The next morning, Nalsy was being discharged from the hospital, so Edmund went to meet her.
As he came into the room, he felt his emotions intensify, so he decided to stand against the wall in the furthest corner. He tried his best to distract himself, but as much as he tried to study the medical equipment, his gaze kept falling back onto Nalsy.
He wasn't sure what it was, but he couldn't stop himself from glancing in her direction, still wondering about what he witnessed days earlier.
Nalsy was sat up on the bed. As he entered the room, she briefly looked up at him and then shifted her focus back to the book open across her lap.
She seemed very engrossed in the story. Nalsy also was trying her best to distract herself, but more so from the flashbacks than Edmund's presence.
Her face was still puffy, hiding her features. Her skin was covered in many bruises. Her hair was messily falling back over her shoulders. Her brown eyes quickly followed the words in the book.
She had stitches on her brow hidden under the plaster, a plaster across the cut on her neck, a cast on her left arm, a brace on her right hand, and another on her right foot.
She still wore a burgundy jumper that was now scratched and stained.
The atmosphere in the room became denser, and the silence became suffocating. Nalsy couldn't keep ignoring Edmund, and Edmund couldn't ignore her.
"What time is it?" Nalsy gave in first and decided on a small talk. She looked up at Edmund with a faint smile. Edmund didn't reciprocate a smile. On the contrary, he frowned at her.
"It's 2 p.m.", he replied while looking at her coldly.
"Then why is it dark outside?" Nalsy ignored his mood. She moved her eyes from him onto the window in front of her bed.
"It's always dark in here. Unlike on Earth, this place doesn't have day and night." Edmund answered, repositioning himself against the wall. Nalsy looked confused. "It's due to the curse," Edmund added thoughtfully, but instead of easing Nalsy's confusion, Nalsy raised her eyebrows with a look of disbelief.
"Do you think it's funny?" Nalsy asked as she thought that Edmund was teasing her.
"There's a teleportation point in the forest. We travelled here through space. We are no longer on Earth," Edmund tried to explain, but his serious tone made Nalsy laugh. "I'm serious," he added with annoyance.
"Okay," she stopped laughing and grinned. She didn't believe a word of what he said. They both went silent again and avoided any eye contact as Nalsy returned to reading her book.
Soon the doctor showed up, giving Nalsy some paperwork to sign and a bag of medication to aid her recovery.
As soon as the doctor disappeared, with visible difficulty, Nalsy stood up, packed her bag, and started to walk towards the exit. Edmund sighed with resignation and followed her out.
"Ready? Let's go then" Edmund came up to her when they've reached the main entrance of the hospital.
"Where to?" Nalsy stopped and looked back at him with a surprise.
"Her majesty asked me to take care of you. You're coming with me," Edmund said as if it was common knowledge.
"I don't want to," Nalsy said sternly, standing still.
"I don't care," Edmund stated with a furrowed brow.
"If you don't care, then I'm sure you will not care if I don't come with you" Nalsy limped past him and started heading towards the city's main square. She was trying to think of the best way of finding her way home, deciding that surely someone in the city centre could direct her towards a bus or a train station where she could ask at the information desk.
"I'll carry you if I have to," Edmund said in a threatening tone. Nalsy froze. She slowly turned around and looked back at him.
"You wouldn't." She said confidently.
"Wanna bet?" Edmund challenged her. Nalsy put her hands in the fists. She was getting angry. She didn't want to go with him, but also, she was unsure of where she was, and the woman yesterday said that they'd take care of her until she was safe to return home.
Nalsy was deep in thought for a couple of moments.
"I can walk myself," she said in a defeated tone after careful consideration. Edmund smirked as if he won and started walking. Nalsy started limping beside him. "Where are we going? Where are you taking me?"
"As we don't know for sure why the Darks targeted you, we think it'll be wisest if I acted as your protector. You can stay at my home for now." Edmund explained in a calmer tone.
"Oh." Nalsy was surprised at this, but she had already started to feel dizzy. She didn't have the energy to argue against that decision, even if the perspective of staying in Edmund's home was uncomfortable at best. Nalsy started to feel worse and worse, but she wouldn't admit the struggle. It did reflect on the speed at which she could walk. Edmund was silent and patiently matched her pace. He observed her through the corner of his eye. His emotions towards her at rated easing off, and he found her stern look funny. Without a word, Edmund offered her his arm for support. Nalsy looked up at him with raised eyebrows, but she was quick to shake her head in refusal.
Edmund smirked at her childish behaviour, not realising that he often behaved in an equally stubborn way.
As they've reached the busy city square, Nalsy was surprised to see how busy it was with a Moon shining in the sky.
She also noticed that people kept moving out of her and Edmund's way, staring at them. Nalsy felt insecure, as she felt that it was her current state and looks that repelled the crowds away. She looked down shyly and focused on her steps on the cobblestone pavement.
Nalsy breathed a sigh of relief once they've turned into the back streets, which were much quieter.