Chapter 178

The room was still loud, still tense, still carrying the aftermath of everything that had just happened.

Ashley was breathing hard, her fists still clenched like she wasn’t fully done yet, while Professor Shields stayed back now, shaken, disheveled, no longer stepping forward.

Abigail stood in the middle of it all, chest rising and falling, trying to catch up to how fast everything had spiraled.

Then she heard it.

A shift.

Subtle—but wrong.

“Emma…”

Abigail turned instantly.

Emma had taken a step back.

Then another.

Her breathing was heavier now, uneven, her hand pressing lightly against her stomach like she didn’t even realize she was doing it.

The anger?

Gone.

Replaced with something else.

Ashley noticed it too. “Yo—Emma…?” her voice dropped, the edge gone immediately.

Emma blinked like she was trying to refocus, her posture no longer as strong as it had been seconds ago. “I’m fine,” she said quickly—but it didn’t sound convincing.

Not even a little.

Abigail moved fast, closing the distance between them. “No, you’re not,” she said, her voice soft but firm now, completely shifted.

Her hands hovered for a second before settling gently on Emma’s arms. “What’s wrong?”

Emma exhaled slowly, shaking her head once. “I don’t know… I just feel—”

She stopped.

Her brows pulled together slightly.

“Weird.”

That was all it took.

Abigail’s stomach dropped.

“You’re not okay,” she said immediately, more serious now. “Sit down. Right now.”

Emma hesitated for half a second, like she wanted to argue—but she didn’t.

Not this time.

Ashley stepped in instantly, grabbing the chair and pulling it over. “Sit,” she said, this time not playing around at all.

Emma lowered herself into it, her hand still resting against her stomach, her breathing trying to steady but not quite getting there.

Abigail crouched in front of her, her voice quieter now, controlled—but there was fear sitting underneath it.

“You pushed yourself too hard,” she said. “You shouldn’t have—”

Emma let out a small breath, shaking her head. “I’m fine, I just—needed to—”

She stopped again.

Closed her eyes for a second.

Abigail’s heart started pounding harder.

“Emma,” she said, more urgent now. “Look at me.”

Emma opened her eyes slowly.

And that’s when Abigail knew.

Something wasn’t right.

“We’re going to the hospital,” Abigail said immediately.

“I’m okay—” Emma started.

“No,” Abigail cut in, not even letting her finish. “We’re not guessing with this. Not right now.”

Ashley nodded quickly. “Yeah, nah—we’re not playing with that,” she added, already moving. “I’ll grab your stuff—keys, bag—whatever.”

Emma leaned back slightly in the chair, her breathing still uneven, her hand pressing more firmly now like her body was trying to tell her something she couldn’t explain.

Abigail stood, then without hesitation, she slid one arm behind Emma’s back and the other under her legs and lifted her up.

“Come here,” she murmured, holding her close.

Emma didn’t protest.

Didn’t even try.

She just let herself be held.

Ashley grabbed both of their things quickly, moving fast, her earlier energy now completely focused. “I got everything—let’s go.”

Abigail adjusted her grip slightly, steady but careful as she carried Emma toward the door. “You’re okay,” she whispered near her ear. “I got you.”

Emma’s head rested lightly against her shoulder.

Too lightly.

They stepped out into the hallway, moving quickly, Ashley just ahead of them clearing the way.

“Move—excuse me—coming through,” Ashley said, her voice sharp, urgent.

Abigail kept walking, her grip tightening slightly as she felt Emma shift in her arms.

Then—

Emma went completely still.

Too still.

“Emma?” Abigail said quickly, her voice changing instantly.

No response.

Her body went limp.

“Emma—hey—Emma!” Abigail’s heart dropped as she shook her slightly, panic rising fast. “No, no, no—Emma—”

She stopped walking immediately, her eyes snapping to Ashley. “She passed out—”

Her voice cracked.

“She passed out.”

Ashley was already on her phone.

Already moving.

“Yeah—yeah, we need an ambulance—now,” she said quickly, pacing slightly as she spoke. “Campus building—yeah, she’s pregnant—she just passed out—”

Abigail dropped down carefully, lowering Emma to the floor as gently as she could, her hands moving quickly, trying to wake her.

“Emma—come on—wake up,” she said, her voice shaking now, tapping her cheek lightly. “Emma, open your eyes—”

Nothing.

Abigail’s breathing picked up, her hands hovering for a second before she leaned closer, checking—

She was still breathing.

“Okay… okay…” Abigail whispered, more to herself than anything, trying to stay calm. “You’re okay… you’re okay…”

Ashley glanced over, phone still pressed to her ear. “Ambulance is on the way,” she said quickly. “They’re coming right now.”

Abigail nodded, but her eyes never left Emma.

“Emma… come on…” she whispered again, brushing a hand gently along her face. “Don’t do this… not right now…”

At this point, people started to gather.

Students.

Voices.

Footsteps slowing.

“What’s going on?”

“Is that Professor Smith?”

“Oh my God, what happened?”

The noise started building around them, but Abigail didn’t hear any of it.

Didn’t see any of it.

All she saw—

Was Emma.

“Back up—give her space,” Ashley snapped, still on the phone, her voice sharp as she turned toward the growing crowd. “Move. Now.”

A few people stepped back immediately. Others hesitated.

Ashley didn’t.

“Unless you’re helping, move.”

That did it.

Abigail stayed on her knees, one hand gently cradling Emma’s face, the other gripping her hand like she could keep her here just by holding on tighter.

“Emma… come on,” she whispered, her voice softer now, almost breaking. “You’re okay… just wake up for me.”

No response.

Her chest rose and fell.

But that was it.

Abigail swallowed hard, forcing herself to breathe, to stay steady.

“Stay with me,” she murmured. “You’re not allowed to check out like this… not right now…”

Ashley turned slightly, still on the phone. “Yeah—she’s still unconscious, but she’s breathing,” she said quickly. “We’re in the main academic hallway—yeah, near the music rooms—please hurry.”

The seconds stretched.

Heavy.

Dragging.

Then—

A small shift.

Abigail froze.

“Emma?” she said immediately, leaning in closer.

Emma’s fingers twitched slightly.

Barely.

But enough.

“Emma—hey—hey, come on,” Abigail said quickly, her voice lifting with a mix of panic and relief. “Open your eyes.”

Emma’s brows pulled together faintly, like she was fighting her way back.

A quiet, strained breath left her.

“…Abigail…”

It was barely a whisper.

But Abigail heard it.

“I’m here,” she said instantly, relief crashing into her voice as she leaned closer. “I’m right here. Don’t move, okay? Just stay still.”

Emma’s eyes fluttered open, unfocused, her breathing uneven as she tried to make sense of everything.

“What…” she murmured weakly.

“You passed out,” Abigail said softly, brushing her thumb along her cheek. “Ambulance is on the way. You’re okay.”

Emma blinked slowly, her hand instinctively moving to her stomach again.

That one movement made Abigail’s chest tighten all over again.

Ashley stepped closer, ending the call. “They’re like two minutes out,” she said. “You scared the hell out of us.”

Emma swallowed, her eyes shifting back to Abigail.

For a second—

She looked scared.

Not just shaken.

Not just tired.

Scared.

Her fingers tightened weakly around Abigail’s hand.

“…I’m scared,” she whispered.

The words hit immediately.

Deep.

Abigail’s expression softened completely, all the panic turning into something quieter, more protective as she leaned closer. “Hey… hey,” she said gently. “You’re okay. I got you. Nothing’s going to happen to you, alright?”

Emma shook her head slightly, her breathing starting to slip again.

“I don’t feel right…” she added faintly.

“Stay with me,” Abigail said quickly, her voice firm but soft. “Emma, look at me. Stay with me.”

But Emma’s eyes were already starting to drift.

“Emma—”

Her body went slack again.

“Emma!” Abigail’s voice broke this time as she caught her, panic surging back instantly. “No—no, no—Emma, wake up!”

Nothing.

Ashley’s head snapped over. “She passed out again?”

Abigail nodded quickly, her hands moving, trying to wake her again. “Emma—come on—wake up—please—”

The sirens were louder now.

Right outside.

But it still felt too far.

Abigail’s breathing picked up, her hands trembling slightly as she held Emma’s face, her voice dropping, desperate now.

“Don’t do this… please don’t do this…”

“Emma—come on… please…”

Abigail’s voice was shaking now, her hands cradling Emma’s face as she tried again, gently patting her cheek, searching for any response.

Nothing.

Her chest still rose and fell—but her body stayed completely limp.

Too quiet.

Too still.

“Emma, wake up…” Abigail whispered, her voice breaking as fear settled deeper into her chest.

Without thinking, she leaned down and pressed a quick kiss to Emma’s forehead.

Then another.

Then to her cheek.

“Come on… wake up for me…” she murmured softly, her lips brushing against her skin again like maybe—just maybe—it would pull her back.

Nothing.

Abigail pulled back slightly, panic rising higher now, her breathing uneven as she tried again, her thumb brushing along Emma’s jaw.

“Emma… please…”

Around them, the hallway had grown even more crowded.

Students stood at a distance now, whispering, watching, trying to piece together what was happening.

“Are they together?”

“Oh my God… is she okay?”

“What even happened?”

The voices blended together, low but constant, filling the space in a way that made everything feel heavier.

Closer.

Ashley turned sharply toward them again. “Yo, I said back up,” she snapped, stepping toward the crowd, her voice cutting through the noise. “Give her space!”

A few more people stepped back immediately.

Others just stared.

Abigail didn’t hear any of it.

Didn’t care.

She leaned down again, pressing another soft kiss to Emma’s forehead, then resting her own there for a second, her eyes squeezing shut like she could will her to wake up.

“You can’t do this… not right now…” she whispered, her voice barely holding together.

Still nothing.

The sound of sirens grew louder.

Closer.

Echoing through the building now.

Ashley turned her head toward the entrance. “They’re here,” she said quickly, relief and urgency mixing in her voice.

Moments later—

Footsteps.

Fast.

Purposeful.

“Where is she?” a voice called out.

“Over here!” Ashley waved them in immediately.

Paramedics rushed in, pushing through the hallway, their presence shifting the entire energy of the space instantly.

“Alright, give us room,” one of them said firmly as they dropped down beside Emma.

Abigail moved back slightly—but not far.

Her hand still holding onto Emma’s.

“What happened?” another paramedic asked quickly, already checking Emma’s pulse, her breathing.

“She passed out—twice,” Abigail said, her voice tight, trying to stay steady. “She said she felt weird… and she’s pregnant.”

That got their attention immediately.

“Okay,” one of them said, nodding. “We got her.”

They moved quickly, efficiently, placing oxygen, checking vitals, adjusting her position.

“Hey, ma’am, can you hear me?” one of them asked, tapping lightly near Emma’s shoulder.

No response.

Abigail’s grip tightened slightly around Emma’s hand as she watched, her heart still racing, her eyes not leaving her for a second.

“Is she going to be okay?” she asked, her voice quieter now, almost afraid of the answer.

“We’re going to take care of her,” the paramedic replied, focused but calm. “We need to get her on the stretcher.”

They moved fast, lifting Emma carefully, securing her as everything shifted into motion.

Abigail stepped with them automatically.

Not letting go.

Not falling behind.

Because now—

There was no way she was leaving her.