Part 10

The highway stretched straight ahead, grey and empty under the grey and cold sky. Salem gripped the steering wheel at high speed, eyes darting to the bundle in her arms. “Rock-a-bye baby, on the treetop, / When the wind blows, the cradle will rock; / When the bough breaks, the cradle will fall, / And down will come baby, cradle and all,” she whispered in a trembling voice. Salem froze. The baby wasn’t moving. Her chest tightened. She realized it wasn’t breathing, and a panic threaded through the practiced serenity.

In that moment, red and blue lights reflected off the hood of her car. She gripped the wheel tighter, heart hammering. “It’s okay… it’s okay,” she murmured, voice brittle.

She pulled over.

“Step out of the vehicle slowly! Hands where I can see them!”

Salem opened the car door.

“Officer,” Salem began, voice calm, soft, almost maternal, “I just delivered my baby. Right here. In the car. I’m racing to the hospital.”

The officer furrowed her brow. “Delivered… in your car?” Her tone was wary, careful.

“What do you mean?”

“Yes,” Salem said, eyes wide with panic. “It was sudden. I didn’t have time to get to a hospital. She came so quickly. She’s fine. Look at her. She’s safe, warm.” She lifted the towel slightly, patting the bundle delicately, her eyes pleading.

The officer took a cautious step closer, voice firm. “Ma’am, I need you to put the baby down and step back from the vehicle.

Salem’s lips pressed together, shaking her head. “No, no. You don’t understand. I was with her the whole time. I delivered her myself. She’s mine. I’m a mother now. I’ve done nothing wrong. This is a happy, safe baby girl.”

“Ma’am, I…” the officer’s voice wavered slightly as she tried to maintain control. “If that’s true, we can get help. But you need to…”

Salem cut her off, leaning slightly forward, voice firm now, commanding, almost desperate. “No, you listen. I just did what any mother would do! I didn’t hurt anyone. I didn’t! She’s breathing, she’s alive. You must believe me. I did it perfectly. I’m taking care of her. You’re overreacting.”

The radio on officer’s shoulder hissed an update with information about a murdered woman and a missing newborn. The officer’s eyes filled with bewilderment and her hand landed on the gun.

“Ma’am, put the baby down! Step away out of the car! Now!” the Officer raised her voice.

Salem’s eyes darted from the officer to the bundle, and then to the car door. Her voice dropped to a whisper, a mix of fear and obsession. “I can’t let anyone take her. I… I did everything right. You don’t understand! She’s mine!”

“Put the baby down!” the officer repeated, gun drawn.

Salem turned and ran. Somewhere. Anywhere. Away. Her legs pumped hard against the asphalt. Behind her, the officer’s voice blared sharp and urgent commands, with a weapon drawn and aimed. Salem stumbled, the towel slipped and tumbled to the asphalt. She screamed a raw and desperate sound that echoed across the empty highway. She continued to run. A shot rang out. Salem collapsed onto the road, eyes unblinking. The world held its breath for a heartbeat and then moved on. Her fantasies of the farm, the baby, the perfect life, vanished into darkness, and the morning fog swallowed her form.