"My... my water broke." Iris blurts out as she hisses out her pain constantly.

"Yes!" Brenna jumps up like a kid as if she has got a new toy.

Moving towards Iris, Brenna says, "Looks like God is also with me!" She looks at the masked men and says, "Take them away and lock them upstairs." She throws a lock and key to them which the tall man catches.

Both Sean and Luna shouts and fights. But the men are too strong for them. As they get out of vision in the darkness engulfing upstairs, Brenna turns towards Iris who is screaming in pain. Her fierce screams are surpassing the howling cries of wind. Elroy is trying to break free the ropes, but the knot is strong.

"Can you please open this fucking rope?" Elroy shouts as Brenna picks up a traumatised Ciana and ties her hand lovingly.

"Aww! Husband wants to stay beside Wifey. Even after she killed your daughter?" Brenna pierces a sweet knife into Elroy's chest.

"She didn't kill anyone... like you. She tried to save her but... but... destiny..." Elroy chokes as his eyes move to a wriggling Iris.

"Yeah. Destiny... a bitch! Well, make yourself home and let me pull out your baby." Brenna opens Iris' tied hands.

As she lays Iris down on the floor, Elroy pleads, "Please open this rope!" But Brenna ignores his pleas.

"Now bitch! Give birth to this child and help me in taking my revenge." Brenna holds Iris' body firmly while Iris covers her bump protectively. Her icy blue pupils reflect the conflict she is in within. She doesn't want to give birth now, but the baby wants to see the bitter reality of the world now only.

"Take deep breaths, Ri." Elroy can feel the tension running through Iris as she trembles fearing the worst.

Ciana is looking at them silently. The lively kid has died. The reality of life has cast a shadow on her pale face.

As the night passes, the storm outside rages and also the storm inside. Iris keeps on screaming as slowly the contractions start. Brenna holds her firmly while Elroy tries to encourage Iris with his words. And amid all these, Ciana sits there, like a stone, embracing all the stones life is throwing at her.

While in the upstairs, Sean and Luna are tied and locked in the same room where Ciana was staying. The men are standing beside them and smoking. Iris' screams are reaching their ears. Their hands are tied to the legs of the cradle. Realizing that the edges of the legs are sharp, they move their tied hands up and down and slowly the ropes tear.

☆☆☆

"Ah! El! I can't... can't do this, El." Iris screams as the night outside slowly starts brightening. The howling of wind have stopped but not the piercing cries of Iris.

"Iris! Honey please. Push a little more baby. Please. For our child. You can do this Ri." Elroy encourages Iris as Brenna helps Iris by pulling the baby out.

"Yes! Yes! The baby's coming out. I can see the head." Brenna chirps happily as she pulls the head out.

Elroy looks at Brenna. His heart is pounding against his chest as he panics hearing Brenna. But as his eyes move towards a screaming Iris he shouts, "Iris! Few pushes more. Please, baby."

After a few more minutes of screaming and pushing, the baby comes out covered in blood. Brenna looks at the baby's shut eyes and pinches her which makes the baby cry. Hearing the cries, both Iris and Elroy heaves a sigh of relief and closes their eyes. But soon they shot their eyes open and stares into an emptiness. They look around and see Ciana sitting in the same position. But neither Brenna nor the baby is seen anywhere.

"Ciana! Can you hear me? Princess!" Elroy shouts but Ciana has turned into a stone.

"Cia! Please come back! We know you faced a lot these last two days. But plea... please baby. We need you. Ciana! Your fam... family needs you princess." Iris suddenly gets out of breath.

"Ri! Are you okay?" Elroy tries to free his hand and finally he succeeds as the rope tears a little. He sees a nail popping out of the wooden wall and starts moving the shredded portion of the rope on the nail's sharp end.

"Congratulations! It's a girl!" Brenna returns cleaning the baby and covering her with a white cloth.

"Now. Goodbye!" Bidding adieu in a cold tone, she opens Ciana's hand and pulls her. Ciana looks at Brenna for once but she doesn't budge. Brenna makes her stand and pulls her to walk. Like a puppet Ciana walks behind Brenna.

Seeing that Elroy shouts a "no!" and tries to tear the rope faster. "Iris! Stop them. Please hold them back!" Elroy shouts while Iris drags her tired body behind them. But, as she drags herself forward, she leaves a trail of blood behind.

"Ri! You... are... bleeding." Iris looks behind and sees her blood-soaked dress. Fear takes hold of her determination. She looks into Elroy's eyes where she can see only love and concern. Smiling a little, she drags herself to the wooden door with determination in her eyes.

Holding the door, she gets up and blood drops on the floor from trailing in between her legs. As she comes out, in the mild light of the breaking dawn she sees Brenna and her daughters. She clutches her abdomen and winces out a pain. From the corner of her eyes, she sees them moving away. Biting her lips tight, she looks around and finds lots of wooden sticks. Tolerating the brewing pain, she picks up a stick and drags herself towards them.

Iris drags her feet on the snow as blood follows her path. Mustering all her courage, she throws the wooden stick which hits Brenna's head. The baby slips from Brenna's hand leaving out piercing cries of the baby while Brenna turns around. But before the baby can hit the ground, Ciana catches her. Finally, coming back to her senses, Ciana looks at Iris. She is facing problem to hold the baby, so she rushes towards Iris who is standing beneath the lonely, looming tree.

"Mommy!" Ciana gives the baby to Iris. As she takes her baby for the first time, tears fall from her eyes. Showering her newborn baby with kisses, she caresses Ciana's hair. In between all this happiness, she forgets about her pain, forgets about the blood which is still flowing and forgets about Brenna.

"How dare you bitch!" Brenna rushes towards her and squeezes her throat. Brenna's jacket is getting soaked in blood as her long slender fingers grips Iris' throat strongly. Her bloodshot green eyes show intense pain but her face portrays only anger.

"mmm... leave... leave me!" Iris holds the baby tightly.

"Leave my family!" Ciana pushes Brenna with all her force. Brenna tumbles down with that push as blood trails down her neck. Her sharp green eyes are piercing through Ciana. Slowly Brenna closes her eyes as a darkness covers them. But her face has no sign of anguish. She gets enveloped by a peaceful slumber as she smiles, genuinely.

As Iris coughs, she feels her pain again. She sits down with a thud holding the baby leaning against the tree.

"Mommy! Are you okay?" Ciana shouts as Iris takes long breaths.

"Iris!" Elroy rushes towards them coming out of the house.

"Ri! What happened?" Elroy sits beside Iris as the snow soaks her fresh blood.

Soon Sean and Luna tumbles out of the house and dashes towards the tree. Sean stands still as he sees the lifeless body of Brenna while Luna thuds beside Iris.

Seeing everyone around her, Iris gives a peaceful smile. Her icy blue eyes are calm. She looks at Luna and says, "Lu, take care of my family. You know how crazy they are. and... and one more drama queen has come." Iris looks at the baby and smiles.

"No, Ri! What the hell are you saying? Please don't talk... take deep breaths Ri!" Elroy says as he holds Iris' hand.

"No, El! I can feel it. It's time. I... I have to go. Take care of... of my daughters El. Take care of yourself. Don't... don't stress yourself."

"No! Iris. Please don't say something like this. We have to go back. How will I hand... handle your crazy family! Please, Iris!" Luna breaks down while Iris mutters, "Cia... Ciana."

"Mom... Mommy! Get up mommy! Why are play... playing pranks? I do... do that. Not... you." Ciana mumbles making Iris smile.

"No princess. Your Mo... Mommy is tired. She needs to... sleep. Peace... peacefully. You... you remember the promise, right?" Iris takes Ciana's small hand and places it in the crying baby's little fist whispering, "Protect your sister. Al... always."

Suddenly, Iris starts sinking. "Ri! Don't do this, please." Elroy shouts but death is already knocking at Iris' door.

"El! Name... name her... Ed... Edna and... I... love... you!" With that Iris breaths her last.

"I love you too Ri! Please come back. How will I live without you? I... I can't." Elroy breaks down and Ciana sobs and whispers, "Mommy... don't go. Please... don't leave me." As Luna cries, she takes a restless Edna from Iris. She embraces Ciana and Edna as she looks at her best friend and her broken brother.

Sean looks at a heartbroken Luna and then looks at Brenna's lifeless body. Luna watches Sean who is standing in conflict. She nods her head sadly. Slowly, Sean walks up to Brenna and embraces her for the last time mumbling, "I really loved you, Bree. I... really loved you."

The first sun of the new year has awaken. Shimmering golden rays are falling on the white laden snow. But beneath the looming tree, there are only splatters of blood. As the two mothers lie beneath the lonely, leafless, snow-laden tree, the first rays of the sun shine gloriously, caressing their peaceful faces.

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