The Demon in My Womb

The day my prenatal screening report came out, I heard a voice inside my belly. [Mommy, Daddy is going to divorce you the second you give birth to me!] [His true love is infertile, so all these years he just used you as an incubator to get a son. As soon as I'm out, he's running off with her!] I believed it without a shadow of a doubt and adamantly filed for divorce. For nine long months, I took care of my pregnancy alone, determined to raise the child by myself. But on delivery day, everything went horribly wrong. The doctor said the baby was dangerously premature and severely breeched. "The baby is thrashing wildly inside you... almost like he's torturing you on purpose." Eight agonizing hours of emergency surgery did nothing to save us. In the end, it was a catastrophic obstructed labor. Neither of us made it off that table. Just before I took my final breath, I heard the voice in my womb one last time. [Haha! Daddy never cheated at all! I lied to you the whole time!] Why would a baby lie? Even in death, I couldn't comprehend it. When I opened my eyes again, I was sitting right back in the doctor's office on the day of that first screening report. "Mrs. Hayes, congratulations, you're going to be a mother! The ultrasound shows you're just over eight weeks along!" "From now on, watch your diet and take extra good care of that little life inside you." The doctor's gentle voice snapped me out of my daze. I jerked my head up, my eyes locking onto the report in her hands. That was when I knew for certain—I had been reborn. A split second later, the voice chimed in from my belly. [Mommy, Daddy is going to divorce you as soon as you give birth to me!] Hearing that exact same voice, echoing word for word from my past life, a bone-chilling wave of dread washed over me. The phantom agony of dying alongside my unborn baby on that freezing operating table was still fresh in my soul. Before I could wrap my head around it, the voice sounded again. [Daddy's true love can't have kids! That's the only reason he married you! You're nothing but a human broodmare to him!] [Once I'm born, he'll divorce you, take me away, and live happily ever after with her!] In my previous life, hearing these words shattered my world. Without asking a single question, I demanded a divorce from my husband. No matter how desperately he pleaded or tried to explain, I stood firm, convinced that the psychic connection with my unborn baby couldn't lie. It wasn't until my dying breath that I learned it had all been a malicious fabrication. Why would the thing inside me do that? In this life, I was going to uncover the truth. Noticing my ashen complexion, Dr. Evans looked at me with genuine concern. "Mrs. Hayes, are you feeling alright? Is the news overwhelming? Would you like some glucose water?" My hand instinctively hovered over my flat stomach. I asked, my voice trembling slightly, "Doctor... is this baby... normal?" Dr. Evans blinked, clearly taken aback. "Do you mean his physical development?" I remembered how violently malpositioned the fetus had been in my past life, and the surgeon's terrifying remark that the baby seemed to be torturing me from the inside on purpose. It was that deliberate cruelty that led to our deaths on the table. If I chose to terminate the pregnancy right now, would my fate change? I nodded weakly at the doctor. "This wasn't planned. I'm not ready for this... and I have a bad feeling something is wrong." "What if... what if I don't keep—" Before the word could leave my mouth, a blinding, searing agony ripped through my lower abdomen. My internal organs twisted violently, as if a pair of invisible, icy hands was wringing them dry. The next second, the voice hissed directly into my skull. [Mommy, what are you trying to tell the doctor?] [You're not thinking of getting rid of me, are you? If you do that... I will be very, very upset!] The agony doubled instantly. A breathless scream caught in my throat as I collapsed against the armrest of the chair, completely paralyzed. Cold dread flooded my veins. The creature inside me was listening. It was tracking every word, every breath around me. The moment I showed even a flicker of wanting to terminate it, it was ready to drag me down to hell with it. Seeing me doubled over and panting in cold sweat, Dr. Evans realized something was gravely wrong. "Mrs. Hayes! Are you in pain?" "If your current physical condition can't support a pregnancy, I strongly advise prioritizing your own health. You can always try again in the future—" Grit and raw adrenaline kicked in. I clenched my teeth until they nearly cracked, cutting her off with ragged breaths. "I'm... I'm fine. I can do this." "Please, Doctor... just write me a prescription for prenatal vitamins and supplements. I need to make sure this baby stays completely healthy." The moment those words left my lips, the tearing pain in my gut vanished into thin air. The voice purred back into my head, sickeningly sweet. [That's more like it, Mommy.] [You have to take good care of your body. You need to hold on until the day I come out.] My shirt was drenched in cold sweat. I didn't dare say another careless word. I knew with absolute certainty now: whatever was inside me was listening twenty-four seven. Right then, my phone buzzed in my bag with a text from my husband, Charles. [Honey, having drinks with some college buddies tonight. I'll be home a bit late. Don't wait up!] In my past life, this single text had been the catalyst. Back then, already poisoned by the baby's voice, I assumed he was out spending the night with his mistress. I drafted the divorce papers that very evening. This time, I wasn't going to dance to anyone else's tune. I pulled out my phone and typed back a steady reply. [Okay. Be safe, see you tonight.]It wasn't until four in the morning that I heard Charles's muffled footsteps creeping through the front door. After quietly washing up in the bathroom, he leaned over the bed, pressed a warm, tender kiss against my forehead, and slid beneath the duvet, wrapping his arms around me protectively. The whisper coiled around my mind once more: [Mommy! Daddy just got back from sleeping with his true love! How can you even sleep right now?!] [I'm telling you, divorce him and run away with me! When I grow up, I'll take such good care of you, I promise!] Listening to the exact same venomous whispers as before, I kept my breathing even and pretended to be fast asleep. I quietly replayed everything from my past life. When I demanded a divorce back then, Charles had been devastated and completely blindsided, yet he ultimately respected my decision. He had walked away from our marriage leaving all our joint assets to me, and sent generous alimony into my account every single month without fail. He hadn't even known I was pregnant until the hospital called him with the news that both his ex-wife and their unborn baby had died during labor. After that day, he lost his mind with grief. Remembering his utter devotion and heartbreak, a seed of doubt sprouted in my chest. Had he really cheated on me? I resolved to stay awake and talk to him face-to-face when morning came. Yet when I opened my eyes at dawn, the spot next to me was already cold. Charles had already left for the office. A sticky note and a text were left behind: [Morning, sweetheart. I made breakfast and left it on the dining table. Fresh warm soy milk is in the blender. Have a great day!] The moment the text registered in my mind, the thing in my belly began thrashing aggressively. [Mommy, he's putting on a show! He rushed out early just to meet up with his mistress!] [Hurry up and divorce him! You're the only one who can protect me!] The more frantic the voice became, the more certain I was that this was a trap. It wanted me isolated. It wanted me to cut off the only person who cared about me, ensuring that on delivery day, there would be no family in the waiting room—leaving me helpless to die on that cold operating table. Not this time. I would rewrite this ending. On my way to work, an old man dressed in a ragged fortune teller's robe suddenly lunged from the sidewalk, grabbing my coat with wide, frantic eyes. "Things that do not belong to you—you must never touch them!" Startled half to death, I instinctively pulled back. "What are you talking about?" Assuming he was some kind of street scammer or a madman, I turned to walk away. Instead, his grip tightened like iron around my sleeve, his voice cracking as he hissed into my face, "That life does not belong to you! Cast it away! Leave it at once!" A cold shudder crawled up my spine. His crazed, piercing gaze didn't have a trace of mockery in it; he was utterly terrified. I froze on the concrete, his words echoing in my head. "That life does not belong to you?" Did he know I was reborn? Or did he mean that even in this second chance, my life was being held hostage? A suffocating wave of fear wrapped around my throat. But before I could demand an explanation, the old man spun around and vanished into the bustling alleyway. Before my thoughts could settle, the icy whisper tore through my consciousness. [Mommy... who were you just talking to?]Instantly, a sharp, twisting spasm tore through my uterus. It was suspicious again. It was warning me. [Mommy, if I catch you sneaking around trying to harm me, I'm going to be very angry.] The cadence of the voice was growing darker, dripping with malice. That wasn't the voice of an innocent unborn baby! In that exact moment, my resolve hardened. I had to know what kind of abomination was growing inside my flesh! Biting down on my lip to swallow the nausea, I dialed my manager. "Mr. Davis, I need to call in sick today." Next, I fired off a quick text to Charles. [We need to talk in person. Today.] After sending it, I flagged down a yellow cab and headed straight for the private hospital. The entire ride there, the thing inside me barraged my mind with furious demands. [Mommy! Where are you going?!] [I'm your baby! Don't tell me you're trying to abandon me again?!] Sharp, rhythmic stabs of pain radiated through my pelvis. Cold sweat dripped down my temples, but I locked my jaws tight and didn't make a sound. I had to get answers. I booked an emergency consultation on the hospital app during the ride. When Dr. Evans walked into the room and saw me drenched in sweat, as white as a sheet, she gasped. "Mrs. Hayes! Good heavens, what happened to you?" "Did you take the supplements? Is your morning sickness really this severe?" Before I could form a syllable, a raging screech exploded behind my eyes. [Mommy! Why are you seeing a doctor again?! I knew it! You really are trying to get rid of me!] A violent, tearing contraction ripped through my abdomen. My knees buckled, and I crumpled onto the linoleum floor. "Nurse, in here! Now!" Dr. Evans rushed over, helping me into an examination chair. "Mrs. Hayes, your body is having an extreme rejection reaction. I strongly urge you to reconsider this pregnancy. Your life comes first. You need to stabilize before you even think about—" "No!" I gasped, clutching her arm with white-knuckled fingers. "The baby stays!" "I came here for progesterone shots! I want this baby to survive, no matter what it takes!" The moment the words rang through the clinic, the paralyzing pain stopped dead. The voice softened instantly, sickeningly sweet again. [Aw, Mommy... I guess I misunderstood you.] [You better take good care of me, then. Because if I ever find out you don't want me... I'll be very, very upset.] Dr. Evans hurried to set up the hormone injection. Right before the nurse wheeled the tray over, I snatched a pen and a prescription pad from the desk, scribbling furiously: [Perform an amniocentesis. I need a rush DNA test on this fetus.] Dr. Evans's eyes widened in sheer confusion. She parted her lips to speak, but I slammed my hand over her mouth, shaking my head violently, my eyes wide with terror. If the thing inside me heard, I wouldn't live to see the sunset. Seeing the raw terror in my eyes, she gave a firm nod. Under the cover of administering the shots, she performed the fluid draw with silent precision. Since the rush genetic analysis wouldn't be ready until the afternoon, I decided to go home first and confront Charles. The moment I unlocked the front door, the muffled sounds of an argument echoed from the master bedroom. I pushed the door open, catching Charles in the middle of hurriedly hanging up his phone. Guilt flickered across his eyes, though he masked it almost instantly with his usual gentle demeanor. "Lynn? Why are you back so early?" he asked, walking toward me. "What was it you wanted to tell me?" My mouth opened, ready to lay all my cards on the table. Before a sound came out, the whisper hissed inside my head. [Mommy, what are you going to say to Daddy?] [Before you speak... why don't you check what's inside his suit jacket?] An icy alarm bell rang in my mind. Forcing a faint, tired smile, I looked at Charles. "Could you pour me a glass of warm water first? I'm exhausted. We'll talk in a minute." "Of course." The second Charles stepped into the hallway, I bolted toward his dry-cleaned suit draped over the vanity chair. My hand darted into the inner breast pocket. My fingers brushed against delicate lace. I pulled it out—and froze. It was a pair of unfamiliar, provocative women's underwear. Before my brain could process the sight, the voice cackled triumphantly. [See? I told you Daddy is cheating!] [If his true love weren't barren, he would never have looked at you twice! What are you waiting for? Divorce him right now and raise me all on your own!] [Mommy, I'm your baby. Would your own flesh and blood ever lie to you?] Right at that exact second, my phone buzzed with an encrypted email from the private lab. The DNA match report: [Probability of Maternity: 99.99%.]My brain felt like it was detonating. A high-pitched ringing filled my ears. The contradictions were tearing me apart. The fetus was biologically mine. Did Charles really cheat? Was the thing inside me actually telling the truth? The voice kept chattering, relentless and smug. [Mommy, just trust me! Daddy really is having an affair!] [If you don't believe me, hire a private investigator to follow him!] Just then, Charles's phone on the nightstand illuminated with an incoming notification. [Babe, what time are you coming over this afternoon? I miss you.] The contact name blared in bold letters: Chloe Vance. His college sweetheart. His so-called "unforgettable first love." All the blood drained from my limbs. It was real. Charles was having an affair. Footsteps approached, and Charles walked back into the room holding a steaming mug. He handed it to me with an affectionate smile. "I know you like your water at exactly ninety-eight degrees, so I had to let it cool a bit." I stared at the mug numbly, my world spinning out of control. He reached out, gently stroking my hair. "What was it you wanted to tell me, honey?" Clinging to the last shred of my sanity, I looked up into his warm brown eyes. "Charles... can you stay home with me this afternoon?" He paused, a flicker of hesitation crossing his face. After a noticeable beat, he cleared his throat awkwardly. "There's an emergency board meeting at the firm this afternoon. How about I come home early tonight and make it up to you?" In that silence, the answer was deafening. Given a choice between me and Chloe, he picked Chloe. I masked my expression, offering a hollow nod. "Okay. We'll talk tonight, then." Without waiting for his reply, I grabbed my purse and walked out the front door. My head was a chaotic storm, but two facts stood out crystal clear. I couldn't keep Charles. And I definitely couldn't keep this baby. Whatever sinister motive this creature had for feeding me the truth, my horrific death in the delivery room in my past life was an undeniable fact. I pulled out my phone and messaged Dr. Evans: "Schedule a surgical termination immediately." If I terminated the pregnancy under total anesthesia before it realized what was happening, it wouldn't have the chance to kill me. Per my written instructions, the clinic staff kept everything completely silent. The entity in my womb had no clue as I signed the voluntary termination consent forms. Right as the nurse gestured for me to step into the prep room, two familiar figures caught my eye at the far end of the corridor. I stepped behind a pillar and peered out. It was Charles and Chloe! What were they doing in the obstetrics wing? My eyes dropped to Chloe's midsection—and my breath hitched. Her belly was noticeably rounded beneath her designer wrap dress. She was here for a prenatal checkup! Wasn't Chloe medically infertile? How on earth was she pregnant? As Charles tenderly held her arm, guiding her into the private VIP consultation room, the puzzle pieces violently clicked into place in my head! Everything—every single twisted detail—finally made sense! "So that was the game!" I ripped off the sterile surgical gown, tossed it into the bin, and looked at the stunned nurse. "Cancel the procedure. I'm keeping this baby." "Not only am I keeping it, but you are going to help me ensure it stays alive and healthy until the day I deliver!"