Shadows of Cypress Lake

The air in your room feels heavy as you wake up, the lingering grogginess of a drugged sleep still clinging to you. Last night's events flash through your mind – the party, the strange guy, the wolfbane, and the agonizing transformation. You look down at your hands, then around the familiar room, trying to reconcile the ordinary with the extraordinary.

A soft knock on the door precedes your grandmother, Blanche, entering. Her expression is calm, but her eyes hold a depth you haven't seen before.

"Morning Kiki, it's time for breakfast."

Her words are normal, but everything feels different now. You roll out of bed, your muscles still sore from the night's ordeal, and head to the bathroom. The reflection in the mirror is your own, but the knowledge of what lies beneath the surface has irrevocably changed how you see yourself.

Downstairs, the smell of pancakes fills the air. Jade is already at the table, digging in. Your grandfather, Arthur, is reading the newspaper, and Blanche is eating berries. It's a picture of domestic tranquility, a stark contrast to the chaos of last night and the secrets that have now been revealed.

"So Jade and I were wondering if you'll let us go to a party tonight."

Jade's words hang in the air, a reminder of the world you just discovered.