Chapter 15

Everyone had packed up their things and moved down to the den. There was a full bathroom downstairs, so everyone took turns showering and getting dressed. Victor had found some old camping gear in the basement. Everyone had helped him carry sleeping bags, flashlights, pillows, and blankets to the den.

They didn’t sit down to breakfast until ten. The mood was somber, tense, and stressed. Nicole was eating slowly. Troy and Brock were stone-faced. Blake quietly ate. Lexi fought not to wolf her food down like a carnivore because she was a stress eater. Lindsay picked at her food. They were able to calm her down a little bit, but the joint that Nicole had in her purse had helped Lindsay more. The kitchen door was propped open because Brock didn’t want Victor to be closed off from the rest of the group. He didn’t care if he was just in the next room or not.

Brock cleared his throat at the table. “I think we should talk about recent events.”