Chapter Eight

Marty and Victor had known two months of bliss at their secret location. But all of that changed the day that the baby decided to come. "Victor!" Marty screamed. "It's too soon! I can't lose this baby! This child is all I have of Todd!"

Victor cradled Marty tenderly in his arms. Lovingly, he lay her down upon the bed - the bed where they had made love countless times. Now it would serve as the birthing place of her child. Even though Victor attempted to soothe her, Marty was frantic. The pain was intense and she wanted to save her baby.

"Victor, you gotta get me to the hospital. Please!" Marty was begging.

"I can't. The baby's coming now."

"What?!" she asked in a gasp.

"I will deliver your child," Victor stated.

Although she was frightened, she loved and trusted Victor. She clung to him as her contractions grew stronger. It was as if a great dark cloud were reaching out for her child. The baby didn't want to wait.

~*~o~*~

Irene's contact had let her know that the child was about to be born. She had been waiting and watching. She couldn't wait to get her hands upon that child.

She was seething as she told her henchman to drive her out toward the cabin. "My son will pay for his betrayal!" she screeched. "How dare he take off with Marty?! That baby's blood will be mine... and I will take ALL of it. Every single drop!"

Agent Baker drove at top speed deep into the woods where the little cabin was nestled within the trees. Marty and Victor were just about to get some unexpected visitors at their cozy love-nest and he was certain it would not be pleasant. Not at all. He had worked for Irene long enough to know when a blood-bath was about to occur. After all, it was he who had tampered with Todd's car, making it wreck that day. He had covered his tracks well. He was sure that no one would ever know.

He was a puppet at Irene's command.

~*~o~*~

Marty had been pushing with all her strength as her baby fought to be born. The pain was so intense. In between the excruciating contractions, her mind was on Todd. *I NEED you!* she called out to him with all her heart. *Todd! Make the pain stop!*

She cried out to him, but their connection was gone. She sobbed in sadness, because she needed him more than anything.

As the scalding tears ran down Marty's face in tiny rivers, Victor spoke to her soothingly. "It's okay, sweetheart. I am gonna help you through this..."

Then as if Todd had heard her, Marty gave one final push. The baby was born into Victor's steady hands. To his shock and surprise, he looked down at Marty's child.

"It can't be," he said in disbelief.

"What is it?" Marty asked frantically. "Victor, what's wrong?!"

She couldn't see her baby, but she could hear her child's cry. "Marty, it's..."

Victor didn't get the chance to finish his sentence. Irene and her henchman had burst into the room. Victor looked up, resenting the unwelcome intrusion.

"Victor," Irene said menacingly. "Give me the child!"

When he shook his head, she yelled viciously, "Hand over Todd's son!"

"I'm afraid I can't do that," Victor said as he wrapped the infant in a towel. He cradled the baby against his chest. Marty got her first look at her newborn child.

*My baby!* her heart cried.

Tears were coming fast and the image of the baby blurred. Marty had just given birth. She had lost a lot of blood. She was weak and she was confused. All she wanted was her precious child.

"Victor!" the evil Irene bellowed. She wasn't about to give up. She needed that baby. She needed it's precious blood.

"You don't want it," he said. "It's a girl."

Seeing Irene all the sudden in the doorway, speaking to Victor, Marty was angry and frightened. Had Victor been working with Irene all along? Were they all conspiring to take her baby? Would Victor hand over her child to that horrid witch?

"Get back!" Victor yelled as his mother took a step closer. He clutched the child tighter, making the infant cry.

"Give me my grandson!" Irene demanded as she pulled out a wicked-looking blade. It was ten inches long and razor-sharp. Her plans were to use it to sever Todd's child's throat.

"Victor!" Marty pleaded in an anxious cry. Her arms were reaching out toward her baby. Her precious little child. All she wanted was to hold and protect her baby.

Knowing they were all in danger, Marty did the only thing she could. She called out to Todd in a desperate plea.

*Todd, save our baby!* Marty silently screamed.