OMG, I'M SORRY 4 THE LACK OF UPDATES! I HAD THIS SUPER HUGE MOCK EXAM (WITH RESULTS THAT BASICALLY KILLED ME) AND I DIDNT HAV ENOF TIME 2 UPDATE. heh, heh, sorry about not updating! TT

Reviews to Reviews:

me-myself-&-I: No, Atlanta will not die (I'm not that gothic) and Archie's just...I dunno...feeling EMO-ish that day. Whatever the reason, he's gone! XD I'm happy he died!

Suk-fong: Unfortunately, Archie isn't swimming in the waters. And unfortunately again, I can't answer about Jay and Theresa getting together (of course, they ARE a perfect pair).

Emilie: Maybe it does have to do with him, maybe it doesn't... (MWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA, i'm not tellin'! sorry!)

Silverpoppy: whoa, whoa, whoa, wait: one of your friends sticks pennies up their NOSE! shudders I am now scarred for life. And don't worry, I don't believe in gay stories (no matter how good they're written) so Herry's not gonna be gay.

Stefaneko: Hm...how am I going to put this? Well, Orlando has this weird feeling in his stomach because he doesn't like arguments between strong friends. That's as best as I can put it. TT Sad explanation, eh?

Da-manta-ray: Well, Archie always wears a gold brace over his right heel and shin and he walks around in sandals so no, they're not really important.

Nuuoa Eclaire: True, it should be who had the better side of the argument. But I just wanted to see what you guys out there think.

Suspicions, Suspicions, Suspicions

Odie was watching Orlando very carefully. There was something with his looks that reminded him of someone.

"Hey Orlando?" Odie called out. Orlando turned his head.

"What's wrong?" He asked.

"I was just wondering," Odie paused. "Who are you related to?"

Orlando looked surprised. "Orpheus, didn't I say that before?"

Odie studied the face of the teenager to see if he was lying. "I see," He murmured.

Neil nudged Odie and he snapped out of it. "What?" Odie asked defensively. Both Neil and Orlando shook their heads and continued gazing at the sea, bored. If only I had my laptop here, Odie cried frustrated. Then I could read up some information about Greek Mythology.

"Atlanta?" Orlando called, squinting at a figure. Odie and Neil looked as well. The figure was pacing nervously on the beach. It suddenly ran away and disappeared. "I'll be right back," Orlando promised to the others and ran to the figure, also disappearing.

Odie looked at Neil. "Now don't get started about the latest clothing in Asia again!"

OoooOoooOoooOoooOoooOoooO

"I've got exciting news," Cronus announced.

The mysterious giant started. "On what?" He snarled.

Cronus smirked and continued. "Archie's gone crazy and jumped into the sea."

"What?" The giant jerked his head sharply. "He committed suicide?"

"Yes" Cronus grinned. He opened up something on a giant screen and it showed a clip of Archie. "Do you see-"

"Yes, I see this Cronus," The giant snapped. "I'm not blind!"

Cronus shook his head and said. "Well, you have some good benefits from this act, my friend."

"Like what?" It spat.

"Like dethroning your dear victim," Cronus laughed menacing. "Getting rid of the fool will not only do you good, but do me good as well. The Gods and Goddesses can't do anything with it out of the way. It's perfect! The missing of this person will throw the group off balance. Besides, only this one knows who your weak spot is."

"Don't remind me," The giant replied softly and closed his eyes. "I'll avenge my death through this."

"You'll kill your victim?" Cronus inquired.

The giant's eyes snapped back open. "Idiot! It can't be killed! Have you forgotten already?"

"Oh yeah," Cronus remembered. "At the very least, bring it over away from the light. I don't want any of the citizens and the Olympians to notice the place where it will be."

"Hm, the place will be high, dark and stormy." The giant's eyes had a menacing gleam in them. "But why am I making plans right now? What are you going to do, Cronus, with them?" He hissed and pointed a gigantic finger at Jay and Herry sleeping soundly.

"I don't know," Cronus admitted. "But they will be allowed to escape. I want the remaining six to be killed all together-OW!"

The giant had hit Cronus on the head furiously. "The remaining five, you idiot!" It yelled. "Don't you remember Atlanta?"

"Hey, who has the authority to hit people around here?" Cronus reminded the giant grumpily, massaging the side of his head. "You creature," Cronus himself hit the giant's head but as it was so bulky, it was like throwing a stick at the giant. "Yes, I remember the deal about Atlanta. Don't repeat the whole thing again!" He cried but it was too late. The giant was revising the deal again. "Oh dear," Cronus sunk into a chair with his face in his hands.

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"Theresa!"

Theresa tore her eyes away from the ocean to look at Atlanta running down the beach, fear flooding her face.

"What's wrong?" She asked as her friend reached her, gasping for air.

"It's Archie," Atlanta cried, her eyes welling up. "He's-he's-"

She couldn't finish it but Theresa could guess what her friend wanted to say. "Archie's dead?" Theresa gasped.

Throat too tight to speak, Atlanta whimpered and nodded quickly. Theresa couldn't believe it. As if she was too tired, she sunk to her knees, staring at the ocean again. "Archie!" Theresa shouted as the storm was starting to stir. "Archie!" She yelled again, hoping Archie would suddenly appear, reassuring the two girls. Unfortunately, life wasn't that easy.

"Archie," Atlanta whispered tearfully. Theresa also found her eyes full of tears. They hugged each other and cried miserably at the death of a true friend.

A warm hand was placed on their shoulders and as they looked up, Orlando was there, his face comforting but his eyes were also teary. "I'm sorry, Atlanta, Theresa," He whispered. "I'm sorry,"

That night, Atlanta didn't come for dinner. She stayed locked up in her room. Twice, Theresa, Odie and Orlando knocked on her door but she pretended she was asleep. Atlanta stared out the window, thinking not only about Archie's death but what would happen when the world dies as well.

"The prophecy's broken," Atlanta whispered, rain splattering hard on the window. "It's broken,"

OoooOoooOoooOoooOoooOoooO

"You're evil!" Jay spat at the feet of Cronus. Cronus laughed as Herry gritted his teeth.

"I wasn't the one who convinced Archie to jump to his death," Cronus sneered. "I was merely a witness. And now, nothing will stop me from ruling the world!"

"Just because Archie died doesn't mean we can't bring him back," Herry cried.

Cronus' smile disappeared as an ugly grimace took its place. "That's why I'm going to eliminate all of you at the same time."

"Oh yeah, and when's that?" Herry shook against his bonds.

"Dear, dear," Cronus clicked his tongue. "You really don't remember, do you?"

"Remember what?" Jay asked.

Cronus grinned and turned his back on the teenagers as he walked to the end of the roof, gazing at the full moon tonight. "I said before that love is hard to deny." He turned around and grinned again.

Jay wrinkled his brow. Since when did Cronus say that? He wondered. Suddenly, Jay wanted to sleep again. Beside him, Herry was also fighting sleep as well. His eyes were drooping again. "Why are we so tired again?" Herry mumbled.

"I…don't…" Jay fought for the words. His tongue felt heavy, slurring his words as he said them thickly. Then, without warning, both boys fell asleep again.

Cronus chuckled and left the roof. "I thank you, my friend, for your excellent dose of anaesthesia."

The giant's face suddenly appeared in the shadows. "I'll be going, Cronus, to bring these boys to their home town again. Then I'll strike," He walked upstairs to where Jay and Herry were and stood in front of them. The giant stared at the boys for a while and then muttered to himself. "Protect Atlanta, she must live, protect Atlanta,"

Somewhere, in Herry's mind, the words "protect Atlanta" inserted into his weary brain.

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"Atlanta, come down here quick!" Neil cried.

"Don't even think about trying that again," Atlanta yelled back. "It won't get me out of here!"

"No, seriously," Odie's voice sounded. "We found Jay and Herry!"

"WHAT?"

Atlanta flung the door open and clattered down the stairs to the living room. There was Jay and Herry, lying on the couches, stirring slightly.

"They were in the middle of a sidewalk," Theresa explained. "I visualized them there."

"I thought they were on a roof of an abandoned warehouse." Atlanta said.

"We're not all too clear about this either," Orlando admitted. "But maybe they have answers." He indicated to Jay, who was the first to get up.

"Where am I?" He asked thickly.

Splash! "Hey!" Herry gasped, drenched in cold water. Neil had splashed cold water on both Herry and Jay.

"Thanks, Neil," Jay mopped his face in the cloth handed by Theresa. "What happened lately?"

Atlanta couldn't believe it. "You mean you don't know?"

"Don't know what?" Herry asked, confused.

"What did Cronus say to you guys?" Odie asked.

"Cronus?" Jay asked. "He caught Herry and I?"

Atlanta was starting to get impatient. "You don't even know who kidnapped you?"

Herry stared at the red head. "What's up with you?"

"You…haven't heard yet?" Theresa asked hesitantly. Jay shook his head. She continued. "Well, Archie, he, uh, he…" She stalled again. "…left," Theresa ended, not looked at anyone but staring at her toes.

"Where did he go?" Herry asked.

"No Herry," Theresa cried. "Archie didn't leave literally, he left figuratively!"

"What, you mean, Archie's…" Jay gaped at all of them. They nodded.

Atlanta couldn't take it again and fled the room, sobbing once more. There was an intense silence again as each person stared at the door uncomfortably. "I'll go comfort her," Theresa volunteered and left as well.

"So you remember nothing at all?" Odie asked pleadingly. Jay looked at the teenager and shook his head reluctantly.

"Wait," Herry began recalling a piece. "I remember something small. Something really small."

"Like what?" Neil asked.

Herry didn't talk for a while. "Somebody was saying 'protect Atlanta' or something."

Orlando cocked his head. "But I already know that!" Everybody stared at him. He stared back. "What? The oracle said so himself."

"Oh yeah, you visited the oracle," Odie remembered.

Jay was looked worriedly at everybody again. "We're supposed to protect Atlanta? But she doesn't need protection, why should we?"

"I don't know," Orlando admitted. "The oracle wasn't too keen on telling me for some reason. He said it'll enrage somebody." He gave them all a weak smile.

A sudden idea popped into Jay's head. It was insane but it was a good way to watch over Atlanta. "Ok, listen Orlando," He said. "There might actually be a way to watch over Atlanta without being to suspicious."

Orlando blanked. "Like?"

"Can you become Atlanta's dance partner for tomorrow's Valentine Dance?"

Odie and Neil perked; Herry gaped at Jay and Orlando's skin paled. "What? Why?"

"If we're going to protect Atlanta, this is the only way to watch over her without much suspicion." Jay explained. "And anyways, Atlanta's always liked you so she probably won't reject."

"One problem, Jay," Orlando said grimly. "Atlanta's still mourning over Archie's death, how is she going to think about dances? I can't even believe you're talking about dances!"

"Me neither," Odie agreed.

"It's our only hope for now, Orlando." Jay said.

Orlando thought for a while. The whole group held their breath as he considered. "Ok," He relented. "But I still don't think she'll say 'yes'."

"Just try it, buddy," Odie encouraged Orlando.

"Ok, I'll give it a shot," Orlando left the room.

OoooOoooOoooOoooOoooOoooO

Atlanta was crying in the lap of Theresa's while Theresa herself also leaked some tears. "It's ok; we'll get Archie back-"

"No we won't," Atlanta cried. "He jumped off because he's depressed. I don't think Archie wants to come back, Theresa."

Theresa sighed, knowing Atlanta was right. Someone knocked on the door and entered. It was Orlando.

"Um, hey," He smiled shakily at the pair. "Can I sit Atlanta?" The red head lifted her red puffed up face and nodded, wiping away her tears. "Thanks," Orlando said. He sort of looked at Theresa with a cocked head. "Could you leave for a moment? Jay and the others will fill you in on what's going on."

Theresa managed a smile. "Ok, that's fine," She got up and left Atlanta's room.

"Atlanta," Orlando started but she just continued to cry even though she stopped for a while. He swallowed and began again. "Hey Atlanta, I know Archie was a good friend. And I'm sorry," Here Orlando paused, stalling for some time to think about his next words.

Atlanta sniffled and formed a weak smile. "It's ok; he's probably having fun eating grilled cheese in Elysium fields somewhere."

Orlando laughed a little. "Hey listen, tomorrow's the 1st Valentine Dance so I was wondering if you want to go with me to, you know, get your mind off Archie's death."

He braced for the rejection but Atlanta just brushed away another tear and this time actually smiled. "That's cool, are you a bad dancer?" She teased.

"I can move my feet, does that count?" Orlando asked.

"No," Atlanta said stubbornly. They stared at each other and giggled.

OoooOoooOoooOoooOoooOoooO

Apollo was sitting by the fireplace, staring at its depth. "Who is Orlando?" This was a question he was pondering for some time and couldn't find the answer. Sure he claims that he's the descendant of Orpheus but Apollo wouldn't hate somebody who was related to his son…or would he…

"Aargh, so many questions," Apollo tugged at his hair, speaking in his accent. "He seems to be charming Atlanta and Artemis at the same time! Now that's impossible!" He kicked a footstool and stubbed his toe. "Ouch!"

Muttering darkly, Apollo stood up grouchily and marched around the room. "How could Orlando charm Artemis? This is insane! The only two people who managed to charm Artemis was him and…"

Apollo stopped; the truth was crashing down on him like thunder. "…him." He finished, astonished. "No!" He gasped. "Cronus couldn't…no…he can't be…no…how could he…no-"

"-yes!" A rough voice whispered sharply from behind. Apollo turned around in surprise and a leather bag was pulled over him.

"Release me, you fiend!" Apollo roared from the bag. The giant just cackled and left with the bag swung over his shoulders. Apollo continued to yell and squirm, jabbing everywhere and making a racket.

"No, this won't work; you'll wake up the whole city." The giant sneered and without warning, he punched viciously into Apollo's large belly. The god squeaked and stopped moving. "You don't know just how long I've wanted to do that…" The giant rushed off with his victim in the bag.

OoooOoooOoooOoooOoooOoooO

So, any guesses on who this giant is? Tell me through your reviews, not by email.