KEILAH
My head throbbed as I tried to shake off the lingering dizziness. The room spun, and a wave of nausea surged through me. Steadying myself against the bathroom sink after throwing up countless times, I took deep breaths to calm the turmoil in my stomach.
What in the good Lord happened to me? Is this the aftermath of the crazy voice I heard? The Werewolf-vampire fight I saw? Or maybe it’s because I jumped out of the car and didn’t get proper treatment?
A gentle knock on the door snapped me back to reality. “Keilah, can I come in?” It was the old woman.
I hesitated but then nodded, even though she couldn’t see me. “Yes, come in.”
The door opened, and her concerned face appeared. She hurried to my side, her eyes scanning me with worry. “How are you feeling, dear?”
“A bit better. Just… tired and nauseous.”
She placed a comforting hand on my shoulder, guiding me gently but firmly away from the sink. “Come on, let’s get you back to bed,” she said softly.
I nodded, leaning on her for support as we made our way out of the bathroom and towards the bed. Each step was an effort, my legs feeling weak and unsteady. When we reached the bed, I tried to lie down, but Isabella stopped me with a firm but gentle touch.
“Wait, not yet,” she said, reaching out for a bowl on the table filled with a brownish liquid that looked anything but appetizing. “You need to take this first.”
I looked at the liquid skeptically, then glanced at her suspiciously.
“It’s medicine, Keilah,” she assured me, her voice gentle but insistent. “It’s not the best-tasting thing in the world, but it will work wonders, I promise. It will help with nausea and dizziness.”
With a sigh, I took the bowl from her, the earthy smell of the herbs making my stomach churn even more. I took a deep breath, steeling myself for the taste, and then downed the liquid in one go. The bitterness hit me instantly, and I fought the urge to gag, my face contorting in discomfort. My throat burned as I forced myself to swallow, each gulp feeling like a minor victory against my rebelling body.
“Good girl,” she said, her tone soothing. She took the empty bowl from me and set it aside. “I know it’s awful, but you’ll feel the effects soon.”
She helped me into bed, tucking the covers around me with care. “Rest now,” she said softly. “The medicine will start working soon. You’ll feel better in no time.”
I heard her leaving, closing the door silently behind her. The room fell into a peaceful hush, but I struggled to rest, the bitter taste of the medicine still lingering in my mouth. Frustrated, I reached for my phone ( Cora’s phone) needing a distraction. As I moved, I realized I was starting to feel much, much better. The dizziness had faded, and my stomach felt more settled.
I dialled Auntie’s number, but there was no answer. Sighing, I decided to send a text message instead.
Hi Aunt, is everything okay?
With that sent, I decided to go through Cora’s phone, looking for something to occupy my mind. I opened the gallery, scrolling through the photos, when my heart stopped. There, in the midst of the images, was a soundless video of Zac and Ethan in a deep conversation.
What business could Zac have with Ethan? A knot of unease tightened in my stomach as I wondered if their meetup had something that had been going on back home. I needed answers. Determined, I decided to confront Zac about the video. I got up, feeling stronger by the minute, and headed for the door.
As I walked down the stairs to the second-floor hallway, I caught sight of Benita walking hurriedly, her expression stormy. Curious and concerned, I quickened my pace, trying to catch up with her.
“Benita!” I called out, but she didn’t seem to hear me. I tried again, louder this time. “Benita, wait up!”
She ignored me, her steps becoming more hurried. Just as I was about to reach her, she entered a room and slammed the door shut, the sound making me flinch. Undeterred, I decided to follow her inside, worried about what might be upsetting her. She had wanted us to be friends, after all.
I approached the door and hesitated for a moment before placing my hand on the handle. As I was about to turn it, I heard her loud, angry voice from inside, freezing me in place. “I want to kill that human!”
Her words sent a chill down my spine. My mind raced, wondering who she could be talking about. Could she possibly mean me? I’m the only human in this mansion. Was she lying when she said she wanted to make things right between us? Fear and shock battled within me as I stood there, paralyzed.
Just as I was about to retreat, I heard another voice-Zac’s.
Slowly, I removed my hand from the door handle, taking a cautious step back to avoid making any noise. Every instinct told me to flee, but I couldn’t ignore the nagging need to know more, and boom, I heard everything.
Shock and fear swallowed me whole, paralyzing my thoughts and driving my body into autopilot.
What on earth did I just hear?
I took quick, panicked steps away from the door, away from their venomous words. My mind spun with the implications of what I had overheard as I rushed away.
As I reached the last step leading to Ralph’s room, the dizziness returned with a vengeance. This time, it was driven by fear and the overwhelming surge of adrenaline coursing through my veins. My vision blurred, and my legs gave out from under me. I felt myself falling, the cold rush of air and the sickening anticipation of hitting the stairs overtaking me.
But just as I was about to tumble down, strong hands grabbed me. “Got you,” Ralph’s familiar voice said, his tone filled with concern. He pulled me into his arms, steadying me before carrying me effortlessly into his room. He sat me gently on the bed, his eyes scanning my face for signs of injury or distress.
“Keilah, what happened?” His voice was urgent, his brow furrowed with worry.
I tried to speak, but the words stuck in my throat, tangled with the terror still gripping my heart.
His concerned gaze searched mine, and I struggled to find the courage to speak. The weight of what I had overheard pressed down on me like a suffocating blanket, each word burning on the tip of my tongue.
But as I opened my mouth to tell him everything, to reveal the truth about Zac and Benita’s sinister intentions and the horrifying revelation of my supposed pregnancy, doubt clawed at my resolve. What if he was just like Benita, deceiving me with false apologies and hidden agendas? What if his all-over sudden gentleness was just a facade, masking darker intentions beneath?
The thought made me hesitate, my words faltering as uncertainty gripped me. His urgent question hung in the air, demanding an answer, but I found myself unable to speak, paralyzed by the fear of betrayal.
Before I could gather my thoughts and form a response, his voice broke through my turmoil again. “Where were you going?” he asked, his tone soft.
I blinked as I grasped for an excuse, my mind racing to concoct a plausible lie to deflect his questions.
“I… I was just… thirsty,” I stammered, my voice wavering with uncertainty. “I was going to get some water.”
Ralph studied me intently, his gaze piercing through the flimsy facade of my excuse. I felt my heart pound harder with each passing moment, a nervous flutter in my chest as his eyes lingered on me.
Then, to make matters worse, his gaze dropped to my belly, lingering there for a heartbeat too long. Panic surged through me, my mind racing with a million questions and fears. Did he know? If what Zac said is true that I am pregnant, could Ralph somehow sense the baby inside me. But before I could dwell on the thought, he spoke again, his voice pulling me back from the brink of panic. “Well, go get changed,” he said, his tone gentle. “We are going somewhere.”
As I settled into the car, the uncertainty of where he was taking me gnawed at my mind. I struggled with whether or not to trust him and tell him the truth. He was silent as he drove, and the quiet stretched between us, thick with unspoken words. His earlier concern was genuine, but my doubts lingered.
He glanced over at me, his eyes softening with concern. “Is something bothering you, mate?” he asked, his deep voice breaking the silence. “Is there something you want to ask or tell me?”
His question hung in the air, and I felt a surge of anxiety. After a long pause, I finally found my voice. “Yes, I do have something to tell you. A lot, actually. But for some reason, I’m not sure if I should trust you.”
To my surprise, he let out a laugh, a genuine, hearty sound that made my heart flutter. It was the first time I’d seen him laugh like that, not forced or strained. “Keilah,” he said, his eyes twinkling with amusement, “if you feel like whatever is on your mind is worth not telling, then let it be until you’re ready. But if it has anything to do with death or danger, I’d appreciate knowing so I can see what I can do about it.”
His words sank in, and I found myself feeling a bit lighter, even if only for a moment. My eyes averted back to the road, and I spotted a store up ahead. “Can we stop for a moment? I need to grab something real quick to eat.”
I half-expected him to refuse, as he often did with my requests, but to my surprise, he nodded and pulled over. “Be quick,” he said, reaching for his wallet and handing me his bank card.
“Do you want me to get you anything?” I asked, trying to hide my surprise.
He shook his head. “No, I’m fine. Just be quick.”
I nodded and got out of the car, my heart racing as I made my way into the store. Glancing around to ensure he hadn’t followed, I rushed to the pregnancy test section. With trembling hands, I grabbed a test and, as an afterthought, a bag of chips as an excuse in case he asked what I had bought. I paid quickly and asked the cashier for the bathroom.
Once directed to the restroom, I hurried inside, my heart pounding. I locked the door and pulled down my jeans, positioning myself over the toilet with the test in hand. Since I didn’t have a container to collect my urine, I let out small amounts directly onto the test. When I was done, I set it aside and fixed my clothes, waiting impatiently for the results.
Minutes passed like hours. My hands trembled as I reached for the test. My breath caught in my throat as I saw the result.
Positive. I was truly pregnant.