Chapter 40

Click.

Azalea pushed down on the doorknob with all her body weight. She was almost leaning on it. Her eyes were squeezed shut, and beads of sweat formed on her forehead. The sharp pain radiated from her abdomen, making her gasp and clutch her midsection even tighter.

*(Inhale.)* She took a ragged breath, the air catching in her throat. With the door now closed, she slid down to the floor, her back still against the cool surface. Every muscle in her body seemed to rebel against her, and the room spun with a nauseating dizziness.

“Agh!” The pain intensified, a low groan escaping her lips. She pressed her forehead against the door, trying to find some relief. Her breathing became rapid and shallow, each exhale accompanied by a grimace as if trying to expel the agony from within.

“Groan.” The sound was guttural, a manifestation of the torment she was enduring. She crouched further, her knees drawn up to her chest, arms wrapped tightly around herself. She rocked s