For those in need

Chapter 17 - Discovery at night (N)

https://youtu.be/YpRK_vCzSsg

Having house full of people is really something! Even though it was just a few hours I don't know exactly how I feel about it because most of the people here looks like they don't even wanna be here with others. I thought they're friends/coworkers and they have some better relationship since they call themselves 'a pack'.

I guess it's like in every bigger group - you have the strong core and then there are people on the side. In the club it's the same way so it shouldn't surprise me so much. I just had different idea of how this would look. Well, even more than this surprised me my own house though! It's much way bigger than it seems! At the end nobody had to sleep in the living room which is really unbelievable. Me and Michael stayed in Cathy's room and in my room stayed Alastair.

It's been so long since there was more than like 5 people here. I see now I've been stuck in that hamster wheel -work-sleep-be with Michael- repeat and I didn't realize how I missed having people around. When Chase was here the house was full of people. We did the reconstruction so workers hired by him and our friends came to do stuff in here and we had lunch together or so. Sometimes someone stayed over and that's how it feels now.

Michael woke up for food and now he's peacefully sleeping with his tummy full. I put him in his bed so I can go get some water for myself. It's 3:30am. The house is quiet and only a slight squeak had escaped when I opened the door. Quiet but not lonely and empty. Quietly resting atmosphere. It feels so comfortable...

As I walked to the kitchen I saw my computer in a power save mode shining the image of the Pac-Man to the darkness of the living room. Someone was probably tired and went to sleep but that someone could have at least put the computer on the table and not leaving it in the middle of the room.

I lifted my laptop from the ground to put it on the table so they can continue tomorrow. I don't know now where the charger is so I'll turn it off now... let me just check if they saved the file so they don't loose it. I know how annoying that is and I hated it when I was in college.

I woke up the screen and saw an open document.
"Trisha is their witch and is preparing potions to...."
What? Are they writing some fantasy book or what? I thought they're working on some important projects... they talked about some entrance reports. And also Alastair doesn't look like an owner of a book publishing business.

I kind of want to know what they're actually doing. I hit "save" and opened the folder they created.

'Luminous Star Pack'
'Silver Moon Pack'
'Full Moon Pack'
'Northstar Pack'
'Blue Moon Pack'

This really looks like a fantasy books or I'm too tired and I'm imagining things and reading those names wrong. I'll just go back to bed and ask someone tomorrow.

....

Pack... Packs... hmm
It's 5am and I still can't stop thinking about what I saw on my laptop. Michael is so calm but somehow I have a feeling something is not right. Suddenly he starts rolling next to me and twitching like in pain.
I'm trying to shush him and calm him down by rubbing his back but seems it's not working! What shall I do?

*fart*

🙄 ok... I'm just being paranoid and I think I really need to sleep!

Pack...
.....

"Aqueque " was the 'good morning' I got.
I feel cranky because I couldn't stop thinking about the 'entrance reports'.
I took Michael into his bed in living room and started with breakfast when the whole 'pack' started slowly coming in.

"Good morning " I said to everyone and forced smiles. Only Garret, Alastair and one other guy answered.
It's either me or they are really not social.
"How did you sleep Nina? I heard you pacing a lot." Alastair asked looking at me like a hungry animal almost gulping me whole. His stare is making me even more uncomfortable and I instinctively look away from him and pretended the eggs needs my full attention before I gathered all my strength.

"I slept well but somehow the thought of a fantasy book didn't leave my mind." I said as nonchalantly as I could.
"I've been a huge fan when I was a teenager and I had one favorite one but I forgot the name." I am secretly looking around but no one is reacting and it seems I'm going really far from the point I want to make.

"What's bothering you sweetness? I can feel you're troubled." Alastair said with concern in his voice. Still looking at me with hunger but now also with caring eyes.
"How do you..? Well.. ehm... ok." I'm gathering strength one more time.
"I've seen the names of the entrance reports. It sounds like fantasy books. I didn't intended to pry into your business but what are you doing?" I blurted out.

"Yes, we're writing books. Those entrance reports are about books we have read. We created the world and now we hired authors who writes for us. All people here are editors and they decide if the book fits into our frame." That guy, Warren I think, answered casually.
I scanned the surrounding faces and not a single muscle gave away that he wasn't saying the truth. They were all as unexcited as before.

"I see." I said and went staring back at eggs. I was right but it's not making me happy or calm. Do you know the situation when an adult confirms the kid's theory about something although knowing it's not true...? Well I feel like that kid now.

"No!" Alastair suddenly said with a firm voice. He looked straight at me and this time I couldn't tell what was in his eyes but I got the feeling he is about to say something crazy.