Ste used to breeze through her afternoons without needing a nap, full of energy and ready to tackle whatever her job threw at her.


    But things had changed recently. After lunch, she found herself struggling to keep her eyes open. It was getting worse, sometimes she even needed a nap in the morning before dragging herself through the day. And adding up all these naps with her night''s sleep, she was spending a significant chunk of her time asleep.


    But the quality of her sleep wasn''t good.


    "I feel awful," she confided in Finley. "Every time I sleep, I dream and wake up exhausted."


    What made it worse was that they were nightmares. Ste dreamt about snakes and other creepy crawlies, which made her skin crawl just thinking about them.


    Finley raised an eyebrow. "More nightmares, huh? Maybe I should get you some herbal tea."


    Ste nodded, "Yeah, maybe that''ll help."


    The two friends chatted back and forth, eventually deciding that Ste had insomnia, gued by nightmares and perhaps an upset stomach.


    Finley soon left, and Ste had just settled back into her room when her phone rang. It was Tegan.


    "Tegan," Ste answered the phone.


    "Star..." Tegan''s voice sounded weak and shaky. Even over the phone, Ste could sense something was wrong.


    Ste''s heart skipped a beat. "Tegan, what''s wrong?"


    "Star, help..."


    Ste''s eyes widened in panic. That single word, "help," shattered any lingering drowsiness.


    Reacting instantly, she demanded, "Where are you? What happened?"


    But there was only static on the line. Tegan''s voice was gone, reced by chaotic noise that made it impossible to pinpoint her location.


    Ste''s heart was pounding in her chest. She rushed out of her room, phone


    pressed to her ear, "Tegan, say something! Tegan, Tegan?"


    Despite her pleas, Tegan''s voice didn''t return. Ste was in a frenzy, ready to bolt out the door.


    The butler intercepted her at the bottom of the stairs. "Miss."


    "Who''s the driver with Tegan? Where are they? Find out, quickly!" Ste''s voice was urgent.


    The butler hesitated, "Tegan was in an ident."


    Ste''s breath caught in her throat, disbelief washing over her as she stared at the butler.


    The butler said, "We just got the call. Tegan was in a serious car ident."


    "How is she?" Ste''s voice wavered. She feared the worst, her mind reying Tegan''s faint voice.


    "The ident just happened. The driver was unconscious but hase e to. He said Tegan was out cold and they''ve called for an ambnce."


    Despite this, Ste was at her limit. "I''m going to see her."


    The butler offered, "I''ll arrange a car."


    "No need!" Ste snapped, already heading for the door. "Send me their location right now."


    The butler tried to protest, but Ste had already grabbed her car keys and dashed outside. She was still in her loungewear, not even bothering to grab a coat.


    Worried, the butler instructed a maid, "Get Miss a coat quickly."


    As he sent the location to Ste, he heard her car roar to life, tires screeching as


    she sped off into the cold, snowy world.


    The butler''s anxiety spiked. The


    roads were treacherous this time of


    year, and he feared for Ste''s


    safety. As he grabbed the coat from


    the maid, he quickly dialed Ronald''s number, seeking help.