Chapter 1 - The Sirens' Song
The ambulance tore through the night, its sirens wailing a frantic symphony against the backdrop of the city. Inside the sterile, brightly lit cabin, chaos reigned. Valeria lay strapped to the gurney, her body convulsing with agonizing contractions. The sheer trauma of the fall had accelerated her labor, pushing her body to the absolute limit.
"Blood pressure is dropping!" a paramedic shouted, adjusting an IV line. "We need to prep the OR. Tell the hospital we have an emergency C-section incoming."
Valeria gripped the cold metal rail of the bed. Her vision blurred, but the rhythmic, rapid beeping of the fetal monitor was the only thing keeping her anchored to the world. Her baby was still alive. She closed her eyes, the image of Elena’s bleeding fingers and Daniel’s cold, unfeeling stare burning into her mind. The nightmare was far from over.
