Chapter 52: JANIE

"Where's Ryder? I want Ryder."

"I'm sorry, ma'am, but you're not allowed any visitors at this time."

"Well, has he called? Has anyone?"

"I'll have to go check in a minute." I don't even remember how I got here or what happened after I collapsed on the floor.

My hands were tied to the hospital bed and bandaged, probably to keep me from tearing at the flesh on my face, which was only now starting to settle down from that awful itching and burning that was driving me insane.

I'd already answered all the questions the doctors had asked, like where I'd been in the last few days or if I'd tried anything new and such, all to which I'd answered no, and their seeming ignorance as to what was happening to me was only adding to my fear. I tried to tell them about the flowers, I even tried to get them to read the message on my phone, but it was gone. Now they probably think that I had indeed lost my mind.

I'd heard them whispering about closing off our home as if it were contaminated or something,