Forest of Riddles (Reverse Falls, S1)

MI: Part Eleven

Gideon blinked in the morning light.

He was in his bed, still in his clothes and his blankets twisted around him. Rubbing his eyes, he pushed back his covers and got off of his bed.

He first glanced in Pacifica's room. Huh - she wasn't in there; maybe she had gotten better overnight.

Curious, he headed downstairs.

He found Priscilla and Melody talking in the kitchen, sitting at the table each with a mug of coffee. They both paused their conversation when they noticed Gideon.

"Good morning." Melody smiled. "You were certainly tired."

"Did you sleep here?" Gideon asked.

"No, I just got here. I used to sleep over all the time before you came, though," Melody added. "The Mystery Shack certainly is a busy business sometimes."

"Where's everyone else?"

"Asleep," Priscilla replied, now up from her chair and starting to make breakfast. "Everyone else stayed up late."

"The Shack doesn't open for another hour." Melody checked her watch. "Should we delay opening it?"

"We better," Priscilla said wisely. "No one else is going to have enough strength to open at eight."

"What time is it?" Gideon said.

"It's almost seven-thirty," Melody said. "Why?"

Gideon's brow furrowed. "How long did I sleep?"

"Since yesterday afternoon," Priscilla concluded, pouring in a few cups of oatmeal into the pot.

Gideon paused. "And . . . is Pacifica okay?"

"Oh, yes - she's in the living room." Priscilla poured water into the oatmeal and then turned around. "Don't wake her, though."

Gideon glanced in the living room. Pacifica was asleep on a towel-covered couch, an empty trash can by the sofa. Her hair was loose and - even as she slept - she looked exhausted.

"She's definitely sick." Priscilla sat down at the table. "Probably with a fever. I'd ground her from going on adventures, but . . ." She sighed. "Staying with Ford is an adventure."

Melody suppressed a grin. "It is."

"So who's going to take care of her, then? If we're all working in the Shack?" Gideon said.

"Oh, you're not working in there today," Priscilla said, folding her hands. "Both you and Pacifica are plenty exhausted."

Well, that was good news. But what would Gideon do all day? Pacifica was sick, which meant that he wouldn't be able to go on any adventures. Well, he probably could, but it was always more fun with Pacifica.

He took a seat at the table, right next to Melody, and waited patiently for breakfast to be served.

~

Several hours later, Pacifica sleepily opened her eyes. She was lying on the living room couch, covered in blankets and clean sheets.

What time is it?

"Pacifica!"

Pacifica glanced up to see Gideon running to her side, his eyes lighting up. "You're awake!"

"When . . . what time is it?" Pacifica mumbled, sitting up.

"Almost lunchtime. Are you hungry?"

Pacifica winced. "No."

"Oh, yeah. Sorry." Gideon paused for a moment, and then he went on. "Do you remember anything?"