Axle

"Eric, you're late. I hope she–" Chloe paused mid-sentence, horror filling her face.

"What?"

I waited with bated breath. Her eyes ran wild from side to side.

"Where? I'm on my way." Hanging up the phone, she begins to tremble, liquid bursting from her eyes.

Eyes widening. "Chloe, what happened?"

"Shell. She's– She's in the hospital." Her hands rested on her forehead.

"What?" Jade's voice fills with concern.

"Something about Maddy drugging them and Shelly not– not breathing." Her legs gave out from under her. I apprehend her before her body smashes on the wooden floor.

"Jade, grab her purse. We'll take my car." I instruct Jade as I coil my arms around Chloe's fragile physique. Kissing the crown of her head, I attempt to soothe her in any way I can.

"You'll be okay, Baby. We'll find out what happened. We're headed to the hospital now." I voice to her as we enter the hallway. Swaddling her, I crave to shield her from all the anguish in this god-forsaken world. Why is this her destiny? To what end will this all cease to torture her?

"I– I can't, Axle. Nnot her. She's my– my sister. I– I need her. She's the– last one." Her eyes redden, waterlogged and swollen. She nestles into my chest, soaking my shirt. Her words shatter my heart, triggering a horrific ache to throb in my chest. My eyes fall closed as I beg. Please, Shelly, pull through. Your sister needs you. 

Chloe

Arriving at the hospital, I'm hesitant to enter. I require her presence in my life. There is no other option but for her full recovery. She's all that remains of my family. Her baby will be an extension of our family. They both must survive. What type of life will it be without her presence? I'm terrified. Survival without her is inconceivable.

"Chloe." Axle's voice steadies my nerves, bringing me out of the chaos in my head. Leaping out of the backseat, I stampede past the automatic doors, heading straight for the information desk.

"Shelly Daye was brought in here. Where is she?"

"Hi. Who are you looking for?"

"Shelly Daye."

"And you are?"

"Her sister." I expel with more brashness than intended.

With a look of disdain, she replies. "Can I please have your ID?"

Why do they care so much about ID's at a time like this? "Here." Axle handed me my purse. Digging inside, I acquired my ID and gave it to her. "Please, where is she? I was told she wasn't breathing."

Her fingers continued to push the buttons and scan my ID, which felt like hours when her voice finally vibrated in my ear.

"According to the computer, she is in the OR. She was taken in immediately as she came in. You can head up to the fifth floor. Follow that hall to the elevator. Once you reach the fifth floor, turn right, then left. There will be the family waiting room. The doctor will see you once he has completed the surgery."

Grasping my sticker, I slap it on my chest, darting towards the elevator, utterly oblivious to Axle and Jade's whereabouts. My sole purpose is to be by her side when she awakens. Why do elevators move at the rate of molasses when it's imperative to arrive at a moment's notice? Axle appears beside me as the elevator takes ages to separate its doors. Just as the elevator patrons exit, Jade hustles to our side.

Riding the elevator up, Axle interlaces our fingers, gripping tight, lifting our unified appendages to his supple lips, placing a delicate kiss on the back of my palm. Shivers radiate throughout my whole body. His touch and kiss envelop me in our love, but for some awful reason, his love is not reassuring this time. My gut is filled with dread.

Arriving on the floor, I followed the directions but required answers to the burning question. Are Shelly and the baby okay? I rush to the nurse's station to inquire. Axle never breaks our connection following suit.

"Hi, is Shelly Daye out of surgery."

"And you are?

Ugh! This question again! As if I could have gotten through the first floor without answering this question. "Her sister."

The nurse scans her computer screen. "She's still in surgery. You can wait in the family waiting room around the corner."

Fucking shit! Waiting is one of the most torturous things a person can encounter in such dire times. I slug all the way to the waiting area, where Jade is already pacing back and forth.

When I come into view, she desperately inquires. "Anything?" Hands fly to mid-chest to emphasize its importance.

Shrugging my shoulders, my head moves back and forth as I slump into one of the seats with Axle by my side. He plops beside me, reassuring me in my most desperate time of need. Laying my head on his shoulder, he reacts with a kiss to the crown of my head. I take a deep, lung-filling breath and sigh, overwhelmed with today's events. Not even his scent can soothe my nerves. Today has to end on a happy note after all of this. It's imperative for my continued existence.

Time slugs by at the rate of aged crystalized honey. Why is it when it is the most crucial time that it halts just to drive you to the brink of insanity? Just as my eyelids grow heavy, Eric's voice awakens my senses.

"Axe, any news?" He storms in, revealing his exhausted state.

Before Axle could respond, I lunged out of my seat, gunning towards Eric, halting in front of his face. "What the hell happened? Why was Shelly not breathing?"

"Chloe I– it's hard." He stammers to respond.

"It's hard to what?" I provoke for more.

"EXPLAIN!" His voice is octaves higher.

"Then find the words!" I lash out.

"Chloe, I– I don't know where to start." His voice cracked.

"The beginning!" I spit with venom.

"Chloe, I– I can't."

"You better try. Start spilling your guts now." My anger bursts through, triggering my finger to fly in his face.

Shaking his head from side to side, his eyes seal shut.

"ERIC!" I roar from the pit of my stomach.

"I can't, Chloe! It's–"

"It's what!" I roar like a lion speaking to its Pride.

"Too horrible to put in words!"

My eyebrows furrow, slicing my eyes in confusion. "What the hell talking about? What happened?"

"Chloe, please."

"Enough, Eric! Spit it out!" I demand a response.

"I can't."

"Eric, so help me–"

"Ms. Knox?"

Twisting my head, the doctor comes into view. Eric becomes an afterthought.

"Yes, doctor." I rush to his side.

He remains silent, face stoic, when a hint of sorrow glistens in his eyes.

My head vibrates in disbelief. No, this can't be.

"I'm sorry Ms. Knox. She didn't make it. We did everything we could, but the drug already stopped her heart by the time she arrived."

"What? No! There must be some sort of mistake." This is unbelievable. This cannot be.

"I'm sorry again Ms. Knox."

"Wait! The baby?"

The doctor's eyes seal shut. "Again, my deepest condolences." He takes his leave.

Shutting my eyes, my whole world begins to crumble before my eyes. Not her. Why? And the baby. She was my conscience, my arrow that kept me straight—the one person who knew me through and through.

"This can't be happening." My legs begin to wobble, my eyes haze over."

"Chloe!" Axle's formidable arms capture my weakening body. How can this be? I have to be dreaming. I must be in a horrid nightmare simulating as my life.

"Chloe baby. Please open your eyes, baby."

"NO!" Jade wails in response.

Screeching from the chair triggers my eyes to open. Eric falls onto the wall. "Shelly." He barely whispers. "A baby?" Seeing him heartbroken enrages my soul. This is all his fault! The anger within me gives me the strength to get up and face him.

Rising to my feet, I charge towards him. Rage fuels my emotions. "What Happened!" Face to face, I peer into his swollen, reddened orbs. Sob after sob is all he releases.

Outrage filters through me. My hand bolts backward with lightning speed, flying forward, palm connecting with his stubbled face.

"Start talking! Why were there drugs in her system?" I wail at the top of my lungs.

"Baby?" Eric seers into my wrathful eyes.

"Yes! Baby! She was pregnant, you asshole! With your baby! She went to tell you when she got your text asking her to come over."

His eyes whip in my direction. "What? I never text her." He whispers.

Shaking my head in slight movements back and forth, rage consumes me once again. All I view is red. My hands fly to connect with Eric one after another, releasing my tormented agony upon his physique. Rapid movements seize my arms, along with wails of grief unleashing into the atmosphere.

Hit after hit meets his flesh as his arms protect his face. He doesn't halt my actions. Instead, he allows my discharge of excruciating pain when Axle lifts me from the floor, embraces me, and whispers to me.

"Baby, baby. Please just listen to my voice." He cradles me, placing kisses on the crown of my head. Tears sprouted from the corners of my eyes in an endless stream, moistening his shirt and plastering it to his bulky chest.

Uncontrollable wails of excruciating pain emanate in the air between myself and Jade. I soar to her side, pulling Axle along to encase all of us in a warming embrace.

Peering over Axle's formidable arms, I view Eric in agony, and the only sentiment I have for him is– abhorrence, extreme abhorrence. 

~~~

Shelly and the baby didn't make it. 😭

Eric found out she was pregnant. 

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