Upon returning home, Rose's first priority was a hot shower. The stench of beast excrement, mixed with dirt and sweat, was unbearable. She was amazed at how Ethan had managed to stay close to her despite the odor.
She slipped into the bathroom, clicking the door shut behind her with a sigh. Gazing at her bedraggled reflection in the mirror, she showed a bitter smile. Yesterday had been bad, but today was worse. Nothing had gone according to plan—from Luke's unexpected presence to their near-death experience, leaving Rose with nothing to show for it. And to top it all off, Ethan had found her in this sorry state.
For now, he seemed calm—or perhaps just shocked. But Rose knew her brother; she wouldn't escape this situation so easily. He'd likely keep her under close watch for days to come.
As she stripped off her clothes, her eyes fell on the bloodied gauze on the floor. "Damn it," she muttered, realizing she'd forgotten to dispose of it. Dejected, she pressed her palm to her forehead. Ethan must have seen it; she knew him too well. He would have searched the entire house, inevitably stumbling upon the gauze—a grisly sight impossible to overlook. His worry would have been overwhelming, and she knew it would soon transform into an equivalent amount of anger.
Should she just stay under the shower forever?
Dreading the impending confrontation, Rose let the hot water cascade over her, washing away the grime and stench. As the warmth soothed her aching muscles, her mind drifted to the day's events. She couldn't avoid the inevitable discussion with Ethan, but for now, she allowed herself this brief respite. Closing her eyes, she tried to gather her thoughts and prepare for the difficult conversation ahead.
What should she tell him, and what should she withhold? How could she convince him that entering the portals and gathering power was necessary? Despite the risks, it was their only path to survival in the future.
Sighing again, Rose stepped out of the shower and dried herself off. Realizing she'd forgotten to bring a change of clothes, she wrapped a towel around herself and opened the door to head to her room. To her dismay, Ethan was leaning silently against the opposite wall, his eyes fixed on her.
Oh no, the surveillance had already begun, and she couldn't even fault him for it. She'd probably have reacted the same way if their roles were reversed.
Without a word, she walked past him to her room, acutely aware of his gaze on her back. Thankfully, the towel was large enough to conceal the hideous scar from the day before. She shuddered to think how he might react if he saw it.
When she emerged in fresh clothes, he was still waiting for her, silently walking beside her to the living room. To an outsider, it might have looked like he was her bodyguard protecting her, but Rose felt more like a prisoner under watch.
When she entered the living room, Rose was surprised to see not only Andrew waiting for her, but the entire Kepler family as well—father Robert, mother Judith, their older daughter Heather, and of course, Luke. Seeing them like that, brought back uncomfortable memories, which Rose resolutely pushed to the side.
They all looked exhausted, yet Rose could sense the fury simmering beneath their composed exteriors. Only Luke was different. Though he also appeared tired, having freshened up, she noticed excitement twinkling in his eyes as he tried to sit obediently between his parents on the couch, feigning a demure expression. Andrew leaned casually against the windowsill, observing the scene, while Heather sat on a chair from their kitchen.
What were they doing here?
Rose raised an eyebrow questioningly at her brother. Before Ethan could respond, Mrs. Kepler answered Rose's unspoken query. "This boy refuses to say a word without Rose present," she chided, swatting the back of Luke's head.
"Mom! Haven't I been through enough? Can't you be nice to me?"
Instead of softening, Mrs. Kepler grew even more furious. She began striking him—his back, arms, thighs—anywhere she could reach. "And whose fault is that?!" she demanded, punctuating each word with a slap.
Rose cast a sidelong glance at her brother. His mood had visibly darkened during the time she'd taken to clean herself up. Now that the immediate danger had passed and he knew she was safe, his relief seemed to have given way to anger—anger at her for breaking her word and not listening, and anger at himself for leaving her alone. He might be even more furious than Mrs. Kepler, just that he held back - for now.
"I already said I am sorry, what else do you want me to do?" Luke lifted his arms to at least protect his face from being slapped.
Though Mrs. Kepler wasn't the strongest woman, her slaps still stung if executed properly. And right now she was too angry to curb the strength in her arm. When they returned home, the whole reality of what happened to her son hit her. The very horror they had seen on television and made them think of escaping to the countryside, was what her son had encountered. He could have lost his life, like countless others already had!