The Deadly Drop

Julian's face darkened instantly. He shot me a look of pure disgust.

"Miscarriage, miscarriage! God, from the moment you got pregnant, that's all you talk about. 'Oh, I'm going to miscarry.' And look? The kid is still fine."

He walked over to where I was crumpled on the floor, looming over me. "Get up. Get off the platform. You're blocking the line for the other jumpers."

My face was paper-white. I could not form words anymore. Shaking, I reached out and grabbed the cuff of his pants, gritting my teeth against the agony.

"Please... call 911... I'm dying..."

Julian looked like he had stepped in something foul. He kicked his leg out, shaking off my grip. "No wonder Lily says you're a good actress. She nailed it. It's just a bungee jump, Elena. You're not dying."

He sneered. "You're healthy as a horse. Who is this show for? It's pathetic. Honestly, looking at you makes me sick. You're not even half the woman Lily is."

A tourist standing nearby could no longer wait on the sidelines. "Hey, buddy," he called out. "Your wife looks like she's actually in pain. Maybe you should call an ambulance?"

Julian frowned, annoyed by the interference. He started to look down, actually checking on me for the first time, but before his eyes could focus, Lily let out a soft, dramatic gasp behind him.

"Julian... I feel so dizzy..."

As she spoke, she swayed, collapsing perfectly on cue. Julian moved like lightning, catching her before she hit the ground, his eyes wide with panic.

"What is it, babe? Was it a shock? Someone called an ambulance! Quick! I… I'll get you to the hospital right now!"

He scooped Lily up bridal-style and sprinted off the platform, not looking back.

I saw it, though. Over his shoulder, Lily, who was supposed to be fainting, shot me a smirk. It was a look of pure, triumphant malice. She was laughing at me.

I watched them leave, fighting the black spots in my vision.

Then, something inside me shattered completely. A warm flood gushed out, breaking the dam.

"Ah!"

Screams erupted around me.

"Blood! Look at the blood!"

"Oh my god, she's hemorrhaging! Look at her legs! Call 911!"

"She's going to die! The baby–!"

The voices blurred together into a chaotic roar as I drifted into the dark. I felt the cold grip of death tightening.

Some kind tourists and the staff managed to get me onto a stretcher. I was vaguely aware of them covering me with a jacket; my lower half was soaked in red. It must have looked like a horror movie.

They rushed me to the bottom of the tower just as the ambulance pulled up. However, Julian was already there, shoving past everyone to get Lily into the back.

"Hurry! Doctor, get us to the hospital!"

"Wait!" The bungee operator blocked the ambulance doors. "This pregnant lady is in critical condition! You have to take her first!"

He waved for the others to bring my stretcher forward.

When Julian saw me, he exploded. "Elena! Are you never going to quit? Lily caught a chill from the wind. She's suffering, and you choose now to fight her for an ambulance?"

He pointed a shaking finger at me. "You're really committed to the bit, aren't you? You even got people to carry you down. You make me sick!"

I lay on the stretcher, vision swimming. I tried to raise a hand to explain, but my limbs would not obey.

The paramedic looked confused, glancing between us. "Sir, there's only room for one patient. Who called 911?"

"I did!" Julian shouted, climbing into the back with Lily still in his arms. "Just drive! Ignore that crazy woman!"

The staff member stepped up, furious. "What 'act'? Look at your wife! She passed out cold and is bleeding out! You haven't even looked at her. You're just fawning over your little childhood sweetheart. What kind of scumbag are you?"

Lily, huddled in Julian's chest, decided it was time for another Oscar-winning performance. She wiped a fake tear from her eye. "It's okay, Julian. Don't fight with Elena. If she wants the ambulance that badly, let her have it. I... I'll be fine..."

She swayed again, clutching her head.

That broke Julian. He held her tighter and shoved my stretcher away with his free hand. "No way! As long as I'm here, Elena is not setting foot in this ambulance!"

Just then, a nurse from the ambulance team lifted the jacket covering my legs. She gasped, her hands flying to her mouth.

"Holy! Call the ER, tell them to prep for immediate surgery! She's miscarried! She's hemorrhaging! She's critical!"

Julian froze. The color drained from his face as he stared at the blood.