Chapter 78

VALERIA

Reese’s words left me shocked, breathless, and devoid of thoughts. A chill crawled up my spine the moment I got the call. Derek was sick, just like Dave. I could barely breathe as I hung up the phone. My heart thudded aggressively against my chest as fear clawed up in my throat.

How could this be? This was making it the second time that something like this had happened to the kids, although, the last time, they fell unconscious.

The relief that Reese was already on his way to my house was a small comfort. We needed to get the kids to the hospital as quickly as possible. My mind raced with a thousand thoughts, all of them dark and twisted, coiling like vipers around my sanity.

I hurried to carry Dave downstairs, his small body burning up against mine. Sweat coated his skin, and his fever was a raging fire I couldn’t put out.

I placed him gently on the couch and ran to the kitchen, grabbing ice and wrapping it in a cloth. With shaky hands, I gently placed the cool ice wrapped in