Still need a title. Open to suggestions

It was midnight, June 11th, 1993. Anne Childs had been in labor for over eight hours and her contractions were worse than death. She had her twin sister Clara and her loving husband Christopher at her side telling her to breathe deeply and try to relax.

 Her screams echoed from within the little cottage located in the Blue Ridge Mountains. It was a one room home that was barely enough for one person, let alone three. But Anne was persistent that the baby be born here, for Christopher built the home with his own two hands. But she also refused to go to a hospital for fear that her secret would be discovered. She would rather have her child at home where no person or thing could find them.

The child was to be her fourth. Her other three were mysteriously killed in a massive fire the year before when they lived in Madison. The fire department discovered quickly that it wasn’t an accident, but set on purpose. Many people were questioned and accused, but no one was found truly guilty of the heinous murders.

As soon as it happened Anne knew the culprit, but they wouldn’t get this child. She would protect it with all her strength and heart. She gave one last, hopeful push and the child was exposed to the world.

Clara gently picked up the newborn and carried her to the awaiting water tub outside. The only ones left in the house were Christopher and his wife’s diminishing body.

“Oh my love, finally we have another child!” Christopher said enthusiastically. “I promise it will be different this time darling. No one will dare touch the child with me around. We’ll get some hounds… Yes Irish Wolfhounds. A dozen of them! All loving and careful around our babies, but fierce and bloodthirsty toward intruders. Oh my sweet this house will never do with some many living here! I’ll build you a new one, with lace curtains and Persian rugs. It’ll…..” He trailed off. His young wife had yet to make a sound.

By now Clara had come back in with the child, now pink and clean. The poor thing was wailing at the top of its lungs wanting to be with its mother. 

“Congratulations my dear sister, you….” She trailed off, noticing Christopher’s stillness. The tension in the air could be cut with a knife. She walked slowly to the bed, watching Christopher the entire time.

 “Come now my dear, it’s a beautiful baby girl”, she said sweetly. For she had not noticed Anne’s pain yet still placed the girl upon Anne’s breast. Anne put one hand upon the child’s temple and said words from an ancient language almost no one could understand.

As the words were said, Anne’s body went still. Clara shook her  fiercely, attempting to wake her sister from the sleep she will never come out of.