The next morning at 8 o'clock, I set off from home to the café feeling disoriented and yawning continuously. I had worked through the entire night to finish the hand-drawn menus we needed. As I approached the café's entrance, Mr. Wilson and Abel were busy installing the new sign just delivered by the lumberyard owner."Hey! Good morning, Zoe!" Abel, standing on the ladder, turned to give me a bright smile. He was such a warm and genuine friend, and I was glad to have him by my side."Good morning, Abel. Good morning, Mr. Wilson," I greeted them with a smile and entered the shop after opening the door.Inside the kitchen, Mrs. Wilson was experimenting with new recipes. The countertop was piled with bananas, apples, mangoes, pineapples, and various other fruits. Some spilled milk had made a mess. I grabbed a cloth from the wall and wiped the counter clean. The ice bucket was almost empty, so I picked it up and filled it with a few scoops of ice from the ice maker."Good morning, Mrs. Wi

Susie and Abel were inseparable, spending their days together like glue. The day Susie was supposed to retrieve her belongings kept getting postponed. Initially, she claimed she would return to the Red Moon Pack in a week to collect all her personal items. Later, that extended to within a month. Eventually, we decided that Grace would bring Susie's things along when she came to visit. Aunt Mary and Uncle Marcus, as agreed, funded the construction of a large house next door for Abel and Susie, meant to be their marital home. Workers from Herman arrived with trucks loaded with bricks, cement, and wood to the Nightwalker Pack. Abel, Uncle Marcus, and the young adults of the pack chipped in during their free time. The house was expected to be completed within three months.When the house was about a third built, Susie was confirmed to be pregnant. Around the same time, my belly started to swell, and even loose clothing couldn't fully conceal it. Gradually, Susie began to suspect something

Once all the supplies had been distributed, Alpha Alis granted us the freedom to move around. "A friendly reminder: please ensure your phones and computers have sufficient battery life. The hurricane will likely cause power outages. Although we have backup generators, they may not provide enough electricity for all 537 of us simultaneously," he warned, before departing the hall. Beta William and Uncle Marcus were left to maintain order among us.The crowd, initially subdued, gradually grew more animated. Laughter and chatter filled the air as people attempted to while away the time. Someone took out some bottles of alcohol from their bags and engaged in friendly rounds of games; a group gathered to play cards; mates and friends danced in the two-meter-wide corridor, and the rest cheered them on. Amidst this festive atmosphere, Susie pulled out a thick copy of "Moby Dick" to read. Meanwhile, I retrieved a needle and thread from my pocket, continuing to sew baby clothes for my unborn ch

Water was everywhere. All is a monotonous gray expanse. In the distance, the water took on an even darker hue, where Jason was struggling. The sea seemed like a black abyss, swallowing him whole. I swam towards him with all my might, but despite my efforts, I found myself going in circles. Watching him gradually sink, all I could do was cry, as if I were trying to release all my inner turmoil. An ear-piercing screaming jolted me awake from this dreadful dream. I sat up suddenly, tears still flowing down my face. After a while, I finally regained my senses. I wiped my tears away with my hand and looked at Hilda, who was standing by the bed, staring at me with an astonished expression. "Why on earth are you in my house?! What are you doing here? Why are you crying so much? Are you fucking crazy? And why in the world are we sleeping in the same bed?" Her arms were crossed, and she was yelling in a state of near hysteria. "Calm down! Stop yelling!" I interjected sharply. "How can I cal

On the third day since the hurricane's arrival, a sense of weariness was gradually creeping in among everyone. Complaints were intermittently heard within the crowd, expressing their frustration with the seemingly idle days. By the fourth day, a small group of people began to experience friction, with some engaging in verbal spats and even minor physical conflicts. It had become a common occurrence. The fifth day was testing everyone's patience, food supplies were running low, and the powerful wind outside persisted, enveloping each person in an air of despair. Alpha Alis attempted to boost morale through a speech, but the impact was far from impressive. Despite his spirited demeanor, his face appeared more gaunt, his complexion slightly gray from hunger. This image was hardly reassuring to those who were struggling to find sustenance. By the sixth day, many had nearly exhausted their food, hungry cries of children echoing throughout the Packhouse. Even the usually optimistic group co