章 192: Contraction

TRIGGER WARNING

The festive feeling was long gone as they began to enter the house again. One by one, they stepped into the mansion, the cold feeling in the air hitting Annabeth in the face. It was so shocking, so chilling, so tense. So… foreign. 

So real. 

She bowed at her brother and sisters and began to walk down to the hall to her room, her heels clicking rhythmically as she heard her sibling's steps behind her. 

'This tense atmosphere…' she thought to herself as she walked. 'I almost forgot…'

This was the reason why she never liked to leave the house. Not the fact that she had to get ready, or the event itself, or even socializing. Those were all fine for her, they were nice, warm, fun. That was the issue. She would become so indulged in those fake scenarios, so comforted by the fake smiles she wore, and so involved in conversations she allowed herself to speak in.