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Mummy screams—
I sit up in bed, sweating. My hair sticks to my forehead. I shake, just like every time I have this nightmare.
It’s light outside now, which means I overslept again. I hope Daddy’s not angry at me for missing church service.
A scream comes from a room in my wing—my mummy’s scream.
I scramble out of bed and rush out towards her, taking a right into her bedroom. Something clatters to the floor as I burst in. There’s a nurse and Daddy standing by Mummy, who’s led in bed, her face soaked with sweat, her skin all red. The nurse runs to the front of the bed, covering Mummy’s naked legs.
“I’m sorry!” I squeak, slapping my hands over my eyes.
“What are you doing in here, boy? Go back to your room.”
Mummy yells again.
“I can see his head!” the nurse exclaims excitedly. “Push!”
A scratchy cry fills the room as Mummy exhales. With shaky hands, she takes the baby from the nurse’s hands.
“My baby brother! He’s here!” I cheer, running over to the bed and climbing up next to Mummy.
My baby brother cries and cries, his skin all covered in blood and goo. Bleh.
Mummy chuckles, her arm wrapping me in her side. Her breathing doesn’t sound too good, but she places a kiss on my head as I watch my baby brother squirm in her arm.
“I love him so much, Mummy!” I’ve been waiting for him—for a friend—for aaaages!
“Isn’t he beautiful?” Her voice is shaking. “What do you want to call him, Dorrian?”
“He’s a kid, he shouldn’t get to decide!” Daddy says. He’s always so angry.
Mummy looks at him.
“Need I remind you who exactly this child belongs to?” Daddy looks evil.
With a shaky hand, Mummy pulls a necklace with a cross on it from the side table by the bed and pushes it through my baby brother’s tight fist.
“The clergy,” she whispers, then turns to me. “What’s his name, Dorrian?” Mummy smiles at me while Daddy growls.
“Hmmm.” I tap a finger on my chin. “Kain! I think Kain is nice!”
“Kain it is,” Mummy says softly, but her grip on me loosens. “Dorrian,” she whispers. “You have to… protect this baby boy.”
“I will, Mummy. With my life! I promise!” I giggle.
Her arm falls from around me and I sit, looking at her. Her eyes are closed, but her mouth is open though. “Mummy?”
“Oh my god!” the nurse says, rushing over to drag me away from Mummy.
“Wait! No!” I say. My heart is beating really fast. What is happening? Is she just sleeping?
Daddy laughs. “We have the perfect lamb saved for the future. Vivian might not need to get pregnant again after all.” He takes Kain from Mummy’s arm, and it falls to the bed with a thud.
“Lamb? Daddy, what’s happening?” I’m scared. The nurse faffs around with Mummy.
“Nothing, Dorrian,” Daddy says as he pushes me out of the room.
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