Hilde woke up feeling full of energy after being asleep for almost ten hours. Her body was in a better shape that it felt as though she had not been in a near death situation that morning. She sat on the bed for a while to think about what to do when her phone beeped with a message.
Even without checking she could already perceive the incoming interrogation that would take place. After groaning in frustration she picked up the phone and read the message.
@Helen: {What happened? Where are you? Why is your house in such a mess}
You: {There was a thief}
@Helen: {Why did you take a sick leave then? Wait that isn't important, where are you staying?}
You: {At a hotel}
@Helen: {Why? You could just come to my place until the repairs are finished and you don't even have to skip work}
Hilde sighed surrendering, there was no way she could win this and... staying with Helen? It wasn't like she could tell Helen that the reason she can't is because some weird creatures are after her. No one would believe that, and even if Helen did she wouldn't still let her friend get dragged into all of this. The best thing was to avoid her until all this was over.
At least if she didn't say anything Helen wouldn't know where she was. The most she could do was ask Oliver and as long as he was also clueless she was definitely safe.
"Sorry but I'm not going to reply you" she said dropping her phone and standing up. She was walking towards the door before another message came in though it was too late as she was already out.
@Helen: {Why didn't you reply? Is something wrong? I'm so worried and I'm really close to calling the cops if you still don't reply now}
Edna took another quick glance towards the stairs anxiously. She seemed a bit disturbed and she kept distracting Nel who was trying to focus on the TV screen in front of him by asking the same question she had been repeating since she came back.
"Do you think she's still asleep?" she asked again and this time Nel had had enough of it.
"I don't! Why don't you go upstairs, knock at her door and ask why she's still sleeping? Isn't that better than asking someone who is definitely not interested in your frenzy?" he replied annoyingly expecting her to start lashing out at him.
However he was stunned when she didn't reply and seemed to be thinking about what he said instead. He was still puzzled by her initial reaction before she stood up suddenly and her next words almost sucked out all the air in him.
"I think you're right" she said in a very serious tone and she looked like she was actually going to climb up before a door to one of the room upstairs suddenly opened making her freeze in her tracks.
Nel also looked up and it was as if they were awaiting the appearance of their most favorite idol before suddenly the front doorbell chimed and unlocked revealing an energetic smiling minor.
Edna's attention was still focused solely on Hilde while Nel couldn't help the tension he felt at that moment knowing that the siblings had no idea about this. Well it wasn't like they could hide it forever anyway, yet he felt it would have been better if they told them. But that didn't matter anymore, it was just a matter of seconds.
"I'm back everyone...."
At that very moment time seemed to have stopped even though the only sound that could be heard was that of the ticking clock. Only Edna who was oblivious of the situation was still looking normal.
No one said anything, they just stood still frozen until Edna snapping out of her daze and spoke,
"You are awake! I was just about to check on you" she chirped happily however Hilde didn't seem to hear her as all of her attention was focused on her younger brother. That didn't sit well with Edna who misunderstood her silence as arrogance. She cleared her throat this time and wore a more serious look.
"Umm... I-I was talking to you" she said again and this time Nel tugged her sleeve. She turned to look at him annoyed but he silently shook his head and signalled towards Oliver.
"What?". She snapped angrily and was about to continue before two voices spoke at the same time.
"What are you doing....?" the rest of the sentence was left unsaid and Nel shut his eyes while taking in a deep breath.
"Do you know each other?" Edna said as she now realized the reason for the tensed atmosphere. She decided to lighten the air around them.
"I know it must be shocking for you to realize someone you know is somehow related with us and our superhuman activities. But there is nothing you need to feel worried about because whether we acknowledge it or not everyone keeps a little part of them hidden from external scrutiny. So rather than having lengthy talks or just standing while looking at yourself frozen let's just get this over with, okay?"
Nel wanted to bury himself in a hole that imstant while Edna felt proud that she had just 'cleared the awkward situation'.
The siblings still kept quiet. Oliver had million of questions in his mind already but his anxiety surpassed the guts he was trying to gather to ask them. On the other hand, Hilde thought that it was an after-effect of the long sleep and previous incident.
Someone who didn't bother with their expression continued her talk
"You know what? This is even better, we don't have to bother with the boring introduction stuff okay? Let's just get to the real deal but you're obviously tired today and since tomorrow is a weekend we can take our time. Oliver why are you still standing there aren't you going to welcome her as our new member. Where did all your manners go?" she asked irritated.
"I don't know" he simply replied still in a daze and Edna suddenly felt dizzy with the incoming headache.
He's getting more out of control
"Seriously! What type of relationship do you have for you guys to be like this?" she asked again and this time Nel answered her.
"A relationship between the moon and the stars, or light and shadow. One in which the first can't exist without the other". Edna rolled her eyes.
"She's my sister"
"Oh, so that's it.....?"
Wait, what? Sister! It took a while because Edna finally understood and she shot daggers at Nel who was already smiling nervously and scratching the back of his neck.