EIGHT

JANA

2 years Later

Dear Journal,

I was beginning to show. The bump I was showing was barely a bump, but on me, it showed. My uniform on the Red Genesis was unforgiving on me. Designed to withstand certain extreme temperatures, the sleek lightweight slacks made of skin-hugging breathable dri-weave fabric that would be as cool as possible on New Earth's scorching temperature but can warm up with layers when the temperature was freezing; was also close to skin tight.

"Bunny," Thomas said, looking at me as I walked out onto the Captain's Deck, "you're glowing." He came over to me, his face beaming. "You're finally showing, Bunny."

It had taken us a couple of years for me to get pregnant. In the meantime, it had been a suspenseful two years for Thomas and I, running Red Genesis while also working as a team trying to protect it from the creatures that would emerge out of nowhere as Monsters. It was a lot to handle, especially since it was just the two of us fighting off the Monsters.

We could not allow anyone to know there were Monsters onboard the Red Genesis. Fear was what fueled them. If anyone knew about them, their collective fear would overrun the ship with Monsters.

So, it had been an exhausting two years fighting off each Monster that I would first sense, see, and then alert Thomas to, while I ran ahead to fight it off. With a few appearing here and there throughout the two years, fighting off the Monsters were manageable at first. Then after I became pregnant, they began appearing more frequently.

Although I was pregnant, I could still fight. But now, I couldn't hide my pregnancy amongst the crew and the passengers. Thomas and I would have to make a decision.

"Bunny," Thomas said, "I know we want to minimize the spread of panic, but I think the passengers and crew would be happy to find out we're expecting." He took my hands while I looked nervously around at the Officers busy working on the Captain's Deck. "We're about a month away from landing on New Earth, Jana," he said, smiling happily. "It's time we share our good news with the rest of the Red Genesis family."

I looked down at my growing bump while Thomas pulled me to his chest in a hug. He turned me around and said, "Bunny, having an expectant mother onboard Red Genesis is going to make everyone help protect you and the baby. We can't keep fighting the Monsters on our own."

"It's time," I smiled, agreeing with Thomas. "I want to be careful with my pregnancy. I don't want to lose our baby…"

"We won't, Jana," he said. "That's why we would need others to know about the situation. It should help."

"Okay," I said.

"Let's make the announcement together," Thomas said.

I nodded, then I turned around in Thomas' arms to face the crew.

"Announcement!" Thomas called out. "I need everyone to look up for this announcement."

Everyone looked up from their station and looked over at us, expectantly.

Thomas looked down at me and lovingly said, "Jana and I are expecting!"

There was silence for a few seconds before the crew started clapping and shouting, "Congratulations!"

Dr. Herbert came forward and said, "I suspected. But now I know for sure. Congratulations, you two! We will have the first human born on New Earth! Your child."

Thomas and I smiled at each other. "We will be on New Earth with a new colony in less than one month," Thomas said.

"Congratulations, you two!" Officer Billy Boyd said. She was a petite woman in charge of communications on board the Red Genesis. "Is this just something for crew to know or can I share it to the rest of the passengers on the ship? This is exciting."

"You can go ahead and announce it to everyone," Thomas said.

"How about we announce it at dinner," Billy said.

"Sure," I said.

"Everyone's going to go crazy," Billy said. "This is good news for their morale. Thank God we're almost at the end of the trip. The passengers are getting antsy. It's no wonder after being on the ship for almost three years."

"Yes, we're almost there," I said. "I can't wait."

"See you in about an hour," Billy said to me and Thomas. "I want you two there in the main restaurant food atrium when I announce the news. Everyone would like to congratulate you, so you better be there."

"We will be," I said. I looked down at my tablet, which was beeping. "But I need to go to the Engineering Deck to check out something." I turned to Thomas.

"I'll see both of you later, too," Thomas said, kissing me. He looked over at a screen on the front of the main panel. It was beeping too. "I have to check this out."

"Go do your Captain-y duties, Babe," I said.

"Go do your Engineering-y things, Bunny," Thomas said, patting my butt. "Be careful with yourself and let me know if you need me. No matter what."

"I will," I said walking out the door with Billy.

When Billy and I closed the door and walked over to the elevator, Billy said, "Aren't you such a lucky lady. First you captured the most eligible man's heart on Red Genesis, then you two are going to have the cutest baby. I envy you so much, Jana. I've had a crush on Thomas for so long, ever since we worked together on the last two practice flights."

I looked at the pretty red head who could easily catch any man on the ship or anywhere on Earth. "I had no idea you were interested in Thomas."

She laughed bitterly. "Who wouldn't be? He's the total package."

We walked into the elevator together. "Well, I do notice how so many guys seemed interested in you. Why haven't you tried dating any of them?"

Billy rolled his eyes. "You know why."

"Thomas," I said.

Billy nodded. She looked down at my belly. Her eyes were filled with sadness. As she gazed down at my bump, she reached over to try to touch it, but instinctively I pulled back.

That's why I saw the dark shadow standing behind her. Then it disappeared into her. Her eyes turned completely black and pupil-less. "Billy?"

"Her fear of a hopeless loveless future summoned me. Her hatred towards you and your future child fueled us," a deep voice said out of her mouth. The creature lunged at me as I jumped out of the way.

I pulled off my cross pendant, wrapping it around my fist and blocked Billy's claws reaching towards my belly.

"I must destroy you and the new human," the creature hissed.

"No!" I yelled out and side-stepped another swipe from the creature.

I didn't want to hurt Billy, but I couldn't let the Monster kill me and my baby. With a quick jump, I punched Billy's face as hard as I could, "Get back to hell you ugly stupid witch!" I slapped her a few more times, yelling, "In Jesus' name, I order your butt back to the ugly farm now!" It was the first name I could think of, remembering my mother Maura and Grandmother Shelby's teachings of faith growing up. Everything is possible through God, His Son Jesus, and the Holy Spirit.

A loud scream shook the elevator as Billy's mouth opened wide and a stream of black tar-like substance oozed out of her. When the substance evaporated into the air, Billy's body collapsed to the floor of the elevator.

I ran over to her and tried waking up her unconscious body. "Billy?" I shook her. "Billy? Wake up!" I took her pulse and practically fell back.

Billy was dead.