Clementine:
Now everybody was watching my face, waiting for the announcement I was about to make. I took a deep breath, avoiding Joshua and Jack’s harsh glares. They kept trying to make eye contact, reminding me of what Joshua told me not to share about last night.
"Last night, when Joshua, Jack, and I were awake for the round, we heard something." I inhaled deeply, exhaling as everyone watched closely. "It was a monster, an unknown one." I tried to clear my throat before I got too distracted by Yash speaking up.
"And are we surprised that there are monsters in the North?" he said. But as soon as he spoke, I noticed my squadmates glaring at him.
"I’m just saying, there are monsters, so what? We all know those ostrich looking things are everywhere here," he continued, making it clear he had no idea what kind of danger we were talking about.
"Well, it wasn’t a fleshmingo," I replied sharply, just to shut him up.
"Oh," Yash grunted. Now he was paying attention too, because everyone wanted to know what kind of monsters we were up against.
"It was something completely different. We didn’t get to see it, but we noticed it climbing up the rooftop. It was powerful, but not in a way I can explain. It tried to—" I stumbled a bit. "It hit the window. It was loud. But the windows didn’t break." I pointed upward, and my squadmates exchanged glances. Ian was listening carefully.
"Then maybe its tail was weak," Suki suggested.
I shook my head. "No, no, no. All I’m saying is this mansion is special. The way it closes up after we open it, it feels like one of the headquarters. You know how in games there are safe spots, where you can save your game? Maybe like that, but not exactly." I muttered, realizing I was losing everyone’s attention.
"Now, back to the monster." As soon as I said that, they looked attentive again.
"So you didn’t see anything. Then how are we going to know what we’re up against?" Jessie asked.
Looking at her reminded me of her sister, and I knew I had to tell her.
"Actually, there was something else. Last night, when the monster was on the rooftop, somebody knocked on the door. And that somebody called your name. It was Valerie." I whispered, my voice lowering as I watched her eyes widen twice their size.
That was all I said when I noticed Joshua dropping his hands in exhaustion, and then Jack shared the same reaction. Jessie seemed intrigued but also worried.
"Wait, it was my sister?" She pointed at her chest, looking around to confirm with Joshua and Jack. They only shrugged, showing they didn’t want to be involved.
"It was," I said, and I caught the smile on her face.
"Wait, did you guys not open the door for her?" It suddenly struck her.
I shook my head quickly. "No, no, no. By the time we reached the door, we heard a scream and the monster attack." I shut up when I saw how wide her eyes grew.
"Then Jack saw your sister survive and get away from the door," I added quickly, before she thought her sister had died.
She turned to Jack, who now had to respond.
"It is true. She was fine. She ran away," he said.
I watched Jessie let out a deep breath before straightening her shoulders again. "I need to go and find her."

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