Fei-the little, restless beast-keeps shifting back and forth in Shen's arms, giggling. She's wiggling and crawling and clawing so much that I can see why Axel offered it. She might drop.
Shen nods. "Uh, yeah. That might help actually."
"I'll get it," Onai says to Axel. "Start calling."
Onai heads to the hallway. Axel pulls out his phone, dialing some numbers. "I'll get a doctor to come," he says to me. "And Carson and Aiden. When they can."
I start shuffling. That's not what I wanted to hear. "Are you gonna tell them over the phone?"
He shakes his head. "I'll keep it vague. For now."
"Sounds good," I say.
We exchange worried and pointed looks before he walks over to the corner. He keeps his eyes on Shen, leaning against the wall. It's a bit unnerving, and Onai does the same thing.
He spreads out the blanket, gesturing towards it once it's ready to be destroyed by the toddler. The coughing, feverish beast rolls around, trying to gnaw on the blanket.
"No." Shen nudges her.
I look away from the struggle, trying to listen to what Axel's saying.
"No. It's not that serious," Axel says. "Just get him to bring his aunt... She's fine... It's not Mia... Just- Are you listening to a word I'm saying?" Axel looks at me, apologetically. "Could you come tell Carson you're fine?"
I get up quickly, nerves still kicking from last night. Crossing the room alone feels like a journey. I'm not prepared to talk to him. I should've addressed what happened before this. I stand beside Axel. Our fingers brush when I take the phone, and it makes me even more nervous. I don't know why it feels... like this still. Like everything's new, in that way that makes my heart race.
'Carson?" I ask.
He sighs, relieved, as if he wasn't expecting to hear my voice. "What did he do to you?"
"Nothing," I say.
He grumbles, "Then why are you at Onai's house? What's going on?"
"Nothing," I say again.
Axel gives me a smug look. Welcome to the dark side.
I correct myself. "I mean it's something, but we'll explain when you get here."
"Oh, that'll be soon." Is he running? He's breathing hard, wind rushing past him. "Aiden and I will be there promptly. Get ready to explain."
"Okay," I say warily.
He pauses. "Should we brace ourselves? Like how bad is it?"
"... Oh." I look at Fei, tumbling around. My eyes connect with Shen. "It might surprise you... in a bad way-"
Axel takes the phone from me.
I raise an eyebrow.
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