Chapter 357
She leaned against the cold stone pillar.
Her cheeks were flushed with an unnatural redness.
Her body trembled uncontrollably.
She held herself tightly with both arms.
"Sophia?" Alexander Laurent called her name softly.
Sophia Sullivan's eyes were tightly shut.
Her eyelashes fluttered restlessly.
She was in a semi-conscious state.
Alexander reached out and touched her forehead.
The temperature was alarmingly high.
"This is bad, her fever is getting worse." Alexander's voice was grave. "If this continues, something will happen long before the doors open."
Sebastian Evans ran a hand through his hair in frustration. "You think I don't know that? But there's nothing here!"
No medicine.
No way to get warm.
Not even a place to shelter from the wind.
Alexander suddenly extended his hand.
His palm was flat, forming a ninety-degree angle with his body.
Sebastian frowned. "What are you doing?"
A few seconds later, Alexander withdrew his hand. "The wind is from the northwest now. Move her to the other side of that pillar. At least it will block the wind."
"Okay." Sebastian agreed immediately.
They carefully moved Sophia to the sheltered spot.
Sebastian pulled out his lighter. "I'll go find some dry wood to start a fire."
"No." Alexander pointed north and south. "There are smoke detectors over there. Trigger the alarm and the entire park will be drenched."
Sebastian winced at the word 'alarm'.
"Then what do you suggest? What can I do?"
Alexander raised an eyebrow. "You're willing to follow my lead, Mr. Evans?"
Sebastian gave a cold laugh. "I might not like you, but I'm not an idiot who can't tell what's important."
Alexander looked at him for a moment. "There's fever reducer in my bag. Find it and mix it with warm water for her."
Sebastian's eyes widened. "You had medicine all along and didn't say anything?!"
"You didn't ask."
Gritting his teeth, Sebastian rummaged through the backpack.
"Is this it?"
"Yes. Use the dosage on the instructions."
Sebastian carefully administered the medicine to Sophia.
Alexander then took out gauze and rubbing alcohol from his bag.
He tore the gauze into small pieces.
Sebastian frowned. "What's that for now?"
"Use the alcohol to wipe her palms, forehead, and behind her ears. It's a physical cooling method." Alexander continued his task without pause.
After giving the medicine, Sebastian came over to help.
One tore the gauze, the other moistened it with alcohol and wiped.
The wind and rain had stopped at some point.
An immense silence filled the world.
Two men who were like fire and water worked together with seamless coordination.
Half an hour later, Alexander checked her temperature again.
"How is it?" Sebastian asked urgently.
"It's come down…"
Sebastian started to breathe a sigh of relief.
"But not by much. She's still feverish."
Sebastian's relief caught in his throat.
"How much alcohol is left?"
"Not much."
"Keep going. We can only take this one step at a time."
Fortunately, by the time the alcohol was used up, Sophia's temperature had dropped to 38 degrees Celsius.
Four hours had already passed of the promised five.
Another hour went by, and the main gate remained firmly shut.
Even the phone signal had disappeared.
There was no way to contact the person in charge, let alone call for medical help.
Sebastian was so angry he wanted to kick the door.
Alexander spoke calmly. "If you don't want to trigger another protocol, put your foot away."
Sebastian silently withdrew his foot.
He couldn't afford to make the same mistake twice.
Alexander helped Sophia sit up and looked at Sebastian. "Come here."
"What for?"
"Sit behind her."
"Why?"
"We'll surround her front and back. The pillar blocks the wind from the side, creating a sheltered area to help keep her warm."
"Okay."
Body heat did transfer.
Although the three weren't in direct contact, warmth gathered in the small space.
Whether the method was effective or it was a psychological effect, it seemed to work.
As the sky began to lighten, Sophia's fever finally broke, and her breathing steadied.
Alexander and Sebastian both sighed in relief simultaneously.
Fatigue washed over them, and they closed their eyes for a brief rest.
Sunlight broke through the clouds, spilling onto the earth.
The snow on the mountain peaks was gilded with a golden light.
It was another rare clear winter day.
Morning dew still clung to the air, and the wind rustled softly.
The main gate was urgently opened, the sound of footsteps startling birds from the trees.
Ethan Roscente was the first to rush in.
He had waited all night, his steps hurried, desperate to see the person he was worried about.
The temperature-controlled area had no surveillance, and he had spent the whole night anxious about Sophia's condition.
He didn't even dare to imagine what Alexander and Sebastian might have done.
He knew he shouldn't think that way, but he couldn't help it.
Dark circles shadowed Ethan's eyes, stubble dotted his chin, and he looked utterly haggard.
The next second, he stopped dead in his tracks, completely frozen in place.