Chapter 19 (Timeline 1
She was running for her life. For their lives. The passageway before her seemed never-ending as she ploughed further and further into its depths. "Keep to the right. Keep to the right," her footsteps seemed to ring out. And then, out of nowhere, the opening appeared. She stepped through into the icy chamber, her whole body shivering. She knew what she had to do but suddenly a shot rang out behind her and she became weightless, falling down, down, down into a frozen void.
"Dawn! Can you hear me? Dawn?"
She opened her eyes a crack to find Ben staring down at her with, what looked like, concern.
"I can hear you," she whispered.
"You have a fever. Juliette is on her way."
She attempted to sit up but the room was spinning.
"You need to rest."
"Uh-huh," she agreed, lying back down again.
When she next awoke, Ben was sitting in an armchair next to the bed. As soon as she moved he jumped up.
"How do you feel?" he asked, placing a hand on her forehead.
"Ah, better, I think."
"Here, have some water."
He passed her a glass, which she promptly drained.
"No whiskey?" she croaked.
"Not today." he smiled. "You've had malaria."
"Malaria?! Wait, how long have I been sick?"
"Five days. Thankfully Juliette was able to save you."
"Save me?!"
He nodded gravely.
"It was touch and go a few times."
She frowned, trying to take in what Ben was telling her.
"Oh, and you were talking in your sleep."
"I was? What about?"
He stared at her, inscrutably.
"A wheel."