Short story: The Murderer’s Baby

Prologue:

Harper Hospital; Texas, USA

10/31/20

3:00 am 

          It’s finally the end of my 14 hour shift at the hospital. Coffee… I can take a nap. Coffee… Is it my day off tomorrow? Coffee… I work in the labor and delivery ward. I turn around and suddenly a man in a panic runs into the room “NURSE!! NURSE!!! COME HERE RIGHT NOW!! MY WIFE IS GIVING BIRTH RIGHT NOW!!! THE BABIES HEAD IS OUT!!!!” 

           I slumped over my coffee, groaning. At least this is the last baby today. Oh the joy of childbirth!

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          “PUSHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH, YOU CAN DO IT” I screamed.

        “AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH THE PAINNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN, I CHANGED MY MIND I NEED THE EPIDURAL!!”

        “I’m very sorry, ma’am but it's too late for that. I know it hurts but it's extremely rewarding to have your first child. I know you have it in you. Just push.”

         “WHYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY??? OWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW. OH WHAT DID I DO TO DESERVE THIS?!” 

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        Finally, after an hour, the baby comes out.

“There. You’ve done it. See, that wasn’t so bad.”

“Oh. Oh my beautiful child,” The mother said with a sob.

        They both look happy, but something felt off to me. Wait. They both look happy. The baby should be crying. It’s okay, I tell myself; sometimes babies don’t cry when they are born. I needed to make sure the baby’s heart rate and breathing is okay. I just need to stay calm.

       “I am going to bring your new baby girl into a different room for some evaluations. Just stay here and rest. I am going to send a nurse here to help you.”

Chapter 1: Eliza

People always say that the hardest part of having a baby is the hospital stay but the home life was the worst. Sleepless nights rocking Eloise, constant crying, and all without any help, because all my husband does every night is complain that his back hurts from the hospital chair. It's not as if he was the one who gave birth and yet not once did he think about how I felt. Suddenly as I was lost in thought, the baby started screaming and crying like the world was ending. 

“CAN YOU SHUT HER UP I’M TRYING TO WATCH A GAME RIGHT NOW” 

I rolled my eyes and rocked Eloise back to sleep. Next thing I knew my phone started ringing. I ran to go pick it up before he barked more orders at me. Suddenly, the phone crackled a deep, unsettling voice “You have my baby…..return her to me at once or else.”

I shuttered. Did we actually have their baby or was this another prank call from the neighbors kids? But, if this was real what did he mean by ‘or else?’ Am I in danger? Is Eloise in danger? Who are these people?

I quickly brushed it off and started preparing Eloise’s formula. When I saw a note:

This is not a joke. Meet at the park in one hour. Bring the baby.

This doesn’t sound like the neighbors. Is this real? Why would these people think Eloise is their child? I gave birth to her!

“ELIZA! ME AND THE GUYS NEED FOOD MAKE US A PIZZA! OH AND GO TO THE STORE AND BUY US SOME BEER AS WELL!” Gabe yelled.

“Im kind of busy right now. You know? Our newborn child and all.” I replied.

“OH FORGET ABOUT HER! JUST GO ORDER ONE THEN!! I DON’T CARE ABOUT THAT DUMB BABY” He remarked.

“SHE’S YOUR CHILD TOO AND IF YOU DONT START ACTING LIKE SHE IS THEN…THEN…” I said.

“THEN WHAT? YOU CANT GET RID OF ME! NOT AFTER WHAT HAPPENED!” Gabe yelled.

My body started to shake as tears rolled down my face. I was trapped and I couldn’t get out! “I-I’m sorry I’ll go and get your pizza” 

“Good girl, see, that's all I needed to hear. I ain’t gonna do anything as long as you're still useful.”

I knew that this was my chance to run away and never come back. I quickly packed my most valuable jewelry and clothes into “grocery bags” and took Eloise. I’ll leave town with Eloise and never see Gabe again. I have enough money in my secret account to rent a motel room for a few months. I jumped into the car and didn’t look back. I knew if I did he’d sense the fear in my eyes. This will be the riskiest thing I’ve ever done and yet it’s the most sure I’ve ever been of something. I need to give my beautiful baby girl a better life.