Chapter 9

I paced back and forth on the carpet, nervously watching the clock beside the bed.

It had only been thirty minutes. Thirty minutes since the sun had completely gone down. I didn't know what it was when I felt it the first time. I thought I

was just hot.

But as I changed into shorts and a t-shirt and found no relief, I realized what was happening. My entire body felt like it was trapped in a fire pit. This bedroom quickly began to feel like a kiln.

I went to the French doors and opened them up to reveal a balcony. The layer of snow on the balcony was almost up to my knees, but it felt amazing. I threw myself on the ground and began to do snow angels.

This was only momentary relief. I felt as if my skin was melting the snow.

I stood up, my shirt and shorts soaked to the skin, and began to peel off the layers of clothing I never thought I would find myself completely naked, standing in almost a foot of snow, and yet somehow completely feverish, but there I was.

I ran back inside, leaving