Chapter 14: 14. Nellie's Decision
Nellie exclaimed:
"Who is it?"
The idea that the two "detectives" had found them flashed through the girl's mind. She instinctively scanned the room, focusing on an axe showcased in a glass cabinet.
"Rebecca? Nellie? Jimmy? Hewitt? Are you guys there?" A familiar male voice came from outside.
A flicker of light returned to the hollow eyes of the woman sitting in the wicker chair.
Jimmy was the first to spin around and head for the door.
As waves of elation washed over Nellie, something dawned on her and she pulled Jimmy back:
"Wait!"
Annoyance flashed across Jimmy's face:
"What are you doing?"
Nellie held on to her calm amidst the overwhelming joy:
"What if this is a trap set by the villains, or if they somehow managed to impersonate our father? What's worse, what if they have captured father and found some way to control him?"
The boy turned to his mother, hoping for her support.
Rebecca stayed quiet for a moment. To their surprise, she didn't insist on Nellie opening the door immediately:
"Your sister is right; I cannot afford to lose any more family members."
The man outside also spoke:
"Nellie is doing the right thing. Jimmy, how many times have I told you to learn from your sister?"
Upon hearing his father's words, Jimmy, somewhat ashamed, dropped his gaze:
"I'm sorry, Dad."
Nellie stood by the door knowing it was the only thing separating her from her father, her emotions nearly getting the best of her.
"Let me." Rebecca stood beside her daughter, exhaustion etched into her features, but hope sparked in her eyes.
"Where did we first meet?"
There was no hesitation in the man's response:
"If you're talking about the first time we met face to face, it was outside your father's garden. I was just a stupid lad and I stuttered every word I spoke to you, I remember my face being completely flushed just looking at you."
Rebecca stayed quiet.
Ogden continued his recollection:
"Even earlier than that, do you remember when you were hunting with the count and I was part of the hunting party? The first time I saw you, I made up my mind to marry you."
Nellie and Jimmy turned to their mother. Rebecca choked on her emotions, tears running down her face, she sobbed:
"It's him, it's him, it's your father, he is alive."
Nellie patted her mother's back, taking up the interrogation:
"How did you escape from him, he didn't use any strange abilities, did he?"
This time, Ogden stayed silent for a few seconds before he replied:
"Rebecca, they first captured me after knocking me out but then they encountered a strange creature and got into a fight. I took advantage of the chaos and managed to slip away."
Jimmy quickly asked:
"Strange creature? What did it look like?"
"It seemed to be a white-skinned humanoid with sharp claws. That creature easily defeated the two detectives. Fortunately, it showed no interest in me, which gave me a chance to escape."
Jimmy laughed out and exclaimed:
"I've seen that creature, and so has Hewitt! That creature is real! Everything he said is true, Nellie, quickly open the door."
Rebecca, too, looked at her daughter.
Nellie hesitated. She took one final look at Hela who didn't seem to object and gently opened the door.
Standing outside the door was a disheveled Ogden.
Rebecca threw herself into her husband's arms, hugging him tightly.
Ogden gently patted her back, reassured:
"It's okay, it's okay, I'm here now."
Jimmy took advantage of their moment to approach his sister, whispering:
"Sorry, I was a bit…"
Nellie shook her head, smiling:
"It's alright, I understand."
Was Nellie not angry? Of course, she was.
But in the end, if she hadn't remained calm and decided to nitpick with her family, how could they have stayed calm?
Moreover, now that their father has returned, everything is back on track. They'll soon regain their peaceful and happy life; all they need now is for Hewitt to return.
Ogden said:
"I want to go to Worton."
Everyone turned to stare at him.
Ogden held Rebecca, explaining:
"After everything that's happened, this place only brings Rebecca pain. Besides, Nellie is supposed to go to Worton for university anyway; we could switch locations and lay low,"
Nellie didn't voice any concerns:
"Of course, once this is over, we can start for Worton."
Ogden rejected:
"No, we leave now."
Everyone looked at him with shock.
Ogden said:
"It seems their target is that monster; they are currently at a disadvantage, so they won't have time for us. Now is the best time to leave, they would never expect us to leave Dawnshire Town."
Nellie looked troubled:
"But… but Hewitt went out looking for you and he's not back yet. What if he can't find us if we leave like this?"
Ogden gazed at his daughter, hinting:
"You guys are my family, and he doesn't need our concern. We can just leave him a note. Besides, isn't Hela staying here as well?"
"So we just leave this minor girl here on her own?"
"Isn't it safe here? If you can't accept it, we can take her with us for now."
Hela chimed in:
"I'm not going anywhere. I'll wait for Hewitt here."
Again, Ogden looked at his daughter:
"What do you think? I know Hewitt means a lot to you, but think about your brother and mother."
Jimmy suddenly suggested:
"If she is worried about Hewitt, she can stay first. If she leaves right now, she will regret it for the rest of her life."
Nellie was surprised that Jimmy had said exactly what she was thinking, but she shook her head nonetheless:
"We can wait for Hewitt to return; he can escort us out of here."
Ogden begrudgingly said:
"Well, seems like I'll have to resort to force."
With that, the man advanced towards Nellie, preparing to knock her out, but Hela stepped between them, stopping him:
"You can't fight, Hewitt wouldn't want that."
Ogden chuckled:
"I generally do not resort to physical force with children, but this is about my family, so I'm afraid you'll have to take a break."
As Ogden reached out to shove Hela aside, Nellie spoke:
"Wait, Ogden, I'll go with you, but you have to answer a few questions."
Ogden agreed:
"Alright."
"You're just an ordinary human, and you don't have any magical items, right?"
"Of course not, I wouldn't hide anything from you."
"Do you like Hela?"
"Hela, she's indeed a lovely girl. Although I don't dislike her, I certainly can't say I like her."
Nellie's expression darkened:
"Nobody dislikes Hela, and you said it earlier, it's safe here, but how do you know it's safe here, and if it's so safe, why do you want to leave?
"Are you really my father?"
Gifts
-- Gift
received Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone