Chapter Four Chapter Four

Riley left the house and got into the Mercedes car she had parked in the large driveway surrounding their two story mansion and drove off. Soon after, she arrived at the hospital, "COUNTY HOSPITAL" , by name.

She walked in and headed straight to the doctor's office for her appointment. She knocked as she reached the door.

"Oh, please come in", said the deep voice.

It was Doctor Mike's, a voice that she could recognize no matter where she was. She had gotten so used to his company since childhood, as he used to be the doctor that worked for her parents, until they passed away. Even presently, that bond still wasn't broken considering the fact that they were not even family. Doctor Mike was a tall man, with short grey hair, just about the length up to his neck, he had a short and pointed nose, beautiful brown eyes and he always had his glasses on.

He was a kind and noble man, never ceasing to help people in their times of need, medically. During Riley's childhood, Riley had attended so many of the global award shows he had received awards in for being such a well skilled, successful and kind doctor. Time flies by so fast, she thought, as she opened the door and proceeded to walk in.

Riley still remembered this office like the back of her hands. His office had an old screen television he never used, the health charts, the comfy sofa on the left side of the room, the fridge for guests, and the big table where he put all his records of patients. " Feels like i just had a wave of nostalgia" Riley said, happy that she had finally visited after so many years.

Oh, Mrs Velásquez, do come in and have a seat, I have been expecting you. This is such a pleasant surprise, we haven't met in ages. What brings you here? said the doctor, curious to know why she had asked to meet him so urgently.

"Oh yes, thank you for having me and fixing a time like this on such short notice, she said.

It's no problem, Mrs Velásquez, i have always been loyal to your parents, and now it's time to pass my loyalty to you, he said with a smile. So, may i know why you have asked to see me so urgently?

" Doctor Mike", she said, heaving a deep sigh. Something is wrong with me, with my pregnancy, she continued. I'm feeling very heavy, feeling like i would be due to give birth soon, too soon. I feel like i have been carrying this pregnancy for over 8 months now, even though this is just the 2nd month. I've been experiencing the labour pains of a 8 months pregnancy. I don't know what to think of it, this is not normal, right doctor?

His expression afterwards was blank, and he was silent for a long while. His expression was like as if he had probably dealt with this situation with a patient before. He also looked quite terrified, and she didn't know why. She noticed that the doctor started shaking, and his body movements were quite absurd. Could it have been what she said?, she thought to herself. The doctor was acting strange, like he knew something about this, like he intends to hide what it was from her.

Riley perplexed, summoned up the courage to ask " Doctor Mike, is there anything wrong?" For all the years she had known him, she had never seen him so tensed. Doctor Mike just shrugged it off, and avoided the question. " You only need good rest, Mrs Velásquez, i'm sure you must be stressed out.", he said with his voice trembling.

No, you don't understand, i'm not stressed out doctor, i know this is not normal and i really need answers as to why this is happening to me, Riley said, desperate to find answers to all her questions.

Mrs Velásquez, i assure you that you have nothing to worry about, you just need lots and lots of rest, the doctor replied, avoiding her gaze.

"You really need to pull yourself together so she won't get suspicious, he said to himself knowing the kind of person Riley was.

Riley really wanted to argue, but she knew there was no use. Maybe my questions won't get answered after all, she mumbled to herself. But she knew that Doctor Mike was hiding something from her, she just didn't know what exactly and she also wanted to find out what it was.

She asked again, " Please doctor, tell me what is going on.", she said sounding scared. Doctor Mike noticed this, as he heaved a deep sigh. Riley knew that only meant one thing, something really was wrong.

He knew that he would still have to tell her everything she needed to know, but he couldn't, just not yet. He had made a promise after all. But he did decide that for now, he would help her deliver, he had to. He had been loyal to her family, her parents, her mother especially. Mrs Marie Bathory, Riley's late mother, had also faced a similar condition to Riley. The only difference was that Marie's pregnancy did not seem as extreme as Riley's.

Mrs Marie gave birth to Riley after 4 months of pregnancy, but Riley is facing the same symptoms her mum had when she gave birth, and also with some extra symptoms, but at a really earlier time, far too early. 2 months is too much gap, Doctor Mike said to himself. When he first became Mrs Bathory's private doctor and he examined her at the early stage of her pregnancy, he knew that something was off. He knew that there was absolutely no way a human could have pregnancy symptoms like that. He approached them with questions, and Mr and Mrs Bathory had no choice but to fill him in on what they were and they made him promise them that he would tell no soul. Ever since that day, he had kept their secret and had become very good friends with their family.

They told him at the time that they may not live long enough to tell their daughter, that when the time was right, he should tell her in case they weren't alive at the time. But now that they were dead, he would have to tell her, at least he owed her parents just that. But his life was in danger, he knew it. He had met Riley Velásquez after all, and that before she knows what is going on. What was even worse was that she couldn't be told this now, at least until she gives birth to her first child, or at least that was what he thought. He never knew that she needed to know this or she would most definitely not be able to deliver safely.

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