Lina's POV
The heat was suffocating, causing me to groan and struggle to sit down. My head felt hazy from the excessive amount of drinks I had consumed. As I looked around, I realized I was lying on a bed in a room that was unfamiliar to me. A rush of memories flooded my mind - Alarick and I making out in a drunken stupor. The thought made my cheeks flush with embarrassment. Trying to ignore the tingling sensation between my legs, a result of Alarick's touch, I sat up and tried to piece together what happened. How did I end up in this room? Why couldn't I remember anything after our make-out session? My head spun and my body felt heavy and tingly, but so did my heart.
I forced myself up and stumbled across the room, searching for my clutch which I found resting on a table by the window. As I stepped outside, a cool breeze blew through my hair and began to alleviate my hangover. However, as I walked through the deserted party location, it was evident that I had been asleep for quite some time. Drunk party-goers littered the ground around me. How long had I been out?
My heels kept getting stuck in the grass, so I kicked them off and felt the refreshing coolness of the dewy blades under my feet. Glancing up at the sky, I was struck by the beauty of the full moon and twinkling stars above me. Lost in thought, I was startled when Coco called out my name. "Nina!" she exclaimed as she approached me.
Before she could ask where I had disappeared to, Coco noticed something peculiar about my appearance. "Where have you been?" she asked curiously.
But instead of questioning me further, Coco simply stated that everyone else had already gone home except for those who were too drunk to leave. She led me back through the garden to the bar, where she pulled out a large bag and removed a small pillbox from inside. "Take these," she said, handing me two pills. "One is for your hangover, and the other is just in case."
Feeling much better after taking the pills, we began searching for our missing friends. "Have you tried calling them?" I suggested as we walked.
Coco gave me a puzzled look before pouting, "Of course I did! I've been trying to reach Sara and Melissa multiple times." I suggested calling Joy since her phone was always on loud, but even that proved unsuccessful.
Just when we were about to give up, Coco perked up and claimed she could hear something coming from down the hallway. To my surprise, she was right - the sounds of people making out echoed through the halls. My cheeks reddened at the memory of my own make-out session with Alarick. But Coco assured me that it was just Melissa and Leon, a member of the Lowell family who would be staying the night at the party venue.
As we approached the door, the sounds grew louder and more vivid in my mind. "What now?" I whispered to Coco, trying to push away any lingering thoughts from my dream.
But Coco simply replied with a grin, "No need to worry; they'll just crash here for the night." Your hearing abilities are amazing.
With hesitant footsteps, I followed Coco as we left the chaotic scene behind. My phone constantly rang out for Joy, but she didn't pick up. We made our way to the front door of the Mansion, Coco leading the way with determination. As we stepped outside, Joy suddenly appeared out of nowhere, gasping for air. Her bra was broken, and she only had a vest to cover herself. We look around, searching for Sarah's whereabouts.
"So, where's Sarah?" I asked, surprised that they are not together for once.
"Don't tell me we'll have to go on another mission to find her," Coco playfully grumbled.
"She'll be here soon enough, don't worry," Joy quickly reassured us.
When Sarah finally arrived, my gut instinct told me that something was off. But before I can dwell on this thought, Coco ushers us into our waiting limo. The tension between her and Joy was palpable during the entire drive to the cabin. As we arrived, everyone headed to their rooms without saying a word. Exhausted from the night's events, I couldn't help but think about my dream from the party and how it still lingered in my mind.
The next morning, after a much-needed shower, I decided to go for a run while everyone else was still asleep. I've always known that luck won't just fall into my lap - I have to make it happen. Suddenly remembering the medicine Coco gave me, I realized I forgot to give it to the others yesterday. They must still be sleeping even longer today. Although unfamiliar with the surroundings, I know I have my phone with me and will find my way back easily. Staying on the dirt road leading away from the cabin, I followed a trail through the woods. The air was crisp and invigorating; my body seemed to move effortlessly on its own accord. Before long, I spotted the glimmer of a lake through the trees. I continued following the road until it suddenly ended at a cluster of trees.
Needing a break, I sat under a large tree by the roadside and took in the beautiful view of the glistening water. Checking my phone, I see it was almost noon and I should probably head back to catch up on work and studies. As I looked up from my phone, I noticed a figure emerging from the water. It swims closer towards the shore until standing upright - revealing a handsome man. He was too far away for me to make out who he was, but what was someone doing swimming in this cold weather? Mesmerized, I couldn't seem to look away, but at the same time, I didn't want him to see me. Quickly getting up, I hid behind the tree and sneaked a peek at him. Suddenly, he turned and began walking towards me.