18 Floors Above the Apocalypse

Chapter 427

Stella and Jasper scrambled to their feet as Cooper whimpered and dashed into Rosie's room.

Jasper hurried inside to find his little sister burning up with a fever, her face flushed and hot to the touch.

They used the thermometer-it read nearly 105 degrees Fahrenheit.

Stella quickly unwrapped the bandage from Rosie's hand. The bite from the beach flea was swollen, but thankfully, not infected. Who knew beach fleas could pack such a punch?

They checked her heartbeat, oxygen levels, and pulse. Her heart was steady, oxygen at 93, but her pulse was fast and weak.

Stella coaxed her to swallow some fever reducer while Jasper fiddled with the oxygen concentrator. "Rosie, come on, wake up."

Rosie cracked open her eyes, her voice barely a whisper. "Brother, I feel awful."

Once the oxygen was set, Jasper slipped the mask over her. "It's just a fever. You'll be okay, don't be scared."

Arcadia had a few lab machines, but without the right chemicals, they couldn't run a blood test.

Stella pulled out the EKG monitor to check Rosie's heart-thankfully, no issues there. But the fever was relentless, sending shivers through her body, followed by bouts of vomiting. How could one little bite lead to this?

The fever reducer worked for less than two hours before the heat flared up again, forcing them to resort to physical methods to cool her down.

Rosie looked up at Jasper. "Brother, am I going to die?"

"No way, you're just sick. The medicine will kick in soon."

"But it hurts so much." She clutched his hand, tears suddenly spilling over. "Brother, I can't bear the thought of leaving you, Stella, and Cooper."

not going to die. I

"I had a

are just dreams.

trembled. "Our

his voice. "Rosie, dreams are just mixed-up

all, Jasper had taken her away nearly a decade ago, and she could barely remember their faces. In her dream, all

had come to her rescue, giving her medicine and care. "Brother, if I

has been looking after you for years. You're going to grow up, and one day, when Stella needs it,

a glass of warm water, hesitating

a shot of fever reducer, Rosie finally fell

awake all day. Exhausted, he brewed a cup of coffee and stared out the observation window at the marine life gliding

him from behind. "I'm so sorry. It's my fault

holding her tightly. "It's not your fault. It's just one of those freak accidents of nature. Besides, if it weren't for you, we might not have made it out safely. Don't be so hard on yourself,

with all his preparations, escaping with Rosie would have been a disaster, maybe even impossible during the

plans and precautions

yourself, and don't feel powerless. You've done more than enough. Every extra day we live

to him,

that fearless Stella I

"I'm scared now."

her forehead. "Don't be. I'm here.

Jasper didn't leave her side

take over.

hoarse from the heat. Stella gave her antiviral medication, herbal remedies to boost her immune system, and hung a few IV bags. After half a bowl of chicken soup, Rosie's spirits lifted noticeably.

did you

dreamt you were pregnant, and you had a