Chapter 2
"What did you say" my roommate turned towards me then grabbed my elbow, "Oh my god" she mumbled under her breath then quickly yelled "can someone get her a chair!" My body was slowly falling underneath me but Sarah had put me into a chair before I could make it to the floor. I felt like I had just woken up from a dream and couldn't remember it. I could remember a smell of sweetness close to honeysuckle and a quick image of a field. Did I sleepwalk out here? No, I remember waking up, but that wasn't my dream last night.
"Are you okay" Sarah snapped her fingers in front of my face until my head turned to face hers.
"Yeah I'm fine" I stood up fully out of whatever dreamy state I was under. Sarah followed me back to the dorm room always keeping a hand close to my elbow in case I started to fall again.
We both found our phones vibrating on the nightstand where we had placed them to charge. Chloe, my foster mother, demanded that I come home despite the fact that the monster was halfway across the world. I packed my bags along with my roommate who was being called home due to her parents concern as well. We gave each other a hug and a promise to bring back treats from our homes, mine would be Philadelphia cheesesteaks and hers would be Ben and Jerry's ice cream since her uncle was the CEO of the corporation.
"Heyo" my dad called as I sat in the car "how's school kiddo?"
"It's okay, I miss everyone at home" I wrapped my arms around him needing the strong embraces he usually gave me when I lived at home.
"The president is going to make a speech tonight" he said, turning the car on.
"To talk about what happened in Greece?"
"No, to talk about the sweet aroma of your feet" I slapped him gently on the arm and stifled a giggle.
The car ride lulled me to sleep but the loud shriek of Bryan, my foster brother, and the sudden heavy mass landing on my lap jolted me awake. He jumped onto my lap and threw his arms around my neck. I pulled him close and stepped out of the car still holding him in my arms. We had always been close. He was only a baby when Chloe and Alex first took me in when I was thirteen.
"Will you take me swimming" he asked as he squirmed out of my arms. I raised an eyebrow at him.
"It's fifty degrees out!"
"So!? It's the perfect weather for it" he crossed his arms over his chest and stuck out his chin.
"Not today Bryan" Alex scolded pulling my two bags out of the trunk.
Being home was great; however, I would have enjoyed coming home for different reasons and not having to study for my math classes. I never understood why I needed to take the math classes. I wanted to open up my own florist, not math institute.
The president's speech aired at eight on the dot. The crest in front of a dark blue wall appeared on the screen until the camera followed President Harrison up the steps and behind the podium. My brother was sent up to his room to play while Chloe, Alex, and I watched the announcement.
"Today I would like to address the chain of supernatural events that have occurred over the past year" I zoned out as he reviewed all three events that I had witnessed or seen on the television. "Each and every day we are learning new theories and facts about our world. Today combined with January 3rd, and April 26th, we have learned that many of those theories may be wrong. No one can say for certain the cause of these events but we are certain to ensure that every single United States Citizen is safe within our country. Our hearts go out to the victims and families of Milos, Greece, and we as a world will work together to discover the cause of these circumstances."
"You called me home to watch this" I rolled my eyes realizing that nothing important would be said. I snatched the remote and changed it to the news. My mom huffed when the newscaster turned the camera over to a Greek Mythology 'expert'.
"Thank you Michelle" the elderly man smiled.
"I believe the supernatural happenings that have been taking place have strong correlations to ancient mythology of Greece. Zeus, the god of the sky, father of the gods, and most importantly was associated with thunder and lightning. The strange weather we experienced on April 18th, can be explained by the power Zeus has over the weather and sky. The voice was his!" The man on the screen was very excited about his speech and his hands were shaking both with his old age and excitement.
I felt the same wave of fatigue of waking up as I did in the morning. I realized when I finally shook myself out of my trance that nearly ten minutes had passed since the old man was on the screen speaking of Zeus. My dad had been trying to get my attention apparently but his voice was still droned out and distant despite my closeness to him.
"Huh?" I asked confused.
"Are you okay, you look like you're going to throw up" he scooted away from his seat next to me incase his suspicion was correct.
"Yeah I'm fine, I guess I'm just a little tired from school" I shrugged, internally terrified that I had just missed ten minutes in the blink of an eye and had no recollection of what had happened besides strange snippets of images that I know hadn't happened while I was watching the television. "I'm going to bed early."
My parents bid me goodnight and I headed to my bedroom lay down and try and calm my mind. Sleep did little to calm myself down however.
I woke up with a startle in clothes that weren't mine, in a bed I've never seen, and in a room I couldn't imagine if I tried. Everything was very dark with only fire to give small amounts of light to aid my vision. I held my hand against the wall following it until I came to an opening that resembled a door. I slipped through it and continued to follow the wall passed the door. There was no fire in the room or hall or whatever place I was in. The only senses I could use were my touch on the wall, and my ears which picked up cries of terror, pain, and anguish in the distance. Finally I reached the end of what I now discovered was a hallway leading to two large heavy doors. I easily opened the handles despite their weight.
The same eyes I had seen on the news in my life intensely stared at me, glowing against the fires against the sides of the room. I walked straight towards him with a heavy heart. I wished to run away or throw something at him, but knew that I had to approach him for some reason. My confidence was false but was a strong disguise. When I neared him he reached for my hand not taking his eyes from mine. His lips gently grazed the slightly tanned skin of my hand then led me to two seats behind him where we sat down.
After a few minutes of staring at the fires on dance on the wall I slowly turned my head to look at him and discovered he was not in the seat. I snapped my head forward and felt gruff hands clasp my chin and lips crash against mine. The passion that he displayed replicated the growth of the flames that continued to take over the room. After a moment I pushed him off of me, but he grabbed the back of my hair and held his lips close to my ear that I could feel his lips as he talked.
"It's time to wake up my love."
