At 9:00 AM the following morning, ICU Room 1 was functioning entirely as a high-budget Hollywood film set.
Aria was back in the hospital gown. She sat cross-legged on the mattress while Zoe aggressively beat her face with a damp Beautyblender.
"Tilt your chin up," Zoe commanded, squinting as she swiped a grey-toned contour stick under Aria's cheekbones.
"More setting powder under the eyes," Aria instructed, looking into the handheld mirror Zoe had provided. "I look too rested."
"Got it. Serving absolute ghost," Zoe muttered, uncapping a translucent powder and caking it on.
While Zoe handled the special effects makeup, Aria turned her attention to the rest of the room. Two highly trained nurses were currently rearranging a tangle of plastic tubing.
