The Forsaken (The Chosen Series Book 2) by Patricia Bell (thriller books to read txt) 📕

body shook. She feared she was going to have a seizure as the doctor had mentioned. On rare occasions, Preeclampsia slips into Eclampsia, and that is extremely dangerous, he had said. And that is known by the onset of seizures.

Maybe she should have let Shelly call an – before she could complete her thought, the room spun in a giant blur, and she fell back onto the bed as her body tremored. Shelly’s garbled voice called out to her, but she couldn’t respond.

RACHEL WOKE UP IN A hospital bed. Shelly sat beside her and Lenny across from her, playing with his robots. She tried to raise her head, but she was extremely exhausted. The only time she’d felt this tired was the day she was thrown out into the desert to fend for herself. She’d walked miles that day before Shelly had found her and picked her up. She’d been so exhausted that she’d passed out then too.

She turned her head slightly to get a better look at Shelly.

“Oh, you’re awake.” Shelly stood. “The doctor will be here any minute.”

Rachel nodded. She had no recollection of how she’d made it from her bed to the hospital.

Shelly grabbed her hand. “I’m sorry. I had to call an ambulance. You gave me quite a scare.”

“It is okay,” Rachel whispered, thankful she didn’t remember the ride.

“Your blood pressure is back down, but the doctor will be here soon to make the final decision.”

“Decision?” she whispered.

“He will decide whether to take the baby or not.” Shelly squeezed her hand.

“I am afraid.” Rachel trembled.

The doctor had explained to her the procedure of a C-section, and she did not like the idea of a knife being plunged into her abdomen.

The doctor entered the room. "How are you feeling?"

Rachel did not answer.

“Not so well, huh?”

She stared at the doctor.

He smiled at her sadly and touched her leg. “Looks like we’re going to need to do an emergency cesarean.”

Rachel shook her head and pleaded. “Please, no.”

Shelly sat on the side of the bed and put an arm around her. “It’s okay, sweetie. The doctor knows best.”

“Rachel, your baby is in distress and frankly so are you. The only way to ensure you and your baby are both safe is to do the surgery. You do want your baby to be safe, don’t you?”

Rachel nodded. “I am scared.”

“Don’t worry. You will both be fine. And I promise you won’t feel a thing.”

Rachel nodded again. “Okay.”

“Good. Let’s get you prepped and ready. There’s no time to waste. Next thing you know, you will be holding your baby boy in your arms.”

“A boy?”  An excitement overwhelmed her. Soon she would be a mother, and she would have a boy to carry on Jacob’s name.

Chapter 25 ― Malachi

As Malachi stood, watching every person who passed the market stall, his anxiety rose. It had been several days since he’d spoken to Marcus and he’d not seen the man since. How long would it take? He needed to get word to them before the High Prophet’s hired hitman found them first.

He was now second-guessing himself. Why had he only sent that brief, cryptic message? Why hadn’t he spelled it out? Told them that they were in grave danger? Why had he planned the meeting for so far out? A lot could happen in two weeks, but he’d wanted to give them time to prepare. He was not good at this kind of thing. And now Abigail was missing.

A customer walked up. “How much for the blanket?” he asked rubbing his hand over the smooth fabric. “My wife would love this.”

Malachi let Jonah take care of it. He had too much on his mind to make polite conversation with the English.

Rumors had spread like wildfire as to the whereabouts of Abigail. Some said she ran away and others believed she’d been fleshed-out like her sister. Malachi had no idea which was the truth, but it only made his situation more pressing.

He stared out into the market full of bustling English, spending their money on whatever caught their eye. The Elders called them foolish, evil, ungodly. But from what he could see, they were happy, free, and kind. They were not restricted by rules and regulations. They were not being killed off one by one for thinking for themselves. Malachi wished to be free.

A weighty stare tore him out of his reverie. He glanced up to see a man slow his pace, wink at him, and pick back up his stride. He’d found them. Now he just hoped they would understand the message.

MALACHI HAD JUST GOTTEN home from a long day at the market when the voices of his three mothers stopped him in his tracks. Their conversation from the kitchen could be heard over the distinct sound of peas snapping. They were getting ready for the Sabbath. Saliva rose in his throat at the smell of bread baking in the oven. Several more loaves cooled on a long table on the back porch. Not only did they prepare bread for the Sabbath, but for the rest of the week as well.

The tradition of cold vegetables and bread for the Saturday meal had always been the complaint among his siblings, but Malachi looked forward to it. Some families stuck to potatoes and bread but others added another vegetable if it were handy.

He stopped as the words they spoke caught his attention. “Thomas said she is being held behind the home of the High Prophet,” Mother Dinah said.

“But why would they do that?” Mother Ruth answered. “What does he plan to do with her?”

“She is being accused of murder. Thomas says that God is holding her responsible for the murders of the three that died in the crash.”

“What? Has she been fleshed-out like her sister?”

“Thomas said she was not because the High Prophet feared it would bring more attention to the community.”

“There is more traffic out there lately.”

“Listen to the two of you, gossiping like a bunch of ninnies.” Mother Anna