Free Air by Terra Harmony

us.
    Shawn ignored Micah and put his lips to my ear. “Come with me.” The whisper was as much a demand as a plea. I winced. He gripped me tighter.
    I closed my eyes tight and forced a quiet, “No.”
    His breath turned hot with anger.
    I felt a sharp pain below my left eye where the knife rested.
    He tried again, more forceful this time, “Come with me. I don’t have to give you a choice.”
    Warm blood trickled down my cheek.
    Micah saw it too and took a few steps forward, body tense.
    Shawn only held me tighter, forcing my back to arch. It was in that precarious moment, with my slightly bulging belly forced out even more, that the wind blew. It circled our bodies and tousled our clothes. After playing for a few seconds, mixing the scents of the forest together with our own, it dipped toward my feet then up again. My loose shirt was forced up, exposing a truth kept hidden until now.
    Micah’s eyes traveled down. They went blank, staring for a moment, and then his mouth dropped open. I swallowed. Not necessarily a reaction you hoped for from a father. Then again, I wasn’t positive he was the father. Shawn curiously followed Micah’s gaze down my torso with his hand. He couldn’t see my rounded belly from his angle behind me, but he felt it. His hand was too cold on my exposed skin, and I had an immediate need to protect the life inside me. Keeping my movements slow and controlled, I placed my hand gently over Shawn’s and pried it loose. I stepped away from his grip and turned to face the both of them.
    It didn’t take long for them to find their voices.
    “You’re pregnant?!” they exclaimed in unison.
    I didn’t answer. I’d have thought that fact was fairly obvious by now. Instead, I looked from one to the other, trying to read their faces. No joy from either, but then again, no despair. No fear, no panic. Just shock.
    Let them stew in their shock.
    I waved them off and turned away, whispering, “Better plans.”
    I didn’t get very far before I felt Micah’s hand on my shoulder. “Wait. Is it…” He swallowed hard. “Is it mine?”
    I turned to face him again. Shawn still hadn’t moved. I looked from one to another, trying to hold back tears that threatened to flood my eyes. “I don’t know.”
    My lip quivered. I turned and walked as quickly as I could toward what I thought was the parking lot. My vision blurred by tears, I clawed at overgrown branches, walking blind. With an occasional sob managing to squeak past my lips and the hiccups that developed, I wasn’t evading anyone. Those sounds gave away my location better than a tracking device would have.
    Soon enough a pair of footsteps caught up, and I felt sturdy, strong arms wrap themselves around me. I didn’t know whose they were, and for a moment I didn’t even venture to guess. I was just grateful for the close contact that had been missing from my life as of late. I stepped into the embrace and hesitantly took a deep breath. I breathed in Micah. Relief flooded through my body as rampant as the tears were now. I shook, shivered and sobbed, relying on him to keep me upright. He didn’t say anything, and neither did I.
    He led me to the road, where the car, Susan and Vayu were waiting. Micah and I sat in the back seat, still holding each other tight, until I managed to gain control over myself. “Why didn’t you just finish it – finish him? What happened to your plan?”
    Micah looked down at me, “Killing him wasn’t part of the plan. I’ll explain later.”
    I conceded, and placed my head back in the dip of his shoulder. Watching the pair in front of me, I realized Vayu had created the wind. And Susan probably convinced him to do it. I considered confronting them, but I was too emotionally drained for any more drama. Besides, it had effectively deterred Shawn, and Susan had kept her promise by not necessarily telling Micah. I suppose I should have been more specific. I closed my eyes, comforted by Micah’s hold and let myself