Chapter 5—Wind of the past times

"Sorry Helga, I had to choose the after school club because you didn't come yesterday but I'm sure you'll have fun at the birdwatching club! They will hike up the mountain at the back of the school to find an eagle's nest. Maybe this won't replace the sports club but they're similar things. And you write down what you've learned about the birds you see, it's kind of like a combination of literature and sports clubs"

Helga sighed. All her focus is on gathering the classroom teacher's thick-rimmed glasses shining so brightly that her eyes could not be seen. Although she wanted to join the literature club, she decided to settle for what she had, since there was no place in any club other than birdwatching.

"Oh! By the way, Helga, can you give these to the class president? Last week's assignments. Please don't forget to mention that the deadline is Friday next week"

She took a wad of paper from the table and handed it to Helga. Helga nodded and took the papers.

Helga slowly closed the door. When she arrived at the classroom, a tall girl with black hair was waiting for her at the door.

The girl looked as if she hadn't slept in days, but she spoke in a surprisingly energetic voice.

"Well, so we can't go to the same club but it's okey! We can still meet after school" she was really disappointed, she really wanted to be in the same club as her best friend, but there was nothing she could do anymore, so don't complain anymore

"What are those?" Showing the papers in Helga's hand

"Oh? Are these? The teacher gave them to me to give the class president. They were last week's homework."

"Aahh! I haven't made them yet! And I saw Merlin going up to the roof. He's there all lunchtime, so you can go and give them to him now."

"Seriously? Thank you Deidre! I'll be back before the lunch break is over, you hang out with the other girls!" Helga smiled broadly at Deidre, then turned around and ran to the roof looking for Merlin.

At The Roof

Helga pushed the door to the roof and looked around. Merlin wasn't too hard to find. He was leaning against the railing of the roof, nibbling on the toast in his hand. He turned his head when he heard Helga's footsteps. This is the first time that two pairs of deep blue eyes have met for so long, even though they have been in the same class for 4 years.

Helga looked a little embarrassed and turned her gaze to the papers in her hand.

"The teacher told me to give you these. They were last week's assignments and the deadline was Friday next week."

"Thank you... Helga" Merlin smiled so brightly that Helga was a little stunned

After A While

"Helga, are you okay? Do you have a fever? Your face is very red" Deidre was very worried about his friend. She asked her if she wanted to call her family, but Helga refused.

For the rest of the day, it was as if Helga's mind was elsewhere.

After school, at the bird watching club

"Here we are! The others must have already arrived, you go find them, I'm coming after you"

After the supervising teacher of the birdwatching club shows Helga the way, he goes back to the school to get some items to use while hiking.

Helga begins to wander around to find the others. And he hears rustling sounds coming from a bush in the distance. And then a familiar voice...

"Oh hi Helga! Are you in the bird watching club?"

"Oh hi, Merlin... What are you doing in that bush?"

She looks at Merlin who sitting in the bush on the ground. Merlin is holding something between his two hands.

"What is it?"

"Oh is that? This is a merlin that must have fallen out of it's nest. It's still a baby, so I don't think it can fly. But it was not injured. I found it in the bush."

Merlin slowly spreads his hands and points to the bird.

"Merlin holding a merlin..."

Helga looks at Merlin and chuckles.

"Hey! It's not funny! I'm going to put it back in it's nest , can you help me?"

"Sure!"

Helga and Merlin put the bird back in its nest and go in search of the other club members.

By the time Merlin and Helga found the rest of the group, the supervisor teacher had already arrived. After a slight period of reluctance, they started hiking.

After a long walk and a few breaks, they managed to find an eagle's nest.

"They're so cute!"

Helga nudged Merlin as the baby eagles looked through binoculars

"Yea... They are..."

Merlin looked at Helga, who was looking at the eagles, and smiled.

They ate something before return home. Helga walked with Merlin to the subway station. They boarded the subway together and talked until Helga's stop arrived, she said goodbye to Merlin and got off.

"It was tiring, but it was good... Although it can be difficult to do such events 2 times a month." Helga thought.

She arrived at her old and small stone house in a field in the countryside and knocked on the door. She waited for the door to open, but no one opened it.

"Mom?.. Dad?.. Brother?.."

She waited a little longer, but no one answered the door.

"Maybe they've gone somewhere..."

So she dug up the bottom of the pots in the garden, grabbed the spare key and opened the door

... That might have been the worst decision she'd ever made. There was a strong smell of blood coming from inside. It was so intense that Helga wanted to vomit.

Then she heard the sound of heavy footsteps as if he were a cripple, and the voice of a very familiar person.

"Oh... Hi, Sis.... I didn't expect you to arrive so soon."

He was giggling, the sarcasm in his voice was very unsettling. It was so uncomfortable that it felt to pricking into Helga's flesh.

Then she saw her brother's face. Although she didn't notice it at first, she noticed it when she looked down. Although her brother was strangely clean, he left bloody footprints where he stepped.

"What have you done Marcus?"

She asked in shock, her voice was shaking.

"Nothing... I just got rid of a few... Bugs?"

Helga was breathing hard. It was as if someone had sucked all the oxygen out of the air.

"Don't worry, sister... Everything is fine."

His smile was so soft and bright but her eyes was cold as ice.

He locked his eyes on Helga for a while, but after a while, as if nothing had happened, he went back into the living room and called out to Helga from there.

"Helga... Are you hungry?... I cooked."

Even as Helga stood in the doorway, she could hear his mocking giggle very clearly.

"This will be the best 'family' meal, we had"