Chapter 55

Cold. So cold. She couldn’t get warm, no matter how close she pushed herself to the hot body next to her. She trembled and moaned. She hurt, but not like she usually hurt. The pain came from inside her own body. Her own body was fighting itself. Why? Why did she hurt?

“Go. Go, Anna. Heal.”

Anna tried to open her eyes, but couldn’t. A warm hand pressed against her forehead and she grew dizzy.

“Go.”

This wasn’t the normal room Anna went to in her dreams. It was a freezing stone box, cold and damp. This was where the cold inside her had originated. This was the source of her illness.

Squinting in the sickly glow of the single lightbulb hanging from the ceiling, she looked around the room. Along the side of the room, men huddled in blankets as they lay on narrow cots. She couldn’t see any faces, but could see them shivering.

A low moan escaped from one man in the corner. She hurried to his side, though the pain inside her increased as she got closer. Wincing, she forced herself forward.

She kneeled by the bed and pulled the blanket away from his face. It was gray and damp with sweat. His wet hair was plastered to the side of his head. He trembled and his teeth chattered.

What could she do? If she touched him, she would disappear. But if she didn’t touch him, he would die. The fever was so high. The heat radiated out from his body. And yet he shivered with cold.

His eyes opened the tiniest bit and he squinted to focus on her face. His normally bright blue eyes were dull and glassy. “Y-y-you c-c-came,” he said, his teeth chattering. “They s-s-said you w-w-w-wouldn’t, but y-y-you d-d-did.” His attempt at a smile looked more like a grimace, and he groaned in pain.

She hesitantly reached her hand out. Instinctively, she knew she could heal him. But without touch? She had to heal him. He couldn’t die.

Tentatively, she ran a gentle finger over his cheek, wincing in fear that she would vanish as she always did, but nothing happened. She cried out in relief and stretched out on the cot next to him to give him her warmth. She wondered how much effect her small body could possibly have on his much larger one, but she wrapped her arms around him, closed her eyes, and concentrated. A warmth spread from her body into his as she pulled the sickness from his body.

At first, nothing happened. Then, slowly, he relaxed. His body cooled and he stopped trembling. She sighed and smiled, exhausted and growing cold again. But he was safe. That was what mattered.

Suddenly her body exploded in pain and she cried out. Her body convulsed and she nearly fell off the bed, but strong hands caught her and pulled her close. He cradled her cheek with his large hand and stared into her eyes. “You can’t get sick. You can’t.”

She felt herself fading away. He cried out her name as darkness consumed her once more.

“Anna!”

Alex grasped at nothing as she faded from sight, shoving the blankets off the cot as he desperately searched for someone who was no longer there.

He looked around the room. The other men had sat up and were staring at him.

“Did you see her?” he asked, his voice cracking.

Erich nodded. “Felt her first. The room is warmer.”

“You okay?” Greg asked.

“She took my fever,” Alex rasped, staring at the spot where Anna had lain next to him. He could still feel her body against his. “She healed me.” He squeezed his eyes shut. “But she took it on herself.” He jumped up and walked to the door, pounding on it with his fists. “Is Anna okay?” He shouted and pleaded with whoever stood guard until his voice gave out and his fists began to bleed.

Seth pulled him away and led him back to the cot. “She’s gone, Alex. And no one’s going to tell us what happened.”

Alex buried his face in his hands. He’d never forgive himself if she died because she healed him.