This chapter contains content that might be a trigger for some readers, and I apologize if it does affect you.
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      A loud banging jolted me from my sleep. My head was pounding and my mind dizzy, I sat up. The house was quiet and the air stale. My body ached as I sat up on the couch. I hadn't even made it to my bed last night, just curled up on the couch from exhaustion.

Three weeks have passed, and I've not spoken to Leslie or Arthur. Leslie doesn't even look at me anymore; she stares past me when I ask her to do something at the store. It's odd not knowing about anything happening in your best friend's life, but I know that even if Arthur has disappeared, I'm still wrapped up in his world and his enemies. I wish I could tell Leslie everything.

The banging sounded again, and I got up and walked to the window my joints tight. Outside, in the tree lines behind my house, I could see construction men. The banging was deeper into the woods and echoed. Anger swelled up, and I marched outside just as one of the construction men exited the woods.

"Why the fuck are you in my yard?" I hollered at the unsuspecting man. His eyes widen, and he stepped back ducking his head. His eyes had settled behind me, and I turned to see Yvette smiling at me.

"We were able to get the last two signatures, and the project was greenlit, I realize that we should have let you know earlier, but..." her voice trailed off as another man came out of the tree lines.

All the men were huge and tall and very lithe like, they seemed to be struggling with the work, everyone was sweating profusely. Yvette turned her body towards the man, cutting me off from the conversation but I could hear some of it.

"...need water..."

"Take....hour..."

I gave Yvette a strained smile I excused myself and hurried to my house. I locked the back door and studied the men from my kitchen window. My eyebrow raised as I watched them. Arthur had told me that even if he's half human, he still goes through withdrawals. Where any other Atlantean would have horrible migraines, cold sweat, and delusions, he gets headaches and is tired. Some of the first signs are severe agitation, dry mouth, and excessive thirst.

Knowing who Yvette could be, I wouldn't put it past her that the men she's recruited are defectors of Atlantis. Quickly, I hurried upstairs to dress. As I pulled on my black jeans someone banged on my door downstairs. Startled, I slipped on my tennis shoes and a black shirt and made my way downstairs until the banging came again from the back of my house now.

My heart sped up, and my mind raced with what this possibly could be, but a voice rose above all the noise when I opened my front door.

"Sorry about that ma'am! My men have placed their equipment against your house. No worries, I've told them to move 'em." It was the one who had spoken to Yvette.

I nodded and walked briskly to my car. Once inside I threw my bag into the passenger seat and grabbed my cell quickly dialing Arthur's number. I may still be angry with him, but I'd have to set it all aside because he's the only one who could help. I held the phone to my ear and listened to it ring before his recorded voice greeted me.

"Where is he, Ingrid?" Yvette's voice demanded, and I glanced up to see her standing in front of my car her face dark and menacing. Dropping my phone, I pushed my key into the ignition and quickly started my car. Panic was rising in my throat as my car sputtered to a weak start. Before me, almost out of thin air, Dark Water appeared. His body slick and gross towered next to Yvette.

"Tell me where Arthur is, and I won't hurt you."

Not liking my odds or her demands I backed out of my driveway and sped away. My fingers tight on the steering wheel as I raced to the pier. Almost not waiting for my car to park I bolted and ran down to the dock. The wind was strong this high up as I ran to where I had fallen in months ago.

"Arthur?!" I screamed at the water. I hoped this worked. Yelling at the water like a madman wasn't going to get his help, I needed to jump.

"Ok, Ingrid, you can do this." I shook out my nerves and stood on the edge, ready. My body jumped into the air but never made it to the water. A searing pain exploded into my shoulder as it popped out of its socket from the force. I was thrown through the sky. A scream escaped my lips as my back collided with the side of the Lighthouse. Gasping, I tried to sit up.

"I can't let you do that." Before me two images of Yvette slowly became one as she stalked towards me, Dark Water slithered after her, "I know he's found it. I can feel it,"

Yvette smiled slyly and kneeled in front of me sweeping my curly hair from my face, "He'll come for you."

"I'm not going with you." I spat.

"You say that like you have a choice," her sharp eyes glanced at the being behind her, "I'll give you a head start."

Astonished, I watched her step away from me and held out her hand, "Take it, dear."

Wincing, I placed my clammy hand into hers, and she pulled me up, her words loud and heavy, "I do love a good chase. Now run."

• • •

My back collided with the hard cold floor. Blinking through the pain, I rolled over to my side, instinctively. They had caught me seconds into the chase. Dark Waters talon had wrapped around my shoulder again and pulled me, screaming, across the pier to the boat I had seen days prior. The boat I had said I'd never get on.

Now to try to break me Yvette left me in a room with two of her most prominent men. A steady hand pulled me from the ground by my shirt, my feet dangling. He stared at me with such pretty blue eyes I almost thought it could be Arthur. The peaceful moment was shattered when he threw me across the room, again. Through the pain, I gasped out a laugh, "Keep throwing me around like that and I'll be dead not even ten minutes into your torture."

Groaning, I wiped the blood from my mouth and glared at the two men. They exchanged looks, and one nodded before the other grabbed the steel chair and rope across the room.

"Oh? Is the interrogation next? This should be fun- ow, not so rough!" I cried as one pulled me up from the floor with a grip so intense I thought my arm would snap.

They tied me to the chair and exited the room.
The chair seemed to zap all the adrenaline keeping the pain somewhat at bay because now I could barely see. Excruciating pain pulsed from every part of my body. My head screamed at me to shut my eyes and sleep, but a new pain barreled through my body. It was thick and sharp.

"Ah." My breathing quickened as I tried to breath through it, but I only began to hyperventilate.

The door opened, and through tears, I saw Yvette swing her hand towards me.

• • •

A slap pulled me from my sleep, and I snapped my eyes open. I was still tied to the chair, even on this stupid boat and still in pain. Yvette was sitting across from me; her face looked sorry for me. Confused, I tried to speak, but my voice was hoarse and my throat dry. A metal straw was placed to my lips, and I locked eyes with Yvette. The water was cold and refreshing and coated my throat soothing it. She pulled the straw away and held the cup in her hands.

"Thank you." I croaked.

"Don't thank me, I know what that feels like, and I don't wish it upon anybody, not even you."

Yvette's voice was filled with emotion, and I caught how her eyes glanced at my lower body.

"What?" I gasped, but she didn't answer just pulled the chair she was sitting in across the room and left. The door shut with a loud bang and I grimaced. Confused, I let my eyes travel over my body. My shoulder was dislocated, and I had large nail like wounds where Dark Water had attacked me. The sensation of the attack reminded me of the dream. My gaze lingered on my wrists, and they had oddly untied my hands. A long sharp pain bloomed in my lower abdomen, and I nearly doubled over.

A scream escaped my lips, and I clenched my teeth as another barreled through me. There was a weird squish sound, and I strained in my chair and against my ties as blood seeped between my legs.

Instantly my breath stopped, and I reached down and brought up blood-soaked fingers. My mind tried to make sense of it all, then I realized I had missed my period, and Leslie had even made a joke about it, but I never also thought for a minute that this could be a reality.

"What? Oh my God." I sucked in as another wave of pain tore through my uterus. I could feel the blood seeping from me now. Fast and heavy it pooled between my legs and dropped to the floor, I could hear it slap heavily against the floor with a plop. The pain seemed to only intensify at my realization. I was finally acknowledging something I should have known, just a hair too late.

"Oh my God." I gasped and screamed. No words forming just pure agony and shock escaped my lips.

I was having a miscarriage.

I had been pregnant with Arthur's child.