Blood Moon Reckoning

Chapter 3: The Bridge of Despair

The night was a vast, impenetrable darkness, the kind that swallowed every whisper of hope. Estella stood on the edge of the old bridge, staring down into the black waters below. The wind howled through the night, echoing her own torment, and the cold bite of the breeze sent chills down her spine, though it was nothing compared to the coldness that had settled deep within her chest.

Her once-pristine wedding dress was now dirtied and torn, hanging from her like a ragged ghost of the life she had envisioned, a cruel reminder of what had been ripped away from her in a single, devastating moment.

Her hands clutched the railing tightly, the metal cool and rough against her palms. She leaned forward slightly, the soles of her shoes dangerously close to the edge. Below her, the river churned in the night, its black waters swirling ominously, beckoning her closer. The sound of the rushing current was almost soothing, promising an escape from the torment that plagued her mind.

Estella’s thoughts were a whirlwind of pain and confusion, her heart still aching from the betrayal that had shattered her world. How had everything gone so wrong? How had she gone from standing on the threshold of what was supposed to be the happiest day of her life, to this-alone, abandoned, and broken?

The image of Carlos’s face, twisted with rage and disgust, flashed before her eyes. His words- accusations of infidelity, of treacher0 still rang in her ears, each one a dagger to her already shattered heart. And Margaret… her once-dear friend, her confidant, who had stood there with that twisted look of pity, destroying her life.

The thought of it was enough to make her stomach churn. How could Margaret have betrayed her so completely? How could someone she had loved and trusted turn on her in such a vicious way?

As she gazed into the swirling abyss below, memories of happier times flooded her mind. She thought of her mother, a warm and comforting presence, always there with a soft touch or a kind word. Estella’s heart ached for her now, more than ever.

Her mother had passed away when she was still young, taken too soon by illness. And though Estella had been surrounded by family and friends, it was her mother’s absence that left a gaping hole in her heart.

“Mother,” Estella whispered into the night, her voice trembling as the tears began to fall freely. “Why aren’t you here? Why did you leave me?”

Her mother had always been her source of strength, the one person who had made her feel like she could survive anything. Without her, Estella felt adrift, lost in a world that seemed determined to break her. She had always tried to be strong, to live up to the legacy of her family, to honor the Erylis name. But now, standing here, broken and betrayed, she felt nothing but emptiness. She had no one left. Not Carlos, not Margaret, not even her own father.

“I’m alone,” she whispered, the words hanging in the cold night air. “There’s nothing left for me here.”

Her thoughts turned darker as she stared into the depths of the river. Maybe it would be easier this way. Maybe if she let go, if she let the water take her, the pain would stop. She wouldn’t have to face the shame, the betrayal, the loneliness. She could be with her mother again, in a place where the cruelty of the world couldn’t’ reach her.

“I’m coming, Mother,” Estella whispered, stepping closer to the edge, her heart pounding in her chest as she prepared to take that final step. Her feet were unsteady, the slick surface of the bridge beneath her threatening to give way.

But just as she was about to let go, something deep inside her stirred. A small, persistent flicker of life - one she hadn’t allowed herself to fully acknowledge in the chaos of the day. She froze, her hand instinctively moving to her abdomen. Her breath caught in her throat as the weight of the moment hit her like a tidal wave.

The child.

She was pregnant. The child she had been so excited about, the one piece of her life that had still felt pure and good, was still there, growing inside her. This baby hadn’t done anything wrong. It hadn’t asked for this chaos or cruelty of the world.

And in that moment, Estella realized that while she might feel completely alone, she wasn’t. This child was with her. It needed her. It was a part of her.

Her legs buckled, and she fell to her knees on the bridge, her hands clutching her stomach as sobs wracked her body. The tears came harder now, but they weren’t just tears of sorrow. They were tears of revelation, a sudden understanding that her life wasn’t over, not yet. She had something to live for. Something to fight for.

But before she could fully process the shift in her emotions, the cold wind whipped around her, making her shiver violently. She looked up, her vision blurred with tears, and her foot slipped on the edge of the bridge. In an instant, the slick surface gave way beneath her, and she felt herself falling forward.

Panic surged through her as her hands scrabbled for purchase, but it was too late. She plunged over the side of the bridge, her body tumbling toward the dark, unforgiving waters below.

The icy cold of the water hit her like a shock, stealing the breath from her lungs. She flailed, trying to fight the current, but the river was too strong, too fast. The weight of her dress pulled her down, and for a moment, she felt a crushing despair, as if this really was the end.

But then, as her vision began to fade, a hand shot through the water, grabbing hold of her arm with a fierce grip.

Estella was pulled roughly from the water, her body dragged onto the grassy bank by an elderly woman with wiry strength. Coughing and gasping for air, Estella collapsed onto the ground, her chest heaving as she tried to catch her breath. The woman knelt beside her, her hands surprisingly gentle as she checked Estella’s pulse.

“You foolish girl,” the woman muttered, shaking her head as she placed a hand on Estella’s belly. “You’re pregnant.”

Estella’s eyes widened, and she stared at the woman in shock. How could she know?

The woman looked down at her with a mixture of sternness and pity. “Did you think you could just throw your life away? What about this child? The one inside you, fighting to live. Did you forget about that?”

Estella swallowed hard, her hand instinctively moving to her stomach. “I… I didn’t think…”

“That’s clear enough,” Elena interrupted, her voice sharp but not unkind. “But it’s not just about you anymore. That child needs you. And you need it.”

A long silence fell between them, broken only by the sounds of the river rushing in the background. Estella sat up slowly, her body aching from the cold, but her mind racing.

The child… her child. She had been so consumed by the pain and betrayal that she had almost forgotten the life growing inside her. But now, with the reminder of its presence, something inside her shifted.

Elena, the elderly woman, stood, offering a hand to help Estella to her feet. “You’re not alone, you know. That baby is a part of you, and it’s fighting to survive, just like you are. You need to be strong now, for both of you.”

As Estella took the woman’s hand and stood shakily, a new resolve began to form in her heart. She couldn’t give up. Not now. Not when she had a child to protect, a life to bring into this world. The despair that had consumed her just moments before began to lift, replaced by a fierce determination.

“I’ll protect my baby,” Estella whispered, more to herself than to Elena. “I’ll do whatever it takes.”

Elena nodded approvingly. “Good. Then let’s get you somewhere safe. You’ve got a long road ahead of you, girl. But you’re not walking it alone.”