246

CARSON

A sense of panic hung heavy in the air.

Ashley lay motionless on her bed, her skin was pale. Her face seemed to have lost its usual glow. She looked dull and lifeless.

A shiver ran down my spine as I stared down at her. I placed a hand on her forehead. It was damp, as if sweat just dried from it. But there were no beads of sweat anywhere on her face.

My mind raced. I had never seen anything like this before. Ashley was strong and healthy before we kissed her goodnight. And that was after she had a lengthy conversation with Brody and me. She was not sick at all, neither did she complain of any strange feeling.

What could have happened to her?

I knelt beside the bed and pressed my ear to her chest which was just as motionless as her entire body. I could barely hear her heartbeat. It was just a faint, irregular rhythm that seemed to be fading.

A cold dread settled in my stomach.

“She is not responding,” I said to my brothers.

Axel shook his head and bent to see her closely, and so