Chapter 4

He gazed wordlessly at the mushy mixture that lay in a metal foil on the tabletop. Archie hovered uncertainly behind him, looking on.

Both of them donned a pink, girlish apron - probably from Athena's closet - and Jay was just teaching Archie how to cook so he wouldn't fail his Home Economics class. And what better to try out than to bake a cake? By the way, it had been Archie who had asked, not Jay who had offered. Well, then again, if Jay knew Archie was struggling in Home Econs, he would have offered his expertise. It was all in a day's work for a leader.

"...And you put this in the oven for 60 minutes and you'll get a chocolate cake," Jay explained thoroughly, looking up for some understanding in Archie's eyes. Archie nodded, looking a little wary, and he took the mixture from Jay and popped it into the oven carelessly. Jay looked on with a grimace and watched as Archie twiddled with the knobs on the oven.

Finally, Archie looked up. "Uh... Jay, how do I set the timing?"

Jay sighed, trying not to roll his eyes at Archie's lack of cooking skills. Setting the time first for Archie and hoping Archie was absorbing this bit of information on how to use an oven, Jay squinted at the cake. Hopefully, it would pull through - the cake, he meant. Then next the heat knob...

Jay was about to ask Archie if he got it when he heard a sweet, feminine voice ask, "Hey, what are you guys doing?"

Jay whirled around and effectively gazing up into the eyes of Theresa. Blushing slightly as he realised with acute awareness that their faces were only, what, an inch apart, he gave her a silly grin and said, "Uh, nothing, I'm just teaching Archie to cook."

Archie glared at Jay for revealing his not-so-secret secret and was about to retort when he noticed with a raised eyebrow that Jay's hand was still on the knob that controlled the heat of the oven. And his eyes widened a little as he watched a distracted Jay turn the knob to the right, and to the right, and to the right... He wasn't sure if that was the correct way to do it, and although it didn't look right, he trusted Jay, the master of cooking and one of the best Home Econs scholars ever to walk the planet. Hmm, but that strange, red glowing and the strong heat the oven was radiating did look strange...

Meanwhile, Jay was still dazedly talking to Theresa, and just then, as Theresa wobbled unsteadily towards them, she suddenly lurched and almost fell. Jay turned the knob to the right one last time - unknowingly, of course - and practically leapt towards Theresa in an effort to catch her. And he did, catching her beautifully, right into his arms she went. Archie gave them a pointed look, which was promptly ignored by the both of them. Theresa innocently blinked at him, causing Jay to redden slightly, and lost in his own pretty little world after asking how her injured leg was doing now, the oven started to make strange, popping noises... Or perhaps that was the mixture.

"Uh... Jay...? Jay!" Archie called, his eyes still on the cake, looking a little worried at the bubbling mixture which looked revolting, disgusting now. However, his leader was still lost and still holding Theresa in his arms.

The final call snapped Jay out of his reverie, though, and as he let go of Theresa and turned towards the oven a second too late, everyone in the entire brownstone dorm heard a giant 'Boom' and smoke filled the tiny kitchen.

Archie choked, waving his arm wildly in an attempt to get rid of the smoke that was curling around the oven. Jay wrenched his eyes shut, coughing, as did Theresa. Thankfully, Athena wasn't around, if not a shelling might have been in order.

Once the smoke cleared, Jay looked sheepishly at Theresa first, then at Archie, who had his arms crossed. He looked absolutely crossed (no pun intended).

"Gee, thanks Jay, that sure taught me a lot on how to bake a cake," Archie said sarcastically, still giving Jay a look.

Jay winced inwardly for the thousandth time in the week, bemoaning his bad luck.

All three looked at the steaming oven, the disgusting, thick mixture and Archie and Theresa looked at Jay, who stepped back a little and asked rather anxiously, "You guys are going to help me, right?"

The stares he got gave him the answer.

--

Jay yawned, tearing off that now dirty-looking apron hurriedly as he threw the towel into the sink. Ungrateful Archie - next time he would know better than to teach him, especially how to cook. He stared at the spick-and-span counter which seemingly sparkled with cleanliness and felt a little wave of achievement pass through him and he gazed somewhat proudly at being able to clean off everything, plus the ash-filled oven, in just an hour flat. Ah, the benefits of having done housework in his parents' house.

He was just thinking of going to possibly read a nice book on sailing or just take a nap - after all, all that cleaning and scrubbing had positively drained all his energy - when he heard his PMR go off. Literally groaning, he got up from the bar stool he had been sitting on and dug into his pocket in search of that elusive PMR that was buried right under his wallet, dorm keys and other random stuff. Finally getting it out, he flipped it open with a sigh.

Odie immediately came on the screen, looking rather worried. "We have a situation here. Cronus and his giants are holding a group of people hostage at the Town Park, and -"

"We'll be right there," Jay responded, already bounding up the spiralling staircase and into the upper floor where all the team members' rooms were on. Knocking on each of the doors and being greeted with different responses - snoring, Neil's shriek at being awakened, Theresa's "Yes?" - he listened at the same time to what Odie was going on about.

"I think it's a trap," Odie continued, crossing his arms. "He probably just wants to draw us out and destroy us, once and for all. I don't think we should -"

Jay shook his head. "People are in danger, Odie. We need to save them. Okay, meet us there in the Town Park as soon as you can, DON'T go in alone. Got it?"

Odie nodded, giving him a thumbs-up over the PMR. "You've got it, Jay." And with that, both parties flipped their PMRs shut and hurried on to do what was needed of them.

--

"What's the plan?" Archie couldn't help but ask as the team stood outside the park, awaiting Jay's instructions.

Jay hesitated, looking at Theresa uncertainly. He couldn't help but worry for her - the injury was right on her knees, making it painful to bend, especially since it was just a fresh wound from a day ago. This would greatly reduce her agility and speed as well as flexibility. Should he even let her go in there and let her be made an easy target by the giants?

Following his gaze, all of the team members' eyes came to rest on Theresa, who promptly challenged defensively, "What? Why is everyone looking at me?"

Herry frowned. "Your knee is injured, I think you shouldn't fight."

Jay nodded, looking chargrined to be the one to tell her she shouldn't. "Theresa, Herry's right. There's no telling what might happen if you go in there injured. Maybe you should stay out here, in the truck, and -"

"No!" Theresa frowned, crossing her arms. "I'm part of the team, I'm not backing out. I'm seriously fine, Jay, everyone. Come on, I want to fight along with you guys...!"

Neil rolled his eyes. "If the girl wants to do it, let her do it, Jay. We're wasting precious time here by just standing here like idiots. Time is ticking away, folks. I've got a spa appointment at two, I don't want to miss it." Seeing everyone's glares, he protested, "What?"

Jay sighed, running a hand through his short, brown hair. "Theresa, I can't let you go in there. You stay here, all right?"

"But -!" Theresa gaped as she watched the team run into the wide, metal gates of the Town Park. Pouting angrily, she leaned onto the Herry's truck, muttering, "Wow, that sure was nice of them."

--

Cronus narrowed his eyes as Egnon tied up the screaming people. Shaking his head, he looked around suspiciously. Wasn't that idiotic Jay and his little team of teenage "heroes" coming? What a simple trap this was, and yet he was sure that they would be drawn to it. No, he was certain - that Jay was too loyal and compassionate to let him get away with such a crime, however meagre it was.

He was right. A few minutes later, the heroes dashed across the park, earning wide-eyed stares from the hostages and the evil, arrogant smirk that tugged the edges of the God of Time's mouth. He was going to exact his revenge now - ah, how sweet that would be to finally lay a hand on those annoying kids, especially Jay. Ordering his giants to attack, he stood there and waited, sure that Jay would be coming for him.

"Atlanta, Archie, Herry, you guys distract the giants, Odie, Neil, you free the people, I'll get Cronus!" Jay yelled and seeing them nod at his command, he ran towards Cronus, pulling out his xiphos and letting the retractable blade come out of the sword. Cronus gave him a dark smile, and he, too, wielding his deadly scythes, stepped forward.

"My, my, Jay, I knew you'd come. You couldn't resist saving those innocent hostages, could you?" Cronus gave him an amused look as he saw Jay's wary expression turn to one of intense hatred. "What a simple little trap - and all of you had to stick your tiny little noses in it - Wait, one of you's missing. Theresa, where is she?"

Jay ignored him, carefully searching for Cronus' blind spots. Seeing Cronus' rather suspicious look at the absence of Theresa, Jay decided to seize this opportunity of Cronus' distraction to lunge at him, putting in all his energy into this attack, but Cronus dodged and swung a scythe at Jay's head, luckily missing by a few inches. Jay swerved, kicking up a cloud of dust behind him.

"Getting better, aren't you, Jay?" Cronus mocked, raising his scythes. "But too bad, it's not good enough - not good enough to go up against a god like me." A spell rose from his lips, a black magic incantation, and as he chanted, sinister black fire raged from his mighty hands.

And then he threw the flashes of energy at Jay.

Jay gaped, then started to run out of the way of the firey flames. Dodging it successfully the first time, Jay heaved a sigh of relief and was about to taunt Cronus when he realised he hadn't fully gotten rid of the fire. Both of the flames were... Following him.

Filled with dread, he darted out of the way once again, barely missing by centimetres, and feeling the flames lick up the surrounding air as its burning heat seared through the air, Jay felt his blood chill as he looked up in horror. The flames - they were attacking again.

Cronus laughed evilly, shaking his head as he watched Jay dodge yet another blow, swinging his xiphos uselessly in the air as he tried to combat with the dire flames. Shaking his head, he smiled, and raising his hand, he suddenly lifted Jay in the air, choking him.

"Don't think you're so smart now, do you, Jay?" Cronus raised an eyebrow, glad to see Jay writhing in pain, gasping for air, yet unable to take a breath of it. The flames were getting nearer, and now that Jay was right in the line of fire, there was no doubt that this was over. Finally. The prophecy was a done deal - no Jay, no seven heroes, and the world would be his! After dealing time and time again with the irritating, bratty twerps who always seemed to best him, it was over. Finally over.

Cronus was just gloating over his success as he watched Herry fling away a giant as though it was as light as a feather and Archie used his sharp, cutting whip on another. It was all useless. All their efforts were useless. So what if Odie and Neil had gotten the hostages free and set them to escape? So what if Atlanta was currently taking down a giant, trying to get away to save Jay? It was all useless, all useless. Jay was in his hands, and nothing could change that.

Suddenly, a cry was emitted from behind him, and he shouted in surprise as a fist powerfully struck the back of his head. Dropping Jay, he turned around and glared at Theresa, who was smugly grinning at him.

Jay fell and hit the ground. Pain shot through his body, and he pushed it aside and stood up. The flames were still hovering in the air - oh no, wait, they were heading in their direction. Dashing again, he ducked at the last moment and escaped the burning flames. Theresa's eyes glowed for a second, and she lifted up her hands, effectively vanquishing the flames telekinetically. Jay's eyes widened at the sight.

"Since when could you do that?" he questioned. He had never seen this power behind her before, so powerful and so strong.

Theresa shrugged. "Since now?"

They were interrupted by an angry yell from Cronus, who stood up and shook his fist at the both of them. "Enough is enough! No more games!" He lifted Jay up in the air again and this time, swung him away, causing Jay to fly in the air and hit a random tree. Facing the orange-haired girl, he shook with rage as he ran to attack her.

He dealt a severe blow to her, causing her to stumble and fall. With the wound on her knees crying out painfully to her, she couldn't move. She was frozen - scared. The sycthes hovered right above her face, as did Cronus' mean expression and his "I'll deal with you first!"

Jay stood up shakily, noticing the rest of the team had successfully mowed down all the giants and were rushing towards them. The next thing he saw were the gleaming sycthes, raised up in the air and that pure rage on Cronus' face. And Theresa. Oh no! Theresa!

He broke out into a mad dash, running, running, running. But he knew he wouldn't make it in time. Cronus was already preparing to kill her. His lungs burning, Jay pushed himself and ran like he had never ran before, not even in a 100-metre dash. Pulling out his xiphos again, he finally did a spectacular dive and landed right in front of a frightened Theresa.

The first thing he felt was something sharp digging into his arm. The next thing he felt was the sharp, searing sensation of pain that ripped through every bone in his body, causing him to break out into cold sweat. And the next thing he saw was the sycthe, buried right into his arm, deep into the flesh. Crying out in pain, Jay never felt worse in his life.

Cronus cackled evilly and was about to say something when he, too, felt a sharp, searing sensation tearing into his stomach. Gasping, he looked down to see the fire, the determination on the worn and rugged leader's face. Then, he saw it. The xiphos was embedded into his stomach and blood was pouring out of the wound Jay had created. Choking, Cronus used all his effort to pull away, injured. Before his flesh could recover, however, he felt another burning pain, and with a cry, he fell to the ground, not knowing that Herry had stuck a lighted match on his wound, hindering its recovery.

Cronus was finally defeated.

Jay tried to force a smile, but he couldn't, and soon he found himself light-headed and dizzy.

The last thing he heard was a cry from Neil that went something like "Oh my gosh that's so much blood!" before he blacked out - completely.

--

The Home Econs stuff was for fun, just to see a little interaction between Jay and Archie. Besides, Home Econs sounds fun, although I haven't actually taken it yet. Also, if you haven't noticed, usually there's some rather random, slightly humourous stuff that comes in the chapters right before the angst or the action comes in.

Sorry, my attempt at writing fighting scenes are a little pathetic, please bear with me there. Oh by the way, I would greatly appreciate it if you could vote for who do you think I should write next in my profile pole. Thanks.