Wendy Elisabeth prepared for the
dinner she was going to have with her father.

She wondered what it would be
like. Would they be talking about all kinds of things, or would it be silent,
difficult and uneasy.

She was interested in his
relationship with Gloria, although she didn't quite dare to mention it. She
didn't want to waste a visit to Justin by asking it.

At eight o'clock precisely there
was a knock at the door.

‘I'm ready!' Wendy yelled from the
back of her room.

Jenner opened the door and to
Wendy's surprise she saw that he wasn't wearing his cloak tonight. He was all
dressed up actually. In fact, he was rather good-looking in his new outfit.

‘Wow, you look... nice.' Wendy
stumbled, trying to find the right words.

‘Yeah, well... I'm having dinner
with my daughter. I ought to look nice.' Jenner said and he smiled again. A
sincere one this time.

Wendy walked towards him and
pushed her arm under his. ‘Shall we go then?' She asked.

Jenner smiled and enjoyed her
touch. She looked so much like her mother sometimes. He started getting
sentimental again, which he hated so much. But he was able to keep calm.

 

When he opened the door to his
room, Wendy saw that he wasn't the only one who was dressed up. His entire room
was lighted by candles en there was a table set in the middle of the room. The
table was decorated, not stylish or something, but nicely. There was also food
on the table. Corn from what Wendy could tell, and mushrooms and juice. All
sorts of juice.

 

‘Have a seat.' Jenner said and he
took a chair from the table and placed his daughter.

‘Why are you doing this?' Wendy
wondered, completely overwhelmed by all his surprises.

‘I hate to see you miserable, you
deserve a better life.' He said while he took a chair as well.

‘Does that mean that you'll
release me?'

‘Wendy... I'm sorry, I cannot and
won't let you go.'

The young rat stared at her hands
who rested on her lap. She didn't think he was going to release her but she
hoped that he changed his mind.

‘Well, don't just sit there, let's
eat!' Jenner said uneasy.

Wendy obeyed her father and was
surprised by the taste of the corn. It was perfect. This time, Jenner took care
of strawberry juice which was wonderful as well. She enjoyed the meal, it made
her forget in what misery she actually was.

 

After dinner, Jenner sat back in a
lazy chair.

‘I hope you enjoyed your dinner.'
He said and he refilled his glass again.

‘I loved it, thank you.' Wendy
said, but her mind drifted off to Justin.

‘He'll be alright.' Jenner said,
as if he was able to read her thoughts.

She gave him a sad smile.

‘He looked so... fragile, so pale.
He's so thin...'

‘He wasn't exactly chubby before
the accident.' Jenner casually replied.

‘Accident?! You almost killed
him!'

‘He jumped on top of me!'

‘Because you pushed him!'

‘A real man can stand up to that!'

‘You were insulting our child!'
Wendy yelled, but she suddenly gasped for air and put her hands around her
stomach.

‘What's wrong?' Jenner asked,
jumping out of his chair.

‘It hurts so badly! I'm going to
lose him!'

‘Nonsense! You're not going to lose
anything! ARCHER!'

The rat named Archer knocked on
the door. Jenner rushed towards the door to open it.

‘Treat her here. She's my daughter
and she's pregnant.'

 

Justin must have been dozed off
when he heard a sound in the hallway. Nanny was preparing dinner for him. And
man, was he hungry! He hadn't been eating properly this whole time, but after
seeing Wendy he felt alive again.

He sat up in his bed, hoping that
Nanny wouldn't take too long with the food.

‘Justin? Are you up?' Nanny asked.

‘I'm up alright. And I'm starving!
I could eat a horse!' Justin said. There was some color on his cheeks and he
was smiling.

Nanny was so relieved that she
gave him a huge bowl of soup and some bread.

‘Your visitor has made you
stronger, hasn't she?'

Justin briefly nodded, mainly
because his mouth was already full with bread.

‘Iw waf grea wo fee her.' He
stumbled.

‘Justin, would you mind finish
whatever is in there before speaking?' Nanny said, but she was laughing. ‘I
guess you said that it was great to see her?'

Justin nodded again. ‘I'm going to
get her out of that madhouse. As soon as I can.'

‘Then you need to take good care
of yourself by eating, drinking and sleeping enough.'

Nanny replied as she shook his
pillow.

‘I will Nanny, you can count on
that.' Justin said and he took another bite off his bread.

 

Wendy realized that the tears ran
over her face without a single sound. Her stomach felt hard and the cramping
was unbearable.

‘It's too early, it's too early.'
She whispered as the so-called doctor ‘Archer' checked her pulse.

‘Stress.' He said. ‘You have to
get your pulse down.'

‘Tell her HOW.'

‘How would I know, I'm not a
doctor!'

‘I need Gabriel in here and I need
him NOW!' Wendy shouted.

‘I'll go get him, you wait here.'
Jenner said and he ran off.

 

Jenner didn't quite realize what
he was doing. He ran into the Castle and started knocking on the windows as a
madman. He got attention alright. Gabriel was sitting behind his writing desk
when he heard the noise. ‘What the Hell is going on here.' He said, mainly to
himself.

He was scared to take a look
outside, but he took his knife and did it after all.

When he came outside he saw who
caused all the anxiety; it was Jenner.

‘Jenner? What are you doing here?
You're waking up my patients!

‘It's Wendy! You have to come with
me!'

‘Yes, but... what's wrong with her?'

‘I guess the baby is coming.'

‘It's much too soon!'

‘I know that, let's move!'

 

Wendy was left alone in Jenner's
room Archer left because there was nothing he could do after all. He left the
door wide open when he left. Wendy stared at the door, hoping no-one strange
would come in. She was afraid of what Jenner had told her about the barn-rats.

She tried to keep her breathing
calm. The cramps were losing their strengths, which made her feel a little more
relaxed.

Suddenly, a small silhouette
appeared in the entrance.

Wendy heart started beating faster
and faster again.  

‘Who are you? Please, go away....'
Wendy pleaded.

The silhouette moved closer so
that she could see the person better. It was Gloria.

Wendy took a deep breath of
relief. ‘I'm so glad to see you.'

 

Meanwhile, Jenner almost pulled
the poor doctor inside the old tree.

‘You have to help her! She's in
there! At the end of the hallway!' Jenner said, panting for breath.

 

Gloria came closer and closer to
Wendy.

‘I ‘m sorry about what I said last
time. I feel guilty. Perhaps my father wouldn't have hit you if hadn't said
anything.

‘Baby... baby....' Gloria whispered as
she came closer.

‘Yes, baby. It felt as if I had my
baby already... but it's too early....'

‘Baby... sweet baby....' Gloria
whispered again. Wendy got a very uneasy feeling while Gloria touched her
stomach again. She took Gloria hand away from her stomach. Something didn't
feel right. Gloria had this crazy look in her eyes.

‘Would you mind looking for
Jenner? See if he's already here?' Wendy stumbled, hoping that Gloria would
leave.

‘Baby... kill baby....'

‘What?!' Wendy yelled.

Gloria raised her hand. Wendy saw
that there was a small knife in it. She screamed.

 

‘GLORIA!' Jenner yelled from the
other side of the room and he jumped on top of his wife smacking her to the
ground. He pulled the knife out of Gloria's hand and pulled her off the floor.
‘You, take care of my daughter, I'll take care of her.' He shouted at Gabriel.

‘Wendy, are you alright?' Gabriel
asked with large eyes.

‘No, I'm not! She tried to kill my
baby, she tried to cut my baby out of me!' She tried to take Joshua away from
me.'

‘You have to keep calm. Here, I've
brought some medicines that'll make you calm.'

He took Wendy's arm and gave her
an injection.

‘There, you'll be feeling better
in a few moments.' He gently smiled.

‘Poor thing... You're in good hands
now. I won't be leaving until your better. Now let me check on that baby of
yours.'