"Darian, wake up."
An angelic voice softly whispered into Darian's ear. Additionally, a small, delicate hand began shaking his shoulder lightly.
They were in a smaller-than-average bedroom, one that housed a queen mattress furnished with a golden brown blanket. Bits and pieces of the beige-painted walls were slowly peeling off. To the right, twin drawers full of clothes created a shadow that covered a special rug that read "Love" in fine red print, one riddled with little hearts.
Darian was on his bed, trying to sleep. He squeezed his eyelids shut and muffled a groan, "Five more minutes."
The woman waking him up scoffed and folded her arms, pouting. "Come on..." She sighed before slowly lowering herself to the edge of the bed. Then, she let herself fall and land, lying beside Darian.
"Elara..." Darian turned his body and exhaled, meeting his wife face to face. Her glimmering eyes dilated as they gazed at each other. He couldn't help but feel the edges of his cheeks turn a slight shade of red as he stared at his mesmerizing spouse.
"B-Beautiful…" The word left his mouth without his consent. Freezing at the abrupt remark, Elara's eyes then softened as she broke into a warm smile, "Thank you." She placed her hand on his face and rubbed his cheek.
The pair remained still and admired each other for a couple of minutes. Finally, Elara fixed herself up and sat on the bed. She donned a black oversized sweater and sweatpants, her favorite outfit when staying home.
Her counterpart wore the same clothes because of Elara's decision to buy them both matching pairs. Breaking the silence, she began talking, "I have some exciting news to tell you today." She rubbed his chest and began tracing a circle on it using her index finger.
Involuntarily jolting, Darian gently pushed her hand away. "That tickles…" He couldn't help but let out a small chuckle. Noticing this, Elara focused in and started to tickle his underarms.
The result left Darian tearful and fully laughing. He twitched and tried to escape, but his wife wouldn't stop.
After his eyes and stomach strained from all that laughing, he decided it was enough. "Alright! Alright!" Shaking his hands in front of him, he begged Elara to cease the torment.
But he still wanted to keep touching her, so he reflexively latched his hands onto her palms and brought her closer to him. Elara shot him a glare, to which he sighed, "Fine. I'll get up." A faint laugh left her mouth after he reluctantly got up.
Backing away from him with her arms behind her back, she said in a teasing tone, "I still haven't told you the surprise yet!"
Rubbing his eyes, Darian yawned before walking closer to her. "What's the surprise?"
She stayed silent and instead intertwined her smooth fingers with his. She looked up at him with jewel-like eyes.
Being the epitome of gorgeous, Darian often wondered why Elara chose to be with him. While he wasn't unattractive, the difference between him and his wife was almost night and day. But every time he would ask her this, she'd reply, "I fell in love with you at first sight." And scold him for questioning her taste.
While on the topic of Elara's choices, Darian had never heard her speak deeply about her family. If he asked, she would avoid the topic and turn somber.
"Darian. Focus." She cupped her hand on his chin and shook slightly, causing Darian to snap out of his memories.
As she stared profoundly at him, he couldn't help but blush at the beauty he was met with.
Noticing this, Elara darted her eyes and began, "I-I'm…" She paused, "You're…?" Darian couldn't help but inquire after his interest was really piqued.
"I'm..." This time he let her continue by herself. Stammering on her words, she finally answered.
"Pregnant."
Pregnant. Pregnant. Pregnant. Pregnant. Pregnant. Pregnant. Pregnant. Pregnant. Pregnant. Pregnant. Pregnant. Pregnant. Pregnant. The word rang countlessly throughout his groggy head.
It took a while before it registered in Darian's pounding head. But once it did... "Pregnant…? Pregnant? You? You're pregnant?"
He gripped her hands and raised them in the air. The sudden motion jolted Elara, whose cheeks were red.
"There's a... baby... in your... stomach!?" He raised his voice, elation seeping through slowly, "There's a baby in your stomach? Right now?!"
Elara let go of one of her hands and covered her mouth. "Yes, darling. T-That's what being pregnant means." Despite trying to put on a mask of calmness, even she couldn't manage to contain herself fully.
"I'm going to be a father?" Darian's eyes lit up, and as he raised his hands in the air, he enveloped her in his wide arms with a warm embrace. "I'm going to be a father!"
Never in a million years could he imagine something so magical ever happening to him. No way. Darian Vaughan, a father? Those words should have never gone together, but they did.
She snuggled close to his chest, placing her ear right on his heart. Thump, thump, thump, thump, thump. A warm smile couldn't help but gradually reveal itself on her face.
"Y-You're really excited, haha." She looked into his elated eyes. "I'm glad. I thought you would be annoyed… or sad."
This time, Darian pulled her away from him; the sudden disconnection left her disappointed. "Why would I think that?" He widened his eyes and asked honestly. "I love you, and I'll love anything related to you and me."
He patted her head, "A child? A mini you and me? That's awesome!" Elara gazed into her husband's crimson-colored eyes and whispered, "And you say you're lucky..." It was too quiet for him to hear.
Looking up at him, her lips quivered, "I-I…"
She then placed her hands on his cheek, and immediately after, she went on her tiptoes, leaning in towards his face.
The sun's bright shine covered the remainder of their moment of affection.
Pulling away, she smiled and whispered, this time in a tone that he could hear. "I love you, Darian Vaughan." Darian's face was tinted red, and he embraced her affectionately, "I love you too."
The rest of the time in the bedroom was spent talking about all sorts of topics. They ranged from baby names and deciding what to buy to how to baby-proof the house.
It wasn't until they decided to begin making breakfast that they heard a loud thump on the door.
It was probably the mail; at least that's what Elara and Darian collectively thought. "I'll get it." Elara straightened her back and moved toward the door, hearing no objections from her husband, who started dicing fruit.
Hearing the door open and shut, Darian's expression changed slightly as he wondered, why does the door need to close? It's the mail… right?
However, he shook his head and disregarded the minor inconvenience. But after 30 seconds, he slowly left the kitchen; the crimson eyes that darted began widening with worry. As he made his way to the door, his hand uncontrollably twitched before reaching toward the door handle.
Flicking his quivering hand, he pressed his lips together and shook his head. He reached for the brass handle and tried to twist it open.
It wouldn't budge.
Darian started to twist harder and harder, so hard he expended all his might. However, nothing moved. Then, he started frantically knocking, sweat dripping down his face. "Elara… This isn't funny. Open the door, please."
His knocking turned progressive and fierce, while his voice cracked and trembled, "Elara! Open!"
Now he was using full force and banging with all his might. The door shook violently, but it still wouldn't open.
"Elara! Open!"
Tears cascaded down his contorted face. The floor underneath him caved, subjecting Darian to a fall into an endless abyss.
The walls around him began spinning and convulsing, rapidly forming portraits of Elara all around the walls that trapped Darian in this never-ending well. As he fell, Darian cried out for help. He reached his hand out, hoping someone would hold on.
No—
He began twisting, and the pictures of Elara had shifted into those of monsters, slowly deteriorating her perfect image.
No—
Now the monsters became real, escaping from each portrait and pouncing at Darian.
No—
They maliciously held on to each one of his limbs as they all fell into this never-ending pit. Then, in unison, they all opened their protruding, foaming mouths.
"I'm pregnant."
Whispered in his ear, the thousands of voices slithered inside Darian's head. His face turned pale as he tried to fight off the monsters gripping his legs.
Crunch!
One of them had chomped on Darian's foot, leaving him in immense agony. His cries were drowned out by the monsters now yelling, "I'm pregnant."
Crunch! Crunch! Crunch!
They began moving on to different parts of his body. His arms, legs, and finally his torso. The sound of flesh tearing and getting eaten enveloped the room, alongside the monster's continual shouts of "I'm pregnant."
Blood spewed out from Darian's wounds, tainting both the monsters and himself in red liquid.
They continued falling.
Darian's face was riddled with tears, snot, and blood. The only part of his body that remained was his head. He voiced a cry so loud he felt his vocal cords would rupture any second.
Why couldn't he die?
One of the monsters that stood before Darian leaned forward, close enough so that their faces almost touched. A gut-wrenching squelch came from before Darian, who reluctantly looked ahead at the monster.
The monster had molded its face to perfectly replicate the look of Emory Vaughan.
"E-Emory!" Darian wanted to reach his hand out but realized his entire arm was already chopped off. 'Emory' sighed and rolled 'his' eyes. "I will never think of you as my father, Darian." It was an unfit statement for someone who was a baby.
Before Darian could process this, the monster's face warped once more.
The face had warped into that of Elara's. "Elara!" Darian was oblivious to the fact that the rest of 'her' body was that of a monster.
'Elara' opened her mouth, revealing a set of pearly white teeth. The unblemished lips that had previously parted pursed. Uttering in a tone of discontent, she spat at Darian, "I have never loved you."
Chattering teeth and trickling sweat covered the decapitated, alive head of Darian Vaughan. But before he could respond to 'Emory,' the monster's head warped back into the hideous character of the vile beast.
The monster opened its mouth; the teeth inside twitched eagerly. Darian felt like his mouth couldn't open like his lips were glued shut.
A fragile voice echoed throughout the falling abyss, pricking Darian's ears up.
"Help me, Darian." It was her voice. Her sweet, angelic voice. Darian mustered all his will and power. Groans and muffled screams tried to escape his mouth but were stopped by his pressed lips.
The voice repeated itself, "Help me, Darian."
Darian finally parted his lips and cried out,
"Elara!"