Chapter 131 Flatline

(Amelie POV)

It was dusk already. The full moon of the Winter Solstice was to rise and the Blood Moon to commence. Hope has been in labor for more than twelve hours. Mark was already here which meant Jacques and Arthur were already at the hospital. I should have came when the doctor had said Hope had started labor. How could I have possibly known?

Once I had my seatbelt on, Mark stepped on the gas and sped off, out of Dark Moon Territory to bring me to the hospital. I looked back at Howard and Diane, who stood in front of their mansion as we drove away, feeling bad I didn't even get a chance to wave my goodbyes, but I knew they understood my haste.

I leaned back in my seat, closed my eyes and inhaled and exhaled deeply, trying to free my mind of all my problems, fears and doubts. I needed a clear head to help Hope, yet all my insecurities started nagging at me all at once which caused my pulse rate to race. I couldn't be nervous. I couldn't give into my fears. I couldn't panic. If I were to help Hope, I had to pull it together because unfortunately there was no room for any mistakes. I blocked out all the noise from my head and focused on the task at hand...how to help Hope rid herself of the Shadow.

The Shadow, I presume, has most probably caused significant and extensive damage to Hope while he leeched off of her, the little parasite that he was. I closed my eyes and prayed to the Moon Goddess, if there was any damage, it could be treated and Hope could make a full recovery.

"Place the locket on Hope's neck. Then her wolf will guide her, Amelie," my wolf, Vanilla, tells me.

"Are you sure, Vanilla? I wish I could speak to the Moon Goddess, but there is no way for me to commune with the Moon Goddess now and ask her for the necessary instructions."

"I'm sure, Amelie. Her wolf knows what to do. Did you bring what I asked you?", Vanilla asked.

"Yes, I have it in my purse."

"I will guide you when the time is right. Be blessed." My wolf seemed optimistic and it made my feel more confident. Honestly, I didn't know what else to do.

When we arrived at the hospital, Mark dropped me off at the entrance and I ran upstairs to the Obstetrics ward to Hope's room. I saw family and friends gathered outside, seated on the hard hospital chairs looking so forlorn. They all looked awfully worried while Hope's mother, Mirasol, was inconsolable, sobbing into her husband's shoulder. Seeing all their sad faces added a bit to the pressure I was feeling. I slowly rolled my neck in a circle to relieve some of my tension before entering the room. I opened my purse and looked at its contents; the box with the locket was emitting little rays of light. I exhaled deeply. It's time to face the Shadow.

Jacques and Arthur stood up, but I shook my head and motioned for them to stay where they were. This was up to me. If I needed help, I would call them, but for now, I would face the Shadow.

I gently turn the door knob, enter the room and was welcomed by the beeping sound of the heart monitor. I nodded at Doctor Frances, who gave off a sigh of relief upon seeing me. Alexander whose back was towards me sat beside the hospital bed and appeared to be holding Hope's hand while whispering something to her. I felt a tug at my heart.

Doctor Frances approached Alexander and tapped him on his shoulder. "Alpha, the High Elder is here." Alexander raised his head and turned to me. I saw the tears falling on his cheeks and it gave me a sense of dread.

I took a step forward and gasped. This could not be Hope. Her appearance had suddenly changed. She was sicker than I had originally thought. The Shadow must have disguised Hope to look healthy so none of her family would suspect.

She was practically skin and bones. Her once lustrous dark locks were now gone, replaced by thinning hair which was now drenched in sweat. Her cheeks were gaunt, dark circles hung under her eyes and her lips were pale and chapped. She looked so frail in her hospital gown, I just had to look away. I couldn't bear seeing her like this. I wanted to cry. If I had only checked up on her sooner.

"Amelie, please help her. She thinks she's going to die." I rubbed Alexander's back to comfort him. I nodded my head, choking back the tears that threatened to fall.

I saw Hope bite her lip as she went through a contraction and saw black smoke coming out from her body. The shadow indeed was inside her. However, each contraction was expelling the dark from Hope's body. Was it possible Hope's children were helping their mother force the Shadow out?

Doctor Frances handed me gloves to put on. I took the box with the locket from my bag and walked to Hope's bed. I lovingly brushed away the errant strands of hair that were on her damp face. My poor Hope.

I had promised Adella I would help her child and I am here to keep that promise, so help me Goddess.

"Hope, it's me, ma cherie."

"Amelie, it's good to see you." She opened her eyes and looked up at me with her golden eyes, the same beautiful eyes of my dear friend, Adella. However her eyes suddenly changed to black and the dark undercircles became a more vivid black which seemed to spread out around her temple and cheeks.

"High Elder, you are too late. She and her offsprings shall die. The bloodline of Lupa will be gone and the Ula's will reign supreme and inherit dominion over all wolves." The voice that spoke was a man's voice. It caused Doctor Frances to scream in horror.

"And how do you manage to do that?", I ask.

"Through you. I will take over your body after I am done with her and none of you will not be able to stop me." Makes sense. I am the High Elder after all.

A contraction came again and Hope's eyes changed color once more and she screamed in pain, arching her back.

"Quick Amelie, place the locket around her neck," Vanilla instructed me.

I quickly took out her locket from the box and placed it on her neck. The locket sparkled and its light spread throughout her body.

Hope raised her hand to the locket and peered down at the symbols etched behind it. Her voice was hoarse as she read the symbols aloud. "I, daughter of Lupa, expel the darkness within me to bring forth light."

Hope's body suddenly started to convulse. It was dreadful to watch. Doctor Frances turned Hope to her left side as the convulsions racked her body. Alexander bent her legs and held them down so she wouldn't hurt herself.

Then her convulsions stopped and out from her mouth came out dark ooze. It was so little, but it had caused her very big problems. I heaved a sigh of relief. I think the worst is over.

"Amelie, take the vial I told you to bring and place the ooze in it before it latches on to someone else. Do not touch it. Wrap the vial in cloth so it can not escape, see nor hear. Burn these sheets and anything it came into contact with." I proceeded to do what my wolf instructed me to do. I thought all was okay. Hope had expelled the dark from her body. Even Doctor Frances and Alexander were smiling.

But I was wrong, we were wrong.

We suddenly hear a solid flatline beep. Doctor Frances raises a code blue and Alexander backs away to a corner with his hands in his hair, not knowing what to do.

I froze. I have failed Adella.

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(Hope POV)

Opal was right beside me when they wheeled my body out of my room to the OR with Doc Frances on top of me doing CPR. Everyone outside my room stood up in horror not knowing what to do as they watched me head out for surgery.

Alexander came out of the room, his head bent low, trying to hide his tears. "S-she, H-h-hope, she flatlined." He turned around and hit the wall of the hallway then hid his face in his arm, sobbing uncontrollably. My mother upon hearing this, wailed, closing her eyes, her head up at the ceiling. I have never heard my mother make such a dreadful sound in my life. My father took her into his arms and hugged her, sobbing on the top of her head. Both of them stood like that in the middle of the hallway of the hospital, not caring if they were blocking everyone's path. I walked towards them, putting a hand on their shoulders so I could comfort them, yet I could not ease their sorrow.

I, then, approached Alexander who was sobbing on his arm against the wall. I also wanted to console him, but I knew there was nothing I can do.

Amelie finally came outside of the room, her face blank, her movements like a robot, a small box in her hands. She stopped in front of the small group, moving her trembling lips, trying to form words, but nothing came out. She then turned and walked away, slowly, obviously in shock. Jacques followed his mother and embraced her. In the comfort of her son's arms, I saw Amelie's body shake from her sobs as she finally let go of her emotions.

"Let's go, Hope. Let's see the children." Opal stood up from where she sat and walked away from the group. I followed her, looking back at my family and friends who were all weeping. It was the most painful thing I could ever do, leave them at their time of need.

Opal led me through the hospital until we arrived at the OR where my body was. I walked through the doors, all the way to where my body lay on the operating table.

The heart monitor made a slight beep. Doc Frances was too busy to notice. She was, after all, saving the lives of my two babies.

I stood over my body. I couldn't believe that was what I looked now. I was so frail. The Shadow didn't eat much when he was in control of my body. He didn't need that kind of nourishment. He fed off my essence which for him was sustenance enough.

I put my hand on my locket which had started to sparkle once more. The heart monitor again made a slight beeping sound. A nurse took notice.

"Doc, I think there's a slight heartbeat. The monitor is picking it up." Doc Frances looks up, hope in her eyes.

"You're right. We might be able to revive her. Let me get these two out so we can start fixing her. Here we go. Baby girl." She hands my daughter to a nurse. The nurse puts her on a small bed at the corner and her and her team start cleaning her up and addressing to her needs. Suddenly I hear a slight cry from her. I go to her and she opens her eyes. She had light colored hair and beautiful golden eyes just like mine.

"Baby boy." Doc Frances hands my son to another nurse who brings him to another small bed beside my daughter. I watch them intently as they go through their medical procedures. He opens his eyes and I notice he had one golden eye and one dark blue eye just like Alexander. What a darling!

"Hope, come on. I know you're a fighter. Fight for me." I see one of the doctors place a metal prong around my heart to help revive it. The nurses around the operating table were shaking their heads. They were already thinking the worst.

"Hope, it is time to go. Climb up." Opal nudges me.

"Go where?" Maybe it was time to go to the other side. Maybe the Moon Goddess was already waiting for me.

"You'll see."