CHAPTER NINETY NINE - THE SILENT TREATMENT

The crisp autumn air sent a shiver down Karina's spine as she scrubbed the marble floor with a vengeance. Each stroke of the cloth was imbued with a silent fury, a frustration that had festered within her all night. The image of John and Zaya, their bodies entangled after their transformation session, played on a loop in her mind, fueling her anger. Ignoring the sharp sting in her knees from kneeling for so long, she continued her assault on the already spotless floor. The echoing thwack of the wet cloth against the stone became a monotonous rhythm, a counterpoint to the storm brewing within her. "You're going to wear a hole through that floor, Karina," a familiar voice drawled. Karina looked up to see Zaya leaning against the doorway, a knowing smile playing on her lips. Her usual carefree demeanor felt like a mockery in the face of Karina's turmoil. Ignoring Zaya's comment, Karina stood up abruptly, her muscles protesting at the sudden movement. Without a word, she grabbed anot