Arden's hands remain steady as he fills the syringe with anesthetic. The needle connects to Ivy's IV line, and he slowly presses down the plunger, observing her eyelids flutter.
"It's going to be okay," he reassures himself more than her.
Jackson lies unconscious, his body rising and falling with each breath, sweat soaking the sheets beneath him. Arden has run the tests three times, each confirming that the wine was laced with silver. However, he's flushed out the poison through dialysis and charcoal drips, doing everything that should work.
Jackson’s chest continues its steady rise and fall while the monitors beep a consistent rhythm.
Arden steps back to observe Ivy as well. Her breathing deepens; mentally, she's gone at least, though her body still burns with energy, radiating heat.
