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| Photo credits to Richy! (Flickr) |
"Interesting. Twins."
"Indeed. Probably runs in the family"
"It's been a while."
"May their futures be different than their mothers'."
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Ariella slowly opened her eyes and weakly turned her head, "I-is my baby ok?"
"Good, you're awake. I'm Daniel, the doctor who received the babies, they're both doing fin--"
"W-wait-- what? Babies?"
"Yes Ariella, you just gave birth to twin girls," the doctor smiled kindly, but there seemed to be a hint of worry or sadness in his eyes, "They're both doing great, I will send someone to bring them to you when you've recovered a bit more."
"Th-thank you, doctor," Ariella replied, rather stunned.
Twins? How could I not have known I was carrying twins? Shouldn't the doctor have told me before?
A knock on the door interrupted Ariella's thoughts, it was a slender brunette with her hair tied in a tight bun dressed in a pencil skirt and black dress shirt.
"Ariella? The Council would like to see you," it seemed as if she would stop there, but added, "--when your strength returns. They want to see you as soon as you're able." A small smile passed her lips, then she turned and left as abruptly as she appeared.
The Council wants to see me? Why do they want to see me? Did I commit a crime? Where is that stupid Ian when I'm so scared and confused? Some husband he is-- father too, now.
A young man with jet black hair and striking blue eyes entered the room, feet dragging--seemingly reluctant to enter the room.
"Ian! Where have you been? I'm so confused right now, there was this lady who came and told me the Counc--"
Ian put two fingers on Ariella's lips, stopping her in mid sentence. His face was tender and seemed to beg her to understand. "Doctor, do you mind stepping out for a minute? I want to talk to my wife--alone. Please."
The doctor smiled, "Of course." he sighed, then continued, "And congratulations again, I wish you all the best, I hope everything will work out for you." With one last look at Ariella, he walked out and closed the door behind him.
"Ian, would you mind telling me what's going on here? I mean, it's not every day the Council asks to see an ordinary citizen like me. I don't recall committing any crimes, so it shouldn't be that, and I haven't broken any rules-- or at least I don't think so." Tired as she was, Ariella wanted answers, and she hoped to get them soon.
"Ariella--" Ian paused, looking for words, then continued, "I was just summoned to appear before the Council right after you gave birth. I just came back from them." He stopped and looked up to her wide hazel eyes and half-closed mouth.
At a loss for words, Ariella managed to utter a quiet, "Oh."
Ian noticed the worried look appearing on Ariella's face, and realized it probably wasn't a good idea to tell her so soon about the Council's offer. But how can he cover it up? The Council holds so much power. If anything were to happen-- he didn't even want to think what they were capable of. All he wanted to do was keep Ariella and their baby girls safe. He cleared his throat, and took slow, purposeful steps to the other side of Ariella's bed, fully aware of her eyes following his every moment, waiting for him to continue.
Ariella, sensing Ian's discomfort and silence, knew something was terribly wrong. Ian was usually confident and didn't stutter or need to stop for words like this. "Ian, it's ok. I'm dying to know what the Council asked of you, but I know that if you're ready to tell me, you will, right?"
Seeing Ian's furrowed brows relax and breath a sigh of relief, Ariella managed a smile. "Yeah, I don't want to keep anything from you, Ari, but I feel you need some rest first." Ian flashed her a smile and kissed her on the forehead. "I'm so proud of you sweetie. And the twins are beautiful. I checked up on them before I came over." His smile widened, and his voice got excited as he continued, "They have their mother's beautiful red hair and my awesome eyes." Ian's eyes sparkled as he imagined his baby girls in his mind again.
"Oh you, don't you have any shame? Your awesome eyes?" Ariella laughed, "I can't wait to see them though, after all the pain I've been through, I need to be reassured it was all worth it."
"Don't joke about that! You bore them for 9 months, aren't there enough feelings accumulated in this time that anything is worth it?" Ian leaned closer and held Ariella in his strong embrace. This is how things were supposed to be. Life without the Council wanting to see them. Simple and just them.
By now both of them were grinning from ear to ear, and the previously overpowering fear of the Council melted away into the background. Ariella savored the moment as she snuggled herself closer to Ian. The mood had lightened, this was the power that Ian had over her, he was able to make any moment better with just his presence. Slowly, Ariella found herself dozing off, it had been a rather tiring day--giving birth is no easy matter for sure.
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"Ari! Ari!! Look here!"
Before Ariella stood a girl with flowing red hair much like her own, but she couldn't see her face clearly. Who is that girl? And where am I? Ariella looked around her, she was standing in a large grass plain with no end in sight. There was something familiar about this place, but she couldn't put her finger on it. She looked around to see if there was anyone around her. Aren't I supposed to be in the hospital?
Again the girl called to her, "Ari! Why are you so slow all the time? Geez, slow at birth and even slower after birth! Someday I might just leave you behind!" The girl smiled, and stuck out her hand, urging Ariella to take it. Ariella reached out to grab her outstretched hand, but as she touched it, everything around her dissolved and became complete darkness. Surprised, Ariella quickly retracted her hand. The girl had disappeared with the scenery, and Ariella panicked, "Hello? Is anyone there?"
"Ari..." "Why didn't you follow me?" "Why did you leave me?" "I thought we'd be together forever Ari..." "Ari, don't forget who you are..." Many voices filled her ears, all whispering one after the other, calling out to her. Scared, Ariella started running.
"You can't run forever Ari..." whispered the voice.
Ariella couldn't discern where the source of this voice came from, but she somehow felt if she didn't stop running it would catch up to her and she would succumb to this darkness. Ariella knew she had heard this voice before, but still couldn't figure out where she had heard it before. Suddenly, the ground disappeared from under her, and she found herself falling in the darkness.
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With a start, Ariella woke up. Looking around, she found herself in the hospital again. It was all a dream? But dreams are figments of our memory-- so this happened in the past? Who was that girl? I feel like I know her, but I don't remember anyone having the same red hair that I have. Even mother said it's rare. This is really weird, why am I suddenly remembering my dreams? Or is this a premonition? A message? Energy drained from earlier, Ariella drifted off to sleep again, still wondering who the mysterious girl was...
Sorry about the spacing... I don't know how to fix it xD
