[Caught, Nel stabilizes on her feet and hugs her brother tight. Easing her grip at the rather broad question, Nel moves back so she can look up at him directly to answer without releasing her hold completely. The complexity and reality of it sobers her smile, but she will gladly share all that she knows with him.]

A Number means a lot of different things. It’s a kind of magic I think. When we use our Numbers, we can talk to everyone else that has one where no one else can see or hear. Which helps us keep it a secret...

[Her lips thin with guilt as her brows furrow, and she apologizes.] I’m sorry I couldn’t tell you before, Thom. I wanted to...but I wanted everyone to stay safe.