Worlds Collide by Scott Jasper T
Author:Scott, Jasper T. [Scott, Jasper T.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Amazon: B0B13ZF9R3
Goodreads: 61268494
Publisher: Anthem Press
Published: 2022-08-21T07:00:00+00:00
Chapter 22
3:48 PM, February 25th, 2070
âWell?â Laylaâs mother knocked on the bathroom door. âWhatâs it say?â
âHang on,â Layla said. She was sitting on the toilet, waiting for the result of the second test. Sheâd bought two, just in case. The first one was sitting beside the sink, and now she was waiting to confirm the result with the second.
It had taken her a few days to get up the courage to tell her mother what had happened. For some reason Abigail was more focused on the prospect of having another grandchild than the possibility that her daughter might have been violated or artificially inseminated without her knowledge.
Laylaâs mouth twitched bitterly. But she was no longer eager to end this pregnancy. Something was going on. She hadnât seen the shadow man return, but then, sheâd been sleeping more deeply than usual. In fact, sheâd never felt so rested, or so energized and vibrant. It was as though life had suddenly been painted in different colorsâbrighter, happier ones. If this was what it was like to be pregnant, she suddenly understood why some women were so eager to have kids.
Layla resisted the urge to tap her foot as she waited.
She didnât have long to wait. The word materialized on the tiny display.
Pregnant.
She couldnât believe it. Setting the test aside with the other one, she stood up and zipped up her jeans. She emerged from the bathroom with both tests in hand. Her motherâs eyes were wide and sparkling, her hands up, palms out, and her mouth slightly agape and smiling, as if she were just about to crush Layla into a hug and start jumping up and down for joy.
âLet me see!â Laylaâs mother grabbed both tests in a fist and checked them. It took a moment for the news to sink in. And then she exploded. âYouâre pregnant! This is incredible! Oh, honey, I know itâs not what you expected, but youâll see! This is going to be such a good thing for you. Thereâs nothing in the world like being a mother. No greater sense of fulfillment.â
Layla frowned and crossed her arms over her chest. Her mysteriously good feelings on the topic diminished with the need to put her motherâs feet on the ground. âDid you forget what I told you?â
âHmmm?â
âI donât know who the father is. This wasnât the product of some one-night stand before I disappeared, or after. This is something that happened to me. Without my knowledge.â
Abigail frowned and waved a hand at her, as if to swat away a fly. âOh, that.â She began turning away, a smile twitching back onto her face. âLet me get you some lunch. Youâre eating for two now!â
âMom!â
Abigail stopped and turned around.
âAre you even listening to me?â
âI am.â
âAnd? You still think this is a good thing?â Laylaâs own misgivings were making a swift comeback now in the face of her motherâs blithe acceptance of the news. âWhat if someone has been experimenting on me? Or ... or worse, what if itâs them?â
âThem?â
âThe Architects.
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