She looks at my face, then down my clothes, attempting to figure me out. "Wet hair?" She laughs.

My face flushes. Busted. "Be careful. You'll be ill. full moon festival is in three days." And she crumbles the plastic bags and stuffs them into a cupboard.

Surprisingly, Jessica isn't preventing me from leaving since she knows I'm heading to Hunter. Shaking my head, I exit the kitchen as generally as possible, avoiding a rapid heartbeat and nervous sweat.

I open the front door and stroll onto the porch, dressed in my winter gear.

Every step towards Hunter's cabin leaves tracks in the snow from yesterday. I draw the hood of...