Ben drove home without any music. His gaze kept turning around throughout the journey, constantly checking back. He didn't slow down and I was thrown around the car as he drove over rough terrain.

Headlights are the only thing that illuminates the dark forest. I prayed I could see a series of red and blue lights flickering behind us, but it never happened.

The bottle is tucked in my sleeve. My knuckles hurt because I was gripping the ends of my sleeves so tightly. I don't want to make that pill bottle bounce because of Ben's chaotic driving.

When it finally arrived, Ben grabbed his duffel bag. I hurried out and followed him into the cabin. He threw the duffel bag onto the couch and ripped off his scarf. I watched him peel layers of clothes off his sweaty skin. He untied the dirty gauze on his body.

I gasped when I saw his scales. The skin is bright red and swollen. Oozed thick yellow pus, which had spread to cover his pale skin. Ben looked up at my words. He unzipped the bag and began to sort through the bottles he had snatched.

"Give me a glass of water," he said. "And a warm towel."

I took off my sunglasses and hat and went into the kitchen to pour him a glass of water. I put the glass on the coffee table. Ben sat down and swallowed two pills from a bottle. I walked into the bathroom and grabbed a towel. I took the bottle out of my sleeve and tucked it into a cupboard in the bathroom, behind a pile of shampoo bottles.

Ben leaned back on the couch, his eyes closed. One of his eyes opened as I sat next to him. I handed him the towel and he washed off the scales and pus from his skin. Every time he touches his inflamed skin, he grits his teeth.

"You should see a doctor." I say.

Ben rolled his eyes, then went back to his duffel bag. He pulled out a tube of cream.

It turned out to be another antibiotic.

"You know it's dangerous to use too many antibiotics," I said.

"I know," Ben said. "But we're in a desperate situation."

I took a deep breath and got up from the couch. I washed my hands and grabbed the last roll of gauze.

Ben has already cleaned up. I squeezed some cream onto my fingers and rubbed it on his abdomen. He cried out in pain. He grabbed my wrist and pulled my hand away.

"Be careful,"

"You told me to make an appointment for you," I said.

"yes, but you don't have to be so rude."

I raised an eyebrow. "Rude? I barely touched it. ”

Ben let go of my wrist. I let my fingers run over his skin.

The cream is cold, but heat emanates from his skin. I rubbed the leftover mixture of cream and dried pus on a towel. He leaned forward and I wrapped my gauze around his body. When it was all over, he leaned back on the cushions of the couch. He brushed his sweaty hair back.

"How long do you think it will take to get to work?" I asked.

"I should feel better in a few days," he said. "Alec was infected once. She was cured the next day, but it wasn't that serious, and she was given intravenous antibiotics. ”

Hearing Alec's name made my stomach cramp. Her family may never have found out what was really going on with her. They must have believed that she died in a fake car accident. She might just want to see them, just like I wanted to see Mom and Marcy, but she never did. When I get out of trouble, I make sure they know what happened to their daughter.

"What's Alec's last name?" I asked.

Be

I didn't open my eyes, but my brows were furrowed.

"Why do you ask this?" He asked.

"A few years ago, a girl from our high school went missing," I lied. "Her name is also Alec. Is this the same girl? ”

He said. "No, it won't. She is from the UK and is backpacking on the West Coast. ”

"Oh."

I watched Ben's breathing slow to a rhythmic pace. My attention was focused on the bottle of medicine I had stolen. I had to find a way to get them into Ben.

I can't pretend they're his antibiotics. They differ in color and size. Moreover, two pills were not enough for him to overdose. I intuitively should have turned them into a pile of powder and hid them in his food. When I cook lunch and dinner, he usually stays in the kitchen with me. I can't mix it into his food without him noticing. I had to convince him to stay on the couch and read a novel while I cooked.

Ben woke up in his sleep. He turned his head from side to side and muttered something. His eyes snapped open and he was breathing heavily. He put the base of his palm into his eye.

"Let's go to sleep," he said. Without waiting for me to react, he grabbed my hand and pulled me up from the couch. Suspicious guys!

He put one arm around my waist all night. Fear....... I was lying in bed with my head on the ground trying to poison him.

Ben let me bathe in front of him. I haven't figured out how to put the pills in his food yet. The only thing I know for sure is that the pills have to be crushed into powder.

When I finished my shower, I took out a bottle of hydromorphone. I put a tissue on the counter and took out six pills. I need something strong to break down the pills.

I opened the cupboard and rummaged through Bethany's collection of all sorts of things. There was a heavy bottle of mouthwash that hadn't been opened yet. I put it on the tablet and pushed it down and twisted it. I lifted the bottle and found that the pill hadn't broken yet. I looked at the bottom of the bottle and saw that it was recessed in the middle. Two, I put the bottom edge on the two pills.

When I twisted the bottle, two pills shattered. From side to side. A smile welled up on the corner of my mouth as I watched the pill break.

The bottle slipped and hit the counter. I cursed under my breath and began to crush the other pills on the tissue. The bottle slipped a few more times.

Ben knocked on the bathroom door, and my heart beat wildly in my chest. I panicked and almost pushed the pills off the counter.

"Diana, are you okay?" He asked.

He must have heard the crash. "Yes," I said. "I'll be out in a moment."

I crushed the last few pills. I fold the paper towel so the powder doesn't fall out. I hid it behind all the shampoo bottles.

When I left the bathroom, Ben was in the kitchen. He was smearing a thick layer of peanut butter on a slice of toast.

"How are you feeling?" I asked.

"Much better," he said. "I'm supposed to be obsessed with the common raccoon!! It will soon be back to normal. ”

I put two slices of bread in the toaster. Ben looked at me as he ate. He smiled at me.

"What are you staring at?" I asked.

"You," he said. "I'm glad to have you. I'm glad we left Bethany and Oliver together. That's all I could hope for. ”

My lips twitched and I smiled. I couldn't let him see me trembling, and his words made my heart sink deep in my stomach. "Maybe one day we can even go and visit your family," he said.

"Once this is settled"

"Thank you," I said.

Ben put his plate in the sink. He pinned my wet hair behind my ears and kissed me on the cheek. My toast popped out of the toaster and Ben walked over to the couch. I spread butter on toast and ate it on the counter.

Ben took two more antibiotics. Then he pulls out a novel. He put his feet on the coffee table and leaned back in his chair to read.

I silently washed the dishes. I wiped my hands with a rag and was about to sit down next to him.

"Di, can you make me a cup of coffee?" Ben asked, his head not leaving his book.

Solve him?

I can put the powder in Ben's coffee. He was so focused on his book that he didn't see me put it in. The hot liquid dissolves the powder. Coffee has such a strong flavor that it can also mask the taste of the medicine.

"Yes, of course," I said.

I plugged in the kettle and pulled out a can of instant coffee from the cupboard. I poured some into the cup and scooped another spoonful to make sure the flavor was masked.

I rushed to the bathroom. Close the bathroom door behind you and grab the piece of powdered paper. I folded it again and tucked it into the sleeve of my cardigan. I combed my messy hair with a comb, thinking I had gone to the bathroom to freshen up. When I got back to the kitchen, his eyes were still on the book. I pulled a tissue from my sleeve and unfolded it. I poured the pale green powder into the cup. I mixed it with ground coffee. The kettle whistled and I poured hot water into the cup.

"What's in the coffee?" I asked.

"Sugar," he said.

I added a spoonful of sugar and mixed the coffee. I was worried that the little white spots of the drug would float to the top, but that wasn't the case. It looks just like a regular cup of coffee. to the cup.

My hands are shaking as I raise my glass and the coffee shakes from side to side? I took a deep breath and placed the cup in front of Ben.