Chapter 22

Ella woke with a start, sweating and her heart beating so fast it hurt. She threw the blankets off and tried to get her pajamas off.

“Ella, what are you doing?” Daniel asked groggily from beside her. He sat up and tried to touch her. “Ella!” he said firmly.

She kept ripping at her clothes, but she was too weak. “Too... hot...” she said through gasps.

Daniel flipped the light on and surveyed the situation. He quickly walked around the bed and pressed his hand to Ella's forehead. His eyes widened in alarm. “You have a high fever, you're burning up.”

Ella layed back, exhuasted. The room began to spin.

Daniel ran out of the room and could be heard going through her bathroom cabinets. “Do you have a thermometer?” he called.

She could barely comprehend what he was saying, much less respond.

“Found one!” he said as he ran back in the room. He shoved it in her mouth and held it there. “Under you tongue, just do it.” Before a full minute passed the thermometer beeped rapidly. He looked a