The bus pulls away as the light turns red and a few minutes later we were at the bus stop in Lockhart. I anxiously got off with my backpack, readjusted my hood, and took off into Texas. Maybe the old ladies were crazies. I've seen quite a few while I was traveling so It was a possible explanation.
But I knew that wasn't the case. Now the real question was whether or not I was going back to investigate. I knew the risks of getting in sticky situations with an immortal being. But I had nowhere to go and it was better than state hopping. Despite my current financial situation, I probably have been to more states than some rich kids. So I turned in the direction of the store and started walking.
I didn't even have to walk all the way because the old ladies, walking at an extremely fast pace even for my standards, were coming towards me. Now is when I start rethinking my decision. But of course it's too late for that. They reached me and before I can even address them, two of them have my arms pulling me across the street and down the block to their store.
Yup. Definately wrong decision.
I struggle and squirm but their grip was unbreakable. I needed to use my brain. "Let me go! My parents are looking for me! I have to go home!" I shouted at them. "What do you want with me?!" I asked partly because I wanted to know, but mostly because playing dumb seemed like a good idea right now.
"WE KNOW WHO YOU ARE!"
I can't say I didn't try.
"DAUGHTER OF NI-" but I cut her off. "Could you keep it down?! I don't need the world knowing!" I scolded them, breaking my cover which wasn't even that convincing. They finally reached their store. I peered inside to see the chairs they were sitting in were thrown inside hastily. One old lady opened the door fully but not for me to see the store better, but for the two that were holding me to throw me inside.
I landed on my side and I knew that there would be a bruise later. My head bounced off the leg of one chair as I hit the floor which wasn't carpeted but wood. Ouch. They closed the door and I heard the lock click shut.
"Oow" I groaned looking up to see my kidnappers leisurely chatting.
"So, do you think she's the one?" " Well she looks weak." "And she came to us!"
Well, yeah I kinda did.
"HEY!" I shout cutting them off. "What do you want? Who are you?"
"Hush sister and let us explain." said the one closest to me.
It took me a second to realize that she was talking to me. "Sister?" I asked. She waved away my question. I pulled myself up off the floor and stood ready to fight not one but three old ladies. Is this real life right now?
They weren't talking anymore but studying me as if I was a lab rat and they were scientists. Finally one of them spoke. "You are a daughter of Nyx correct?" she drawled. Well they already knew.
I held my head up and pulled off my hood revealing my whole face hoping to make them think twice about demigodnapping me. "I am a Daughter of Nyx." I told them proudly. "Ahhh young one, you are the one that bears the curse. Mother needs not to be in this situation. We will fix it!" Said the one with the shears, holding them up.
Ok. I'm guessing by fix it she meant she was going to kill me.
Wait! I did leave you hanging with my story. So you must me pretty confused. Lets just pause here so I can fill you in.
Where was I? Oh right. Hera's evil plan for Herc.
As I mentioned before she involved Hypnos who is Nyx's son and my half brother sorta. You're thinking what would make her choose Hypnos out of all the other gods. Well Hypnos is the god of sleep. Every time you drift off in class or have a blissful sleep at night, it's his doing.
Her plan wasn't to put Hercules to sleep because, well, he'd just wake up and continue being awesome. And besides Zeus would never let her do that. So she made Hypnos put Zeus to sleep.
Yes. She knocked out her husband so she could go harass his son from another woman.
That's gods for you.
Just know, my mo-, Nyx didn't find out that Hera had made her son do such a thing. She was furious that Hera had put lies into her son's head and had him commit a crime towards Olympus. She wouldn't let her son take the blame for this.
She went to Olympus to confront Hera.
Things weren't the same for her after that.
The shears came down and I jumped out of the way, landing again on my injured arm. Regardless, I got up again and looked around. The ladies were blocking the door and there was no visible way out.
Maybe there was a back exit. There had to be! As the killer elders approached, I spun on my heel and sprinted through the store. I looked at the stuff on the shelves. It was normal mortal stuff. Keychains, magnets with your name on it, shotgasses with cowboy boots on them, and ooh. On a small display were necklaces. Nothing too fancy or flashy. Just a small black leather band and various pendants. I expected the cliche eyeball in a jar kinda stuff. I knew now wasn't really the time for shopping but one had caught my eye. The silver crown pendant stood out among the hearts and roses to me. I snatched it and shoved it in my pocket.
The old ladies were fast but I was still faster. I snatched up some sweatpants and a t-shirt even though the shirt was extra long. I reached the back door and pushed the handle only to find it was locked.
I didn't stop running to open the door either. Which meant I probably had a bruise on my cheekbone.
And what's worse was that those shears were getting closer and closer.
I was trapped.
I heard one of them shouting "End her Atropos!" I'm guessing that Atropos was the one with the shears. "I will Lachesis!" Atropos rasped. She charged, shears wielded.
I pushed my back against the door's bar handle as hard as I could. And thank my lucky stars the door budged. I pushed with all the might my ten year old body had. The door opened a few inches.
To reveal the chain and lock that was around the handle on that side of the door.
I was a dead man. Girl. Whatever. I turned back around just in time to see Atropos and her spear a foot away from my face. I dropped to the ground and heard the unmistakable sound of wood breaking. I dare to look up and see Atropos still holding the scissors which were now lodged into the door where my forehead would've been.
I need to get out while she still has the shears stuck. I rolled over and got to my seat. Lachesis and the other crazy old lady stood ready to grab me. But I had been in this situation before. I ran and slid right through the space between the old lady and the postcard rack, blindly grabbing one on the way.
"Clotho you imbecile!" Lachesis scolded her. I raced through the dark store. The door was right there. And so was Atropos with her shears. When had she got there?! I couldn't stop now because Lachesis and Clotho were still behind me.
Light shined down in the front of the store from the window with glass similar to glass in churches. Even though I was probably going to be stabbed to death by an extremely fast old lady, it was still a pretty sight.
Wait!
The window! Such a beautiful window. I almost felt guilty for what I was about to do. I ran even faster and instead of the door I turned towards the window. I jumped on one of the chairs that had landed upright. Putting my bag in front of my face, I launched myself through the window with my body curled like i was doing a cannonball. I landed hard on my side and winced. I pushed aside the pain, got to my feet, and took off in a jog.
A few yards away a whoosh sound could be heard. I knew exactly what it was as I dodged to my right, narrowly avoiding the airborne pair of scissors.
"Atropos! have you no aim?!" screeched Lachesis. "I almost had her sister!" she snapped back defiantly. My heart pounded against my chest like it was trying to break out. But I kept running.
Their voices became lower as I got farther away. When I got a safe distance away, I slowed to a walk. A walk became a limp. Day turned into night . I finally got to a quiet part of town and found an ally that was dimly lit by a street light. I pulled a dark green travel neck pillow and a dark gray fleece blanket out of my backpack. Remembering the necklace, I sank to the ground and reached into my pocket. I held it up to the light and admired my find.
The necklace wouldn't look like much to some people. But to me It was now my most prized possession.
I reached into my bag and pulled out the postcard from earlier. It was a picture of Lockhart's enormous courthouse. I unzipped the secret pocket inside the bag where a couple dozen postcards were hidden. I folded it, put it in the pocket, and closed my bag.
I put my head back against the bricks of the building behind me. My eyelids finally won the fight and I drifted off into a sleep that was anything but peaceful.
