Chapter 11: Promise Me
"Archie!" the violet-haired teen was laying on the floor, pale, ankle swollen beneath the cold golden ankle brace. Jay kneeled next to him, checking his temperature and pulling back quickly. "Guys, he's got a fever and his ankle is probably infected. We need to take him to Chiron. Quick!" He ordered. Herry picked up his friend, who gave a slight noise of protest. "Arch, this isn't the time to protest and be Mr. Macho!" Odie warned as they headed for Chiron's study.
"What in the name of Zeus has the boy been doing!?!" Chiron asked, removing the brace carefully. "He was fine yesterday," Jay explained. "When we went to get him up for school we found him like this." "Archie, how did this happen?" Chiron asked, needing to know for sure if the effects of the blade were working. "I didn't….do anything." He muttered. "Hera said Cronos may have poisoned…the blade…so that if it were to….seriously injure us…the poison would attack….our weakest spots." He finished. Chiron nodded and walked back to the storage cupboard. Dionysus and himself had been working on various cures for poisons at Hera's request and developed a possible solution to the type Cronos had used. Picking up a small, rounded bottle containing a bubbling silver-grey liquid he handed it to Archie.
"Drink this slowly my boy. In an Hour I will check on you again." He instructed, clipping away leaving the four boys. "I'll call the others and tell them to get down here." Odie offered, pulling out his PMR. Within minutes everyone was sitting around Archie, who had recovered enough to explain what had happened to him. "So…Cronos' blade did this?" Theresa asked curiously, eyes widened at the news. Archie nodded and went to continue. However he slipped into unconsciousness.
"Atlanta, get Chiron." Jay ordered. She nodded and ran to the centaur, explaining rapidly. He made his way to Archie, examining him quietly. "He is passed my help. If the medicine cannot help him I do not know what can." He said quietly after a strained silence. The fidgeted as the waited for him to regain consciousness.
"Atlanta" The quiet sound came from Archie. Atlanta turned to look at him, knowing what he was going to say. "Don't say it Arch. Please. Don't say your good-byes. Not yet." She begged, tears tracing patters down her cheeks. "If I don't now I won't ever get the chance." He turned to face Jay. "Take care of them Jay. You are an awesome leader and always stuck with us. They'll need you more than ever." Jay nodded, holding back his breath hoping that his own tears wouldn't show. "Odie, my geeky friend, you never let us down. No matter how hard don't ever give up. Herry, we fought over girls, the fridge and the couch, but we never fought about what mattered and you were always there for me. They need you to be there for them now." He paused, motioning to the group. Herry murmured a cracked response. He turned to Neil, who was quiet with tears falling slowly down his face. "Neil, you bugged us, annoyed us and drove us up the wall most of the time, but you are important to us all. Your luck won't run out."
Turning to the girls beside him he realized just how hard it was for them. Tears slid down their cheeks, which were already soaked, dripping onto their shirts. "Terri, stop crying. We'll see each other again. You'll see me in Elysian Fields when your time comes. You haven't seen the last of me." He smiled, hoping he'd made her feel a slight bit better.
Finally he looked at Atlanta. "Lannie," She smiled at the simple nickname. "I'll miss you, and I'll never stop loving you, but whatever you go through for the next few days, weeks months or years even, you have to keep fighting. The team, the gods, the world and I need you to fight. Promise me that no matter what you won't forget that." He choked out the words in a whisper. "Archie, don't go. You can't…not yet Don't leave me Archie please." She sobbed, pleading with him. "Atlanta. Promise me." "Archie" "Atlanta I mean it. Promise me." His voice wad fierce but there was an evident pleading. "Alright Archie. I'll do my best." She whispered reluctantly. She whispered, although it felt as if the world was ending. Watching Archie she didn't bother to try and stop the flood of tears. He closed his eyes and she knew that was it.
That was the last time she'd hear his voice. There were no more races around the gym, no more late nights watching cheap horror movie. No more teasing, taunting, or petty bickering. There was no more practice with him, no more friendly grey-blue eyes or camping trips. There was no more planning for their future.
Collapsing beside Theresa she let the older girl cradle her, trying to receive comfort that never came. She had promised Archie she'd go on living but how could she when she felt as if her heart was ripping in two. You promised him Atlanta. You have to try.
She saw no one fore three days. None of them went to school or even left the dorm. Atlanta remained in her room, laying on her bed, eyes never straying from the pictures of her and Archie. Memories played in her mind over and over again. Racing around the track, laughing with his arm slung around her neck as Neil did something stupid. She broke into sobs again.
Theresa attempted to make her eat once, trying to look after the younger girl as she promised herself she would. Nothing helped. Atlanta would eat only when she absolutely had to and drank only when she was forced to. Finally she cried herself to sleep where she shared her dreams with the lost warrior.
I can't watch them lower him into the ground. I lost him once, but to have him locked away under the ground… I can't do it. Atlanta thought. However she forced herself to watch as the lowered him down. Tears never came. She couldn't cry anymore. He wouldn't have liked to see her cry.
"Come on Atlanta." Theresa murmured, gently leading her away. "Leaver her Theresa. She needs time alone. She needs time to heal." Jay said gently. She nodded and left The hunter to stand below the gloomy grey clouds hat covered the sky, as if it too was mourning the warriors death with her. They came then. Despite what she told herself the salty warm tears mingled with the cool rainwater as they slid down her face.
"I promised you I'd try Archie. And I did. But the pain I feel is too much. This is one wound that will never heal." She whispered.
No one saw Atlanta and Archie meet each other in Elysian Fields. But Theresa watched as another of her friends life slipped away.
Authors Note: I cried when I wrote this for the first time. Course listening to 'My heart will go on' probably had something to do with that… anyway, tell me what you thought. The Epilogue is coming up soon and I've already got the Sequel ready to type!