Fiona went to sleep but later woke up with fire in her veins.
Her body felt heavy, drenched in sweat, yet she was shivering uncontrollably. The room spun when she tried to sit up. A sharp, throbbing pain pulsed behind her eyes, and her throat felt raw and swollen. She reached for her phone on the nightstand, but her hand trembled so badly she knocked it to the floor.
"Mom…" she croaked, her voice barely audible.
Elara appeared in the doorway within seconds, still in her robe. One look at her daughter and her face paled.
"Fiona! You're burning up." Elara rushed over, pressing the back of her hand to Fiona's forehead. "You're on fire. We're going to the hospital. Now."
Fiona tried to protest, but the words dissolved into a weak cough. The room tilted again. She felt Elara's strong arms helping her up, wrapping a coat around her shoulders, and guiding her toward the door.
