A Game of Ordeal

Chapter ten

The ambulance sped through the dusty, gloomy streets of Denver with lights flashing and sirens blaring—a sound that carried an air of panic and fear. The vehicle seemed to fly across the asphalt at high speed, rushing to help someone in a helpless condition. For those inside, this was just another day—but not for those who trembled in fear.

The three boys stood over Elizabeth, consumed by worry and fear, watching as every hope for a reaction dimmed like a fading flame. Alexander, Michael, and Robert tried desperately to bring her back to consciousness, trying every method they could think of—gently shaking her, applying wet compresses, even murmuring what felt like desperate prayers, as if every word might pull her back from the dark place she had drifted into. But it was all in vain—Elizabeth lay motionless, struck down by an invisible yet relentless force, her face as pale as marble.

In her mind, memories surged from the long and agonizing night she had endured, fighting with every ounce of strength she had. Only she knew how unbearably heavy the pain and weakness felt, how she had gritted her teeth and tried to stay strong. But some battles are too harsh for the human body and spirit.

Robert was closest to her, unable to take his eyes off his sister's face. Genuine terror sparkled in his eyes—panic gripped him completely. The one who was always strong now felt utterly powerless, choked by the thought that he might be losing the most precious person in his life. His heart tightened with each silent second she remained still, and he secretly prayed to some unseen force: "Please, Lisa, wake up..." He wanted to hear her voice, no matter how faint, just to know that she would fight through this time, too.

At that moment, his phone started to ring—his father's name appeared on the screen. Robert had tried to reach them several times, but without success. Most likely, the late hour was making it hard to connect, only adding to his anxious torment.

"Hello, Rob?" Peter's tired voice reached Robert, sounding noticeably irritated. "For God's sake, it's four in the morning!"

"Dad, you need to come back to Denver as soon as possible!"

That sentence alone was enough to wake Peter fully and make him bolt upright from the bed—the panic in his son's voice filled him with fear. Confused, he murmured, "What happened?"

Their parents had gone to Phoenix for an important legal conference and two seminars—as lawyers, their image and continued learning were crucial to their development. They wanted to broaden their horizons and had even started taking on out-of-state cases—very few attorneys reached their level. Unfortunately, they'd been traveling quite a lot lately, often when their kids needed them the most...and couldn't be there.

"Dad, Elizabeth's not well." Robert took a deep breath, trying to dissolve the lump lodged in his throat, which seemed to choke him.

"What's wrong with her?" Peter left the bed, frantically searching for his clothes. Awoken, Hailey looked at him in fear, bewildered by the terror in her husband's eyes. Her green eyes were half-closed, dark circles casting shadows on her snow-white face.

"She fainted in the bathroom. Everything's covered in vomit, and there's a lot of blood on her nose and clothes. She's also burning up." Robert held his breath again. "I called an ambulance, but you need to come home! I told you we needed to take her to a doctor!"

"Robert, stay calm. We'll be back on the first possible flight."

Alexander stood beside the helpless Elizabeth, clutching her hand in his. Her delicate, cold palm seemed tiny, resting in his. Her breathing had quickened, causing the blond to tense in anticipation—he hoped she would wake up and realize she wasn't alone. Who knew what fear she'd felt, knowing she was alone and couldn't handle the pain that had overcome her...