’s good to hear my favorite niece happy.” She said weakly and flashing a weak smile at me, “one question though Angel, what was that song?”

“It was Weak from your 5th album. You didn’t recognize it?” I asked.

“Ah, it slipped my mind Angel. Blame it on the pregnant brain.” She said weakly.