Page 89 of Ravaged From Fate

“Are you here to see Maddie?”

“Where have you been?”

“Why did you disappear?”

“Do you have anything to say about what you did?”

As we reach the doors to the hospital, I turn back and lock eyes with Harold once again in the middle of the crowd. Unlike the rest of the vultures, he hasn’t got his camera raised. His hands seem to be shaking. He’s staring, open-mouthed, at me.

For all his bluster and bombast, the egotistical asshole is scared of me.

I flash him a smile before we head inside.

I’m back.

Security stops us when we enter. A man nearly my size with a gun holstered. He brings up his hands, gesturing for Elsa and me to leave the hospital immediately.

I’m not having any of that.

“Sir and madam, no one is allowed in here. Off bounds. Step outside.”

I stand up straight and address the man directly. “I’m Caspian Ford, a member of Ravaged, and I want to see my friend.”

I see the flicker of recognition flash across the man’s face. He stumbles back.

“Oh, sorry, sir. Right this way. Top floor. Room two-eleven.”

I nod at him. “Thank you.”

Still holding onto Elsa’s hand, we head straight for the elevators.

I hear the rest of the band before I see them. I hear Maddie’s voice the loudest.

“Have you ever been in labor, Axel? No? Then maybe shut your mouth…”

We pass by her labor ward door. It’s the waiting room, where the rest of the band must be, that I’m after.

I can’t help but chuckle. She’s still the same girl I met who spilled cold coffee all over my bandmate and made him fall in love with her.

I can see through the door window that the band and their partners are all in the waiting room. I shoot one last look at Elsa before I dare step in.

“You ready?” I ask.

She nods.

And then we step in.

Everyone turns to look at us. The room goes silent.

“Hi everyone,” I say, breaking the sudden tension in the room. “I’m back, and I want to introduce someone. The love of my life, Elsa Barlowe.”

46

ELSA

Maddie Leaver delivers her baby three hours later in the middle of the afternoon. In the three hours leading up to that moment, we all wait in the hospital waiting room, and I begin to acquaint myself with the members of Ravaged and their partners.

After introducing me to the gathered crowd, Caspian then tells them the story of why he’s basically limping. Everyone listens with rapt attention as I recount how Caspian saved me from the gang.