CHAPTER NINETY SIX

TRENT'S POV

Ella took off, bolting out of Lydia's room before I could even call out to her. I stood there, momentarily frozen, wondering what could have upset her so. After a few minutes passed with no sign of her return, I decided to go search for her myself.

I found Ella a short distance away, standing in front of an open hospital room door, her gaze fixed intently on something inside. Without a word, she stepped through the doorway, and I quickened my pace to catch up to her.

As I entered the room, my eyes were immediately drawn to the figure lying motionless on the bed. My breath caught in my throat, all the color draining from my face.

"Tom?" I breathed, my voice barely above a whisper. But there was no response - my twin brother looked far worse than when I had last seen him at the other hospital. His face was gaunt, his skin a sickly pallor, and he seemed so much more lifeless than before.

"Tom, can you hear me?" I tried again, my fingers trembling as I approached the bed. But