by Gina Ranalli
The shouting coming down from the hall eventually subsided into muffled, regular speaking volumes, but she could still sense the hostility in the air. Nervous, she wiped her sweaty palms against her jeans. The whole thing was almost as bad as being back home with her parents.
She wondered if she should just sneak out the door and disappear, but where would she go? She was out in the suburbs-who really knew where-and would be lucky if she could even locate a bus stop to get her back into the city. And, even if she could, what then? Go back to the park and get smacked around by Kathy some more? Have to face Dobie and tell him about Mick?
Just the idea made her queasy.
And so she sat, fidgeting in a complete stranger's house, contemplating her choices, all of which were terrible.
After what seemed like hours, Gillian emerged from the bedroom hand in hand with Tess's daughter, not quite slamming the door behind them, but pretty close.
Great, Speck thought. Now the awkwardness can really begin.
Gillian didn't even bother looking in her direction, but Emily stared at her with curiosity.
"We may as well heat up your dinner," Gillian said to the child, pulling her towards the kitchen.
"I'm not hungry," Emily told her.
"Well, you still have to eat."
"No!" Emily yanked her hand free, bypassed the kitchen and headed straight for Speck, climbing up onto the loveseat beside her.
"You're my mom's friend," she said matter-of-factly, curling her legs beneath her and facing the teenager.
Speck was uncertain of how to respond to this statement. She didn't have much experience with little kids and had very little idea of how to speak to one. "Yeah," she said slowly. "I guess so."
Gillian sat down across from them in an easy chair and crossed her legs. "Well, I suppose now is as good a time as any to get acquainted with you, Speck." She smiled thinly, looking Speck up and down. "I take it you don't live around here?"
"No," Speck replied. "I live...downtown." Even as Gillian was eyeballing her, Speck was doing a bit of sizing up of her own. Gillian was very beautiful in that plastic way most men seem to love, but she did nothing for Speck. There was something off about the woman, aside from the fact that she was clearly a bitch of the highest order. One of those stuck-up beauty queen types who'd always gotten her way just by flashing her perfect teeth and batting her too-heavily mascaraed eyelashes.
Smile never wavering, Gillian asked, "And what do you do downtown?"
"Do?"
With a nonchalant wave of her hand, Gillian said, "You know...do. Do you go to school? You look incredibly young. Are you one of Tess's students?"
Speck briefly considered lying but then decided against it. What was the point? In all likelihood, she would never see this woman again and when it came right down to it, she really couldn't give a shit what the bitch thought of her.
"No," Speck said. "I'm not a student. I met Tess at the library."
Gillian raised an eyebrow in feigned interest. "Is that so? The library?"
Speck couldn't resist the urge and replied, "I know. Fascinating, isn't it?"
The smile slipped a barely visible fraction. Just enough for Speck to catch it and for the first time all night, she felt the tiniest bit of happiness.
Gillian said, "Well, already it seems like you and Tess are two peas in a pod. I'm sure you'll have a long-lasting...friendship."
She said the last word with too much smug satisfaction and Speck knew immediately that Gillian somehow knew she was gay. It was surprising, but not completely shocking. Every so often, some straight people had a pretty good sense of gaydar.
Speck said nothing, refusing to take the bait and forcing Gillian to change the subject. "What happened to your face?"
Speck shot a look at Emily who was paying close attention to the entire exchange. Not knowing what would be okay to say in front of a child, she smiled at the girl and said, "Fell off my bike."
Gillian snorted. "It looks painful."
"Not so bad, really. There are worse things."
"There certainly are," Gillian agreed. "Did Tess tell you I used to be a nurse?"
"She did. She said you talk about it all the time."
A fat black fly landed on the back of Speck's hand, startling her. She shook it away quickly. Where had it come from? She hadn't seen it flying around the room or heard its buzz...She glanced around the room warily but her attention was drawn back to Gillian when the woman made a unexpected whimpering sound.
Once again, Gillian was holding her hands to her abdomen, her face screwed up in pain. She bent forward in her chair so that her chest was touching her knees. "Fuck!" Gillian howled. "What the fuck is wrong with me?"
Beside Speck, Emily cringed, pushing herself back into the loveseat as far as possible.
Speck sat up. "What can I do?"
"Just--" Gillian began and vomited all over her own knees and the carpet.
Gasping, Speck barely noticed that Emily had moved closer to her and now buried her face in Speck's side. "Holy shit," Speck said. She tried to stand, only then realizing that the child was now clinging to her. Instinctively, she put an arm around Emily. "I'll get you a towel," she told Gillian, who was still bent over, her face hidden by her lush blonde hair.
Gillian's response was to vomit again, puke splattering her shoes with thick, wet splashing sounds.
Feeling her own stomach churn, Speck quickly stood, snatched Emily up into her arms and hurried away in search of a bathroom.
CHAPTER 35
When Josh had first woken up, he'd been suspicious of his surroundings, terrified that the room and the people in it would soon morph into hideous, terrifying creatures and he would be helpless in his bed, probably pissing himself from fear.
But after a few minutes had passed and everything remained normal, he began to relax. He still felt awful, his belly roiling and a jackhammer chiseling its way through his skull, but he knew now that the previous time he'd been awake-or at least thought he'd been awake-had been nothing more than hallucinations. Or perhaps a particularly vivid nightmare.
The fact that both Gillian and Tess were present eased his mind as well, though Tess looked pissed off for some reason. Of course, she always looked pissed off these days so that wasn't anything particularly new. It was just further proof to him that what he sensed was happening really was happening, and perhaps the fever that had been plaguing him was finally receding.
His daughter being in the bed beside him was best of all. Her face soothed both his heart and mind and reassured him that this strange illness was passing and soon he'd be fine again.
After a few minutes, however, both Gillian and Emily left the room and he was alone with Tess, which seemed fine at first, until she starting spouting off about things that were both absurd and frightening.
The scene seemed real enough but obviously it was yet another hallucination. A carpet of maggots? A dead teenager, killed by a swarm of flies?
"Are you even listening to me?" Tess asked, sitting on the edge of the bed beside him. Her eyes brimmed with tears but Josh knew better than to trust them. Rather than answer her, he grabbed a pillow from the other side of the bed and hugged it to his chest, burying the lower half of his face in it so that only his eyes peered over the edge, watching Tess warily.
It was just a matter of time, he knew. Soon, something horrifying would happen. He was barely able to imagine what that might be when a deafening explosion rattled his teeth together.
Tess jumped too, turning towards the bedroom door.
No. Not an explosion.
Loud, violent hammering.
Knocking.
The door flew open before Tess could respond and Josh was only mildly surprised to see a stranger enter the room, holding his daughter in her arms. He hugged the pillow tighter against his body as the world seemed to tilt first left, then right, and the stranger-a girl-began chattering away in an alarmed voice about Gillian.
Josh didn't pay m
uch attention to the words. He knew they were irrelevant. He squeezed his eyes closed, petrified but also heartbroken that his mind had tricked him so cruelly. He'd actually believed that the women in his life had been there, concerned for him, and his daughter-his precious little girl-had been beside him, holding his hand, her mere presence letting him know that soon everything would be okay again.
But no.
It was all another lie and nothing was even close to okay.
CHAPTER 36
Alerted by Speck, Tess rushed into the living room and crouched beside Gillian's chair.
"My God, Gillian. Are you okay?"
Gillian felt like snarling at the other woman, but the pain in her gut prevented her from even acknowledging Tess's presence. She groaned miserably, rocking forward and back at the waist.
"Can you get up? Let's try to get you to the sofa."
"Here's a wet towel." The second voice belonged to Speck, but Gillian couldn't be bothered to look up. Instead, her eyes focused on the pinkish/gray vomit that was sinking into the carpet. She could swear she saw something moving within the disgusting mess-something small and barely visible, but then she dismissed it, assuming what she'd seen had actually been an air bubble or something similar.
She closed her eyes, willing the pain and nausea to go away, concentrating as if they were particularly difficult math problems which needed to be twisted around and seen in a new light in order to be solved.
From somewhere over her left shoulder, Speck said, "She must have the same flu as Josh."
Tess grunted her agreement as she began to mop at Gillian's lap with the towel. "I just hope they didn't give it to Emily."
"I'm not sick, Mommy."
Eyes still closed, Gillian began to mentally curse these females in her house. Why wouldn't they just leave her alone? Let her live in peace with her man and just go the fuck away?
A minute passed and then Tess sighed. "I think you're just gonna have to take a shower, Gillian. Are you feeling any better?"
Gillian debated on just not answering but decided to lie instead. "Yes," she said. "A little bit." She finally straightened up, looking around at the faces staring at her. Of the three of them, only Emily appeared to be genuinely concerned. "How's Josh?"
"He's fine. He's still in bed," Tess told her. "Do you want me to help you get to the bathroom or would you prefer to lie down on the sofa?"
She thought about it. Both seemed tempting but ultimately, she wanted to brush her teeth even more than lie down, so she told Tess she would prefer a shower. "I feel absolutely disgusting."
Tess reached under Gillian's right arm in order to help her up, but Gillian shrugged her away. "I can do it, thank you." Though she wasn't entirely sure that she could do it, but neither did she want to show that bitch any weakness whatsoever.
Stepping away, Tess let Gillian get to her feet of her own accord and, wincing against the pain, she made her way to the bathroom unassisted.
As she turned on the hot water for the shower and stripped out of her clothes, she had to admit that part of her was beginning to be grateful for Tess's company. At least it allowed Gillian some measure of comfort that she was sick and alone with an also sick Josh
It wasn't until she was standing under the steaming stream of water and about to lather herself with soap that she noticed her belly was distended.
Gazing down at her stomach with a growing sense of dread, she mumbled, "This can't be good."
She surprised herself by laughing at her own nonchalance. Something, it turned out, was very wrong with her and here she was, cracking herself up.
Funny how the tide can turn.
Running her hands over her naked, swollen belly, she continued to smile. Of course she was pregnant, just as the test had told her. And that was a glorious thing, wasn't it? To have Josh's baby? Maybe it would mean she would finally be considered the equal of his damn ex, who apparently thought she had some superior tie to Josh just because they had spawned together.
Well, that shit ended now.
Now Gillian would have the exact same claim to him as Tess did.
She found herself chuckling again even as another wave of pain assaulted her, this time affecting her lower back just as much as her abdomen. Even puking again didn't spoil her sudden happiness and she watched the vomit get washed away down the drain with what could only be described as a pang of regret. It was proof, after all. Proof that she and her man were about to become the proud parents of the finest offspring any couple could ever conceive.
Both her shower and her mood were cut short however when she heard the doorbell ring.
Who the hell could that be?
Scowling, she turned off the water and stepped out of the tub, listening.
A moment later, she heard Tess speaking and then, much to her surprise, her mother's voice drifted its way down the hall and through the bathroom door.
Gillian didn't bother drying herself off or putting on the bathrobe that hung from a hook on the back of the bathroom door. She exited the bathroom naked and dripping and made her way back to the living room to find her mother Teri standing there with Tess and Speck. All three turned to her as she entered. Speck immediately blushed a furious shade of red and turned away while Tess's eyes widened in an amusing state of astonishment.
Only Teri seemed unaffected by Gillian's nudity. She smiled brightly, opening her arms in greeting; a perfect blonde, statuesque glimpse of Gillian's future appearance.
"Sweetheart!" Teri exclaimed, taking her daughter into her arms. "You're positively glowing!"
Gillian hugged her mother fiercely and when the embrace ended, she grinned. "I'm so sorry I didn't believe you. I was being a complete dolt."
Teri returned the smile and brushed a damp lock of Gillian's hair out of her eyes. "It's fine, darling. Everyone is like that at first, until they realize the truth."
"I just can't believe you knew."
"A mother always knows her child, Gillian. And besides, I've been there myself. I knew the signs when I heard them."
The two women hugged again, briefly this time and then Teri asked how Gillian was feeling.
"Horrible!" Gillian laughed.
"Oh, my poor sweetheart. It will be over soon, though, I promise."
Standing off to one side, Tess interrupted by clearing her throat.
Both Gillian and Teri looked at her, their faces identically sour with disdain.
"I'm sorry," Tess said. "But can I ask just what the hell you two are talking about? What's going on?"
Teri's look of scorn was immediately replaced by one of pride. "Isn't it obvious? My baby is going to have a baby!"
Gillian had to admit she was more than just a little pleased when she saw all the color drain from Tess's face. She beamed brilliantly at her. "Isn't that wonderful news, Tess? Emily is going to have a little sibling soon."
"A sister!" Teri added.
"Half-sister," Gillian corrected.
"What?" Tess nearly shouted. "Are you fucking kidding me? Does Josh know?"
"He'll know soon enough," Teri said, clasping Gillian's hand in her own. "And, no, we're most certainly not 'kidding' you."
Speck turned away from the end table full of knick-knacks that she'd been intently studying and said, "I'm gonna take off now. I'll see you later, Tess" She nodded at Gillian and her mother and mumbled, "It was nice meeting you. Uh...good luck."
She started off towards the front door but stopped and turned back when Teri said her name.
"I think you should stay the night," Teri told her, her lips curving up in a tiny smile. She glanced at Tess. "You should both stay."
Tess's eyes narrowed into angry slits. "Like hell," she said. "Speck, would you please go get Emily from her room and meet me at the car? I'll be down in just a minute."
As if Tess hadn't even spoken, Teri pointed at Speck with one long manicured finger. "I think she's like us, Gillian. Best to keep her around."
Confused, Gillian glanced between her
mother and the teenager. "I don't understand."
"If she breeds, she'll be like us. I can sense it."
Speck frowned for a moment, then her mouth trembled in an obvious attempt to keep from laughing. "You people are nuts. I thought my family was crazy, but holy shit, you make them look like the Cleavers. I'm out of here."
"Gillian!" Teri barked.
Gripped by a sudden sense of panic, Gillian cried, "I don't know what to do!"
"Bring them forth," Teri said. "Just call them."
Gillian watched as Speck began walking away again. Something stirred in her uterus and the calm that enveloped her was even more abrupt than the panic. She smiled and lifted her chin in a slight show of defiance.
"The others will be here soon," Teri said, though Gillian barely heard her. She was focused on Speck's back as the girl retreated.
What happened next seemed to do so in slow motion.
Speck reached the door, her hand twisted the knob and pulled, fully prepared to exit into the night.
Instead, a solid wall of blackness slammed into her, lifting her off her feet and tossing her backwards through the air for several long seconds until she crashed to the floor with the sound of splintering bones.
Speck's shriek of agony was drowned out by the drone of a million black flies swarming over her fallen body, and Gillian was dimly aware that Tess was also screeching and moving towards the girl with long, clumsy strides.
Gillian's trance broke when she saw her mother's arm streak out as she grabbed Tess by the hair, yanking her off balance and halting her forward motion.
There was a brief struggle between the two women, but Teri, with the advantage of surprise, easily overpowered Tess, knocking her to the carpet with a grunt of satisfaction.
Teri shot Gillian a look and shouted, "Enough! We can't let them kill her!"
Understanding instantly, Gillian returned her attention to where Speck lay, her body invisible beneath the multitude of black guardians.