Lunette awoke to beautiful, golden light streaming through the upfront curtains on her bedroom window. She relaxed, the warmth of her duvet spreading about her like a soothing cocoon. Her thoughts were still foggy, the traces of sleep stubbornly clinging to her awareness. With a yawn, she rolled over to look at the clock on the nightstand. 7:30 AM.
Before she could process the time, Wednesday's voice blasted through the morning silence. "We need to talk about last night," she continued, her voice unusually tense.
Lunette scowled and pushed herself upward to sit. Wednesday was sitting on her own bed across the room, her dark eyes staring at Lunette with so much focus that it made her shudder. "Last night?" Lunette spoke again, her voice . "What about last night?"
Wednesday's face seemed pale against the room's shadows, her expression puzzling. She said in a low voice, "You don't remember, do you?"
Lunette shook her head, trying to shake off the lingering fog of sleep, and then said, "No, I don't. What happened?"
As Enid entered the room with a worried expression in place of her usual upbeat one, Wednesday was unable to reply. "You were... different," she murmured, a little shaky in her voice. "You started mumbling something, and your eyes went white. It was pretty uncomfortable."
Her heart started pounding as she tried to find any memory that could explain what they were saying, but all she could find was a blank slate as she wracked her brain. Her voice was hardly audible above a whisper as she continued, "I don't remember any of that."
"It wasn't your voice," Wednesday added, her tone grave. "the voice was deep and all you were saying was I shall return over and over
Enid nodded . "Yeah, and when we tried to wake you, your eyes just turned back to normal and you fell asleep again."
Lunette took a deep breath, trying to steady herself. "That's never happened."
"Trust me, it happened," Enid urged, her eyes wide with confidence. "You need to believe me. It was real."
Lunette scowled as she tried to take in what Enid had said. How come I didn't wake up? That has never happened before."
"So, it's happened before?" Wednesday said, her curious eyes narrowing.
Lunette shook her head, dismissing the idea. ''Nevermind. I am going to shower now."Lunette shook her head, dismissing the idea. '' Nevermind. It doesn't matter right now. I need to clear my head. I am going to shower now."
The conversation hung heavy in the air as she turned and went away. With a mix of worry and resolve in her gaze, Enid and wednesday w
The restroom door clicked shut as Lunette entered and moved to the other side. She turned on the tap, and the little room was quickly filled with the sound of gushing water. Rising steam encircled her like a warm blanket. She removed her garments with care, letting them drop to the ground.
The anxiety that had built up during her talk with Enid washed away as she entered the shower and felt the hot water splash over her. She threw back her head, letting the water cascade down her face and saturate her hair. The warmth eased the tension in her shoulders as it infused her muscles.
Lunette shut her eyes and allowed the flowing water to smother the ideas racing through her head. Inhaling the fresh, slightly flowery aroma of her shampoo, she took a long breath. Her routine of shampooing, conditioning, and cleaning her skin turned into a near-meditation that helped her stay grounded.
As the water flowed over her, she tried to let go of the confusion and frustration she felt. Each drop seemed to carry away a bit of her anxiety, leaving her feeling lighter, if only slightly. She lingered under the spray, savoring the rare moment of solitude and peace.
Lunette sighed reluctantly and turned off the faucet. As she stepped from the shower, she grabbed a towel and wrapped it over herself. Steam was rising from the restroom, and her reflection was obscured by fogged-over mirror glass. She stayed there for a moment, the cool air caressing her sweaty skin, and then she opened the door and stepped back out into the world and watched her leave.
Lunette stepped out of the shower, the warm steam trailing after her as she wrapped herself in a plush towel. The bathroom was still filled with the soft sound of dripping water, but outside, the room was quiet. She noticed Enid and Wednesday were no longer there, leaving her alone with her thoughts.
She dried off, the towel absorbing the last remnants of water from her skin. Reaching for her favorite lotion, she took a moment to savor the familiar, soothing scent as she smoothed it over her arms and legs. The ritual was comforting, a small piece of normalcy amidst the day's chaos.
Next, she picked up her perfume bottle, spritzing a light mist over her pulse points. The delicate fragrance mixed with the lotion, enveloping her in a cloud of subtle sweetness.
Feeling more herself, she turned to her clothes laid out on the bed. She slipped on a red skirt, its fabric swishing softly around her legs. Pulling on a pair of black tights, she made sure they were smooth and snug. She then chose her trusty black Converse, the shoes providing a perfect blend of comfort and style.
Lunette selected a black tank top, pulling it over her head and adjusting it to sit just right. To complete the look, she donned a short, cropped sweater, its soft knit offering a slight warmth against the cool air.
Once dressed, she glanced at herself in the mirror. The red skirt added a pop of color, contrasting nicely with the black top and tights. Her Converse gave the outfit a casual edge, while the sweater added a touch of coziness.
Lunette finished adjusting her short sweater, satisfied with her reflection in the mirror. As she picked up her phone from the bedside table, it buzzed with a new message. It was from Enid.
Here are the messages in text message format:
[Lunette]: Meet us in front of the school. Why?
[Enid]: We're going on a trip to Jericho.
[Lunette]: What's going on? Why Jericho?
[Enid]: Wednesday told me to tell you to bring something to protect yourself with.
[Lunette]: Wait, how did you even get my number?
[Enid: Does it really matter? Hurry up.
Lunette's eyebrows rose in surprise. She bit her lip, wondering what Wednesday would have in mind. Not wanting to take chances, she looked into her dresser and drew out a small, aesthetically pleasing dagger she had discovered in one of her grandmother's old trunks. It wasn't much, but it was sharp and heavy, which felt reassuring in her hand.
With the dagger neatly tucked into the pocket of her bag she took one last glance in the mirror. The red skirt, black tights, Converse shoes, black tank top, and short sweater worked together to create a style that was both fashionable and functional. She swung the bag over her shoulder and walked out of her room,
The hallway was quiet as she made her way to the front of the school. As she stepped outside, she saw a group of students gathered, their excited chatter filling the air. Enid was easy to spot with her vibrant personality and bright smile. Lunette walked over to her, feeling a mix of excitement and nerves.
"Hey," Enid said, greeting her with a grin.
Lunette nodded, her hand unconsciously brushing against her bag, where the dagger was hidden. "As ready as I'll ever be. So, what exactly are we doing in Jericho?"
Enid rolled her eyes. There was a hint of exasperation in her voice. "It's for a stupid school trip. They want us to 'experience the local culture' or something. But you know how Wednesday is. She said there might be something interesting going on and that we should be prepared."
Lunette sighed, a bit relieved that it wasn't something more sinister, but still wary. "Of course she did.
Enid shook her head. "Not really. She was pretty vague and just said to be on guard.
As they joined the rest of the students, Lunette couldn't help but notice Wednesday standing off to the side, her dark eyes scanning the crowd. She gave a small nod when she saw Lunette, a silent acknowledgment that made Lunette feel a bit more at ease.
"So, what did you bring?" Enid whispered, leaning in close.
Lunette patted her bag. "Yeah, I brought my grandma's dagger. Let's just hope we don't need to use it."
Enid smiled, a mixture of excitement and nervousness in her eyes. "Agreed. But with Wednesday, you never know."
The students began to board the bus, chattering excitedly about the trip ahead. Lunette and Enid found seats near the back, with Wednesday where they could keep an eye on everything. As the bus pulled away from the school, Lunette took a deep breath, ready to face whatever awaited them in Jericho.