Tabitha's POV
As soon as those words left my mouth, even Alice behind me panicked. "Tabitha, seriously? You sure?"
"I had a premature birth before, and it feels just like this."
"Tabitha, hold me tight."
Spencer didn't dare slack off for a second and quickly swam us to the shore.
After struggling to drag me up, he pulled out an emergency light from his pocket.
I was soaked through, and even I couldn't tell if it was seawater or amniotic fluid.
Alice had a serious look on her face as she said, "Let me take a look."
Her face went pale as soon as she took a glance at my private part. "Oh no, Tabitha, your water broke, and there's blood!
"If it's just the water breaking, it means you're going into premature labor. And I can handle that just fine. But now, there's blood. Things are getting tricky.
"I'm not sure if it's ruptured capillaries causing the bleeding or if it's the pups' blood. If it's the latter, we are in deep trouble."
My belly hurt like hell. I could barely breathe as I bit my lip and pleaded, "Dr. Evans, please save my babies."
She glanced at the cliffside.
I knew there was no way she could get a preterm pregnant woman up there. Plus, there were enemies lurking above.
We couldn't afford to wait now, so Alice piped up, a determined look on her face, "There's no other way. Find somewhere safe. I'll help Tabitha deliver the babies now."
Spencer scanned the area quickly and finally spotted a slightly flat boulder with a protruding part that could shield us from the wind and rain.
"Hang in there, Tabitha! We're heading over there to deliver the babies," he said.
With that, he scooped me up and climbed down toward the boulder.
Pain wrapped around me like a vice. I couldn't hear the wind or rain anymore, nor feel the cold.
The pain from my belly spread throughout my body, making me feel like I was being torn apart inside. I could feel the babies about to come out.
Having already lost a child once, I feared reliving that nightmare again more than anything else. Tears streamed down my face like crazy.
Typically, babies born three months early or less had a good chance of survival, while those born three and a half months early or more could barely survive, as their organs weren't fully developed yet.
Even in a hospital setting with immediate care in an incubator, survival wasn't guaranteed, let alone delivering under these circumstances!
Spencer set me down gently and immediately took off his jacket to cushion beneath me while handing me his phone.
"Tabitha, hurry and call for help. Dr. Evans, I'll leave the rest to you."
Guessed someone had noticed I'd been rescued from the sea, as those assassins were climbing down from the railing along the cliffside, determined to finish me off.
Gunfire erupted overhead, but thankfully, the boulder shielded us perfectly.
Moreover, the cliff was steep and covered with moss, making it not so easy to come down.
While those assassins were still struggling, Spencer found cover and shot at them while they were descending, aiming right for their legs.
With their stability already shaky as it was, taking out their legs sent several of them tumbling down into oblivion!
Meanwhile, Alice adjusted my position, telling me in a serious tone, "Tabitha, don't be afraid. I'll make sure you're safe."
"No, protect my babies. You must protect my babies," I pleaded. Tears streamed down my face as I dialed Derek's phone number.
The call quickly connected, and there was also a noisy sound coming from Derek's side.
"Where are you guys?" His voice sounded urgent.
"Derek, it's me."
"Tabitha! What happened? Are you hurt? Don't be afraid. I'm almost there," he replied, trying to reassure me.
"My water broke. I'm having a premature labor now. When you go up the mountain, you will see a broken guardrail. We are just below it. Derek, I... Ouch..."
I gritted through intense pain while gasping for breath, continuing, "No matter what it takes, you must save our pups. Even if I die, I want my pups to survive!"
Crystal prayed in my heart, "Dear Moon Goddess, please let my babies be born safely."