Chapter 0202 Hannah The sudden downpour of rain caught everyone, myself and Noah included, off guard. Gasping, I stumbled backwards beneath the onslaught of cold water, my mouth hanging open. Even Noahâs eyes went wide as he took in the scene around us, his hair already plastered to his head.
Within seconds, the festival grounds had gone from a peaceful celebration to a chaotic mess of people rushing to save decorations, food, and-mostly-themselves from the unexpected downpour.
Noah and I needed to move quickly if we were going to save the festival from certain disaster.
âWe need to move everythin c!â Noah shouted over the deafening cacophony of rain and panicked voices. âHannah, help me direct the vendors!â
I nodded, already soaked to the bone-having utterly forgotten what we were just talking about moments prior. âOn it!â
Noah and I split up, each taking a side of the festival grounds. I ran from booth to booth, urging vendors to pack up their wares and head for the dance hall inside the mansion.
âLeave anything that canât be saved!â I cried out, my voice nearly lost in the rain. âJust grab what you can and go!â
The rain was coming down in sheets now, making it hard to see more than a few feet ahead. I slipped and slid through the mud, my ceremonial robes clinging to my skin, but I didnât pull my focus away from the task at hand.
However, as I rounded a corner, a group of people rushing past knocked into me. I lost my footing and fell hard, landing face-first in a puddle with a grunt.
âLuna Hannah!â someone gasped. âAre you alright?â
I pushed myself up, spitting out muddy water and wiping it from my eyes. Thankfully, I hadnât hurt myself. â Iâm fine,â I assured them, waving them on. âGo, get inside!â
As I started to stand, something in the mud caught my eye. I reached down and pulled it out, recognizing the soaked cloth bundle immediately. It was Noahâs offering from the ceremony.
For a moment, I hesitated. It wasnât my place to take it, and it wasnât my responsibility, but I couldnât just leave it here in the mud.
Making a split-second decision, I tucked the bundle into my pocket and hurried toward the throng of people sprinting toward the mansion.
Inside, the atmosphere was chaotic but a bit less frantic. People were shaking out umbrellas, wringing water from their clothes, and vendors were setting up impromptu stalls wherever they could find space in the large dance hall.
I spotted Noah across the room, directing servants and barking orders. âPut the food tables over there!â he was saying, his voice echoing loudly through the vaulted ceilings. âAnd make sure we have enough towels for everyone!â
As I made my way toward him, thumbing his offering in my pocket, a delicate hand suddenly whipped out from the crowd and grabbed my arm. I turned to find Zoe, her usually perfect blonde hair plastered to her 1/2 +25 BONUS Chapter 0202 forehead and her mascara smudged around her eyes.
âSome festival, huh?â she said, wiping water from her face with a small towel.
I forced a smile. âWe couldnât have predicted this. At least everyoneâs safe inside now, and the festival can go on.â
Zoe paused, wiping her face one last time. When she moved the towel away, I saw that her eyes were a bit narrowed, glinting with something I couldnât quite read. âMaybe we should have seen it coming. A freak storm on the day of the Lunar Festival?
Seems like more than just bad luck to me, donât you agree?â
âIâm not sure if I follow,â I replied slowly, despite the fact that there was a small knot beginning to form in the pit of my stomach for reasons I couldnât quite place my finger on.
âIâm saying...â Zoe leaned in c That maybe the Moon Goddess is trying to tell us something. Maybe sheâs angry.â
and lowered her voice as though she didnât want to be overheard. â...