The warm sunlight streamed through the window, casting a golden glow over our cozy living quarters. The soft rays danced across Stephanie's face, illuminating her radiant smile. Her baby bump, now quite pronounced, seemed to glow with an inner light, as if radiating joy and anticipation.
"Hey, beautiful," I said, gently stroking her swollen belly, feeling the gentle curve of our unborn child.
Stephanie's eyes sparkled, her pupils shining with delight.
"Hey, handsome," she replied, her voice husky, filled with affection.
I leaned in, planting a tender kiss on her lips, savoring the warmth of her skin.
"You're glowing," I whispered, my breath caressing her ear.
Stephanie blushed, a delicate flush spreading across her cheeks.
"It's all this baby love," she said, her hand caressing her bump, her fingers tracing the gentle curves.
I chuckled, my heart swelling with pride.
"You're making me a dad," I said, awe creeping into my voice, my eyes locked on hers.
Stephanie's eyes shone with happiness, her smile broadening.
"We're having a baby," she said, her voice filled with wonder. "Our little family is growing."
As we savored the moment, our playful banter turned into gentle teasing.
"You're going to be an amazing dad," Stephanie said, her eyes sparkling with amusement.
"I'm going to teach our kid everything," I replied, grinning.
Stephanie raised an eyebrow, her expression playful.
"Even how to make bad jokes?" she asked, her voice laced with laughter.
I grinned, feeling carefree.
"Especially those," I said, chuckling.
Our laughter filled the room, mingling with the morning light, creating a sense of joy and contentment.
Suddenly, Stephanie's expression turned serious, her brow furrowing.
"I'm worried about Ava," she said, her voice laced with concern.
My smile faded, replaced by a determined look.
"I know," I replied. "But Ryder's increasing security. We'll find her."
Stephanie's eyes searched mine, seeking reassurance.
"What if she hurts our baby?" she whispered, her voice trembling.
My heart clenched, a surge of protectiveness coursing through me.
"We won't let that happen," I said, pulling her close, my arms wrapping around her.
As we hugged, I felt a deep connection to Stephanie and our unborn child.
"We'll keep our family safe," I whispered, my voice filled with conviction.
Stephanie nodded, her face buried in my chest, her body relaxing into mine.
"I trust you," she said, her voice barely above a whisper.
In that moment, I knew I'd do anything to safeguard our future, to protect the people I loved.
"I promise," I whispered, my lips brushing against her ear.
As we held each other, the morning light enveloped us, casting a warm glow over our little family.
Emily ran towards us with a look of panic etched on her face, her eyes wide with fear and her chest heaving with ragged breaths. She grasped my arm, her fingers digging deep into my skin.
"Guys, you've got to see this," she panted, her voice trembling with urgency. "It's... it's horrific. I don't know what to do."
I exchanged a concerned glance with Stephanie, my mind racing with worst-case scenarios. Stephanie's brow furrowed, her eyes filled with worry.
"What is it, Emily?" I asked, trying to keep my tone calm despite the growing sense of unease.
Emily's words tumbled out in a rush, her voice cracking with emotion.
"It's Ryder. Oh God, it's... it's terrible. I was walking by Ryder's quarters and... and I saw. I didn't know what to do, so I came to find you."
Stephanie's hand flew to her mouth, her eyes wide with horror.
"What happened?" she whispered, her voice barely audible.
Emily's eyes welled up with tears, her face contorting in anguish.
"I don't know. I didn't see anyone. But... but Ryder's... Ryder's dead."
I gently took Stephanie's arm, my concern for her well-being overriding my curiosity.
"Stephanie, maybe you shouldn't—"
But Emily's words cut me off, her tone adamant.
"No, you have to see. We need to do something. We can't just leave him like that."
As we followed Emily to Ryder's room, my heart sank, heavy with foreboding. The air grew thick with tension, the silence oppressive.
When we entered, the sight was worse than I imagined. Ryder's head had been chopped off, his body slumped in a pool of blood that had spread across the floor like a dark, glossy lake. The room was in disarray, furniture overturned, papers scattered everywhere. It was a scene of utter carnage.
Stephanie gasped, her hand flying to her mouth as she stumbled backward, her eyes fixed on the gruesome scene.
"Oh no... oh God," she whispered, her voice trembling.
I swiftly turned to her, shielding her from the sight.
"Stephanie, go. This isn't for you to see. Please, go find Marcus or someone. We'll handle this."
Stephanie nodded, tears streaming down her face as she turned away, her shoulders shaking with sobs.
"I'll... I'll go find Marcus," she stammered, her voice barely audible.
As she left, Emily collapsed onto a nearby chair, her face buried in her hands.
"This is Ava's doing," she whispered, her voice muffled. "She's gone mad."
I nodded grimly, my jaw clenched in anger.
"We need to find her. And we'll make her pay."
Emily's eyes locked onto mine, filled with determination.
"We can't let her get away with this," she said, her voice firm.
Marcus burst into the room, his face ashen, his eyes wide with shock.
"What... what happened?" he stammered.
Emily's voice cracked.
"Ava... Ava killed Ryder."
Marcus's eyes widened, his face pale.
"We need to seal off the settlement," he said, his voice firm. "Now. We can't let her escape."
I nodded.
"Get the guards. Search every inch of this place. Leave no stone unturned."
As Marcus rushed off, Emily buried her face in her hands, her body shaking with sobs.
"This is our fault," she whispered, her voice barely audible. "We should have stopped her."
I knelt beside her, my hand on her shoulder.
"No, Emily. This is Ava's doing. We did everything we could."
But Emily's words haunted me. Had we underestimated Ava's cunning? Had we let our guard down?