There was a pause on the line before the doctor responded carefully. "Is she conscious? Able to communicate?"
"Barely. She's speaking, but it's just to demand relief."
"Any vomiting? Seizures?"
"No."
"Heart rate?"
Archie glanced back at Avery, her chest rising and falling rapidly. "Looks elevated."
The doctor exhaled. "Given the symptoms, she likely ingested a low-to-moderate dose of a sedative-hypnotic—possibly gamma-hydroxybutyrate or ketamine. The effects should wear off in a few hours, but..."He hesitated.
"But what?" Archie snapped.
"But in cases like this, the discomfort can be... extreme. The body reacts to the substance by demanding relief from the chemical overload. Some patients describe it as unbearable."
Archie's grip on the phone turned white-knuckled. "What are our options?"
Another pause. "Hospitalization is safest. We can monitor vitals and administer IV fluids to help flush her system. But..."
"But what?"
