Crowed (Team Zero #2) - Rina Kent Page 0,50

that you fell down the stairs and, well, a benevolent gentleman drove you to the hospital.”

“You’re still a target,” Ghost says. “But someone will watch over you until all danger is eliminated. You won’t even feel their presence. It was Crow’s will.”

Another sob rips from my chest. The word ‘will’ is so final. So real.

Crow is really gone, and any re-life I had hoped for is now null and void.

I’m back to being just me, and I have no idea what to do with myself.

*****

The early evening turns to night. Still lying in the hospital bed, I stare through the window. Tears never dry from my eyes. I’m not sure they ever will.

Crow might have been in my life for mere weeks, but it was enough to engrave himself deep inside my heart.

I wanted to die, but since I had Crow and a taste of life, I was foolish enough to ask for more. Want more.

Now, everything is gone.

Ghost and Celeste left sometime during my breakdown, and I’m thankful for it. I was never the type who needed comfort.

Knowing that both of them are Crow’s colleagues, and therefore killers, I doubt they can provide comfort anyway.

So unlike Crow. He was rough around the edges, but he had a heart of gold. It’s not his fault that he was subjugated to the cruel life he lived.

Another tear slides across my cheek, and onto the pillow.

Céline is taking care of Charlotte. My friend told me I’ve been admitted for three days. Being hit on the head can cause that. There are still blood test results to come, but the MRI is normal.

“It’ll be fine,” Dr Bernard said. But he was only speaking about the physical pain.

The scars lodged deep within me will never heal.

Unless...

My mind drifts back to that numb phase where nothing mattered. No emotions. No worries. I simply didn’t care. If I can go back to that time, everything will be fine.

The pain is so strong, I don’t think I can live with it anymore. I’m not strong enough to go through another death in such a short time.

My fingers clutch the envelope Ghost left for me. Crow paid all my debts. Now, Papa’s house is free from the bank’s hands.

I should rejoice for finally getting Papa’s house back, but the fact that I’ll live there without Crow causes more tears to flow down my cheeks.

He even left me all of his money. I don’t need this. I only need him.

A knock sounds on the door.

I wipe my cheeks. I’m sure my eyes are red and puffy, but I don’t care.

Perhaps the numbness is coming back sooner than I thought.

Good to see you back, old friend.

Dr Bernard comes inside with Céline on his heel. She looks worried but also happy. Strange.

“Bonsoir, Eloise,” Dr Bernard says. “Are you feeling better?”

I nod mechanically, not even bothering to sit up.

The cloak of numbness is so close, I can sense it wrapping comfort around me.

“The blood test results are back.” Dr Bernard stares at the papers in his hand. “There’s nothing major, but...”

Have I somehow gotten cancer?

Good.

“Congratulations, Eloise. You’re pregnant.”

I bolt up in a sitting position so fast, dizziness assaults my aching head.

“Hey, take it easy.” Céline is by my side. She helps me sit and caresses my arm.

I gape at Dr Barnard, not able to believe my ears. “A-are you sure?”

My mind crowds with numbers. My ovulation period. The time we had sex. At least ten days ago.

“Yes. We found 30 mIU/ml HCG in your blood. It’s not even a grey area. It’s positive.” Dr Bernard hands me the results. “See for yourself.”

With trembling hands and a booming heartbeat, I stare at the chart. There it is. A peak in HCG. Human Chorionic Gonadotropin – aka the pregnancy hormone – is well above the grey 6 to 24 mIU/ml and straight into the positive above 25 mIU/ml.

Oh. Mon. Dieu.

I’m... pregnant.

The realisation brings tears to my eyes. Only now, they’re happy tears. I’m smiling and crying and being a complete mess, but I can’t help the glimmer of excitement running through me.

I’m pregnant.

In nine months, I’ll give life to someone and I’ll be a mother like Maman was for me.

I place a palm on my flat stomach, and even though it’s very unlikely at this early stage, I can feel life beneath my fingers.

More tears soak my cheeks, knowing that Crow will never see his child. However, I choose to cling to the positive side.

Even though Crow is gone, he still left me a