THE MATERNITY(part1) by @amicablepeace || 20% to @teamg-nigeria

He panted as he ran. The baby wrapped in swaddling clothes was pressed tightly to his chest. The flash of lightening lit the forest momentarily as he made his way through the thick shrubs. The peal of thunder was deafening. The clouds let off heavy rain.

In spite of the sound of thunder and heavy downpour, the baby in his arms slept unperturbed. He could sense it was no ordinary child. He made up his mind to protect the child even at the expense of his own life.

The rain beat him with fury but he kept on running. He managed to find his footings along the wet slippery grounds. The leaves cut his bare arms and legs like blades causing him to bleed. He was clad only in shorts. His upper body and feet were bare.

He heard the howling of the ravenous beasts behind him as they pursued hard on his heels. They were after the child in his arms. He would not let them have the child for they sought to devour him.

He approached a descending path in the forest and lost his footing. He landed hard on his buttocks and glided on the slippery ground till he hit his left shoulder against the trunk of a huge tree. He winced as he felt the shoulder fracture. With his right hand he held the baby tight and managed to rise to his feet.

He refused to look back to see if the beasts had closed in on him. With unsteady steps he began to run again until he gained some momentum. The left shoulder had become numb by now but the desire to save the child's life kept him going.

Then he felt their hot breath at the back of his neck. They had gotten close to him. When he thought they would pounce on him and wrench the baby from his grip, an invisible hand pushed him high into the air and he landed on another part of the forest out of the reach of the beasts.

He closed his eyes before the hand pushed him. When he opened them again, he discovered the section of the forest was bright and sunny. It was a sharp contrast to where he was previously. The beasts turned back like this part of the forest was not suitable for them.

He sat where he landed and caught his breath. His left shoulder began to hurt badly. There were bruises all over his body from his numerous falls. Blood and mud covered his arms and legs. However, none of these affected the baby who seemed to be protected inside an invisible cocoon.

He made to get to his feet and heard the musical voice ahead of him.

"You are safe now."

He looked up and saw a being clothed in white shinning robe. His eyes were clear amethyst glowing with warmth. He was perched atop a rock with arms akimbo. His dark lustrous hair which reached down his lower back shone brilliantly in the sun. He cut the image of a celestial being but there was an evil aura about him.

"Let me have the baby," he stretched forth his hands towards the man.

The man clutched the baby to his chest. Somehow he regarded this being the same way he regarded the ravenous beasts. He could not bring himself to entrust the child to him.

The being looked at the defiant man and smiled. He alighted from the rock and moved closer. The man retreated trying to keep out of the reach of the approaching creature.

"Can I have the baby please?" His voice was a bit terse by now like he was running out of patience.

The man continued to beat a gentle retreat still holding the baby tight in his arm. He shook his head vehemently in the process.

The being stopped in his tracks and snapped his fingers. At that signal a very large raven appeared from the sky and swooped down on the man to snatch the baby out of his hand.

"J-e-s-u-s!"

The loud scream jostled him out of his sleep
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