Lyra opened her eyes to the sunset. The sky was a deep, heavy orange, mixed with streaks of purple. The colors were so beautiful they made the day feel like an unreal dream. She reached up and touched her forehead. It was wet with cold sweat. She curled her body into a small ball under the blankets and sighed.
She moved her hand down to rest on her stomach.
"Are you okay?" she whispered.
She smiled when she felt a soft, fluttering movement under her skin. The baby seemed to respond to her voice. For a moment, a wave of relief washed over her. She wasn't alone. But that feeling didn't last. A dull, heavy ache began to spread through her bones.
The mild fever and chills from a few days ago were getting worse. She had managed to endure this and being alone in the house after coming to the island. But after her encounter with Elara, her body and mind felt as if they were about to collapse. She hated the feeling, but her body refused to obey her.
