Chapter 9: Hamlet
Ophelia's POV
There was tension in the air of the dining hall.
Lilac had noticed it as they walked in. Ophelia crossed through the threshold of the door and noticed it as well. It was a heavy thing, live and squirming like a snake.
"I vote we eat quickly," Ophelia suggested quietly to Lilac.
"I agree." Lilac handed a plate to Ophelia.
They picked through the line carefully, sure not to bump or jostle anyone around them. They wanted only to keep their heads down and go unnoticed.
Cricket was sat at the table already when they arrived. It wasn't often that she joined them for lunch, but it also wasn't unusual. She was picking at a salad of spring greens when the other two sat their trays down.
Ophelia took a long sip of her lemonade, quenching her thirst in the heat of the day.
"Everyone feels so weird today," Cricket noted.
"We noticed. Did something happen before we got here?" Ophelia asked.