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Chapter Thirteen: Apprentice Pt.2

Jay tried to keep up with Darren's long powerful strides as he ran through the forest nearby the reservoir. The older boy seemed to know exactly where he was going, which made Jay wonder how long he had been working for Cronus.

"Darren!" He called out when he could not see the boy anymore. He waited, expecting to see the boy's built form and his long black hair pop out of a tree somewhere. Therefore he was extremely worried when the boy never came back.

Jay let out a long sigh of frustration and stomped his feet on the ground. Where did he go?

"DARREN!!!!!" He yelled cupping his hands around his mouth to make his voice ring forward.

No one responded and Jay was beginning to worry. Was this man really here to help him? Or did he lead him in a trap? Did he finally give in to the fears that were stalking his every move and plaguing his mind? Did that strange man just abandoned him in this forest?

But none of these answers were correct. Because Darren knew that if he returned to the camp empty handed, he would be tortured once more.

Darren heard Jay calling out his name and rolled his eyes. Just how pathetic was this boy? He cant even catch up to a slight jog.

A few minutes later Darren stomped angrily into the field. His eyes were blazing with fury and hate.

"Where WERE you?!" He almost shouted, looking at the boy with his coal black eyes turning even colder then before.

"Where was I? Where were YOU? I was calling for ages!" Jay yelled back

Darren growled. "I was almost at the hideout when I finally realized that you weren't behind me. I thought you only strayed a little bit, but boy was I wrong! I never realized you were only five minutes away from where we started!"

Jay growled in response and clenched his fists. He stared straight back at him, trying to look more intimidating.

They looked and glared at each other for a little while. Only when Darren saw the sun was beginning to set did he stop.

"Blast it," He said, his thick British accent rolling off of his tongue. "He expected me back a while ago."

"Expected?" Jay asked raising his eyebrow.

Darren winced as he realized his mistake. "Oh, never mind, let's get going!"

And he started to walk off, leaving Jay very, very suspicious.

What is he planning? Jay thought as he jogged to catch up with him.

With Atlanta:

Atlanta panted and groaned as she rubbed her sore wrists, which were bruised from fighting.

She looked around her, there were still two giants left to fight. One of their companions was lying motionless on the ground. Another was stirring and getting back upon his feet.

Atlanta growled. Great, that makes three more left to fight! She thought angrily. And where the heck is JAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

She looked around wildly, wondering where her companion was. She almost cried out when she heard Jay cry out in pain.

She swung around towards the direction where his voice was coming from. She had to refrain herself from screaming.

She saw this boy holding Jay at knife point. She leapt forward towards them with an angry cry, but the three remaining giants blocked her way.

She continued to beat and smash at the giants, trying her hardest to get to Jay before the boy killed him. But the giants would not budge, and ever blow they took seemed only to scratch their thick skin. One thing Atlanta knew for sure was that these were DEFINETLY not like the other giants her and the others had fought.

I have to get to Jay, She thought desperately. I have to get to him before that freak kills him. Oh god if Jay dies I would never forgive myself!

Finally there was only one giant left. She continuously punched the ogre and tried to run past him. Atlanta looked around the large giants form to where she last saw Jay.

She gasped at what she saw. She saw the strange boy run off towards the forest, and saw Jay running closely behind him.

What an idiot! She thought as she tried to run after him. But yet again the ogre held her back.

Atlanta growled. "You are starting to get on my nerves!" She yelled punching him to the ground again. The blow finally knocked the ogre unconscious, so Atlanta turned around to look at Jay.

But she was too late. Jay was already gone. And Atlanta didn't know where he was going!

With a cry of frustration she sank to the ground hands covering her teary face.

She let Theresa down. She broke her promise. She was supposed to make sure Jay didn't do anything stupid. And now, Jay was heaven's knows where, following some stupid slave of Cronus!

"Great job Atlanta." She whimpered to herself. "You have failed once again."

With Theresa and Odie:

Odie rushed over to Theresa bloody and battered body. He had just heard her screaming and without a thought, he had dropped his PMR and ran to her aid.

All he could think of right now was Theresa. He could not let her die. She was losing too much blood. She was already knocked unconscious, and if Odie did not help her in enough time, Theresa would die.

She would leave this realm and go strait into the next, without saying goodbye.

Odie continued to run faster and faster but time seemed to slow right down. His legs were moving so slowly they were almost frozen in place, and his tears almost turned to ice as they slid down his cheeks.

They cried out as he stopped at Theresa's bloody body. There was a wound that had split open her side, and a long trail of blood was soaking her shirt. She was gasping out in pain, trying to stand up as the giants closed in around her. She clutched her side in agony and looked up at the giants. She tried to fight them but was too weak from blood loss.

Odie did the thing he was taught to do I an emergency like this, grab anything in sight and attack the giants. He grabbed the only thing in sight. His large yellow bag and swung it at the head of one of the giants. The giant turned around in surprise as he did not expect the descendent of Odysseus to attack. As soon as his eyes met Odie's, Odie swung his pack at its head. The giants stumbled back and bonked his head into another giant, then another, then another.

When all the giants were on the floor grunting in pain, Odie ran over to Theresa and tried to help her up.

"Please tell me you warned the others?" She whispered, barely able to speak at her parched throat.

Odie nodded dimly. Theresa tried to smile, "That is good." She said weekly. She tried to force out a thank you to Odie, but when she opened her mouth she let out a painful moan instead.

Odie winced as Theresa's face paled; she was losing too much blood from the wound.

Odie tried to pick the girl up, but his arms were already weak from his own loss of blood. But he had to do something to help Theresa! He weakly moved away from Theresa body and towards his large yellow bag. He looked through the bag quickly for his first aid kit. And surprisingly, it was not there.

"Where did it go?" He said groping in the darkness, looking for the smaller white bag. As he grabbed at the darkness, he did not notice the giants come up behind him and knocking him on the back of his head. He didn't hear Theresa call out her warning to late. He was already deep in his unconscious state.

Theresa screamed in frustration when one of the giants grabbed Odie and threw him over his shoulder like a sack. And as another giant did the same to her. They then walked towards a glowing portal and stepped into the yellow-orange swirls. Carrying the unconscious boy and stubborn girl over their shoulders.

With Herry at the mall:

Herry sighed with frustration as he picked up the last giant and threw him against the brick wall.

As the giant crumpled to the ground, motionless, Herry wiped his forehead clear of the sweat that was covering his entire body. That was the hardest battle he had ever fought. And especially by himself. He never had really fought by himself, well without his friends around at least.

Maybe the oracle was right. He said as he turned away from the giants and took out his PMR, we are stronger when we are together.

He punched in a few numbers into its data base and flicked it open.

He heard it ring a few times and sighed impatiently. Come on Archie! He thought. Answer already dammit!

But Archie did not answer at all. Herry began to assume the worst.

Oh god no! He thought as he typed in Jay's number. When that didn't work, he proceeded to type in Odie's, Theresa's, and even Neil's number before he gave up. He knew there was no use in trying to call Atlanta; it was all clear to him now. All his friends were wounded badly, dead, or dying.

So Herry was so distraught he did not notice one of the giants suddenly wake from his slumber and knock Herry on the back of his head.

With Atlanta in the Forest:

Atlanta cried out in frustration, already close to tears once more. She stumbled clumsily over rocks and fallen branches. She was too weak to run from blood loss. Finally she gave up and sank to the ground. Her legs and arms ached from the wounds from the battle. This now added on to the multiple scratches and scrapes she had gained by tracking carelessly through the forest.

"What am I going to do now?" she muttered as she stared at the ground helplessly. "How come I am so slow? I can't even catch up to them! Let alone save Jay before Cronus kills him!"

She groaned and dug her face in her hands miserably. Everything was turning out horrible. All they were supposed to do today was find those stupid bombs and defuse them. NOT chasing Jay around and one of Cronus's minions all around the country!

She slowly began to feel something slide down her cheeks.

No! She thought angrily wiping away the stray tears that fell. I will not cry. I will not believe this is the end! I will find them!

"I have to." She whispered out loud as she forced her legs to move once more. She began running as fast as she could across the forest floor. Jumping over logs and passing trees. She finally stopped when she heard male voices in the distance.

"Hurry up boy! We will never get there in time if you don't hurry up!" she heard a voice hiss angrily.

"Since when did we have a certain time to reach our destination?" another voice asked. She froze. She knew that voice. It was Jay's voice.

Without thinking clearly she ran out into the path where Jay was and ran into his arms.

With Jay and Darren:

Jay proceeded to follow reluctantly through the forest. His suspicions were beginning to grow about Darren. He tried to remember what he was saying to him when they first saw each other but he could not remember. But now was not the time to try and remember forgotten memories. He did not have very long. His friends might be dying, but the only way he could help anyone is if he defeated Cronus and quick.

Soon he had run so far he was actually matching the older boy's long swift strides down the hill.

"So how far exactly are we from the hideout?" Jay asked starting to lose his footing and his breath.

Darren groaned. "Why do you always have to be such a complainer? We will get there when we get there!" he said angrily.

Jay held up his hands defensively. "Geez! Don't kill me! I was just wondering!" he grumbled as they continued to trot of in silence.

Soon Jay began to fall behind again, and this was immediately recognized by Darren.

"Hurry up boy! We will never get there in time if you don't hurry up!" he hissed angrily striding back to where Jay was.

"Since when did we have a certain time to reach our destination?" Jay growled back angrily. "What are you planning?"

Darren mentally slapped himself. Why did god have to give him such a big mouth?

"JAAAAAAAYYYYYYYY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!" a girlish voice screamed running out of somewhere in the bush and running right into Jay.

Darren immediately took out his dagger and almost threw it towards the girl before he recognized her face.

This was the girl from the fight.

Jay stood there frozen in shock and stared down at the girl crying in his arms.

"Atlanta?" he said in bewilderment. "What in gods name are you doing here?"

Atlanta looked up at him with wide eyes and all the sudden leaned up towards the taller boy and slapped him!

"WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT!?" she screamed at him pulling back and slapping him again.

"Listen I am sorry Atlanta but…." He said realizing exactly how angry Atlanta was.

"I HAVE BEEN SEARCHING FOR YOU FOR GOD ONLY KNOWS HOW LONG AND YOU JUST ASK WHAT I AM DOING HERE?!" she yelled reaching up to slap him again

But this time Jay was ready and deflected the block staring at her angrily.

"Will you stop trying to slap me already? I said I was sorry!"

"SORRY ISNT GOOD ENOUGH!" she yelled at him. Slapping him again. This time Jay forgot to reflect it.

Darren sighed in annoyance and lowered his guard. "If all you two are going to do is fight all day then I will leave you two alone." He said walking towards the edge of the path, almost disappearing in the bushes before turning around to Jay once more.

"You can find yourself another escort." He yelled back.

Suddenly Atlanta turned on him before he could leave. "AND YOU!!!" she yelled marching angrily towards him. "WHO DO YOU THINK YOU ARE? TRYING TO TAKE JAY TO WHERE EVER YOU ARE TRYING TO TAKE HIM? AND ALL BY HIMSELF? LAST TIME I CHECKED HE DOSENT EVEN KNOW YOU SO WHY SHOULD HE FOLLOW YOU ANYWHERE?!" she charged towards him and reached up to slap him to.

But Darren being the skilled assassin he is deflected the slap with a wave of his hand and had his dagger to her throat in a second.

"If you were wise you would lower your hand before I have to cut it of and throw it to the wolves." He growled fully meaning what he said.

Atlanta face paled. She also knew that this man meant business. The man lowered his dagger and Atlanta backed away.

"Well wherever you are going, I am going to." Atlanta muttered as she went back to Jay's side.

Jay shook his head. "No," he said reaching and grabbing her arm. "You are NOT coming with us!"

"But why!" she shouted pulling her hand free from his grasp. "You may be the leader of our group Jay, but that does NOT mean that you are going to stop ME from going ANYWHERE!"

Suddenly Atlanta's eyes widened in shock, her body suddenly shook as she crumpled to the ground. Darren stood over top of her, his fist raised.

Jay knelt down next to his friend with worry. Checking to see if she was still breathing.

"You are lucky she is still alive." He growled, his fists shaking with anger.

Darren laughed at Jay's anger. "And what do I exactly have to fear? You're not much of a fear at all. And neither is your little friend." He chuckled again Jay rose picking up his fainted friend.

"And what exactly are you planning to do Jay? She is not coming with us. You said so yourself." With a wave of his hand he turned around and walked forwards again.

"And what exactly are you expecting me to do with her then? I WILL NOT leave her in this forest all alone!" he yelled back starting to regret his decision with each passing minute.

He waved his hand at him without even looking back.

"Just contact your friends. Get them to come for her." He shouted.

Jay looked down at Atlanta guiltily. Knowing that this was the only way to get Cronus once and for all, he agreed with Darren. He reached into her ripped pocket of her cargo pants and quickly pulled out her dirty PMR.

He punched in a few numbers and set the PMR on tracker mode.

There, he thought sadly as he set down his friend onto the ground and put the PMR on top of her. At least they will be able to find her. I am so sorry Atlanta. I WILL make it up to you.

Then he ran after Darren who was waiting for him impatiently.

But as soon as Jay stopped seeing Atlanta's body in the distance, two giants came out and crushed her communicator. Picked up her body and disappeared into the distance.

Meanwhile Jay was trudging through the rest of the forest. Feeling so pathetic and weak. How could he let Darren man handle his friend like that? That strike could have killed Atlanta and he almost let it happen. Thank all the gods in Olympus that it had not killed her.

"Were almost there." He heard Darren growl from a little farther ahead.

Jay sighed as he quickened his pace. Why did he even trust this man? He did not even know his full name was yet he trusted him enough to lead him to his enemy's hideout.

But he knew that this was the only hope now. If he did not trust this man to lead him to Cronus, then the whole world would be lost once more. Cronus would be ruling a dead and horrible world. And the inhabitants of this planet would be his slaves.

"Were here." Darren grumbled again.

Jay's head suddenly lifted and the sudden determination that had left him a moment ago had reappeared. He gazed at his surroundings with shock.

It was the clearing. The clearing he found Theresa lying unconscious in.

Cronus was HERE ALL ALONG?!!?!?!?!?!?!? Jay exploded in his mind shaking his fist in anger.

"Yup." Darren answered and Jay realized he had spoken aloud. "He has been hiding under you stupid noses here for half a year now."

"God dammit!" Jay hissed. "Where is the entrance?" he said looking around at Darren.

He nodded his hands towards the ground. Jay searched around the ground to try and see if he could find a clue as to where the entrance is.

"Well where is it?" he said impatiently.

Darren rolled his eyes. "Use your head Blue-Jay!" he hissed angrily as he picked up a boulder at his feet and showed him the bottom of this.

Jay looked at him oddly. "What about it?"

Darren sighed and threw the rock to him. "Try and see if you can figure out how to open the door Blue-Jay."

"My name is not Blue-Jay." He hissed looking down at the rock. "And I would greatly appreciate it if you would just open the damn gateway!"

He shook his head. "Not going to happen Blue-Jay. You need to figure this out on your own."

Jay shook with anger and glared at that cursed man. "We are wasting time Darren! I need you to open the gateway dammit!"

Darren shook his head and smiled evilly. "Nope."

Jay yelled in anger and threw the rock back into its place with great force.

Suddenly the ground shook. Rocks were spitting up from the ground, littering the shaking ground. With a mighty crack that seemed to tear the heavens, the ground broke into two. It seemed like it ripped at the seam, revealing one gigantic, swirling, endless abyss of red, orange, and yellow.

Jay stared at the glowing portal with is mouth wide open. He was frozen to the ground in shock.

"W-w-wha?" he gasped as Darren grabbed his arm and stared walking quickly. "Where are we going?"

"Were jumping off the cliff." He stated simply as they got to the edge. Jay stared down at the glowing portal. Jay yelled and screamed as the flame like portal engulfed him.

I am now going to leave you hanging here. I am so evil aren't I ? Well I will tell you that the next chapter is already well on its way. So I am hoping it will be done by the end of next week. Can you wait that long? Muhahaha!

Anyways, Review please!

Signed,

Spiritgirl of Japan