Red Alert

Chapter 14: Rain Rain

Ella's Pov

Emma and Aiden had come home three hours ago and were now in their rooms playing with each other. I had finished trying on every single dress Dylan had brought me and then made dinner for everyone. Dylan had been home the whole day since he said that he had taken a few days off but he might just go tomorrow. I was going to continue my job working at Dylan's store in a few days and I was ready to head back. I loved this house and I would love staying here the whole but I preferred to work and I needed the money.

The twins had their dinner and headed straight to their rooms to play and do their homework while Dylan sat in the living room and watched the news on the television. I washed the dishes using my hand and when I finished, I headed upstairs to my room. With nothing much to do, I took out a boo I had borrowed from Aunt Janice as I started to read. 

I had taken permission from the Rhodes family and before leaving I told auntie everything. She knew about the whole marriage thing and she even knew it was Dylan. She had been surprised and shocked, both of those words were an understatement. She was baffled and flabbergasted but I made her promise to keep it a secret and tell no one except Uncle Jack. They had wished me the best and even though I invited them to the wedding they refused because they had work and didn't think they would fit. 

I practically begged them since I didn't want to be alone but they still refused, telling me to be independent and try to get to know some higher class people. I very clearly failed at that and instead spent my wedding day getting bored.

I was in the middle of reading when I got thirsty and was heading down to get water only to see two more people accompanying Dylan on the sofa. Jackson and Asher, Dylan's friends from before were sitting comfortably on the sofa. Jackson was lying vertically while Dylan and Asher were sitting cross-legged. The tv was on and they were all watching a channel called ESPN on which there was a game of American football was going on. As I hadn't realized we had guests, I wasn't very discreet so the sound of my feet approaching made all of them turn to look at me

"Hello." I greeted, freezing in my spot.

"Hey! It's your wife, Dylan!" Jackson exclaimed as he sat up and waved at me like a child. The expression on Dylan's face spoke for itself as he looked annoyed and I knew the reason but it didn't bother me. The only thing was that somehow it did bother me, not that much but it did.

"What are you are for?" Dylan asked as if he wanted me out of here.

"Just came to get some water," I said, feeling awkward being the only person around these three. I've never been in the presence of strangers by myself and I was quite socially awkward so you can guess how worried I was of making a mistake. "Would you like something to drink?" I asked, making my way towards the fridge.

"Fruit Juice!" Jackson called. I nodded as I took out the jug containing the orange juice Emma and Aiden had helped me make. The twins were very nice helpful hands in the kitchen and I could use the help. I took out three new glasses from the cupboard, filled them up and placed them in a tray as I went to serve everyone. I handed the guys their glasses and placed the tray on the table standing in between the sofa and tv. 

"If you need anything I'll be in my room," I said as I started to walk away.

"Wait." I turned around and looked at who had spoken. "I'm sorry about last time. I hope you don't have any hard feelings towards us." Asher said sounding genuine.

"It's alright. It's long forgotten and I'm sorry too about that night. It was rude of me to do what I did, I'm sorry." I apologized, hoping they would forgive me too. I observed that Dylan, Asher, and Jackson, were all in their casual clothes and they looked much better in home-y clothes than in their suits, in my opinion.

"Yeah, yeah, we're all sorry and we all forgive each other. Lets back to the game!" Jackson urged as I smiled and walked back to my room. It wouldn't help to make any enemies and besides, I want Dylan's friends to accept and truly like me. With a clear mind, I went back to reading the first book in the Shatter Me book series.

••••••••••

There was an hour left to midnight and I had spent the whole afternoon reading my books. I had completed two books in the shatter me series and was in the middle of completing the third. Even though I had gotten up early I still wasn't sleepy but I was starting to get bored. Asher and Jackson had left a long time ago and I had personally tucked the twins in two hours ago. I didn't know if Dylan was awake or not but after his friends left, he went straight to his room.

My feet and arms were going numb from staying in one position for too long so I jumped out of bed as I went downstairs. The juice glasses were still on the table so I picked them up and washed them before gulping down some water. I was heading up the stairs when I heard the sound of a 'thud', making me stop. My one foot was on the top step while the other was on the bottom step as I scrunched my eyebrows in confusion and listened for another sound.

I was a bit worried since I didn't know the source of the sound and for all, I know it could be a burglar. I quickly went up the stairs and checked on the twins. I walked over to their terrace window and looked out, only seeing a neverending forest as I sighed in relief. I made sure the terrace door was tightly locked before I placed Emma's blanket back over her and kissed her on the forehead.

I headed out, the worry for the twins disappearing but not entirely. I went back into my room and looked through the window and terrace but saw nothing. I double-checked to make sure the terrace door was locked and exited the room. Now the only person left to check on was Dylan. I walked towards his room feeling extra nervous since I knew he wouldn't be very happy to see me at this time of the night. I plucked up the courage as I knocked on his bedroom door.

"Dylan, it's me, Ella. I just wanted to check and see if you were alright?" I spoke but got no response as I knocked again. I waited then knocked again and again and again but no matter how many times I knocked, I got no response. I started to grow worried as I finally decided I had done enough knocking. "I'm coming in," I said and waited for a few but nobody answered. "Dylan?" I asked as I opened the door and stepped inside. 

I switched on the light and was surprised to find the bed empty and properly set. The bedsheets and duvet were still perfect as if no one had laid in them since morning. I scrunched my eyebrows as I look around the room but there was not a single soul. I peeked through the slightly ajar office room and found it empty as well. The last place in this room that was left was the bathroom. I knocked on the door and when I got no response, I covered my eyes as I stepped inside. I slowly removed my hand but there was nobody present.

My heart started to beat loudly as I could feel my chest-thumping. I ran out of the room as I checked the two spare rooms. One of the rooms was Dylan's office which was conjoined with his bedroom so that was useless. The other room was opposite to the twins and it was clear that it was a guest bedroom. I wonder why Dylan didn't want me to enter this room. I shook my head, knowing I had better things to think about as I closed the door and rushed upstairs.

The third and last floor of the house only had one room and a bathroom. By the looks of it, the room was a spare bedroom and there were a bunch of things laying around in many boxes. My curiosity was peaked when I noticed a picture frame on top of one of the boxes but decided to check it another time as I ran downstairs.

My heart thumped and my worry increased as I searched the living room. I checked the kitchen and even opened the cupboards although he obviously wouldn't have been there. I had searched through every room and corner of the house but I had run out. Dylan was nowhere and I was sure he hadn't gone anywhere since his car was still outside. The only place left was outside in the backyard but he couldn't be there since it was raining cats and dogs.

Dylan was clever and he wouldn't have gone out into the rain just like that. He wouldn't have wanted to get sick and besides why would he go out in the rain. I was growing more concerned with every passing second and as I bit my nails, not sure where else to check I decided that since the backyard was the only place left, I would have to check. I went towards the window at the end of the hallway and looked outside. I cupped my eyes to get a better look of the backyard through the rain but couldn't see anything. The rain was rolling down the window but as I squinted my eyes a bit, I noticed the outline of a person on the ground.

I recognized the jacket as the same one Dylan had been wearing earlier today. Without thinking for even a second, I pulled my cardigan closely over me as I ran outside. The rain was wild and the clouds were lightning and thundering.  Even though I was getting drenched in the rain, I didn't care at least not now as I rushed to the backyard.

"Dylan!" I called his name as I trudged through the wet, muddy grass. I approached Dylan's figure as I got down on my knees and moved him over. The guy was deathly pale, cold and unconscious which only increased my worry. "Dylan! Dylan! Wake up!" I exclaimed as I moved my wet hair out my face and shook him. There was no response as I pushed him up and supported him, basically dragging him inside. 

It was very hard but I somehow managed to get Dylan up the stairs and on his bed. I surprised myself by how much strength I had but I had better things to do than to marvel at myself. After placing Dylan on the bed, I checked his forehead and it was blazing but otherwise, his hands and face were freezing. I was panicking since I wasn't sure what to do so instead, I spread the blanket on top of him and turned on the heater. 

I ran downstairs, filled a pot with water, grabbed a towel and headed back upstairs. I placed the wet towel on Dylan's forehead but I knew that it wouldn't do much. I had to do something quickly because Dylan looked paler than when I found him and even though the heater was on, he was still cold, probably because of the soaked clothes. I would've changed the soaked clothes but it was very awkward for me so I couldn't.

After a quick argument in my head, I knew what to do. I picked up Dylan's phone which was laying on his bedside table as I switched it on. I was planning on calling his friends but the problem was that the phone was locked with a number password. I tried a bunch of random numbers but then a bulb lit in my head as I typed the twins birthday digits. The phone opened as I gasped in joy and went over to contacts, calling Asher since he was first on the list.

"Hellooo." A sleepy voice spoke from the other end. "Dylan, do you know what time it is right now?" Asher's grumpy voice spoke as I bit my lip, not sure if I should say anything. I was suddenly feeling unsure of doing this but Asher probably knew better than me.

"Hi...um...this is Ella," I mumbled, plucking up my courage.

"Ella? Why do you have Dylan's phone?" Asher asked and I could sense the suspicion in his voice. Looks like he still held some doubt towards me but I didn't blame him cause my actions were suspicious right now.

"Uh...yeah...that's..." I couldn't stop stuttering as I glanced towards Dylan's unconscious figure. I was on the verge of telling Asher but my throat got caught as I was unable to say anything but stutter. I was really worried and I was scared because I didn't know what to do and Dylan was sick and I was being so useless right now.

"Just say it!" Asher shouted from the other end, making me slightly flinch. Honestly, I needed for him to yell at me because that helped me get my voice back.

"Dylan's sick and I don't know what to do. Can you come over?" I asked, clutching the phone tightly to my ear.

"I'm on my way," Asher replied as he cut the call off. I put the phone down, only then realizing that my hands were tremblings. This was all too familiar to what happened sixteen years ago the day mom died. She had been with me, right next to me, yet I hadn't known and I wasn't able to do anything. I was useless and unable to save mom just like I was unable to do anything for Dylan right now.

I wiped the stray tear that managed to come out as I wiped my nose. I realized that I was still in my wet clothes and took off my cardigan, placing it on the armchair by the corner. My shirt and pants were still wet and as were my hair but I couldn't leave Dylan alone right now so I had to bear with the cold for now. I reached forward and grabbed Dylan's hand, which was still freezing as I prayed that he would be alright. 

I was just about to change the wet towel when the doorbell rang. I quickly placed the towel on Dylan's head as I ran downstairs and looked through the peephole to be met with the faces of Asher and Jackson. I unlocked the door as without saying anything they both dropped their umbrellas and rushed past me. I locked the door as I made my way up the stairs and entered the room where Asher and Jackson were checking on Dylan.

"What happened?" Asher turned to me with an accusing look.

"I don't know. I just heard a sudden sound so I was checking to see if everyone was alright. When I went to check on Dylan, I knocked on his bedroom but got no reply so I entered the room to find it empty. I searched everywhere before finding him drenched and soaking outside in the rain. He was already like this when I found him. I brought him inside but I didn't know what to do so I called you." I explained everything to Asher as he nodded.

"His body temperature is very low and these soaked clothes aren't going to make it any better," Asher stated as he and Jackson hoisted Dylan up. He proceeded to take Dylan's soaked shirt off as I immediately turned around to face the door, my cheeks burning. I could hear the sound of shuffling as I kept looking straight ahead, waiting patiently. "You can turn around now." I turned around as Asher and Jackson finished changing Dylan's clothes.

"What now?" I asked.

"I've called Dr. Hazel, she'll be here soon," Jackson said as I nodded, my worry piling up as I couldn't help but start fiddling with my fingers. I didn't like this, Dylan was scaring me and all I wanted was for him to get up and yell at me or do something. His stillness was frightening and I didn't like it, not one bit. "Don't worry. He'll be alright." Jackson tried to console me as he patted me on the back. I appreciated him for trying but my worry wasn't going to disappear until the doctor would come.

After just a few minutes the doorbell rang once again as Asher went to answer it. He returned a minute late with the doctor right behind him. I recognized her as the same doctor from yesterday and I think she recognized me too as she glanced my way with scrunched eyebrows, confusion written all over her face. She gave me a small smile as she turned to Dylan and wrote something on the clipboard in her hand while setting up a drip stand. She injected the drip into his hand and then checked his fever as she packed up her bag.

"How is he?" I asked, knowing no one else was going to speak up.

"He'll be just fine. As you can see I've put up the drips and prescribed you the medicine." Dr. Hazel said as she walked over to me and handed me a paper slip from her clipboard. I looked at the slip, reading the medicine name, acetaminophen, which as very hard to pronounce. "Just make sure he takes it accordingly and try to keep changing the wet towel every other hour. And that's about it." She said with a small smile as I nodded.

"Thank you, Dr. Hazel," Asher said with a grateful look.

"It's my job." She answered with a grin. "One question though. Who is she? I saw here yesterday too." Dr. Hazel asked as she pointed towards me with a curious look. I didn't mind her asking at all and was about to answer with a lie or cover-up but Jackson beat me to it.

"She's Dylan's wife," Jackson said as the doctor's expression turned to that of surprise.

"That's nice. You seem like a very caring person. Look after him properly, will you?" Dr. Hazel said with a gentle smile as I nodded and smiled. She waved to us as she helped herself out and left us three alone.

"We're going to head back too. If you need anything just call us." Asher said as he patted Jackson on the back and pulled him away. "You should change your clothes. You could end up catching a fever yourself." He added as I looked down at myself, remembering that I was still wearing my wet clothes.

"Thanks for your help!" I called after them as I heard the door shut. The sound of a starting car was heard and then it slowly disappeared. With everything taken care of and set, I dropped myself down on the armchair as I sighed. The adrenaline was starting to wear off as I was growing tired and sleepier. I got up as I changed the dry towel on Dylan's forehead and sit beside's him. I touched his hand, which wasn't as cold as before but it was warmer.

I stayed awake until about 3:30 in the morning, changing the towel on Dylan's forehead every hour. I would say that I was sleepy but as I was reading a book, it kept me occupied. I didn't want to make a mistake and fall asleep because I had to change the towel every hour as well as make sure the drip was still working. I also gave Dylan his prescribed medicines which luckily he already had stored in the cupboard downstairs. It was hard and I was trying but as I finished my book and had nothing to do, I could feel my head nodding off.

I had brought a chair from Dylan's office and sat on it as I watched Dylan. He honestly looked much better when he wasn't angry but calm. I tucked the blanket in as I grabbed his hand so that he wouldn't feel alone and started to think about different things. During thinking, I could feel myself dozing off but I wasn't supposed to sleep so I had to slap myself to stay awake. In the end, I don't know when but I let my head down against Dylan's bed as my eyes closed and I fell asleep.