Okay, to clear something up, YES Atlanta and Archie are going out, I mentioned this in the last chapter. You guys gotta start reading the before notes.

Prey

Jay and Theresa both held the doors open to Chiron's study as Archie carried Atlanta in. The entire way there he had asked her random questions, things like; "What's my middle name." and "What's Newton's Law?". It did some good at keeping Atlanta awake, but she didn't always answer the questions correctly and she was fading fast.

"Chiron! Atlanta needs help!" Jay cried. The centaur turned around and hastily dropped the book he was reading on a table.

"My dear! What happened?" He asked, gently taking Atlanta away from Archie.

"It was Cronus. He put something into her bloodstream." Odie answered.

"Oh dear, Dionysus!" Chiron called. Moments later the God of Wine appeared.

"What is it?" He asked. Chiron explained and immediately Dionysus went to assessing what to do. "I'll need a blood sample."

Nodding grimly, the centaur laid Atlanta on the bed. Her head lolled limply to the side. Archie dashed to her side and brushed her bangs from her eyes. The lids fluttered.

"Ta… please, open your eyes for me." Archie pleaded. The redhead's sea blue eyes opened, but only half-way.

"Ar-Archie?" Atlanta asked hoarsely. Her eyelids continuously drooped then flicked open.

"Yeah, it's me." A firm hand was placed on the violet-haired teen's shoulder. Looking back he looked up at his leader. Archie bit his lip and kissed Atlanta lightly on the temple.

--

The seven waited outside Chiron's study impatiently. It was so quiet without Atlanta around to make jokes or strike up a conversation about the weirdest things (one time, out of the blue she began going on about how good instant noodles are).

Neil couldn't even bother to look at himself in his mirror and instead fiddled with his wrist band. It only dampened his mood more for the wrist bands he wore bore the same design as the one Atlanta wore.

Jay held his chin in his hand while the other fingered his initialled medallion. The guilt of not being able to prevent what had happened was near overwhelming.

Theresa watched Jay, though not really catching what he was doing. Her mind was replying the previous events. Cronus injecting a mystery liquid into her friend and team mate, and Atlanta slumping to the ground against Archie. At the thought of the generally brash boy, she turned to him, worried.

Said boy was slumped on the stairs. He stared blankly at his leg brace while fiddling with the hem of his shorts. Theresa reached for her hand and clasped it though received no response.

"Archie." The boy grunted and kept his eyes fixed on the brace.

"Archie, I know you're worried about Atlanta. We all are. She's stubborn and strong, she'll pull through."

"How do you know that? Cronus did this to her, what if it's like cancer, no cure? God, I love her, I love her so much 'worried' is the ultimate understatement of the year!" Archie cried and stood up. "I'm downright terrified."

"We all fear the worst, Archie." Hera's calm voice drifted through the cavernous room. "But all we can really do at this point is hope. You of all people should know that."

At that precise moment Dionysus and Chiron stepped out from the study. Chiron's hooves made a loud clacking against the tiled floor and echoed. Both looked grim.

"I've analysed a blood sample from Atlanta. Cronus gave her an anti-protein, and it's destroying tissue, cells and possibly even nerve endings." Dionysus spoke grimly. "I'm working on a cure as we speak but…"

"But what?" Jay asked.

"I don't know if she'll last."

--

"I don't see how that's a problem." Neil said. "We can just get her from the Underworld like we did Jay."

"Yeah but Jay hadn't actually entered the gates, and Jay only came back because we cured him." Theresa corrected. "What if we don't find a cure? Then we can't bring her back."

Archie was slumped on the couch of the dorm. This time, instead of staring at his ankle brace he stared at the television. Theresa glanced worriedly at him.

"Enough… I think we should just get some sleep." Jay announced. Many replies came in the form of grunts and sighs. Archie grunted as he picked himself up from the couch. He travelled down the hall in an almost drunken stupor, stopping outside Atlanta's bedroom. He peered in, remained there for a few moments and took it in. Everything about her, everything about what he loved about her was there. Finding much less comfort in her room than the thought of his own, he trudged down to it.

It was no secret that he had been crying that night.