She sighed in relief as the last seconds passed by silently. Her child was ordinary.
Her lips curled into a soft smile as she embraced him, happy they would stay together. Then, she moved back, crossing the impatient scrawny woman.
Unwilling to wait any more, the woman rushed to the desk and placed her baby on it.
*"Test it, test it, you will see. No connection with the baby for the rest of my life. No problem! As long as you give me a good price."* She said, her face contorting in madness under Alina's disapproving glance.
She had thought the woman was so adamant about the testing because she wanted to save her baby from a life of misery. However, her last words revealed her true intentions.
She understood that some despaired people were ready to sell their own flesh and blood as the testing started and ended as fast as the others.
However, surprisingly, the alarm rang under the officer's befuddled gaze. After all, she never doubted her baby would trigger it. He couldn't help but wonder if she had a method to know.
Recovering from the astonishment, he said to the woman, *"Ahem, please head to the office."* Then, he looked at the guards and added, *"Open the doors and release these people."*
As they stepped out, relieved that the ordeal was finally over, Alina and the other three parents gazed at the beautiful night sky.
The stars shone, illuminating the street as the moon rose.
After an hour in the station, the boisterous plaza was almost empty. The merchants were dismantling their stalls, speaking with each other about the day's profits while the rare passers-by hurried home.
She bid goodbye to her three companions in misfortune before walking toward her house with hurried steps, carrying her baby in her arms... and dragging an unresponsive ghost behind her.
She traversed the empty streets swiftly as most of the village's residents followed the ancient rule of going out when the sun shone and sleeping when the moon glowed. Of course, some places escaped this tacit rule, like the pubs, which stayed open until late, not to mention the brothel.
Despite the village's small size, the return trip took her thirty minutes as she lived at its edges, close to the river.
As she finally reached the street she lived in, three thugs carrying wooden sticks suddenly blocked the passage.
*"What do you want? Let me go."* She said firmly, looking at them with a confident expression despite her shaking legs, knowing that showing fear would make them think she was an easy prey.
She recognised these three mongrels. They were the village's bullies and only picked fights with women or weak people, perfectly illustrating the saying, "They bully the weak but fear the strong."
*"You know what I want. I can make your life so much easier. You only have to accept me."*
Gaston, the thug's leader, said, his piercing blue eyes fixed on her.
*"I already told you that I can't. I have a baby I need to care for."* She answered, trying not to antagonise him by giving logical reasons to refuse the young man.
Despite his sturdy body, delicate facial features and enchanting eyes, he was a renowned womaniser and disgusted her.
His forceful advances started a month ago, right after she gave birth, and she failed to understand why he was suddenly interested in her. It was maybe a fetish of his?
Simultaneously, the baby burst into tears, his voice echoing against the silence of the night in the empty street. He maybe felt something was wrong and wanted to protect his mom or was most likely feeling hungry since she hadn't had a chance to feed him since the evening.
After all, he was just a baby. Nevertheless, his familiar cries forced Adam out of his stupor.
He warily gazed left and right in a hurry before realising he was outside the dreadful station.
'How did they miss me?' He thought happily before trying to gather his scattered thoughts.
'I vaguely remember two babies triggered the alarm. But I have no idea why we went there.' Amidst his confusion, one thought blazed in his mind: mastering their tongue was paramount.
Unable to deduce anything and unaware he dodged a bullet, he gazed at the thugs with a deep frown. Even if he couldn't understand their language, the menacing presence of three armed men in the middle of the night painted a chilling image in his mind, leaving no doubt that she was in danger.
Unfortunately, he couldn't help and had to be a mere spectator.
*"I don't see the problem. You are too young to be tied by a baby. Oh, I have an idea! Leave him somewhere in the forest. Problem solved! You can make more later anyway."* Gaston said, shrugging his shoulders dismissively as he proposed something terrible.
*"Are you crazy? Don't say such horrible things."* She answered, a cold shiver running down her spine, before pointing to her baby, *"I need to feed him. Can you please let me go ?"*
She had to muster all her mental strength to hide her fear and disgust as she didn't doubt he was serious about his cruel proposition.
*"Gaston, stop wasting our time! She is alone on an empty street in the middle of the night. There are no witnesses. Say the word for us to take the bitch away."* One of Gaston's goons said, making Alina's face pale in fright.
If they truly acted, she would have no chance to protect herself.
A heavy silence lingered in the air, only disturbed by the baby's wails.
After ten long seconds, Gaston walked in her direction with steady and measured steps, his towering body casting ominous shadows on the street.
As he drew dangerously close, she closed her eyes in fright, her body tensing as she awaited the worst.
*"I won't wait forever. You see, beauty is a fleeting thing. You should cherish and use yours while it lasts."* He murmured into her ears as he walked past her with his black hair tied in a ponytail dancing in the wind.
She snapped her eyes open, glancing at their departing figures, too scared to move before they were a few dozen meters away. Then, she ran at top speed, unlocked her house's door and hurriedly closed it behind.
Then, she fed and nursed her baby before placing him inside his cradle as if nothing happened. However, no matter how tough or brave she acted, she was just a young seventeen-year-old woman.
As the pressure diminished, her legs gave in. She fell to the ground, silently crying and wondering when her life would become a bit brighter.
Adam gazed at her, empathy reflecting in his eyes. He understood that the woman was about to be abducted, or worse... Yet, despite the terrifying experience, she remained calm and cared for her son.
After sobbing for a minute, he saw her disappear into her room with reddened eyes and a sad face.
***************************
Meanwhile, the scrawny woman negotiated fiercely with the officer under the encouraging gaze of the couple.
Opposite her, the officer's face distorted in frustration as they failed to reach a compromise after forty minutes.
"I'm telling you, I want ten gold coins, or I won't give you my child." Feeling she had the upper hand, the woman asked for a ridiculous price, her eyes ablaze with greed.
The couple cheered her inwardly as her efforts would benefit them.
Even if they had more wealth than her and didn't enjoy being separated from their child as much as she did, a few gold coins were too huge of a sum to brush off.
"What do you mean ten gold coins?! Do you think that your baby is made of rare gems? Ten silver. That's my last offer." He said through gritted teeth. He couldn't even save two gold coins after decades of work as a noble's knight. But there she was, asking for ten.
It was worth noting that the initial offer was one silver only. The woman had effectively multiplied the price by ten! Yet she was unsatisfied and wanted more.
Knock, knock, knock.
The officer rose from his seat hurriedly, his eyes glowing in hope and anticipation as he opened the door and asked the guard, "Please tell me he is here."
"He is, sir. Gaston just arrived."