Page 145 of Marks of Rebellion
"I love you, Flower. Don't you leave me," he cries out, and the floating feeling I always have in my night terrors engulfs me.
My dream shifts to the same nightmare I always have, but it flashes in pieces. My wedding vows to Carlos, the white dress with red blood splattered not just in one spot but all over it, and bright light.
There is no more of Hunter's warmth. A frigid coldness fills my bones, and I open my eyes to Carlos on top of me. He's naked and kissing me.
I break out in a sweat, even though my bones are still so cold I'm shuddering, and nausea overpowers me.
I throw up all over the bed. Carlos jumps off me and starts screaming so loud, Arja comes running in.
I can't stop puking. No matter how much he yells at me, or Arja screams back for him to stop, I projectile vomit everywhere.
When I finally stop, I'm so weak, dizzy, and full of sweat that I don't even notice the hives.
Carlos throws on his robe. "Clean up your mess." He goes into the bathroom, gets in the shower, and changes into clothes.
The entire time, I lay on the side of the bed that doesn't have any vomit on it, sweating and hardly moving.
"Why is this not cleaned up?" Carlos barks.
"She's sick. Feel her forehead," Arja replies.
Carlos puts his hand on my head, and I don't even flinch. I don't care. It feels good since I'm so hot. "Have Esther and the other women clean this up and call the doctor. I'll be in my office working."
I don't feel them move me from the bed to the bathroom until the cool shower water hits me. When I'm finished, the room is clean, and I crawl back into bed.
The doctor comes. He asks me a lot of questions. I answer, but I'm not sure what I respond. When Carlos comes in, he has him sit down.
"Does she have the flu?"
"In a way."
"What does that mean?" Carlos barks.
"She's been under a lot of stress."
"So? We all are."
"Her body is saying it needs a break from the stress," the doctor states.
"Is this a joke?"
"No. She needs to rest and not have any stress. The anxiety attacks severely compromise her immune system."
"We have a rehearsal dinner tomorrow night and wedding the next day."
"She needs to rest. You may have to postpone it."
"I will not."
"Carlos—"
"Out." He points to the door.
"What?"
"Get out of my house, now. Until you can do your job correctly, I don't want you back here."
"She's not going to get better if you don't let her rest."
