The banging on the door became more frantic and with the high pitch scraping coming from the bed I knew it was moving. I held little Blaze tighter as a knot of fear became lodged in my throat. I had no idea what this man would do once he got in, but there wasn't a single scenario that went through my head that held a happy ending. The look on Benjamin's face turned from terrified to thoughtful all in a matter of few seconds. I reached out and grabbed his arm as he stood up. "Don't. I don't know what you're going to do, but just don't," I whispered hoarsely. "They know someone's back here. We can't just wait until they burst through the door," Benjamin whispered back before trying to stand up again. I yanked him back down again. "No! Help me up!" "Are you crazy?" Craig asked astonished. "Look, most of those cop shows talk about how most hardcore criminals won't hurt babies or mothers. Now help me up!" I squeaked frantically as the bed scrapped further and further open. I has

Louis stepped over to look down at the lifeless body with open disgust. He spat next to the man's head as if the sight of him had left an awful taste in his mouth. "About fucking time," Louis said stunning us both. Craig was the first to recover and shook his head at him as if he didn't know what to say to that. He continued his silence and turned towards the nursery, his eyes darkened with sadness and anger. I knew what the cause of that look was but refused to turn around and look at the incubator again. I couldn't bring myself to even acknowledge what I knew would be a terrible, gruesome scene. His face grew paler by the moment as he got closer to the shattered window. I watched as his grip became firmer and firmer until a stream of blood fell from it."Damn it," he cursed quietly. He looked away for a moment or two, then suddenly burst into another rage. He cursed up a storm and kicking the wall repeatedly until I was sure he would break his foot, or the wall would shatter. "St

I knew that I should have said something to this man, even if it was just to kiss off, but there was nothing to say. What we had witnessed was nothing short of a miracle and in my experience, miracles were never easy to explain. So, all I did was stuff the rock back under my shirt and said nothing. I could feel Louis' eyes on me as he sat hard in a chair in front of me. The silence was almost overwhelming, but I let it continue since I couldn't figure out anything to say. "You're not gonna tell me what happened, are you?" Louis said finally breaking the quiet. I looked at him with a dead stare. He was smart; he took the hint and dropped the subject albeit very unwillingly. He stood up and shook his head then proceeded to look at my leg once again as if nothing had happened. It was odd trying to relax with this man looking me over; I kept waiting for him to jump up and attack me for the necklace. He didn't though; He just continued to examine the stitches in silence before getting

When a noise came, it didn't come in the direction that I thought it would. When the door on the opposite side of the hall was pushed open, I whipped around wondering why they were coming through that side. The man that came through was about six foot if not taller and a solid wall of muscles and looked meaner than a rabid dog. He had shoved the door all the way opened as if that bed in front of it was nothing more than a rolling stool. He strolled through the door like he owned the place and even though he didn't; I would not be the one to tell him that. Unfortunately, he wasn't alone, two other men closely followed him. One was lanky and geeky looking, but there was no mistaking the insane menace that oozed from his eyes even though they were situated behind thick coke-bottle glasses. The other was a short, stoutly built, and if the stains on his shirt were any sign, he desperately needed a shower. That guy's eyes fell on me with a fiendish glee that I had seen once before. Dilly's

"Hi pumpkin, glad to see you again," I replied to her. "I am happy, too. I was worried you'd turn into a mean monster like mommy did. But Marcus said you'd be fine, and that he was always right cause he was the oldest," she babbled. I laughed because that was the thing Darren used to tell the kids all the time. It tore my heart to hear it, yet at the same time, I loved hearing proof that the kids listened occasionally. "Well, he was right. Wasn't he? I'm here and I'm okay for the most part," I said to her giving her another hug then lifting her down. Once freed she happily raced off once again to oh and ah over the babies with the other kids. "She's taking the death of her mother really well," I commented to Julia once I knew the children were occupied. Julia's face almost fell, but she seemed to straighten her back and bury the feelings once more. "I know. I'm waiting for it to finally sink in. But she kept telling me this morning that a black woman came in her dreams and told