Chapter 6 — Push, Mom!


    <strong><span ss="userText">[Nivalis Silverfrost]</strong>


    <span ss="userText">As another seemingly endless week slipped away, the unforgiving embrace of winter tightened its grip on Nivalis as the air grew colder, making everything feel even harder for her. Her once agile body had transformed into a round and bulging form; her belly, now even more round and prominent, made her slower and weaker than ever before. She struggled with simple tasks, like lifting objects, and even walking became hard. Each step left her gasping for air, and dizziness often clouded her thoughts.


    <span ss="userText">Still, she wouldn''t let any of this stop her from nning their escape. All week long, she thought about how they could get away from this ce. She considered every little thing, like how, when, and most importantly, where they''d go.


    <span ss="userText">This wasn''t her first try at breaking free from this ce. Nivalis tried her hardest to escape, but he was too cunning, too clever, and the fact that the vige was small and isted made any kind of n futile. He knew how to catch her every move, and he always seemed to be one step ahead of her. Even when she ran without any ns or preparations, he tracked her down like she was just another helpless rabbit in the forest.


    <span ss="userText">In her first year here, before she became pregnant with Silvia, she fought against him fiercely. She used every bit of her strength and tried every possible method. From attempting to harm Haldor in his sleep to schemes involving poison and even the introduction of ss into his meals, nothing helped. Haldor''s strength and cunning nature acted as an imprable shield against her efforts. Her actions only brought about dire consequences for her, which led to Silvia being conceived.


    <span ss="userText">She was stuck, trapped like a bird in a cage.


    <span ss="userText">With the birth of her daughter, Silvia, Nivalis faced an even greater challenge. She knew that this relentless man was not only after her but also sought to mold her innocent child into a mirror image of himself. Protecting Silvia from his influence became her top priority, and it was not an easy task.


    <span ss="userText">But now, there was a flicker of hope growing inside her eyes. She made a n. A really good n.


    <span ss="userText">And this time, she wouldn''t let Haldor stop her.


    <span ss="userText">Nivalis had decided the optimal moment for escape would be right after the baby''s birth. He would be oblivious to her intentions. He would think she would be too weak to resist so that he wouldn''t be expecting it. She remembered how when Silvia was born, Haldor had indulged in alcohol to such an extent that he slept and snored for three days straight.


    <span ss="userText">She will use this opportunity to escape with Silvia and a baby.


    <span ss="userText">Nivalis knew that such an escape would be very, very difficult, but she was willing to take the risk. Anything is better than staying with this terrible person.


    <span ss="userText">She was in the kitchen, working away, when her thoughts got interrupted by a familiar kick in her belly. It felt like her unborn child was telling her not to give up, to keep going.


    <span ss="userText">She smiled and gently rubbed her hand over her round belly. — "It''s okay, my dear. Mommy is here, and we will get out of here soon. I promise," she whispered, her voice shaking with emotion. With that, she started getting ready for the journey ahead.


    <span ss="userText">Next entire week, Nivalis had to be extra careful not to make Haldor, the person keeping her here, suspicious. He had a temper that could go from bad to worse in an instant. It was risky even to think about escaping, but Nivalis couldn''t stand the thought of staying here any longer.


    <span ss="userText">The most challenging part was collecting necessary supplies without raising any suspicion. Years of living with Haldor had honed her skills in moving around him, predicting his moods, and anticipating his reactions. Her nimble fingers could slip into pockets and satchels without making a sound.


    <span ss="userText">She had even found an old sled, hidden in the back of their barn, that she had spent hours repairing and reinforcing for a long journey. She was going to use this sled to carry both her daughter and supplies.


    <span ss="userText">Nivalis''s n was straightforward but effective. She will head northeast, far beyond Haldor''s reach, into a deste,wless expanse<span ss="aiText"> of dense forests and untamed wilderness. She''d continue until they reached the border of the neighboring kingdom, where she''d seek refuge and a new beginning.


    <span ss="userText">She knew that it was going to take them at least a month to travel through the vast forest, which was as big as some middle-sized kingdom.<span ss="aiText"> She had to make sure that she was adequately stocked up on food so that they wouldn''t go hungry.


    <span ss="userText">But there was something that made Nivalis uneasy. It was the stories she''d heard about monsters lurking in those wildnds. These creatures were said to be enormous, with sharp teeth and ws, like something out of a scary nightmare.


    <span ss="userText">People only whispered about these monsters, their voices trembling with fear. They told tales of travelers who had dared to go into the no-man''snd only to vanish without a trace, their fate sealed by these terrifying creatures.


    <span ss="userText">Despite the fear, she had no choice but to face the unknown dangers that awaited her and her children beyond the safety of their prison walls. She couldn''t let them grow up in that dreadful ce, and she was determined to give them a chance at a better life.


    <span ss="userText">As Nivalis prepared for their daring escape, she couldn''t help but reflect on the life that had brought her to this moment. She remembered the days when she<span ss="aiText"> was happy <span ss="editText">and <span ss="aiText">surrounded by friends and family. But all that was gone now.<span ss="userText"> Now, the weight of her unborn child''s future bore down on her, fueling her determination.


    <span ss="userText">Memories of her past life flooded her mind. She thought about the days when she used to be happy, with friends and family all around her. Those were the times she missed the most, and they seemed like a distant dream now.


    However, all of those things were in the past. Nivalis found herself in a really tough situation now, and she couldn''t ignore the weight of responsibility resting on her shoulders. She had a daughter to care for and an unborn child''s future to think about. This heavy burden inside her fueled her determination to escape because she couldn''t bear the thought of her child growing up around the terrible man.


    As the day of the birth grew nearer, Nivalis felt her anxiety getting stronger. She knew that time was slipping away, and with each passing moment, she was getting closer to the moment ofbor and the chance to get free. However, she was also aware that the stakes were incredibly high. One wrong move could ruin everything she had worked so hard for.


    Nivalis understood that she had to be cautious, not just for her own sake but for the sake of her children.


    After making sure that everything was properly prepared, she took a deep breath and sighed with relief. The only thing left to do now was to wait.


    <span ss="userText">As the final week of her pregnancy drew to a close, the tension in the house was palpable. The anticipation of the uing birth and the uncertainty of what it would bring hung heavily in the air.


    <span ss="userText">Haldor sensed that something was wrong going on in this house the whole past week, but he was too preupied with the idea of bing a father again to pay much attention. His gaze fixed on his wife''s swollen belly, and a dark, twisted smile twisted across his scarred face.


    <span ss="userText">"Soon, I will have my second child," he whispered, his voice low and sinister.


    <span ss="userText">"I can''t wait to see my son. My strong, powerful, warrior son," he added, his eyes filled with pride.


    <span ss="userText">His words felt like daggers in Nivalis''s heart, but she forced herself to stayposed.


    <span ss="userText">— "I''m sure he will be just as strong and brave as his father," she replied, her voice trembling. It seemed like she hadn''t even considered the possibility of a girl.


    <span ss="userText">"Yes, yes, he will be," he said, a shadow passing over his face.


    <span ss="userText">Deep down, Haldor knew that the birth of his second child would mark the end of the fragile peace he''d managed to keep with Nivalis. She had been obedient enough, but his son would need rigorous training, shaping him into the warrior Haldor envisioned in his mind''s eye.


    <span ss="userText">Haldor would not allow his newborn son to be raised by a woman who hated him.


    <span ss="userText">The days went by, and then it happened.


    <span ss="userText">e evening, while Haldor was away on a hunting trip and Silvia was sound asleep, Nivalis was in the kitchen, busily preparing food for the next day. Suddenly, a sharp pain shot through her, and she felt her water break.


    <span ss="userText">— "Silvia!" Nivalis cried out, her voice echoing through the house.


    <span ss="userText">Silvia was jolted awake by her mother''s urgent call, and the little girl hurried down the stairs<span ss="aiText">, her tiny footsteps padding softly on the floor.


    <span ss="aiText">"Mom, what''s wrong?" Silvia asked, her eyes wide with concern.


    <span ss="userText">— <span ss="aiText">"It''s time, sweetheart," Nivalis said, her voice trembling with both excitement and fear.


    <span ss="aiText">Silvia''s eyes widened even further, and a smile tugged at her lips.


    <span ss="aiText">"You mean... my brother ising?"<span ss="userText"> Silvia''s face lit up, and she hurried over to her mother''s side, ready to help.


    <span ss="aiText">Nivalis nodded, unable to speak as another contraction hit her.<span ss="userText"> She reached out and ced her trembling hand on her daughter Silvia''s shoulder.


    <span ss="userText">Together, they hurried into the bedroom, their hearts pounding with anticipation. Nivalis carefully arranged a cozy nest of soft nkets and pillows, preparing a safe space for the impending arrival. Meanwhile, Silvia scurried around the house, gathering all the necessary items they might need.


    <span ss="userText">The room they were in was small, with only a dim candle flickering on the windowsill, casting a soft, warm glow. The walls were painted in a in gray, and the floor consisted of simple wooden<span ss="aiText"> nks.


    <span ss="userText">The room was small and dimly lit, with a single candle flickering on the windowsill. The walls were painted a dull gray, and the floor was bare wooden boards.


    <span ss="userText">"I''ll get you some towels and water," Silvia said, her voice filled with nervous energy.


    <span ss="userText">— "Thank you, my dear," Nivalis whispered, her breath catching in her throat as another contraction surged through her.


    <span ss="userText">She settled onto the bed, determined to focus on her breathing as the intensity of the contractions grew.


    A few minutes passed when Sylvia returned with a bucket of water and a bunch of towels.


    <span ss="userText">"Here, Mom, drink this," Silvia offered, carefully holding a cup to her mother''s lips.


    <span ss="userText">Nivalis took a refreshing sip, savoring the coolness that washed away the bitterness in her mouth.


    <span ss="userText">Nivalis managed a faint smile, grateful for her daughter''s support.


    <span ss="userText">As the hours passed, Nivalis''s contractions increased in both frequency and intensity, like waves crashing against the shore. Her screams echoed through the house, filling every corner with their intensity.


    <span ss="userText">Nivalisy on the bed, her legs stretched wide apart. Her breathing was ragged,ing in short gasps, and her heart was pounding like a drum in her chest. Her body was drenched in sweat, making her feel sticky and ufortable. Strands of hair clung to her forehead in a tangled mess. With every surge of pain, she clutched her daughter''s hand so tightly that her knuckles turned ghostly white.


    <span ss="userText">Silvia, her young daughter, watched the scene in a mix of awe and terror. The deafening screams of her mother sent shivers down her spine. She was frozen in ce, unable to move or utter a word.


    <span ss="aiText">Nivalis''s world shrunk down to a pinprick. All she could focus on was the excruciating pain that racked her body.


    <span ss="aiText">As thebor intensified, the pressure built within Nivalis''s belly, as if her organs were being crushed under the weight of the unborn child. Her skin burned with fever, and her throat felt parched despite the liquid her daughter provided her.


    <span ss="aiText">With each agonizing contraction, Nivalis felt as if she was being torn apart from the inside.


    <span ss="aiText">She could feel the child struggling within her, desperate to enter the world.


    <span ss="userText">As Nivalisbored through the night, her cries of pain and agony echoed through the house, sending shivers down Silvia''s spine.


    <span ss="userText">But Silvia stood by her mother''s side, her hand never leaving Nivalis''s.


    <span ss="userText">"You can do it, Mommy," she whispered, her voice full of encouragement.


    <span ss="userText">Nivalis''s screams were deafening, and the pain of childbirth was almost unbearable. Her body ached, and her vision blurred, but she pushed through the pain.


    <span ss="aiText">The minutes dragged by, each one feeling like an eternity. The suffering continued, and Nivalis began to lose hope. She wondered if this would be herst night on this earth.


    <span ss="aiText">"Push, Mom!" Silvia cried out, her young voice strained with desperation.


    <span ss="aiText">Nivalis gathered the remnants of her strength and pushed. The pressure within her seemed to double, and she could feel the child''s head forcing its way out.


    <span ss="aiText">Silvia held her mother''s hand in her tiny ones, lending her a fragment of the child''s strength.


    <span ss="aiText">"Come on, Mom, you can do it!" Silvia encouraged, her voice wavering.


    <span ss="aiText"><span ss="userText">— "I can''t do it! It''s too hard! I can''t!" Nivalis sobbed, tears streaming down her flushed cheeks.


    <span ss="aiText">"You can, Mom. I believe in you!" Silvia urged, her voice shaking with emotion.


    <span ss="aiText">Nivalis gathered thest shreds of her courage and gave one final push. A guttural scream erupted from her throat, and the child slid out of her, a slimy, bloody bundle.


    <span ss="aiText">Silvia held her breath, her heart pounding in her chest.


    <span ss="aiText">Nivalis copsed back against the pillows, her body exhausted and wracked with pain.


    <span ss="userText">Finally, after hours of suffering, a little boy was born.


    <span ss="userText">Nivalis couldn''t contain her tears as she cradled her son in her arms. He was so tiny and helpless, and Nivalis knew that her heart would forever be tied to this beautiful child.


    <span ss="userText">However, as she took him, Nivalis realized something was wrong. Her newborn son was quiet, limp, and unresponsive, his tiny chest still.