It's been a while since Hilda left her house, she wondered if her mother found her empty with no daughter in it, and throwing a huge fit that her daughter had broken the rules. But Hilda didn't really worry about it too much, because she had things to be done. To meet up with whoever this was and go home. Hilda then looked up and saw she had arrived at the city public library. Walking up the solid steps, Hilda reached the front doors and saw a piece of paper taped on the front doors. Hilda walked to the doors and read the paper on the door.
GO TO THE SECRET ROOM
Hilda just looked at the paper for a second, blinked, and then just yanked the paper off the door and crumbled it, now knowing where to go. Hilda then walked into the library and shut the doors, entering the darkened library. Before she could walk anywhere else, Hilda couldn't help but think for a moment on how the doors where unlocked when they shouldn't be, but figured it may be the person who wrote the note, and they just wanted to talk. Hilda walked across the library to the stairs, climbed them, and walked to the secret bookcase.
Opening it, Hilda peeked through and was stunned by who she saw down in the secret room. There was Kaisa, of course, but also David and Frida for some reason. And...her mum? Hilda opened the door completely and closed it behind her, making sounds that made everyone look up and saw Hilda enter. Johanna looked up and saw her daughter looking down at them from the top of the stairs with a confused look, with bags under her eyes.
Hilda: Mum?!
Johanna: Hello, Hilda.
Hilda: Wait. David? Frida? Kaisa?!
David: Hello, Hilda.
Frida: Hi.
Hilda: Wha?
Hilda just rubbed her eyes for a second, thinking this was all in her head, and looked back to see them still. This wasn't her imagination or a dream, but reality. Hilda walked down the steps and Just at the edge of the circle her friends and mum had made. Johanna looked at Hilda and saw the bags under her eyes and she looked so scared. Kaisa looked at Hilda and made a straight face, hoping to help her with what's wrong. Frida and David were also there for support and were ready to help their friend.
Hilda: Wait. What's going on? Why are you all here? And why did you all call me here?
Johanna: Well, Hilda, it seems like you're not doing so good.
David: Yeah, you seem to be ignoring us and you seem to have trouble sleeping.
Frida: But we're you're friends and family, you don't need to be afraid of us.
Kaisa: So, we wanted to ask you what was wrong?
Hilda's eyes just widen and looked at her friends and mother with disbelief. This is way they brought her around 7 at night? Just to ask her what's going on?! Everyone just looked at her with worried faces while they kept their composure in check. Johanna was the most worried, she's noticed Hilda's behavior since she told about family night and doesn't know what's wrong. But Kaisa messaged her and said that she can help find out what's up with Hilda, so she went along with it.
Hilda: Guys! Nothing is wrong with me! Really! Stop worrying about me and stop asking me if anything is wrong! Nothing is wrong and nothing ever is! So, stop pestering me!
Hilda stopped talking and looked at everyone with a stern, but also a anxious face, hoping what she said is a enough to convince them. Everyone just looked at Hilda with worried faces before they looked down in defeat. Hilda kinda felt sorry for them by it.
Kaisa: Well, okay. Does everyone want a drink?
David: Sure! I mean, yes! I mean...
David looked down with a red face of embarrassment while everyone just looked at him with faces of fondness, especially Kaisa. The librarian then got up and walked over to the desk, where a pot of tea and some cups stood. Kaisa filled the right cups one by one, and took out a vile from her pocket, a vile of a strange potion. Kaisa then powered the whole potion into a tea cup with tea in it, before putting the empty vile back into her skirt pocket.
Kaisa then used her magic and the cups floated off the desk with ease and went to everyone, and Kaisa made sure that Hilda got the tea with the potion. Kaisa then just took her tea and walked back to the others, sitting down with them in the circle and held the tea cup with both hands.
Johanna: Thank you, Kaisa.
Kaisa: Yep.
Everyone then looked at each other and then took a sip of their teas, drinking good sips. Hilda took a huge sip from her tea and felt like it tasted like good morning tea she'd drink, considering how tried she was.
Hilda: Hey, this tea is really good.
Kaisa: Thank you.
For a moment, there was a moment of silence and not a word was said among them. Hilda just drank her tea and felt it's taste on her tongue. But something was off, Hilda felt something inside her, something inside that made her feel different? Different like she felt telling everyone something.
Kaisa: So, Hilda? Is anything wrong?
Hilda: Well...Yes. There is something.
Everyone looked at Hilda with shocked faces and listened carefully. What Kaisa had put in Hilda's tea cup was a potion, a truth potion, a potion that can make people tell the truth from a single drop. Everyone looked at Hilda with concerned faces while Johanna scooted closer and placed her hand on Hilda's for comfort, ready to ask her the hard questions.
Johanna: What's wrong baby? Why do you feel so sad?
Hilda: Because...because I'll have to miss the Festival of Lights. It's on the same night where you planned family night, and I don't wanna disappoint you mum, or a make a huge mess that could to something bad like the mountain king fiasco.
Johanna: Wait? What?!
Johanna just looked at her daughter with disbelief, but also confusion because she had no clue what Hilda was talking about. Everyone else just looked at Johanna and saw her face of confusion, thinking it was reasonable. Johanna should know. Frida cleared her throat, getting Johanna's attention, and explained it.
Frida: Uh, the funny thing about that is...I'm actually training to be a witch, and Hilda is my familiar.
Johanna: What? Really? Hilda never said that.
Kaisa: Well, it's not she was lying, Hilda just thought you needed to know.
Johanna: Well, what's the Festival of Lights?
Frida: It's a special event for witches where they can have their bonds with their familiars strength. But it's also their only chance, because if they miss it then they'll never get another chance like this ever again.
Johanna just looked at Frida and took in everything she said. Hilda had said she was upset on missing the festival to become a full familiar of Frida because Johanna had planned a special night. But Hilda didn't want to make a mess of things like last time. That's when it hit Johanna like a brick, she realized the truth. Johanna wanted to be happy with her friends, but she's chosen the one chance of being a familiar over a picnic and board game. Johanna would be at first angry, but instead she was sad, sad that her daughter is messing out on an important occasion for he friend.
Hilda: Well, it doesn't matter...I'm just a pathetic human anyway...
Everyone then turned back to Hilda, hearing what else she had to say. Then Hilda began to smile and made wide eyes, like Hilda was trying to pretend to be okay, but was suffering greatly inside.
Hilda: Really. I'm pathetic. I'm just a brat that crawled out some nightmare to bring bad chaos in the world. I don't deserve freedom or any of you special guys in my life. But I deserve the worse...it's why I've been whipping myself...
Hilda then turned to her arm, rolled up her sweater sleeve, and revealed everyone her mark, making them all gasp in horror. There was scratches and lashing marks on the wrist of her arm, and the scars were already turning black because Hilda hasn't given it medicine. But Hilda then rolled down her sleeve and shifted around, then rolled up the back of her sweater and revealed even more black scars up her back from whipping herself. Everyone just gasped in horror while Johanna covered her mouth in horror. Johanna was in deep shock that her caring baby was in deep pain. Then Hilda lowered her sweater and shifted back at everyone, showing her fake smile and worried eyes. But Hilda didn't stop, the truth potion had more to be done.
Hilda: But...if I had to choose...from all the pressure and stress of my faults...I would be ending my life...
everyone then became pale as they seen a ghost, but the ghost was the words that came out of Hilda's mouth. They all just looked at Hilda in disbelief, disbelieving that Hilda would actually take her own life out of madness and grief. This wasn't what Johanna wanted at all. All everyone could do was just look at Hilda with deep fear of the thought of Hilda committing suicide. David was making his scared face, Frida was looking at Hilda with her hands shaking, Kaisa just looked at her with shock, and Johanna just looked at Hilda with her mouth covered and trails of tears streaming down her face.
David: Hilda...what are you...
Frida: Hilda, don't say that...
Kaisa: It's not true...
Johanna: Sweetheart...baby...
Johanna reached her arm out to Hilda and tried to touch her cheek, but Hilda then got onto her feet and Johanna failed to reach her. Hilda's face the fell, becoming very sad as everything came crashing down on her. Suddenly Hilda began to whimper in cry as she walked past everyone towards the desk in the secret room. Everyone watched with faces of fear as Hilda opened the bottom drawer and pulled out something that sent shivers down everyone's spines. It was a Smith & Wesson 44 magnum. A revolver. The gun belonged to Kaisa, she secretly showed the kids a while back and Hilda had remembered where Kaisa hid it.
Hilda: Oh...bother...I dont deserve to live...
Hilda then checked the gun and saw one bullet left inside the chamber with eyes filled with tears. Hilda then cocked the gun, and to everyone's shock, held it up against her head. Everyone then became terrified and Hilda placed her index finger on the trigger.
Johanna: NOOO!!!
But in flash Johanna jumped up onto her feet and rushed to Hilda, grabbing the gun from her hand and aimed it to the ceiling, as it fired and the sound of the gunshot echoed in the library. Frida, David, and Kaisa just covered their ears from the sound of the gunshot and looked upon Hilda, seeing her still living and breathing. Hilda just allowed the gun be removed from her hand and looked at her mum, seeing her very scared with tears pouring down her cheeks, holding the gun in her hand tightly. Hilda had almost killed herself.
Hilda then looked up at everyone and saw them looking at her with horrified faces from what Hilda was just about to do. Hilda just looked at them with wide eyes of realization on how she scared them, before she sniffles and tears ran down her cheeks. But then suddenly, Hilda felt something inside become different. It was that same feeling Hilda felt before she drank the tea. The truth potion had worn off completely. But Hilda could say or do a thing, she felt herself grow incredibly dizzy, and she then felt herself loose balance as she fell to the floor as she felt herself being knocked out.
Frida: HILDA!!!
To Be Continued