章 5: Their destination

"I am back," she closed the door and walked inside having a grin on her face. Locking inside her happiness to burst it out at the right time.

After five hours of travelling through bus and passing the heavy suffocating traffic she finally reached her parents' house which was near the Ranthore city. The five-floor old building with people of diverse places and nature. Lydia just needed to reach the third floor and she was ready to meet her parents.

She took off her scarf and her carry bag from her shoulder that she packed in a hurry after meeting Mrs. Terrie. Her nose and cheeks light pink and a little pale.

"Sis!" Nerua came out from the living room, leaning on the door leaving his body hung over it. He checked the time while staring at his wrist watch, "You came earlier then I thought. Wanna come with me to buy groceries. We are partying tonight, remember?"

Lydia leaned down putting her shoes in the shoe rack that had a place empty specially for her, another reason for her to have a sweet smile. She walked straight entering the living room while rounding her arm around his neck and pulling him in together, "Yes, I will. But before that I have some nice news."

He couldn't wait to hear it out starting to jump on guesses, "You got your contract signed!" he grinned.

The girl nodded, "But something more."

"A permanent job!" he got a little too excited and ended up getting a savage side glance.

"Not really." She slapped his back head and let out a sigh, "Nothing that big but it is still better."

Both Mr. and Mrs. Wren were outside on their respective job so Lydia only got to say the news to her brother after which he got excited with her as well but there was some doubt. Over all their conversation sitting next to each other while having hot cup of coffee, Nerua noticed that his sister has yet to tell him what was her job indeed.

And he asked without further hesitation, "So what's the work?"

"As usual. Some tit bits here and there. Nothing interesting." Lydia tried to change the topic while hiding her nervous expression to the best. She can't just tell her brother that she was going to spy on someone. That sounded illegal no matter how many times one hears it. More importantly, she was asked to keep the work within the contract a secret from everyone.

Now she can't afford to spill it out.

From his expression, Nerua didn't looked satisfied. His eyebrows were slightly creased as he gave a few moments to check out his doubtful thoughts.

"Let's go," she got up with a brimming fake smile, trying to make sure that he doesn't have much time to think it through or once his question starts to drop, she won't be able to avoid it.

"To where?" he shrugged creasing his eyebrows more as his suspicion was raising.

"Where else, to buy groceries. We are having party tonight, don't be so forgetful!" she pressed her lips, pouting childishly.

As if Nerua thought that asking about it the other day seemed better rather than waning the smile on her face glittering currently, he let it go intentionally and got up, "Heh, not possible. I am gonna eat the most meat and pork today than everyone else coming tonight. I will be enjoying the best, bet it."

Lydia chuckled at his cuteness, "If you can then I will be paying the bill for tonight."

As they went to the market buying groceries while enjoying their sweet time, what they didn't knew was the fact that something fearsome was going to change their life.

Mossberg attack!

They were saved by a passerby who left soon and now they were in the hospital getting medical help in urgent. Nerua got some minor injury and was tired because of the freight he got whereas Lydia had some bad injury on her back and shoulder which was mostly caused by stampede of the crowd.

She looked deadly tired; her heart was still racing at the thought of – what could've happened if that man wouldn't have saved her brother. Honestly, she didn't want to think of it at all but that nightmare like thoughts won't just leave her.

The hospital lobby was abuzz with activity as a diverse crowd of patients, their families, and medical staff hurriedly moved about. The scent of antiseptic lingered in the air, intermingling with the sounds of ringing phones, hushed conversations, and the occasional siren in the distance.

Aside from Lydia there was a whole lot of crowds. The lobby was fuller than ever because of the situation.

In midst came the Wren family looking all tensed and worried. Their eyes first stopped at Nerua who was getting treated on a chair since bed was allotted to critical patients. They ran immediately spreading their arms to hug him, "Ner!" his mother heaved as she cried. It was snowing outside but they were wearing far less. Worried that their kids were in danger, they didn't take notice to it and left their respective place which was far warmer due to heaters.

She carefully placed his head over her chest, putting her head over him and sobbing, "I was so worried… what would've I done if something has happened to you!" her husband drained in cold sweats over his little wrinkled face placed his hand over her head and let out a sigh after getting a nice glimpse of his son face.

He was alright and that's all he needed. But suddenly he was reminded, "Where is Lydia?" his eyes widened as he swallowed staring here and there.

Meanwhile Lydia was behind the curtain, sitting while getting her back treated and staring their relieved faces from the tiny opening of curtain as they hugged their son. It was like a pinch she felt in her heart. A rare sadness that she can't help but feel knowing that they weren't her biological parents. But she has seen far many people who treated their adopted kids like trash but she was different. They treated her as their own daughter.

Yet the thought that the same scenario might have been a little different if she has met them first in the hospital rather than Nerua made her feel envy which in turn gave her a bad feeling.

"I… I am here," she spoke behind the curtain. Mrs. Wren slowly let Nerua go and sneaked inside the curtain. She took a heavy breath as she saw Lydia injured back which has turned blue and had scratches a few places.

"Why aren't you healing her?" she creased her brows glaring the nurse putting some medicinal cream on Lydia.

Seeing that worry over Mrs. Wren face, Lydia eyes turned down in shame. It was filled with tears unknowingly. Maybe she wanted some consoling and caring words that she could never get in her previous life.

"Healers are tending to critically injured people. Don't worry, this antiseptic cream is embedded with healing power, so she will heal quicker than others," the nurse even in a situation where many were complaining to her, remained calm and replied nicely.

Yet Mrs. Wren wasn't satisfied. Her frown said otherwise. Lydia didn't want it to be a messy situation so she spoke first after wearing her t-shirt, "I will surely heal in a few days, its nothing big." She slowly started to wear her sweaters and covered her neck with a scarf. Pitiful her overcoat was torn after the fight that wasn't suitable to wear anymore, she has to keep it over her arm, "Shall we go?"

She walked out of the curtain together with Mrs. Wren who had a distress expression over her face. Soon another patient walked in. the number of people with injury was no less even though the half of the affected area soon vacated.

Nerua got up, he loosened his shoulder and let out a sigh, "Yes, let's get going."

The night was quite cold and depressing yet after a peaceful sleep it felt renewed. Like a nightmare passing by, everything was now calmed down yet a hint of pain remained.

"Leaving the room at the same time seems nicer. Now you don't have to pay the rent," Mrs. Wren spoke with a smile on her face as she packed lunchboxes for her husband and the two kids.

"Yes. I won't be paying any rent for at least three months. That's really a big relief in itself!" Lydia chuckled, her mouth slowly gulping down hot milk Mrs. Wren prepared a little earlier.

Nerua looked a bit depressed. He glanced aside at his sister, "How is your back?"

"Not bad. The medicine works better than I thought. Glad I used it again," Lydia lifted her eyebrows and took another sip. She wasn't actually going to use the medicine again since her wound heals faster than others.

She was mostly healed by now.

They would leave in half an hour toward their respective path, so Mrs. Wren needed to have a wholesome talk with them as a dosage so that they remember her teaching even she was not with them.

"Lydia, don't ever think of jumping in such a dangerous situation. I understand that you were being sympathetic toward that girl but try to think of us. Wonder what will happen if something had happened to both of you yesterday!" she sat facing the siblings in the living room.

Lydia felt ashamed after all because of her Nerua was left in danger. She really wasn't using her head at that time but still when she thinks of it, she would've felt bad if she did nothing. These emotions were really something that was hard to tackle.

"And don't think of obeying it only when you are with your brother. Also take my words as it is when you are alone," Mrs. Wren made herself clear. She has taken care of this girl after someone left her outside her house door. She brought her up and took care of her as her own child but even she as a mother of two sometimes feel that she is lacking.

Seeing Lydia depressed expression a few times in a year make her feel like she didn't do the job properly. A child she took care of from a young age, it was easy to read her expression. She can see what this girl was thinking so hard.

She calmly leaned forward and took her hand, "You really make me worried. I don't know what you might think of doing someday. Knowing you jumped in to fight that monster all on yourself… Lydia I really am afraid to let you go on your own." Her brows creased and grip tightened.

Lydia swallowed feeling burdened and guilty, "That… I won't be doing things like that again. Since I have tried once, I know there's nothing I can do anymore. Please don't worry."

Mrs. Wren let out a sigh and looked at Nerua, tightening her narrow eyes, "Do your job properly. Make sure I don't have to see you kicked out of the work just because you were lazing around."

"Why so stern to me?" Nerua whined but getting a glare from her mother, he silenced.

It wasn't long after they went back to their rented apartment where after packing up their things, they also parted their way not knowing where their future lies.

"Take care," Lydia placed her forehead over his, wrapping kindly behind his nape, "make sure to take your meal, I won't be there as a nagger for you."

Nerua chuckled. His soft chuckle mixed with sorrow couldn't be hid well, "Not like we aren't meeting again and you have your phone to nag me." He fussed with a smile.

Their conversation ended soon as they both had to reach their destination as per assigned time.

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