A/N: Oh dear, I am truly an awful person. Has it really been a month since ive updated!? Yeah, I know. Boo me. I could say ive been busy, which I have. But the truth is that I didnt know what to write. Sad, right? Ive decided to wing it and pray for the best. So here it is.
Bright sunlight filtered down into my eyes. I groaned, and rolled onto my stomach. Someone jumped on my bed, jostling it and letting me feel the full extent of my injuries. The sharp, consistent pain rolled over me and I groaned and sat up. The first thing I saw was Lily, perched on my bed with wide, nervous eyes. I took stock of the room, noticing and wondering about the differences. But before I could ask, the memories hit me. I gasped again and tears filled my eyes.
"How is she? Did everyone make it out okay? What day is it? Is Apollo still mad?" I shot questions out like bullets, not pausing for the answer. When I realized Lily couldn't possibly compete with my questions, I clammed up. She sat appraising me, as if waiting for more questions. She sighed.
"We are mostly fine, simply worried about you! You've been asleep for five days, tossing and turning and mumbling. We were worried that we hadn't gotten enough Ambrosia and Nectar into you, but Artemis assured us you would awake when you wanted too. Apollo has gotten over his son's death. He even made up a haiku for it. He and Artemis are closer than ever. As for April, you should come see you yourself." I scrambled out of bed as she said the last words, anxious to see how my favorite sister was. April led me down the stairs, and out onto the front porch. My sisters were all there, positioned around one point, a little girl that was looking out into the vibrant sun. She looked like the very picture of happiness and well-being. But my approach was noticed, and she turned to smile at me. I barely stifled my gasp of shock.
On the right side of what used to be her beautiful and youthful face, was a scarred and scratched remnant. April rose to greet me, and I could even feel my eyes bug out. On her right hand, there was only 3 fingers. Gauze and wrapping covered the stumps that remained of her pointer finger and pinky. She halted coming towards me when she saw my expression. Clouds of despair covered her face. I quickly rearranged my face, settling on a peaceful look that revealed nothing of the turmoil inside me.
"Come here." I beckoned, holding out my arms for a hug. She rushed foreward into my embrace, tears wracking her body. I could feel them silently streaming down on me too. We stood like that for a good minute, before she pulled out and more convienently situated herself under my arm. I then looked over her.
It looked like April's body was intact, save for a few healing bruises and faded scars that were all that was left from her adventure. While I was still perfect, and beautiful. A young life had been destroyed because of me. I could hardly bear the disdain and self-hatred. I untentionally stiffened, and April glanced up at me.
"It's really not as bad as it looks. Artemis said that they should fade after so many years. Ill never look like I used too, but at least ill be interesting!" April stated.
'My little optimist,' I thought. 'That a young life should be taken away, so brutilly. Yes, she's still alive, but what kind of life is it when people gasp at the sight of you. When girls giggle behind your back, and guys pretend to ask you to a dance and end up dumping pig blood on you? I can't bear this.'
I didn't notice Artemis sitting on the porch swing, but I did notice when I felt her piercing gaze on me. She had felt my sudden turn of thought, so I muffled my emotions and turned to the other girls. Every one of them looked weary and frightened, shifty eyed, glancing around at intervals to check for danger. I could feel that I was like that too, and I hated it. 'Is there not a life where we can live peacefully, like normal girls? Sure, we are blessed with outstanding looks, wisdom, fight skills, or powers. But that definately doesn't make up for the fact that not one of us can ever go to a normal school without wondering if our teachers are planning to kill us. We can't kiss a guy without being ready for a fight at any moment. Something needs to be done.'
So, I let myself fall into my sisters ranks, letting them overtake me with their chattering and meaningless words. I smiled and kept up the pretense that everything was back to normal, that I was back to normal. But something inside me had shifted, and was calling for action. I didn't let my emotions show it, but I was getting ready for action. I could talk and nod all I wanted, but someday, soon, something big was going to happen. And I was going to cause it. So while my sisters giggled and gossiped, in the back of my mind, I was planning.
A/N: *wince* That was shorter than I thought it would be. I was stretching it out at the end :/ sorry. And after the month you've waited, you deserve more. But alots going to happen in the next chapter. So press the little button and make me happy. Thank you (: *cough* my birthday is monday*cough*
Song- Heartbeat by Stereo Skyline