Two guards came in stone-faced, yanking me off the bed like I weighed nothing.

"Giovanni, please... save our baby..." I sobbed, each cry ripping through my belly like knives.

He kept his back to me, arms wrapped around the oh-so-"shaken" Helena.

"Don't be scared, Mother. It's over."

The doctor faltered. "Don, her condition's unstable. The Confession Cell is too damp, too cold—"

Giovanni cut him off, voice sharp. "Say one more word and you'll join her."

Then he walked away, carrying Helena.

I was dumped into the Confession Cell, curled on the ice-cold floor.

Pain tore through my stomach, warm blood spreading across my clothes.

The fear of losing my baby twisted tighter than the pain itself.

My baby...

I pressed my hands against my belly—faint, but still there.

Alive.

Maybe because I only swallowed one sip.

My baby held on.

And so did I, finally awake.

Giovanni wouldn't believe me.

My family wouldn't lift a finger.

The only person left to save me... was me.

I had to run, even if it meant sleeping on sidewalks, even if I lost it all.

I stayed quiet for a week, waiting for my body to heal.

Then, during a shift change, I struck.

Pressed a dinner knife to the guard's neck.

"Don't make a sound. I just want out."

He opened his mouth to yell, so I drove the blade into his collarbone.

"The next one goes in your throat."

Shaking, he slipped me his keycard.

That night, with the storm covering my tracks, I slipped out through the back garden gate.

Rain washed the blood off me.

I didn't look back.

I ran, bleeding, across half the city.

Finally, I knocked on Emma's door.

We'd met in college, in the Literature Club.

After I married Giovanni, we drifted apart.

When the door opened, I collapsed.

"Lili?"

***

By the time Giovanni stumbled out of Helena's room, the sky was already dark.

He suddenly remembered Liliana.

He barked at the doctor, "How's Lili?"

The guy froze, clueless.

Giovanni's eyes narrowed. "Didn't I tell you to check on her?"

The doctor stuttered, "Madam Helena... said it wasn't needed—"

Helena strolled in, silk clinging to her, voice dripping sweet poison. "Relax, Gio. I figured Lili needed some time alone. Why don't we—"

Her hand skimmed his chest.

A chill crawled up his spine.

He shoved her off. "Forget it. I'll check myself."

He stormed down to the Confession Cell—

And stopped cold at the sight of blood pooling on the floor.

"What the hell—?!"