Resent, Reject, Regret

Chapter 8 He’s Not Granting Her Clemency

fell on deaf ears. The leader responded with her own irate yell. “That demon-spawn inside you sure doesn’t know when to quit! Does it know it’s been two months already? Should have come flushing out a long time ago, you stubborn pain in the *ss. At this rate, we’ll have to become abortion providers ourselves, and that’s just sh*t!”  Deirdre’s eyes widened. She wriggled out of the woman’s hold and fell on her knees, her hands clasped. “I’m begging you, please spare my child! It’s innocent!” “But you’re not, are you?” came the chilling retort. “Your sin, b*tch, is being an unrepentant simp to Mr. Brighthall. That’s it! The sh*ttiest, most terrible sin. Honestly, we’re just delivering your punishment! God, you have no idea how much he wants you dead already. And he emphatically wants that unwanted spawn in you gone! “Sorry, but not sorry, sweetie. Time for your operation!” The rest of the posse each swung a kick. Then they closed in and pinned each of her limbs in place. Deirdre was so shocked by the revelation that her mind went blank. She collapsed into tears, sobbing. “That’s not what he promised! That’s not what he said! He said I could keep the kid! He s-s-said he would make sure I survived!” Now all this torment and tribulations, as well as the guards’ grotesque negligence, made sense. Who else had the money and status to override the legal rights of an individual? Who else but Brendan Brighthall?! But… why? Why?! She had taken her place! She was doing Charlene’s time in her stead! Why had he not granted her clemency yet? Did he really hate her that much?! “God, whyyyyyy?!” she shrieked at the top of her lungs. She felt like she was exploding into tears and pain—so much pain, flaring and burning and clawing at her innards, making her body implode against the sudden eruption. Even her hardened aggressors were taken aback. “F*ck, put her down, you idiots! Pry her mouth open! We’re getting this sh*t done right now, before she goes batsh*t crazy!” They overpowered Deirdre’s breakdown—hands over hands, fingers over fingers—and reached into the inner wall of her mouth, yanking hard. One of them dug a white pill out of her pocket and put it into Deirdre’s mouth. She fought, gagging to stop it from going down her throat. The inmate had difficulty carrying out her given order, which exasperated the leader. She jabbed her leg into Deirdre’s stomach, paralyzing her with pain and pushing the pill down her throat.  “Hey! Do you remember what else Mr. Brighthall