I was temporarily confused as to how this handsome man knew my name. Squinting my eyes at him, I tried to put his face to a name but no-one came to mind. The man sat opposite me, suddenly unable to look me in the eyes. I sat there impatiently for him to open his mouth. For an explanation to smooth the confusion. When he finally  glanced at me I raised my eyebrows at him. 

"Hold on" he said before getting up and pulling out a folder from under his wooden bed. Everything looked so medieval, from his dark wooden wardrobe and a plastic lamp on his bedside table. I was so used to everything being hi-tech. I mean, he didn't even have glow in the dark floorboards for goodness sake! How was he meant to see in the dark?

He dropped the folder onto my lap and nudged me to open it. I stared at it weirdly before slowly opening the book. Immediately Macy's eyes stared straight at me, her piercing black eyes nearly burning a hole through me, and not just hers but everyone's faces from the hospital. All the women who have been selected for this dreaded Merudoxin project. Including Chichi's. My hand slowly caressed her picture and suddenly it was so difficult for me to swallow.

"Why do you have our pictures here? What do you do with them?" I asked him quietly, suddenly afraid to even raise my voice. The faint ticking of a clock could be heard in the background. 

"Let me start by introducing myself," he said and got comfortable in his seat opposite me, "My name is Arturo and I'm from Algeria. Your government has been allowing me to stay here in the UK if I followed their orders. They promised me UK citizenship if I participated in the Merudoxin project. I was happy at first that they chose me but... now I am not so sure. I didn't fully understand the purpose of this project." Arturo explained. He grabbed my hands and held onto them letting me feel his trembles. 

"But you understand now?" I asked him. He nodded slowly. 

"The government have been lying to you. They are researching the best method for painless births like you all believe... but it's the way they're maintaining the research that's shocking. I recently learned that Dr Jeffrey does not hold a medical license-"

"What?!" I shouted. Arturo covered my mouth tightly and hushed me. His hazel eyes frantically searching the door, listening to check if someone will knock anytime soon. 

"You need to please stay quiet Hazel or else it won't be good for us and your baby". I nodded my head and tightly shut my lips. 

"Dr Jeffrey does not hold a medical license anymore. I don't know why but he is currently not allowed to maintain any research let alone participate in such a huge project."

"But how are the government allowing this?"

"This is the part I am confused about too. They think the research is being conducted by someone called Dr Paulo. Something has happened to this doctor and Dr Jeffrey has taken his place, without the government's knowledge."

"Everything is so messed up! We all need to get out of here!" My eyes formed tears. I realized that we were still grasping hands and I removed mine away from him. I wiped my tears away in the dark remembering for the second time that we were in a basement room which sparked a question in me.

"What are you doing here? Why do they need you?"

Arturo hesitated before bringing the folder containing all our photos. "She brought me here" he said before pointing at a photo. I looked down to see his fingertip resting on my square picture. I frowned.

"How is that possible? I don't even know you - we aren't linked in any possible way" I whispered to him, cautious of my voice. Arturo closed his eyes. 

"I wish it wasn't true Hazel but we are connected" he said before leaning closer and resting his own hand on my stomach. "We have created something special."

                                                        ————————————————————————-

"I can't find her anywhere! That idiot is seriously getting on my nerves. I say we throw her off this project!" Anna screeched. Dr Jeffrey shook his head. 

"You know we can't do that! She's more important for this project than I thought. It was absolutely smart of her to offer herself and I'm surprised I didn't think of it before. You need to find her as quick as possible because I'm afraid to admit she'll find something she's not supposed to."

"I already checked on Arturo. He was out and I asked him if he saw her anywhere. He said no and I sent him back" Anna explained. Dr Jeffrey spluttered out the coffee that entered his mouth. 

"You sent him back? You mean he was out of his room! How many times do I have to warn him to stay there! It's absolutely essential that those two do not meet!" 

"Stop raising your voice! He's fine, he was only in the stairway" Anna reassured him. Dr Jeffrey mopped his brow and brought out a file. Opening the file, a passport sized photo of Arturo was revealed on the small right hand corner of the page. 

"I hope he isn't bad news. This man can ruin everything if he starts wandering around" Dr Jeffrey said. Anna nodded and left the office, proceeding her search for Hazel. The doctor stared at the photo and flicked at it. He had a bad feeling in his stomach and dropped the file. He reached for the door and made his way down to the basement. To check on Arturo.

                                                              ————————————————————————-

"Don't lie to me about something so special!" I hissed and slapped his hand away from my stomach.  Arturo had a look of hurt in his eyes but it was only for myself.

"I honestly wish it was a lie but it isn't. I donated and they used it as part of the insemination. That is why they needed me, But I guess they kept me here because of what I've learnt and so I don't spread it."

My mouth dropped at the horror of it. I always believed that it was important for me to know who the father was but actually seeing him - and under these circumstances - horrified me. I did not expect to see him - meet him - in such a situation. Trapped. Although there was no way in believing if he was saying the truth or lying, an overwhelming feeling of dread overcame me. There was no reason for me to believe him... but there was no reason to not believe him either. My mind was conflicted with such overbearing news and I didn't know what to do. In all the confusion, I recollected something he said.

"What did you mean about 'the last one'? Was there someone else?" I asked nervously. Arturo sighed sadly.

"She was a friend. Her name was Diane, she came down the stairs and found my room. We got talking and one day Anna spotted us together. We were only chatting but Anna was furious. She grabbed Diane and took her away. She was four months pregnant."

"And you think..."

"She must be dead. I haven't seen her once after that and once I learnt Dr Jeffrey was not what I thought he was... anything seemed possible" Arturo whispered with tears in his eyes. I smiled sadly at him and squeezed his shoulders in comfort.

Getting up I headed for the door. Opening it I immediately heard the growing footsteps. The loud cough that joined with the steps alerted me that Dr Jeffrey was descending. My heart beat drummed inside that I thought it would burst through my ribcage and echo through the staircase. I pivoted on one foot and crashed right into Arturo who heard the steps coming closer. I crashed right into him, very sensitive and aware of his arms encased around my body. For a second I felt safe in his embrace but as the doctor's steps grew louder like an alarm I knew time was running out.

"Where should I hide?" I whispered frantically and he pointed to a closet. "Go right to the back" he told me as I climbed in. I frowned. How far can I go? It was just a closet. As I pushed away clothes that got in my way I realized he created a little den behind the racks of clothes. It was very small and almost claustrophobic but it belied the idea that anyone could be hiding there. I tucked my legs under me and made myself small, minimising my body and hiding myself. In the tight small place I could hear the blood pounding through my head. Suddenly muffled voices could be heard and I squeezed myself tighter, praying that I could stay in this tight space forever.

 Minutes later and a small line of light appeared onto my face. I looked up to see Arturo's smiling face and noticed the cute dimples that adored both his cheeks.

"He's gone, but they're searching for you. You need to hurry or else it'll be a major search. We'll both get into trouble" he warned me. I nodded and took his hand as he pulled me out of the tight spot. I hugged him hard.

"Thank you for helping me; us." I motioned to my stomach and he smiled. I ran straight for the door but before I could reach the handle he held me back by holding onto my arm. 

"Before you go I need one answer", he urged, I looked at him epxectantly, "How old is...?"

I smiled with a little nervous chuckle realising his quiestion.

"Nearly three months now" I informed before leaving the room quietly and tip-toeing up the stairs. I safely reached my bedroom just before Anna searched my room for the second time and gave a long and hard lecture 'on keeping safe'. Learning to zone her out at an early stage it was easy for me to ignore her words. Instead my mind kept replaying over what Arturo said and the constant play of his dimples appearing made my stomach flutter happily.

 Please comment, I want to know your thoughts!