With a shuddering breath, Marisol buried herself deeper into her covers, seeking whatever safety or comfort it could provide as the remnants of fear and uncertainty continued to cling to her like a haunting melody. As she forces her eyes to close, the unshakable sense of foreboding remains, a constant feeling that leaves her unable to fully relax as she wonders if it really was just a dream or a true revelation of the grim reality lurking within Redwood's depths.
As she wakes up the next morning, Marisol's mind remains tangled with the strange events of the previous night. The uncertainty and growing inability to differentiate between what was real and what was not, even in her waking moments, gnaws at her thoughts, signaling an already sour start of her day.
Her muscles and bones felt worn as if she hadn't gotten a night of sleep in her bed but had run a marathon all through the night instead.
With a heavy sigh, she pushed herself off the bed, trying to shake off the unease that now seemed to flow within her as naturally as her blood would, but the events of the night before were unrelenting, replaying in her mind in an unending loop, the maziness and confusion still vivid despite the haziness surrounding it.
She pads to the window, gazing out with a forlorn look as she ponders venturing out for a run. It would help clear her mind and there was nothing she craved more than that at the moment, but Caleb's warning chose that exact time to echo in her head, the adamancy of his words compelling her to reconsider.
With another heavy exhale, she decides to remain indoors atleast until dawn, strolling around the room to avoid her own thoughts until the early morning light gradually begins to seep into the room, when she then decides to freshen up. Her muscles still seemed to protest against movement, feeling frail and fatigued. She wondered if she had physically exerted herself far more than she could recall as she made her way to the ensuite.
After taking a refreshing shower, Marisol wraps herself in a fluffy robe before picking out an outfit for the day. She pads down to the kitchen afterward, hoping that a wholesome breakfast would bring some solace to her distressed body and mind. As she steps into the bustling kitchen, the comforting aroma of freshly baked bread and sizzling bacon floods her nostrils, heavy in the air, creating a little wisp of homeliness.
The pack members all went about their tasks, chatting amiably and preparing for the day ahead and, once again, Lily was first to notice her arrival, greeting her with a warm smile.
"Good morning, Marisol! Slept well?" She chirps, her eyes reflecting genuine concern and interest.
Marisol manages a faint smile, genuinely appreciative of her newfound friend, -if that would be the correct term. She shuffles closer before giving a reply, "Not quite. Strange night, you know?"
Lily's brow furrows slightly at that. "Oh? Anything I can do to help?"
Marisol shook her head, trying once again to push the oddity of her experience to the back of her mind to no avail. "No, it's all good. I'll figure it out. I'm sure breakfast would help too. Smells really good, by the way."
Lily chuckles softly and gestures toward the spread of food laid out on the table. "Help yourself. We've got a bit of everything today."
Marisol nods gratefully and wastes no time on beginning dishing out her servings. Despite the warmth of the kitchen and the comforting aroma of food, the feeling that the entirety of the events of the night before might not have been merely a dream, persists.
Finding a seat at the table, Marisol takes the time to scan the room, her gaze briefly meeting those of a few pack members who are quick to avert their eyes. The unspoken exchanges and nods of acknowledgment between themselves do not go unnoticed.
They were certainly the most unwelcoming bunch Marisol ever had the misfortune of encountering, that was for sure. Another thing she knew for sure, was that hidden beneath those subtle exchanges were secrets that she needed to unveil and fast.
She gobbled up her food, deciding she didn't want to be subjected to their judgmental stares any longer than she had to. She returns her plate to the kitchen, almost bumping into Sophia.
She blinks, unsure of how to react, considering this was the first time seeing Sophia since their heated argument the other day. Deciding on no reaction, Marisol hurriedly sidesteps the blank-faced woman and makes to walk away, until....
"Was this pack house renovated recently?" she suddenly asks, stopping at a threshold. Lily, who had been meaning to join her in her walk, suddenly tensed up at the words, looking between Marisol and Sophia, the Luna having also stopped mid-walk.
"Why would you think that?" Sophia asked back, spinning around slowly to look at Marisol.
The sudden change in atmosphere was not lost on Marisol, and gauging their reactions, she decides not to press on it further, especially not with Sophia around, so, she shrugs, keeping her poker face.
"What? Pack houses like these need to be renovated regularly to keep them looking good. Or don't they?"
Sophia, whose brows had furrowed, visibly relaxes, although she quickly schools her expression again. "Yeah right," she murmurs before turning to Lily. "Why don't you answer her, Lily?"
Lily looked obviously nervous, she swallowed hard while Marisol raised her brow, making a show of waiting for an answer.
"Well... uhm... the pack house has been renovated a couple of times before."
Marisol bites back a smile, internally scolding herself for her amusement at Lily's expense. She nods seriously, humming. "So are there any areas that weren't renovated?"
Lily's eyes widen. She opens her mouth to speak, visibly scrambling for an answer which Sophia beats her to.