Chapter 2

Suddenly, a tearing pain shot through my abdomen.

Contractions.

My body froze instantly, cold sweat sliding down my forehead, I was really going into labor.

I grabbed the tree trunk beside me and struggled to stand up.

"Marco!" I shouted toward the glass house, "I'm going into labor! I need a hospital NOW!"

Marco stood by the glass wall, holding his wine glass and watching me with a cold smile on his face.

"Kneel down and apologize to Gianna," he said, "then I'll send someone."

"Apologize?!" My eyes widened, "What did I do wrong! I just sent her back to the slums and didn't even touch her things. She's the one who seduced you! Why should I apologize?!"

Gianna leaned against Marco, her eyes turning red.

"Marco, maybe we should let her go..." she said softly, "I don't want anyone to get hurt because of me..."

Marco turned to look at her, his gaze softening immediately as he reached out to stroke her face.

When he turned back to me, his eyes were full of disgust.

"You see?" he roared, "She's so kind, and you're so cruel!"

Another contraction hit, I bent over, barely able to stand.

It hurt so much.

I clutched the tree trunk desperately, my nails digging into the bark.

Marco pulled out a remote and pressed a button.

A buzzing sound came from overhead.

A drone hovered in the night sky, its cargo door opening.

Countless snakes fell from the air, all landing on me.

"Ah—!"

I screamed and tried to shake them off, but snakes wrapped around my arms, neck, and legs.

Cold snake bodies slithered across my skin, scales scraping against me.

I flailed wildly, trying to throw them off, but they coiled tighter.

"I'll apologize!" I shouted in desperation, "Please! Send someone! I'm really in labor!"

Marco raised his glass and toasted in my direction.

"Scared now?" he sneered, "Suffer a little more."

A snake suddenly bit my calf, the sharp pain making my vision go black.

"That snake was venomous!" I screamed, "Marco! Help me!"

He waved his hand dismissively.

"They're all harmless," he said, "Stop being dramatic."

The wound began to burn, venom spreading through my bloodstream.

My vision blurred, breathing became difficult, my heart pounding like it would explode.

I collapsed to the ground, pressing my hand hard against the wound on my calf.

Warm liquid ran down my thighs.

Not blood.

Amniotic fluid.

My water broke.

"The baby..." I said weakly, "Marco... the baby is coming..."

In the glass house, a young guard looked at me with hesitation on his face.

"Boss, she might really be in labor," he said, "If something happens, Don Salvatore's old men might retaliate..."

I looked up at him, a glimmer of hope in my eyes.

Maybe he could help me.

Gianna suddenly burst into tears and threw herself into Marco's arms.

"Marco, don't risk yourself for me..." she sobbed, "I'm not worth it..."

Marco spun around and pulled out his gun.

Bang!

The gunshot exploded through the forest, the young guard screamed and fell to the ground, clutching his leg with both hands.

Blood poured from his pants, instantly staining the ground red.

"I'm not afraid of those old fools!" Marco roared, "Even if she dies, I DON'T CARE!"

The guard curled up on the ground in agony, his body trembling.

"Boss! I'm sorry! I'm sorry!"

I closed my eyes, feeling utterly hopeless, no one here would help me, I could only help myself.

I gritted my teeth and began to crawl forward slowly, trying to get out of the snake circle.

Snakes slithered over my body, their cold touch making me shiver all over.

My palms pressed against the ground, my knees inching forward bit by bit.

Every movement made my stomach hurt terribly.

But I couldn't stop, I had to survive.

In the glass house, Marco saw me crawling and his expression darkened further.

He gestured with his hand, and several guards immediately understood, operating the drone to take off.

The drone's roar echoed above my head.

I looked up and saw it hovering in the air.

Countless glittering objects fell from the sky, scattering on the ground in front of me.

Moonlight reflected off them with a cold gleam.

Thumbtacks.

A dense carpet of thumbtacks covering all the path ahead of me.

Marco's voice came through the microphone.

"You like crawling?" he said, "Keep crawling."