Area 51

Passing Through

Helena didn't find herself wanting to stay inside for very long. She went into the kitchen to where Merlin was making himself a cup of black coffee, so that he'd at least know where she was. Though he thought she didn't, Helena noticed how worried he always seemed about her. And she didn't like when he worried.

After getting his okay, she went back outside to watch the clouds again. He insisted she put on her shoes, so she had. Helena grabbed onto a branch, and pulled herself up onto the lowest branch and began to climb until she was able to place her foot on the roof.

It only took a minute to situate herself so she could sit and watch the clouds. The roof only sloped slightly, so it was mostly flat anyway. Merlin and Salazar were the only ones who knew she went up there. If Guinny knew, she would try and imitate her, and get herself hurt, and if their mother knew, she would forbid her from ever doing so again. She was up there for a while, just watching the clouds go by.

One looked like an old man in a rocking chair, another looked like and elephant and a dog chasing a ball. Another looked like woman's face. She was brought out of her trance at looking at the sky by a rustling in the bushes by the house.

"Hey! Helena!" This time, Helena recognized the voice as Merlin's. She moved carefully towards the tree, grabbing a branch, and working  her way down to the tree.

"What did she say?" Helena asked, hoping the answer was yes.

"She said I could take you. She even gave me some money to take you. She said she was going to give it to Zar, but decided there was no way to make you forgive him. Do you have your bus pass?"

"Yeah. It's in my pocket," she said, pulling it out of her pocket.

"Good. Let me hold onto that for you," Merlin said taking it from her. "It's not that you aren't responsible, I just wanna put it in my backpack so it won't fall out accidentally."

"Alright," she said, knowing it was because she lost things easily. Not that she cared. She was just excited to be going to the mall with Merlin rather than stupid traitor Salazar.

They walked the few blocks to catch the bus. The best part about being magical for Helena was always the secret stuff around town that only magical people could see. The bus station for them was disguised as a rundown clothing store that had long ago gone out of business, but to any witch or wizard, it was much more.

Henrietta's was the best diner in town, and no magical person could deny it. Even after Henrietta's daughter Penelope had taken over, the food was still better than any other food Helena had ever had.

It also just happened to be the passing through point to the bus station, which could take you anywhere in the  state of Nevada within five minutes, which was super convenient when it came to getting places. There was a station in every city in Nevada.

They reached the front of the store, and walked straight in, catching the eye of Henrietta's granddaughter Diana. She had been put in charge of running the register at the beginning of the summer, as she had just turned fourteen a few months before.

"Hey Helena, hey Merlin. What brings you through today? Should I get you a table?" Diana asked hopefully. Merlin shook his head.

"Not right now, but we will be back for lunch after we go shopping. Helena turned eleven in April, so we're going shopping for our school supplies," he told her. Her face fell slightly.

"Well I hope you hurry. It's been a slow day," she said. She seemed to realize something suddenly. "Oh, I almost forgot, here are your guys' supply lists. The school started sending them to the bus stations instead of having them at the malls. It's just easier, they say."

"Oh," Merlin said. "Well, I guess I'll take one for third year, and one for first." Diana handed both lists to Merlin. After thanking her, they both headed towards the back door.

"Wait guys!" Diana called to them. They turned around to look at her.

"What?" Helena asked.

"The bus isn't in right now. It'll be back at 10:15. You sure I can't get you any food while you wait. You've got a little bit of time."

"No, we're fine. We're gonna have a really big lunch at around one though. Anyway," he said looking at his watch, "it's 10:15 now, so we have to get going."

"Oh, well bye then," Diana said. They left through the back door, and in a few seconds, she heard a whirring and a bang.

"I guess I'm gonna be left talking to myself for the next couple hours then."