Chapter 152: Find a Doctor

Christopher had already turned and walked off, telling the others to handle the guys who got beaten. He left Chloe standing there alone.

In the distance, Adrian's figure carrying Elodie disappeared down the hallway. The door shut behind him.

Chloe ran to the door and called out "Adrian," but all she got back was the heavy sound of it closing. The lock clicked from inside.

Adrian laid Elodie on the bed and called the ship's medical staff right away, then sent Ellie their location. When he put her down, Elodie's hands had already grabbed his neck and wouldn't let go. Her grip was too strong for someone who was sick.

"It hurts..."

Her voice was slurred, her forehead covered in sweat, and her eyes were red at the corners. Tears from the pain ran down her face.

Adrian's breathing got heavier. He tried to pry her fingers off one by one. She seemed to sense it and held on tighter, pressing her whole body against him. Her skin was burning hot.

"It hurts... it really hurts..."

Adrian clenched his jaw and used more force to pull her hands away, then pressed her back onto the bed. Elodie rolled over, kicked the blanket to the floor, and curled up into a ball, digging her nails into her palms.

He grabbed the phone and almost shouted, "Where's the doctor? The one you were supposed to find?"

The person on the other end sounded nervous. "Mr. Stewart, they're on the way. But this kind of drug has no antidote. We just have to wait for it to wear off or use cold water to cool her down."

Adrian hung up. He went into the bathroom, turned on the tap, and let cold water fill the tub. Once it was half full, he came back out, picked Elodie up from the bed. Her clothes were soaked with sweat and stuck to her skin. Without hesitating, he put her straight into the tub.

The cold water hit her skin and she jerked hard, like she'd been shocked, splashing water all over his face. Her eyes flew open. For a few seconds, they looked a little clearer as she stared at him.

Adrian was kneeling by the tub, sleeves rolled up to his elbows, his shirt wet down the front, holding her shoulders. Elodie paused, her voice hoarse. "...Get out."

Adrian didn't move.

"If I leave you like this, what happens?"

Elodie tried to push herself up on the edge of the tub, but her arms were too weak and she slipped back into the water. The cold gave her a short break, but she knew it wouldn't last.

"I can..."

She didn't finish. Another wave of heat hit her harder than before. Elodie closed her eyes and shoved her head under the water. It was quiet down there, like a barrier, the cold seeping into her skin as she tried to fight the burning inside.

A hand grabbed the back of her head and yanked her up.

"What the hell are you trying to do?"

Adrian rarely cursed, but his voice was low and angry, water dripping from his fingers. Elodie coughed hard as soon as she was out, choking on the water. She bent over, coughing for a while.

Just then, someone knocked hard on the door.

"Adrian!"

Chloe's voice came from outside, sounding like she was crying. "Open the door. I brought the doctor. Let me in to help take care of her, okay? It's not right for you to stay in there alone with her."

Through the haze, Elodie heard that. Not right. She shrank back into the corner of the tub without thinking.

Adrian finally looked up.

"The doctor can come in. You stay outside."

The door opened a crack. The female doctor and Ellie came in. Chloe tried to follow, but the door shut again in her face.

The doctor checked Elodie and frowned. "There's still no antidote. We have to wait for it to pass. Use cold water to cool her down, but don't keep her in it too long. Watch her temperature and breathing so she doesn't choke or get too cold. I'll check on her every so often."

Ellie's eyes were red. She tried to get closer, but Elodie pushed her away without meaning to. Adrian held the edge of the tub, his voice low and heavy. "I'll stay with her. You watch from the side. Call the doctor if anything happens."

It went quiet outside. After a while, there was a muffled sob, then the sound of heels walking away down the hallway.

Only the water and Elodie's uneven breathing filled the bathroom.

The cold water was losing its effect. Elodie felt like she was being thrown into a fire. The cold only helped for a few minutes before the heat came rushing back, breaking her thoughts into pieces and eating away at what was left of her control.