“DAVINA? HELLO? THIS ISN’T FUNNY ANYMORE.” I frantically putter around the abandoned parking garage. Her flashlight lays on the ground, flickering from the drop. Giving the wall a pulsating effect.

She just...vanished.

It was only moments ago when we were casually joking around. One second I’m laughing my ass off, the next...gone.

As if she never even existed to begin with. I couldn’t explain it, but the first time in a long time I didn’t have an answer. I’m so used to being able to explain things...They just come to me, but this... This was a whole different thing. People can’t just disappear. It’s not plausible. Like a magician never just "disappears". Through the use of misdirection, by averting your eyes from themselves as well as the use of their clever props they're able to manipulate the way you see things. There's no such thing as magic let alone any otherworldly doing.

So that's what happened. I got distracted and someone took her. That's the only reasonable answer.

“DAVINA?” lost in my thoughts my words are stuck on repeat. Hearing the same words come out of my mouth again and again with no response except my own echo nulls me.

I stop, my legs feel like they could buckle at any second, dazed and numb. After what feels like eternity I fall to my knees, unable to keep myself up anymore.

My best-friend.

The only person that ever gave me a chance, a reason to keep going, understood me and what it feels like to be so lost . Gone.

“Davi-” my voice falters as my eyes succumb to the warm tears that soon begin to trickle down my face. I just feel so...hopeless. Nothing matters anymore. The one person that ever meant anything to me was gone.

“Not right now.” 

A familiar voice rings through my head. I’m met with a stabbing pain as I use my palms to put pressure on my temples. Those words were not my own.

I then notice my tears and take my sleeve wiping them away. However, my movements become more aggressive, as if I had acid on my face. Trying to wipe away my frustration in my attempts to pity myself.

Pathetic.

Words of that familiar voice reverberate through my head. A cold chill creeps up my back as it speaks.

“Tears don’t fix anything. All they’re good for is wasting time.”

I rise up slowly. Ashamed that I'd let myself get to that point. With my head down I attempt to compose myself.

“Chin Up.”

Davina’s words echo through my head as I slowly raise my head up, bringing a sting to my eyes as an unwanted memory fills my head.

"Come on Nikitus quit being such a baby."

I had fallen down while we were both running away in the middle of the night. I was so tired and fed up with running from place to place I just let my emotions out the second I tripped and scraped my knee.

"Ughhh. Fine."

Davina then approaches me unzipping her bag pulling out some astronaut band aids. 

"Oh. My. God. Is that a UFO?" she then points her hand telling me to look behind myself. My eyes go wide as I turn around and try to see what she was pointing to. As I do so she grabs another thing out of her bag and rubs it on my wound. 

"OUCH. STOP THAT HURTS." 

"Me dressing your cut hurts? Or the fact that you were stupid enough to think that there was an actual UFO behind you." 

She lets out a laugh as I cross my arms in embarrassment. It was rare when she laughed but when she did she could light up a room. Effortlessly cool. Everything she did was always so calm and collected, like she'd been doing it her whole life.

"Alright sport, which astronaut band aid you want? We have this galaxy one...There's one with an astronaut on the moon... Annnnd this cool space llama." 

I point my finger at the space llama with my head down. Still embarrassed that I was crying like a little baby.

"Good choice." 

 She smiles but I don't acknowledge it. I was mad at myself for being so...weak. 

Why couldn't I just be like her?

She pouts as pokes her cheek. She does that when she's thinking. Then she starts putting the supplies back in her bag and stands up. She turns and pauses for a minute. Then reaches out her hand.

"Chin up lil bro. Don't let one little misstep prevent you from taking more steps. Come on, up now, I believe in you." 

I lift my head up seeing her wide toothy grin. Her words were comforting. The only thing I really enjoyed hearing. I smile and take her hand as she helps me to my feet. She then puts my arm around the back of her neck.

"Here, you can lean on me, I won't let you fall, Don't worry."

There’s a cough in the distance that snaps me out of my thoughts. I flash my light over as I see another homeless person seeking shelter at the opposite end of the garage. She gives me a casual wave acknowledging my presence. I do the same. I scan my light around seeing the other sleeping people either in a fetal position or wrapped in thin blankets. Cardboard sloppily layed about for extra padding. As if I wasn't just screaming my head off 5 minutes ago.

People here don’t care. They could care less in fact. Another person’s call for help just brings back memories of when they needed help but never received it. Hope is lost here. Without Davina that is.

She’s my hope.

My will.

I wouldn’t be who I am today without her.

I just don't get it. She can't be gone, there's something I'm not seeing...

I’m quickly brought to my senses as there’s a loud bang from the opposite end of the abandoned parking garage followed by a blood-curdling shriek. My eyes dilate as my hearts rate sky-rockets...Davina's usually the one to bring it down.

Then...there's silence, just the occasional shuffle of someone shifting in their sleep.

It’s quiet.

Too quiet.

I flash my light around where I was expecting to see the coughing old lady.

Nothing.

As I approach where she was setting up, to make sure shes okay, a sickly red color is plastered all over the walls and ground where she had just started to make her shelter.

Blood.

I’m unable to move. Fear pokes at my back, trying to creep up my neck.

I cant let it. 

Not now. 

I'm able to see streaks of the blood along the floor going up to the second floor of the garage.

A trail. 

She was dragged.

Without thinking I instinctively follow the trail. The light beaming from my flashlight going in various directions from my hands not being steady.

As I make my way up to the 2nd floor the atmosphere gradually changes. Getting colder with every step, my breath becoming visible upon exhale. There's this ticking in the back of my head. Knowing I shouldn't be doing this, but I don't care at this point.

What do I got left to lose?

As I make my way up to the second floor I hear the faint echo of voices coming from the opposite end. I scurry to the nearest pillar and hide behind it focusing on the voices.

"WELL IF SHE'S NOT HERE WHERE IS SHE?" The first voice yells, seeming irritated.

"B-Boss I-I'm sorry- Someone got to her before we did- I can't pick up on her scent anywhere-" a second voice replies, but is shortly cut off by the third voice

"YOU LOST HER? MOTHER'S GOING TO BE FURIOUS!" the third voice shrieks deeper in pitch than the others. Almost like a dog would when they bark.

"I-I'm sorry- I didn't mean-"

"LIKE HELL YOU DIDN'T MEAN. I SWEAR YOU GOOD FOR NOTHING-"

"S-s-silenc-c-ce."

This was the fourth voice. All the hairs on the back of my neck prick up as I hear this sinister hiss of the word silence from this voice. It was unnatural...almost serpent-like. I peek my head out from the side of the pillar to see if I can make out anything. I can't see anything except 4 very large inhuman-like silhouettes just a couple feet away from me. An unnerving chill creeps up my spine as I quickly retract my head from peering out from the side.

"Orthus-s-s, darling...let's not get out of hand shall we...there still remains another child we are here to collect..." her words were baleful. Just as disturbing as when someone scratches their nails along a chalkboard.

Who the hell are these people?

"Yes Mother, my apologies. The other child seems to be occupying this very building where we lie right now, though my nose can't pick up exactly where he is."

"Ah, s-s-seems I have flaws upon creating my own children. How...horrid, not to worry, I am everything you. are. not."

There's a hint of distastefulness in her voice, with undertones of sheer disappointment. The other voice whimpers in response to her remark.

 "Come on out child there's no reason to fear us-s-s-s. We are but humble servants-s-s."

My body goes still. My breathing intensifies. I can't stop hyperventilating until a cold hand covers my mouth. I face the person about to go berserk until she whispers

"Not a sound. I'm here to help, but you have to trust me."

She squeezes the sides of my face where her hand is over my mouth and yanks my face so that I'm looking at her dead in the eyes. Her stare is intense, but also...reassuring. I jerk my head away. My words are bitter and barely quiet.

"What the f*ck-Who the hell are you? I'm not obligated to just blindly trust some freaky ass girl-I don't even know who the f*ck you are. Let alone the fact how you snuck up on me just now. And what in the hell are those things?"

"Shh. We haven't much time, I was sent by-"

Just then a serpent-like creature turns the corner, one eye fixated on me while the other eye stares ahead.

"Ohh, how lovely...Eleni's here too. Talk about a family reuinion, how...s-s-sweet."

I stand there paralyzed as I see the monstrous serpent lady lick her lips with her snake-ish tongue. A paralyzing smile plastered on her face. The girl quickly faces me, a calm assertiveness in her eyes.

"Run."

“You see this young man here.”

“Yes ma’am.”

“He is your brother. Half Brother. But no matter, still your brother.”

“Yes ma’am.”

“I want you to find this young man, the wretched girl he is with has been masking his as well as her own scent from monsters. She leaves soon and he will be left vulnerable. It is your job to bring him back here safely.”

“Yes ma’am.”

“Quit being so formal dear, mother is fine, no ma’am is needed.”

“Yes Mother.”

“Very well, get to it then, contact me as soon as you have possession of him. Yes? Very good, take care now.”

And with that she signs off. She only seems to call to burden me with a tedious task. Like this one. I have tons of half-siblings, they usually find their way here or...die. With an increase in monsters lately a lot of demigods haven’t been able to make it to the safe haven we provide. My mother loves all her children, we may not talk with her very often but she promises to get revenge on all of our fallen. She’s very concerned about this one in particular. I don’t know why, but I think it may have something to do with a prophecy that was written eons back. The Gods have recently been talking about it becoming more relevant within the last two years and fear it may lead to a raging war that will devastate billions. This new brother that I only just recently have become aware of could potentially play a part in it. That is why I must fetch him.

"Run.”

I force the boy to the ground as well as myself as Echidna slaps her tail into the pillar, nearly decapitating us. The whole building shakes and rumbles as pieces of it fall down on us. I roll my eyes and shove the boy out of the way as a piece barrels its way down from above us. I doge it, by rolling to the side and quickly pick myself up. I glare at Echidna as the boy shakily stands to his feet.

“What. The. Actual. F*CK.”

I put my fingers to my temples but soon had to stop as I’m burdened with having to jump out of the way. Thankfully in the nick of time, Echidna’s razor tail came swinging at me.

“Do you not listen? I said RUN.”

"YEAH, Heard you loud and clear, You’re crazy if you think I’m just going to leave you here alone!”

Just then two of Echidna’s children charge at the young boy, dog piling on top of him. Emerging with him grabbed by the leg and raised in the air.

“Aw, this one has hardly any meat on him. Momma we need to fatten him up before we eat him.”

“We’re not eating him, you fool.”

Echidna hisses as I jump up and kick her in her throat, causing her to bobble backwards.

“H-HEY. PUT ME DOWN!”

The young man yells kicking and thrashing with all his might. But the hound is seemingly unbothered by his movements.

“OOOH HAHA, we have a live one!”

The Chimera pokes at the boy with her talons, laughing and drawing slight blood. The hound Orthus growls and nips at her as she licks the blood off from her claws.

I breathe in.

Head down.

Sprint toward the Chimera.

With swift, clean motions I sprint toward the back of her, time is in slow motion as I take the wire saw from out my back pocket. I wrap it around her neck and pull each side diagonally from one another until I hear a snapping sound. I exhale and time catches back up with me. The chimera is laughing until green gooey liquid spills out her mouth, and then out her throat where I had cut with the saw wire. She collapses and I take another deep inhale again, this time I take the blade I had around my back and toss it into the chimera’s head.

Just to be sure she’s dead. 

With her head still stuck to my blade, I shift my gaze to the hound. Without hesitation I walk up and insert it below the jaw through its head. I exhale, finally, it drops the boy as well as itself to the ground, dissolving into ashes shortly after. Upon exhaling, I had to catch myself this time around as I feel light headed from having to have held my breath for that long.

That’s the ability my mother so ‘kindly’ gave me. In a short duration of time, or however long I am able to hold my breath I possess the ability to be able to move fluidly and quickly.

It’s only a matter of time before it costs me my...life.

I get out of my daze and grab the young man by his shoulders and drag him out. While the charming Miss Echidna mourns the death of her children.

“You...are going to pay for this-s-s-s...Eleni”

I glare at her, heading off.

The snake woman screeches at the top of her lungs as I hoist the boy upon my shoulders and bolt out of there. Surprisingly light for his age... and short.

He’s malnourished. 

Severely.

I hear him exhale and once we are a decent sum away from that god-forsaken parking garage I drop him on the pavement.

“OU, f*ck-”

He whines but I pay no attention to it. Instead I squat down and meet him so that our eyes are leveled.

“Listen here...Buddy. I’m not always going to be carrying your ass. So, put your big boy panties on and stand like a man.”

“I’m sorry...Do I f*cking know you? You still haven’t even had the decency to explain exactly who you are and why the hell you decided to save me.”

“Saved you? That’s what you think I was doing? For all you know I could be some kidnapper who just picked up an easy sna-”

“No. Then why go through all the trouble of taking on t-those... things? Hm? No. You need me for something otherwise you wouldn’t have just carried me halfway across town.”

I scoff and roll my eyes in response.

Who the hell does he think he is? 

Gods...I want to kill him.

“Okay, fine then. Have it your way.”

With that I knock him out. I let out a deep exhale and hoist him up on my shoulders once again. With my fingers held up to the sky I whistle. With that a faint hoot comes from the distance. Growing closer and closer as a monstrous owl is seen flying towards us from a distance.

"Ophelia"

I whistle twice more, signaling her to land. Her powerful wings flap vigorously as she settles onto the pavement shaking up dirt as well as tiny pebbles. I shield my eyes as her glittering feathers are blinding as they absorb the sunlight. She bellows another call causing the ground to quake.

"Easy girl...easy, I'm happy to see you too."

"HOOT, HOOT!"

"Yes, yes I found the boy-"

"HOOT."

"No, I swear he was knocked out when I found him..."

"Hoot."

"Language! And anyways have room for two? I doubt he'll be able to make it on foot."

"Hooooot."

"Yes, yes I know, Don't worry I'll give you extra mice when we get home."

"Hooot."

"Triple? Greedy now aren't we?"

"Hoot."

"Fine then, just make it before he wakes up. He's insufferable really."

With that she flattens her wings and lowers her tail enough so that I can hoist the limp boy over. I do so, and get on the upper part of her back.

"Ah, finally...we can go home."

She lets out another deep hoot and shoots upward using her legs, taking to the sky. Her wings flap furiously gaining elevation with every thrust. Up until we are at gliding height. Her wings slice through clouds, like butter. Her feathers shimmering and glittering, letting off specks of glittery dust. Her eyes, more yellow than the sun itself. I take a second to turn and look at the young man.

Still out cold.

I sigh and face forward again.

I don't like to be mean. But I can't not be honest, people are so filled with their own delusions nowadays you come off as being a hater just because your opinion doesn't correlate with their own.

Pathetic.

There's been this unnerving feeling in my stomach. Ever since my mom gave me this assignment. I feel that at any moment something could go very wrong. What sucks is that I'm usually right about these feelings. Call it...Athena's intuition?

My thoughts are interrupted with a sudden change in the air. Black thunderous clouds swarm out of nowhere attempting to form a face. Ophelia bellows and squawks as I tell her to calm down. A powerful voice booms from them.

"Ho, ho, ho, what is this? Eleni girl good to see you!"

"Yeah, hey Zeus..."

"My Gods! It's been ages since we've talked, how are you? And Ophelia! My oh my! You get bigger by the minuet!"

"HOOT!"

Ophelia does her head turn-y thing, she does that when she's embarrassed.

"Yes, yes I've been alright, just transporting our little project back to our haven."

"Ahh, I see, well don't let me keep you! Oh and tell your Mother I said hello, anyways, safe travels!"

With that the thunderous clouds dissipate and its back to being all sunny. Ophelia coos after his departure.

He's usually never that happy...something must be wrong 

I try to think no more of the matter. While we near the haven, Tucked in between rolling hills untouched by man, is where our home lies.

Good to be back.

Ophelia's cries of excitement echo through the valley as her speed increases, excited that we are nearing home. She lands suddenly, giving me that feeling in my stomach as when a roller coaster dips too fast. I laugh off the feeling as I'm greeted by my fellow peers, them cheering that I brought back the cargo.

"Pee-youu, you reek of Echidna's breath, have a run in?"

That's my boyfriend Atticus. Ash blond hair and grey eyes. His hair is always a mess, can't ever seem to tame it.

"And you smell like the local satyrs. But yes I did, she was looking for the young man."

The crowd gasps as if they all knew this would happen.

"What's the matter? Know something I don't?"

"It's better if you talk to your mother about this...We received some news while you were away."

Great I knew something was wrong.

"Good...or bad?"

"Depends how you take it. Could be both."

"Alright, do me a favor and get him situated, he's out cold still."

"Your doing?"

Atticus smiles and shakes his head as he looks over to see the young man limp on Ophelia still.

"Poor unfortunate soul, already on your bad side, eh?"

"No. Not yet, he's just annoying."

"Ah, well...alright, its best you go now, Athena said she had a lot to talk to you about."