"She might not last that long." I grabbed his arm, fingers digging in, my eyes pleading. "I'm begging you. Please, just let them take her to the hospital. Please."
"I promise, after this, no matter what Doreen wants to do, I won't get angry. I'll go along with everything. Just let them take my mom. Please."
Hesitation flickered across his face.
But before he could answer, Doreen burst out laughing.
"See? I told you this dare was fun! Look, even Mrs. Abbott can't get enough. She wants to keep playing!"
The paramedics' expressions shifted from confusion to outrage as they processed what they'd just heard.
"Did she seriously just ignore everything I said?"
"Call the police. Right now. She needs to be formally reprimanded."
My blood ran cold. "No, please don't call the police!"
Because the moment they took me away, even if Arnold eventually brought my mother to the hospital, there was no telling how long he'd drag his feet.
The paramedics' glares only hardened. I pointed frantically at my mother, who lay on the floor convulsing.
"Look at her! I wasn't lying to you. My mother needs emergency treatment now."
Their eyes followed my hand, and every face changed the instant they saw her.