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."

"You're not going

snuggled against him. "I had

dreams.

Rosie trembled. "Our uncle

"Rosie, dreams

she would dream such things after all, Jasper had taken her away nearly a decade ago, and she could barely remember their faces. In her dream, all she saw were snarling visages. Jasper held his sister, patting her back, trying to soothe her. "You're just feverish, making your mind play tricks. Stella and I won't let

her rescue, giving her medicine and care. "Brother, if I die, promise to look

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

stood silently at the door, holding a glass of warm water, hesitating

reducer, Rosie finally

brewed a cup of coffee and stared out the observation window at the marine life

from behind.

turned, 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.

be so brutal. Without Stella, without her Arcadia, even with all his preparations, escaping with Rosie would have

All the human plans and precautions

got to keep on living. Don't blame yourself, and don't feel powerless. You've done more than

him, tears

her tears. "Where's that fearless Stella

"I'm scared now."

forehead. "Don't be. I'm here. We're all

sister, Jasper didn't leave her

got up early to take

of chicken soup, Rosie's spirits lifted

did you

dreamt you were pregnant, and you had a boy