Madison's pov

"Why can't I move?"

"W-Where am I?"

"Leo?"

"I-I can't breathe."

Immediately, I flutter my eyes open as my body floats above the surface of the water I was currently in. I gasp, breathing in the fresh air into my lungs realizing I'm in some type of tub with red flower pedals all over the place. Glancing all over the place I see nothing at all. No one is in sight. This place is pure white, the whiteness is too bright for my comfort. It's also a bit foggy, however, nothing is in sight whatsoever. Which has me cringing to my core.

"Am I the only one here?," I murmur to myself unsure of what I should do next.

"Hello," I shout hoping for some type of answer which I never got in return. Indeed, I am alone in this place whatever this place is. Slowly, I get out of the tub careful not to slip. However, once I place my feet onto the floor, I feel no wetness at all. I crease my brows in confusion. I'm entirely soaked including this white dress that I'm not so sure I even own. My eyes widen suddenly, remembering my swollen stomach that no longer is visible.

"Oh my god! My baby?," I screech in pure panic. And that's when it all hits me like lightning striking a tree. Everything from when I received the unknown text to me being face to face with Rossi in the dark alleyway. The way she looked at me with pure hatred was something I don't think I'll ever forget. My heart falls down to my stomach seeing her aiming her pistol directly at me ready to end my life. Oh how much I scold myself for falling into the trap. I put myself in danger along with my child.

I'm seriously the worst mother in history.

The look on Leo's face as he rushed towards me realizing Rossi was aiming her gun at me is something that shatters my heart making me hate myself more for putting myself in this situation. Why do I keep stressing him like this? He doesn't deserve me as his wife and to be the mother of his child. I can't even keep myself and my baby away from harm. All I had to do was stay in Diaz's house under Luna's supervision, but of course being the idiot I am, I couldn't do that. Stupid of me, for believing the texts.

So stupid.

My knees weaken on me causing me to collapse onto the ground remembering how Rossi shot my leg, Leo's leg, and eventually shot directly at my baby. Rossi had a plan and that plan was not to just kill me, but to kill my child.

Leo's child.

I don't know what kind of monster would have the guts and lack of morality to kill an innocent baby. A baby that has no part in any of this. An innocent angel that doesn't even know how important he is being the heir of the red eagles. Heir of Leo Castillo's legacy. Oh that's right, Rossi does. She's pure evilness. As soon as I saw her aim her gun down directly at my stomach. Without a second thought or hesitation, I turned around protecting my entire universe. I will not let my stupidness of my actions punish an innocent soul. I will protect Leo's Castillo's child at all costs. Even if that causes my life in the process.

I feel a sharp, hot and excruciating pain that completely took my breathe away almost instantly causing me to lose my balance. I remember hearing Leo scream for dear life as this happened. However, I wasn't able to be conscious of what happened next due to going into a tunnel of pure darkness no longer being able to hear a thing. Until, now of course waking up at this place I still have no idea what it is.

"Did I die?," I begin to sniffle.

"Oh dear god did my baby at least survive?"

"Please let my baby be alive? At least let that be the one thing I did right in this life," I sob.

"He is," an unfamiliar, yet a familiar female voice utters causing me to turn hastily around locking eyes with light brown eyes I haven't seen in years. Immediately, tears develop within my eyes in shock of what I am seeing right now.

"M-Mom?," my voice cracks as I step forward to get a clearer view of this figure.

"Oh my child, you've been through so much," she softly says walking towards me. Instantly, like a little girl, I run towards her hugging her tightly scared that if I don't hug her tight enough that she'll vanish. Her jasmine scent she has always wore back when I was a little girl beautifully travels through my nostrils.

"I miss you so much mommy," I sniffle. Oh how I missed my mother so damn much.

"I'm dead ain't I?," I say pulling away from her to make eye contact. I'm fully aware of my mother passing away years ago. Only meaning, I myself ain't in the world anymore.

"Not exactly sweet angel," she smiles lovingly. "What do you mean?"

"You're currently in the middle. Not dead, but not alive either."

I have no idea how to even begin to process this. Everything happened so quick, so unexpectedly.

"You said my baby is alive? How do you know?," I steer the subject getting straight to the point. My only concern being him, my little creation.

"Indeed he is, what a strong fella he is. We see everything from up here. You have never been alone babygirl," another voice utters from behind us. This time it's a deep voice that makes my heart thump uncontrollably once again. My mother and I both turn around seeing my father smiling at us with open arms.

"Dad," I lurch forward hugging him like I've never done before which I regret so much. One thing I learned in life, is that you must overly love your loved ones because truth is you just never know for how long you'll have them in your life. Life is borrowed only, which mean people are borrowed as well.

"H-How's my son?," my voice cracks.

"He's completely out of harms way and may I add he's so handsome," my father says proudly. I let out a deep breathe feeling at ease from all of my worries and fears. Suddenly a light shines brightly from afar almost blinding me as I use my arm as a shield to protect my eyes.

"The time has come," my father smiles as he intertwines his fingers within my mothers, both of them stepping towards the direction of the light.

"Time for what?," I scrunch my brows not sure what they mean.

"To decide," my mother replies.

"Decide?"

"Stay here, a place of no pain, worries, starvation, anger, sadness, nor illnesses. Just pure peace and happiness or go back into the world?," my father explains extending his hand to me. And it hits me right then and here what this entire thing means. I'm in between life and death right now. This is my call to decide what path I'm going to take. I missed my parents so much that I don't want to leave them again. I hate how life took them away from me so soon. However, this quickly steps aside as Leo's face comes into my mind. The last time, I saw him was when Rossi shot him in the leg wounding him. Is he even alive? I have no idea. After I was shot, everything went black and unknown.

Then Leo's face steps to the side as the image of my once swollen stomach comes into view into my mind. I don't even know how my son looks nor heard his voice. All I know is that he's alive and well from what my parents informed me with which was music to my ears. I protected my child the best way I could of. The best way a mother could protect her child. Using my back to shield my son. I don't regret it one bit. The bright light shines brightly as the beam of light starts to decrease.

"We must leave now," my parents announce to me breaking me away from my thoughts. The both of them waking towards the beam of light together. I admire the sight of this loving how much their love is still so strong even after death. Perhaps, Love never does after all. Love is truthfully forever.

"Choose wisely my child. We love you forever," the both say turning around for one quick glance before they start completely walking into the light. I watch as the both of them vanish into thin air. I'd be lying if I didn't say that sadden my heart once again not having them physically with me. However, I know they're both in heaven together full of love and watching down on me. I've never been alone and never will be. A smile forms on my lips as the thought consumes my mind.

The beam of light shines one last time notifying me that I must make a decision right now on what I want. I inhale in a deep breathe then exhale knowing in my heart, what I truly want.

I glance down then up seeing the beam of light finalizing my final decision between life and death.

Next chapter Leo is going to meet his baby for the very first time.

Who's excited?!

By the way, I'm extremely sick right now. 😒 among other symptoms, runny nose and cough is not the business. So annoying 🤒🤧😷😭

Also, I hate school so much!

- Giavanni