My book ♡

The sky was dark, twinkling stars in the distance giving the land under it light. The air was calm, still, but uneasy--it was even worse for a certain woman.

The bright lights of the halls and sounds of people talking, whispering, shouting, SCREAMING “AGHHH—“ A woman shrilled, her voice raw and strained. Lying on a stretcher, clutching the fabric underneath her as she yelled—the pain getting to her. The nurses scrambling, pushing her to the delivery room and trying to calm the woman’s screams, her vocal cords raw and ripping.

The lobby was no different for her husband and son. It was loud, people suddenly needing things. A man with black shoulder length hair and a worried look in his eyes—in panic. “Ah, excuse me?” He asked, voice shaken and heart beating hard in his chest and ears. “Do you have a woman by the name of Rigby Celine?”

The desk woman nodded, and started typing in  the name and whatever information he gave. “Down the hall sir. Please wait Mr. Kagri.” She informed. Akihito nodding and moved, taking his son’s hand with a firm but gentle grasp. Down the hall, in the delivery room lobby. Waiting, nervous, worried. Thoughts going a million miles a second, what if something happens? What if she doesn’t come back? What if the baby doesn’t make it?

Him and their son Kazuya stayed sat down for hours, hearing the sobs, the screams, the way she called out to them and her parents.

Eventually, a different tune showed. The sound of a baby crying, loud and sudden but there.

Luckily—Rigby and the child lived.

___

By time the family got home, it was a week after the birth. The stress of the delivery taking a toll, tiring.

“Okay, Kazuya, I need you to go clean up the baby’s room and blanket then—“ He was cut off by Rigby’s call. “Darling?” She called out, worry in her tone. Going to the living room, Akihito’s face softened as his gaze fell on his wife and daughter. “Yes honey? Is there something you need?” He asked, concerned. 

“No, it’s just…” She looked down at her daughter, unsure of what was wrong. “Melody is a little…. Strange…” her voice wavered, looking at Melody with love but confusion.

“Strange? Strange how— oh!” He pulled back the hospital blanket from Melody’s face.

She was quiet, no crying, whining, nothing. Her skin was marred with star blotches and patches, a contrast fair to her rich caramel brown skin. Her hair a little longer than the average infant.

Melody’s eyes opened slowly, adjusting to a light and blinking oh so often as she could. Irises were gold, shining as if they were metallic like rings. Melody opened her mouth, a long yawn coming from her, tears forming at the corner of her eyes. But that’s all she did. There was nothing else. It was odd for a new born not make a sound after all, it didn’t make sense for something like her to not cry out from the lights, or from the environment. Rigby looked concerned, her face now a look of worry. “Honey?” She called out “Is Melody okay? She seems oddly…calm, and quiet…” The words feel out in a spin of worry. Akihiko for his part was more than the same, he didn’t know what to expect but he knew it wasn’t this. As much as he loved his new born daughter, but something felt off…

And it didn’t end there.