Chapter Seventy-Two: The First Tragedy
Dr. Calvin had taken the children from Sephiroth and Aralyn's trusting arms. "Thank you," Aralyn said. "I know they're safe with you."
She couldn't speak a reply. She took the twins to the nursery, as she had promised their parents. Once there, she held the children close, breathing deeply, preparing for what she was about to do.
Slowly, she took Nadiya's tiny hands and removed them from the sleeve of her light pink pajamas. Nadiya didn't make a sound, but there was something in her eyes that made Dr. Calvin's heart stop.
Did she know what was about to happen to her? Would she ever forgive her? Could she?
Slowly she slipped the infant into a white hospital gown, grimacing at how very wrong it looked. She teased the pink ribbon bow from the silky silver hair. Carefully, she cut out a section of the back of the gown to allow freedom for the tiny, soft wings. She knew it was useless, but she wrapped Nadiya in a pink blanket, knowing full well that Hojo would remove it.
If she would receive heat from then on (it was probably not high on Hojo's priorities) it would be from a heat lamp, not a soft blanket or the warm, tender arms of her parents.
She dressed Aidan similarly. He was more active than his sister, who had been trustingly submissive, although confused. He gurgled and waved his little hands and feet, Dr. Calvin smiling sadly at the little boy.
Hojo came soon afterward.
Dr. Calvin pushed past him, leaving quickly, unable to bear the thought of what the children would be put through. "One more task," Hojo reminded her cruelly. She stopped and, bowing her head, turned back to the rooms of Sephiroth and Aralyn to give them the false news that would shatter their world.
Hojo's long, cold fingers caressed Nadiya first. The girl seemed to sense the danger, and silently flailed. He grabbed her wrist and checked her pulse, writing down the data on a chart. "Turns out you'll have your uses after all, number fifty. I have some tests lined up…we'll begin immediately."
Hojo picked up the boy as well, who began to scream loud enough to cover for both him and his sister.
It was only the beginning.
Aralyn was screaming.
Sephiroth had fallen asleep in the rocking chair, and was awakened abruptly by the agonized cries. "No…No!" she screamed. "No it can't be! Give me my babies back! Give me my children…it isn't true! It can't be! No!"
Sephiroth's panic peaked as he ran to the door to find Aralyn and Dr. Calvin in the hallway, both women crying freely. He caught Aralyn as her legs gave out. She was shaking.
"What happened?" Sephiroth demanded.
Dr. Calvin was leaning against the wall. "The children…it happens sometimes…no cause known but…they're…they're…"
Sephiroth's eyes narrowed to slits. "I don't believe it. They were strong and healthy six hours ago!"
"Sephiroth I'm so sorry…if there's anything I can do…"
Numbly, he managed to pull Aralyn back into the room. "It's not true…is it?" Her eyes pleaded with his, filled with tears. "They're just fine, and this is just a dream…"
Sephiroth broke down first, clasping his wife and burying his head in her shoulder. It couldn't be true…it was just a nightmare…
But Aralyn's broken sobs told him that it wasn't.
She had been a mother for less than forty-eight hours.
He had confronted mothers of Soldiers that had been killed, and he had heard many times that no parent should outlive their child. He had known this, but he couldn't have predicted the magnitude of very real agony that racked both him and his wife.
They clung together for hours, grasping each other as the pain consumed them. More than once, Aralyn called the names of her children, her voice broken and hoarse.
Sephiroth was helpless to save himself or his wife from the despair.