The Tale of Two Sisters

CHAPTER NINE

Though it was still early, Lisa already styled her hair in braided style, with red checkered T-shirt and jeans to start her day, during the weekend. She took a light breakfast to fill her energy and rushed to head out to the hospital. She had been worried sick for Lisa since the last night, although she had a nice rest, her mind still thinking about her sister.

"I do hope that they let Lisa has a visitor for today."

Penelope locked the door after finished her breakfast and went straight to the hospital. She decided to take the bus to the hospital since she did not have any transportation by herself.

And clearly, she still did not have her driving license yet.

Penelope waited for the bus on the weekend at the bus stop. Since it is the weekend, people rarely use public transport. As they are planning the day off with family or friend or with themselves, they prefer to use their own personal transportation. So, it will have more seats on the bus, and Penelope did not have to stand while waiting for the bus to reach her destination. As she is waiting, she looked around, trying to see if anything interest her. 

Just as she thought, the road is indeed quite empty on the weekend, as her neighbourhood did not have much entertainment around. Lisa had to take the cheapest place for both of them, as Lisa only have a small amount of pay wage. Hence, both of them only have a minimum room to stay in.

But still, Penelope is okay with that, as long as her sister is there with her.

As Penelope scanned around the street, she saw a bakery, with some pastries inside of it, which just got out from the oven. Though it was across the street, Penelope can smell the aroma of the fresh-baked delicacies, as it has rich aroma in it. 

Suddenly, she remembered that Lisa loves to eat any kind of pastries, as she always told Penelope that their late mother loves to make one for her. Since Penelope did not know how to make a pastry, she decided to have a quick visit to the bakery, to buy some of it for Lisa.

"Maybe, it can boost Lisa's condition and will make it faster for her to return home. Man, I can't eat my cooking anymore."

Penelope stood up and looked left and right before crossing the street, straight to the bakery. Thankfully, she still has her pocket money and did not spend it on useless things. 

As she reached the bakery, she took a look at the pastries, that had been put behind the glass's container to pick which one is the best for Lisa. Penelope took quite a long time to decide until one of the workers decided to go out and help Penelope.

"Want to choose something for a special someone?"

Penelope startled as she did not notice the girl and nodded repeatedly. The girl ushered her inside to help her choose, and Penelope agreed with it. She followed her as she pushed the door open, letting the pastries' aromas out from the inside. 

"Mmm, the smell is delicious. I bet the delicacies is even tastier than the smell!"

Penelope talked to herself, but since she did not realize that she spoke too loud, some of the workers giggled, as they found it cute. When Penelope realized that everyone is hearing, she blushed and hurried to the counter, to choose. 

"Can you pick which one of these that are the best? I want to give to my sister."

Penelope quickly talked to the person who was in charge at the counter, as she embarrassed herself. But after knowing the person behind the counter, she became even redder than before.

"Penelope? Never thought I might see you here."

"H-hi, Peter. Do you work here?"

Penelope tried to sound natural, though she was a bit stuttered at the beginning. Peter was a bit shy at first, but since he was at work, he did his best to serve Penelope.

"Ye-yeah. Do you like our recommendations? We do have a few best delicacies that the customers prefer."

Penelope nodded as she was lost at the words. Peter took the tray and tools to grab it to put on the platter. Peter asked Penelope to look it together with him in front of the glass. He wanted her opinion too, to see if she like it or not. Seeing Penelope pouted while trying to consider whether she should pick the recommendations or not, made Peter smiled. Suddenly, Penelope looked straight at Peter's face, which made him alarmed.

"By the way, what will you suggest for someone who is still in the hospital? Should she goes for the overload sugar, or just something simple?"

Penelope did not realize that Peter is staring at him, so she just looked blank when Peter flustered.

"Um, maybe we should have a combination of those two."

Penelope nodded and agreed to whatever that Peter suggested. After finished choosing for her, Peter packed the delicacies into a cute paper bag and headed to the counter for checkout. Feeling curious, Peter wanted to know why Penelope's sister in the hospital.

"So, visiting the hospital?"

Penelope, waiting for Peter to sum up the total of the pastries, answered weakly.

"Yeah, I just knew it yesterday, after I left the library earlier."

The word library suddenly made Peter anxious. He felt like he made Penelope unsettling for some reason.

"Oh, yeah, sorry about yesterday. I didn't mean to-"

"Oh, no, no! It's okay! It just, maybe I'm not on the track of my mind yesterday."

Penelope quickly assured Peter, saying that it was not his fault. She did not want things to get awkward between the two of them. After that conversation, the atmosphere became awkward again, so Peter quickly counted the price.

"It will be four dollars."

Penelope handed the money and took the pastries from Peter's hand. As the skin barely touched, they both pulled their hand quickly.

"Sorry!"

Both of them panicked, as they thought they might offend each other. As Penelope was about to leave, Peter hesitated to make his first move, but he thought for himself; It is now or never.

"Um, Penelope, do you want me to accompany you? I can get my manager to give me a short break."

Peter collected his courage to ask Penelope about this since he wanted to make the first move for quite a long time. 

However, Penelope shook her head and smiled.

"Its okay, Peter. I don't want to disturb you during your work."

"Oh, okay."

Feeling defeated, Peter gave her a half-smile and continued to stare at the counter. Penelope, who is staring at the door, turned around to Peter.

"But thanks for the offer anyway. It was sweet of you. Goodbye."

After Penelope left the shop, Peter smiled uncontrollably, like he had won something so precious while his coworkers watched him.

Penelope did not have to wait long for the bus, as the bus arrived after she reached the bus stop. 

When the bus stopped in front of her, she entered the bus.

She chose the seat next to the window, as she loved to watch outside while the bus is driving.

During the ride, Penelope's head continued to think about her sister, and never did once, the memory of Veldroid entered her mind. She did not have time for that, as she believed that, it may be her head played the trick to her, though there is evidence which debunked that.

"The locket."

Penelope suddenly said it under her breath, without she realized about it. 

Yet again, her mind still thinking about her sister, as she never been this far from her. Usually, Lisa only had a slight fever and a cough, so she used to rest in the house. 

However, if she had been rushed to the hospital, it might be a pressing problem or situation. That is what bugged Penelope since yesterday when she had the call with Evelyn.

As the ride seems like it is going to be long enough, Penelope kept staring at the windows. Though the scenery outside of the bus did not have anything special about it.

Until...

Please, help us, O' chosen one...

Penelope suddenly felt like something is calling her. She tried to look around the bus, but no one there tried to play with her, as they busy with their things.

"Weird."

Save us...

Penelope still hearing the voices, but since she did not see who was it, she turned around to look at the mirror back when...

"Argh!"

"Argh!"

She saw that again, the humanoid dragon, Veldroid, on the mirror.

"I- you!"

Veldroid looked like he was chasing the moving bus with his wings flapped. Penelope looked outside, and it realized that Veldroid is inside the mirror!

"Okay, Penelope. Remember, this is not real! You're having a daydream. None of this real."

Penelope talked to herself, though Veldroid kept waving around to grab her attention.

"Hey! Over here, look!"

Veldroid kept waving, but Penelope covered her eyes and kept mumbling, this is not real, by herself.

Finally, out of his rage, Veldroid bumped the bus, which made the bus lost control for a moment.

"Woah! Sorry, passengers! Bumpy road."

The driver assured the people inside the bus, though Penelope knew where it came from.

Penelope turned to Veldroid, finally saw him eye to eye, mad.

"Are you crazy?! You can kill us all!"

Penelope said, sharply but quietly as she yelled to the mirror. Veldroid looked annoyed, and he suddenly has that look in his eyes.

"Listen! I don't have much time! Soon, you will meet her, so be prepared!"

"Who?!"

"Black Queen."

Penelope cannot hear Veldroid when he mouthed something. When Penelope wanted to ask for it again, Veldroid disappeared totally from the mirror, turning it back to a regular mirror. 

This time, though Penelope still did not believe what just happened, her mind now is running with Veldroid's image and the word Black Queen.

"Holliday's Hospital!"

The bus's driver shouted to the station that he stopped, which Penelope's stop, made Penelope jumped and quickly ran out from the bus.

"Thank you!"

Penelope thanked the driver and quickly to the hospital. As she entered the hospital, she cannot withstand the hospital's smell, which made her almost dizzy and was about to vomit. She hurried to the counter to ask for Lisa's room.

"Oh, Lisa Griffin, and what is your relation with her?"

The nurse asked for a safety measure.

"I'm her sister, Penelope Griffin."

The nurse nodded and gave Penelope the direction to Lisa's room. Penelope thanked her and started to walk to the ward. 

As Penelope walked around, she looked around to watch people there, since she never went to the hospital before. Somehow, she felt presences, or some uneasy feelings lingered around.

"Maybe hospital's vibe, I think."

Finally, Penelope found Lisa's room and entered it.

As soon as she saw her sister, laying on the bed, she started to cry.

"Lisa..."

Penelope took a sit on the chair beside her sister's bed and watched her sister, closely.

"Is that..."

A familiar presence, who had been watching Lisa, suddenly speak up among it friends.

"Yes, the warrior. Never thought that the Queen and her eternal rival will be related."

Soon, one of the presences started to laugh.

"Hahahaha! Interesting."

The two choices,

finally, meet.