Chapter Forty-Six: Her

Warm orange light peeked through the slits in Ollie's black-out curtains. I attempted to move my body, but it ached like I had run a 10k. It was either early morning or late evening, based on the light, but it was hard to tell. A slight noise caught my attention. Finn entered the room carrying a tray full of a turkey sandwich, chips, a pasta salad, and a water bottle. "Excuse me, Luna, my brother sent up some dinner."

"I don't remember breakfast or lunch." I groggily whispered while I pulled the down comforter tighter around me. I felt so cold, even under what I now realized were multiple blankets.

"Alpha said you were still out. The elders told us this was normal while the medication drains out your system, but it is worrisome that you slept almost 17 hours."

I instantly sat up, "17 hours?"

Finn nodded, a playful grin on his face, "Yes, you're more of a sleeping beauty than a goddess these days."

I returned his grin and wondered if this was what it felt like to have a younger brother. I grabbed a few chips from the tray and nibbled on them. "You know there are sleep gods out there. There was this mythology book that another patient at the institute used to let me borrow. Hypnos is the most well-known, but the Hindus believed in Svapna Varana Devi or Yoga Nidra Devi. In Slavic mythology, Mora was a dark creature responsible for nightmares."

I glance up at Finn, who offers me another playful grin, "Don't forget the sandman in modern culture." I reached out and ruffled his hair, then sat back laughing as Finn acted offended. "Hey! Watch the hair!"

"Why? Is it going to do a flip?" I teased. Finn gave me a harr-harr look. Suddenly, my stomach lurched, and the chips came right back up onto the tray. I gaged a few times, tumbling off the bed and stumbling to the bathroom. After a few minutes, I felt Ollie straddle my back, pulling me against him and letting my head fall back on his shoulder. I heard the sink turn on, and Ollie's hand took a cool, wet washcloth to clean my face and chin. His smile was filled with worry as he picked me up off the floor and took me back to the bed. I wanted to reassure him, but my body was too weak to keep my eyes open.

I know Finn said that was normal; however, the look on Ollie's face felt ominous. The last time I was this out of it was the week after my first torture session with Dr. Cunningham. Like in the past, it was impossible to tell if I was dreaming. My body felt like it was floating through the darkness. It's quiet and comfortable here. I never minded the dark; I actually preferred it before the institute broke me down. This darkness was familiar and let me contently float in it.

"Nyx...." A voice echoes throughout the darkness. I searched around but saw nothingness in every direction. A sudden fire bursts around me, engulfing the darkness in light. My skin burned on every inch of my body. My father's face suddenly appeared before me. His smile was so blindingly bright I squeezed my eyes shut. A few moments pass, and I blink my eyes to see his face again. My father's face filled with love and pride as he stared at me. I opened my mouth to say something, but he shook his head slowly. Suddenly, he stood directly in front of me. Father's glowing hand reached out and settled on the top of my head. I choked back a sob.

"Time to wake up." The voice commanded.

"No, I'm not ready to leave you yet." I grabbed my father's arm. I felt a sudden jolt in my chest, like I was electrocuted before everything burned brighter than any light I'd ever seen. My father held my hand tenderly; the voice echoed repeatedly, "Time to wake up. Time to wake up."

I awoke with a start; sweat stuck to every bit of my body and soaked my heavy pj set. I tried to catch my breath, but the pain was too excruciating. Ollie's hand was instantly on my back, but even his usual warmth felt like an inferno, and I arched my back away from him.

"Fuck, the fever started. Your body is burning with divine energy. The elder hinted that with almost a decade of suppression, it will be like a volcanic eruption." Ollie threw the covers back and grabbed his phone. The world started to distort. I needed to get out of bed and cool off. I whimpered, missing my darkness and the calm it had given me. I sluggishly forced my feet to the floor and tried to stand but collapsed onto the bed. My limbs were jello, stabbed by tiny pins and needles whenever I attempted to move. Ollie was instantly beside me, "What are you doing? Where do you want to go?"

I glanced longingly at the French doors that lead outside into the cold late autumn air. Ollie gently guided me to lay back on the bed, then leaped over to the doors, swinging them open. A tremendous rush of the night air gave me a slight relief from the searing heat that melted my body. I pulled at my clothes, wanting them off. "Baby, leave your clothes on. Finn and Neal are going to be here in a second and --"

"Ollie, it's burning my skin! I need it off now! Please!" I cried. He nodded and helped me out of my PJs; every time his skin brushed mine, I sobbed from the pain. Ollie's face came into view, and I extended my hand to cup his cheek. He stilled under my touch, and his eyes fluttered to mine. Ollie's jaw muscles feathered; his eyes looked at me with such tenderness and distress that I wanted to reach out and hold him. I let my burning thumb roam over his cheek and assured him, "Hey, it's okay. This won't kill me."

Ollie grunted, then moved away from my hand to give me some relief from his body heat. I heard some movement by the door, and Ollie quickly blocked the way, "She needs an ice bath now. Bring Louise to help me."

"So bossy." I quipped, laying back on the bed, and heard Finn chuckle. The molten lava that consumed my veins reached basalt level, and I felt my eyes drift closed. I tried to find the quiet darkness again, but the flames were all-consuming. I sensed a deep grief when I couldn't see the image of my father this time.

"At least her sense of humor is still there. That's a good sign, right?" Finn asked.

"Of course it is," Neal replied in a too-serious tone.

Ollie was suddenly in front of me again, putting a blanket over me. I screamed in pain when the fabric touched me. He quickly pulled it off and added in a strained tone, "Shit, Nyx, I'm sorry, they are going to bring a lot of stuff in, but I can't cover you if it is that painful."

I nodded and tried to turn onto my belly, but the pain was too much, and I only managed to turn on my side enough to cover my private parts. I saw Neal, Finn, Hugo, and a new buff guy who reminded me of Ollie moving a colossal metal tub into the open area in Ollie's main bedroom. Aurora was suddenly there, too, with a rolled-up mat that she rolled out onto the floor.

"Over by the balcony." Ollie's voice commanded, and they all shifted to the area between the French doors. Once the tub was down, they took turns bringing in bags of ice. I whimpered at the pain as it came in waves, each more powerful than the one before. Neal was abruptly next to me, blocking my line of sight to the rest of the room. "Luna?"

I gave him a weak smile, "Careful, Neal, the look on your face almost seems like one a concerned friend would wear."

His expression shifted to a more serious one, "You're my family."

I would've laughed if it didn't hurt so much. Neal's face changed to curious, and he asked, "Luna? Does it hurt when I touch you?"

He reached out and placed his hand on my head, a dull heat coming from him. It was nothing like the searing pain of Ollie, but it felt heavy and gross. I shook my head and whispered, "No offense, but your touch feels gross and heavy. Where is Ollie?"