GOLDEN BLOOD

Chapter IX. Worried Grandparents.

Ben stepped off the train, feeling the slight chill of the wind outside, but as he glanced back, he noticed Thea wasn't following behind him. Frowning, he turned, expecting to see her right there after a while. But there was no sign of his younger sister. Benjamin confused, went back to where their compartment was, expecting his sister to be packing her sweets or trying to get Nemo out of the compartment but what he was about to see was way worse than his thoughts. The temperature dropped as he got closer, something wasn't right.

A knot of unease tightened in his chest. He hurried back down the narrow aisle and pushed the compartment door open.

Thea was still there, lying on her seat, her hand turning purple from the cold. Her face was pale, her eyes wide and glassy, as if she was seeing something far beyond the cramped space of the train. Beads of cold sweat clung to her skin, and her lips quivered as if trying to speak, but no words came out. She seemed to be locked in place, paralyzed by something he couldn't see.

"Hey!" he called, stepping forward, grabbing her shoulders, shaking her lightly. "What's wrong?"

Her body was icy to the touch. He pulled her hand and it was only then that she seemed to blink, shuddering, gasping as if she had just come up for air after being submerged in freezing water.

"I... I couldn't move," she whispered, her voice shaky and weak. "Something... someone..."

She tried standing up but her legs gave out beneath her, and he had to catch her, holding her upright as she stumbled forward. He didn't understand what had happened, but the panic in her eyes was unmistakable.

"We need to get off this train, Grampa Ed and Grandma will know what to do..." he said, more forcefully this time, guiding her toward the exit. Her feet dragged, but he held onto her tightly, the cold sweat still dripping from her forehead. As they finally stepped out onto the platform, looking at all directions trying to find their grandparents.

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At King's Cross Station, their grandparents were waiting in the usual bustle of people hurrying to and from somewhere surrounding them, they stood patiently near the platform, scanning the crowd. Her younger sister bounced on the balls of her feet, excited to see them.

"There they are!" her sister squealed, pointing at the figures coming through the station doors. But her excitement quickly faded as she noticed something wasn't right.

Her older brother was practically carrying her sister, who looked pale as a ghost, her eyes unfocused, her hair sticking to her forehead with cold sweat. She was trembling, her body slumped against him as if she had no strength left to walk on her own.

Their grandparents, who had been chatting quietly, immediately straightened, concern washing over their faces.

"Oh, Merlin's beard," her grandmother gasped, rushing forward. "What happened?"

Her brother's face was tense, his jaw clenched. "I don't know. Something happened on the train. She just froze up, like she saw something..."

Their grandfather stepped in, taking her free arm and helping her brother ease her onto one of the nearby benches. "She's cold as ice!" he said, alarmed, rubbing her hands between his own as if trying to bring warmth back into her body.

The younger sister looked anxiously beside them, her excitement now turned to fear. "Is sissy okay?" she asked, her voice small. "What's happened with her?"

The grandmother crouched in front of the girl, brushing a strand of damp hair from her face. "Sweetheart, can you hear me? You're alright now."

Her eyes finally fluttered, as if her senses were slowly returning, but she was still shaking, her breathing shallow. She looked at her grandmother, her voice barely audible. "It... it was so cold... something... spoke to me..."

Her grandmother's face turned grim, exchanging a worried glance with her husband, but she quickly masked it with a soothing smile. "It's alright now, dear. You're with us. Just breathe."

Her grandfather, always the calm one, patted her shoulder. "We'll get you home, and you'll be warm in no time. I'll make some hot chocolate for everyone." But his furrowed brow showed he, too, was deeply troubled by what had happened.

Her younger sister stood by quietly, eyes wide, not understanding what had just happened, but knowing that something bad had shaken her sister to her core.

Thea remembered something that was long forgotten at the way back of her mind, a memory that should have never came back. This was going to happen again, she was sure about that.