Quarantine by Laura J. Burns

Author:Laura J. Burns
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Simon Pulse
Published: 2003-05-15T00:00:00+00:00

7

Isabel waited impatiently with the crowd outside the emergency room. Every time it looked as if she might be able to worm her way inside, another group of people would come running up with a desperately ill friend or relative, and she would have to step aside and let them in. She didn't mind, of course. But she was growing more and more worried by the minute. What was going on here? All these sick people… they seemed to have nothing in common except that they were sick.

So far she'd seen one elderly woman who had an ugly rash all over her arms. A little boy with uncontrollable hiccups. A middle-aged guy whose entire body was shaking violently in a seizure. The latest one carried by had been a girl around her own age who had been vomiting and was completely dehydrated.

What's wrong with Liz? Isabel wondered. Max had called almost an hour ago to tell her he was bringing Liz to the ER. Of course Isabel had rushed right over, but she hadn't been expecting some sort of epidemic.

There was a brief lull in the incoming patients. The area in front of the door was empty. Isabel pushed past the two security guys standing in front of her and sped through the door. One of them called after her, but she kept going as if she hadn't heard him.

Inside, the waiting area was pandemonium. She scanned the room, searching for Max or Liz. Not a sign of them. But, much to her astonishment, she spotted Valenti sitting on a bench next to Maria. Maria's mother was with her, breathing from an oxygen mask.

What on Earth is going on here? Isabel made her way over to them. "Hey," she said. "What's happening? Are you okay, Ms. DeLuca?"

Maria's mom shrugged and gestured to the mask with her hand.

"She's having a severe asthma attack," Maria explained. "Which is bizarre, because she hasn't had asthma since she was seven."

"What caused it?" Isabel asked, taking a seat next to Amy.

"Nothing she can think of," Maria said. "That's why we're worried."

Isabel glanced up at Valenti. She knew he and Maria's mom dated sometimes. Was he here for Amy? Or someone else?

Valenti met her eye and nodded grimly. "Kyle's here too," he told her.

Isabel gasped. She and Kyle had been hanging out a lot lately, and she'd grown attached to him. "What's wrong with him?"

"They don't know," Valenti said, his voice tight with

worry. "He passed out at home, and he's been in and out of consciousness ever since. They want me to wait out here until they run some tests."

Isabel frowned. "Does this seem strange to you guys?" she asked. "Ms. DeLuca getting sick, and Kyle, and Liz?"

"Liz?" Maria repeated. "What's wrong with Liz?"

"Don't you know?" Isabel asked. "Max brought her in here about an hour ago."

"Liz was with Max?" Maria looked surprised.

Valenti shook his head. "We haven't seen either of them."

"Hush," Maria said, nodding toward two nurses who were hurrying across the waiting room. Isabel listened to the nurses' conversation as they passed.

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