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."

held her close. "You're not going to die. I won't

against him. "I had

dreams. They

real." Rosie trembled.

raising his voice. "Rosie,

couldn't understand why 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

giving her medicine and care. "Brother, if I die, promise to look after Stella, and take

way. Stella has been looking after you for years. You're going to grow up,

holding a glass

of fever reducer, Rosie

of coffee and stared out the observation

came over, wrapping her arms around him from behind. "I'm so sorry. It's my

your fault. It's just one of those freak accidents of nature. Besides, if it weren't for you,

without her Arcadia, even with all his preparations, escaping with Rosie would have been a disaster, maybe even

plans and precautions are nothing

keep on living. Don't blame yourself, and don't feel

him,

her tears. "Where's that fearless Stella I used to

"I'm scared now."

be.

care of his sister, Jasper didn't leave her side until dawn

early to take over. "Go get

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. She looked over at Stella, a weak smile on her face. Sick as she was, her smile looked more painful

did you dream

were pregnant, and you had a