God, it's so hot here… and this is Ontario! Can't imagine what it's like in Florida… anywho, this chapter was written to the new Three Days Grace album.
Prey
Dionysus sat in front of his desk, closely inspecting a vial of a dark red substance. A little piece of masking tape near the rim, written in chicken scratch, read;
Atlanta
Blood smpl.
The god didn't notice when Chiron stepped in. The centaur had a rather concerned look on his face and his brow was creased. Dionysus jumped when he spoke.
"Scrutinizing a patient's blood sample?" He asked. Dionysus straightened his glasses and composed himself, trying to make it look like he hadn't been startled.
"Something just isn't right. Something's missing." The God of Wine sighed and put the vial into the tray. He turned to face the elderly centaur. "You seem… disgruntled."
Chiron frowned. "I agree with you on the terms that something is not as it seems with Atlanta."
"What do you mean?"
"Have you ever held a stunned snake?"
"No."
"Well, when you pick it up it's limp but its muscle twitch and writhe. Unnerving feeling. That's what I felt beneath Atlanta's skin when I picked her up." Chiron answered. His tone told Dionysus his fears.
"I'll look into it." The God assured.
--
After Archie and the others had gone, Atlanta was brought some saltines and water. Artemis helped her sit up against the back of the couch so that she could eat. She picked one of the saltines up and nibbled on it. She couldn't taste a thing.
She tossed the cracker back onto the plate. Artemis frowned.
"Atlanta, you need to eat something." She urged.
"I can't taste it… I don't want it." Atlanta replied.
The Goddess of the Hunt took the glass of water and held it to the girl's lips. "Drink. It's just water."
Atlanta sipped on the water. She was grateful for it.
"So… how long?"
Artemis blinked, "Huh?"
Atlanta waved her hand, "Until I… pass."
The goddess sighed wearily and brought up a chair, "Atlanta, don't talk like that."
The girl frowned, "Why not? It's an honest question. Persephone told me I'm dying." She replied flatly. She hated it when she was treated like a child. Sure, she was the youngest on the team, but most said she was the toughest. Huffing quietly, she looked away from the goddess.
"I don't know. That isn't in my field."
Atlanta, exhaling sharply, turned her sea green eyes to the window. It was so bright outside and she could hear the yelps and cries of laughter from the other teenagers attending the school. It was lunch.
A soft yet commanding voice called Artemis away. Hera stood beside the chair that her half-daughter had occupied. For a few moments she stood there silently, watching Atlanta look out the window.
Breathing deep, Hera spoke, "Atlanta, you're aware of your condition?"
Said girl grunted in reply.
"If you do die, you are aware that you will go to the Elysian Fields?"
Another grunt.
"I know you won't give up." At this Atlanta turned to face the Queen of the Gods. "You know your duty, and like a hero, like Atalanta, you won't give up until it's finished."
Groaning the redhead brought a hand up to pinch the bridge of her nose. Suddenly her head began to pound, her hearing muffled yet unbearably loud. She curled up slightly, bringing her knees to her chest.
Hera saw this and pursed her lips, "Something wrong?" The goddess never received an answer, only a whimper. Atlanta's small form shuddered, obviously in discomfort. Hera frowned and laid a hand on the girl's shoulder and quickly withdrew it, fear welling within her heart. Her skin was a paradox; both hot and cold while the muscle beneath twitched and spasmed unnaturally. The woman placed a hand on the younger's temple and within seconds Atlanta fell limp, arms dangling off the side of the sofa.
"Something is not as it seems." Hera mused aloud.
--
Jay sat at his desk, leaning over his long procrastinated calculus homework. His forehead rested on his left palm, clearing his bangs from his eyes as he tapped the eraser of his pencil on the paper. Heaving a sigh the boy slapped the pencil down angrily and leaned back in his chair.
"The fuck? Atlanta's at the school dying, and I'm doing calculus." He snarled to himself and slammed his text book closed. He stood and shoved the chair angrily before stalking out into the hall where he leaned against the opposite wall, left arm resting above his head.
Theresa exited the bathroom and frowned at the leader. "Jay." She laid a hand on his shoulder.
Jay suddenly jerked to look at her, blinking. "Uhh? What?"
"It isn't your fault, you couldn't have known Cronus was going to do that." Theresa said softly, canting her head.
But I could be there, looking for a cure instead of… doing fucking calculus.
Theresa sighs quietly before gently pulling Jay away from the wall and enveloping him in a hug. After a few hesitant moments she felt Jay's arms close around her tightly. She felt him let out a shaky breath, a signal that he was holding back tears. The strawberry-blonde's hands run up and down the boy's back in a comforting manner while Jay nuzzled her neck gently.
Unknown to them Archie was watching from his doorway, a numb feeling working its way through his system. His cerulean eyes narrowed before her pushed off the doorframe and trudged down the hall, slipping past the two. They didn't even notice.
Passing the kitchen, Athena looked up from a black, leather-bound book. "Where are you going?" The Goddess asked.
"For a run." He grunted gruffly while he grabbed his hoodie and slipped it on over his wifebeater. Without another word the broody male left the brownstone, heading towards the park at fast-paced jog.
--
Chiron flipped through various archaic tomes furiously, brow creased. A hand rose to stroke his beard thoughtfully as his practiced eyes scanned over the words. With an annoyed grunt he dropped the book into the pile of previously raided tomes.
"For the love of Zeus…"
"Chiron." Hera's voice cut through the air. The centaur immediately looked to the Queen, expression as grim as hers. "Something is not right with Atlanta."
The elderly beast nodded with a soft grunt. "Yes. Dionysus and I have already concurred that something is amiss." He replied.
Hera sighed wearily and pinched the bridge of her nose. "I fear of what will become of her."
Chiron laid a reassuring hand on her shoulder, "Atlanta is arguably the toughest of the group. She will pull through, I am sure."
"I don't doubt that, Chiron. What I fear is what she will be."
The centaur frowned at the words. "Your words frighten me, Miss Hera." He murmured and turned back to his bookcase. "Nonetheless, I am sure I have something in my collection to aid our young heroine, if not then Dionysus will."
Hera smiled fondly at the centaur, skin crinkling around her eyes. "I will see what I can do."