Chapter 5 05

Chapter 5

"So they sent you," he sneered. "What a joke."

The man's voice dripped with condescension, and Thea could feel the tension in the air tighten. She couldn't move. Her heart pounded against her ribcage, the adrenaline in her veins setting her senses on high alert. Everything seemed too surreal. The darkness around them was suffocating, and the harsh streetlights flickered like they, too, wanted to get out of this place.

A cold shiver ran down her spine, but it wasn't just fear-it was something else. She could feel the weight of his words, his presence, something dangerous lingering in the air. She didn't know what she had gotten herself into.

"It won't be a joke when I tear your arm from its socket," her savior replied coldly. His voice was flat, devoid of any emotion, but it carried a terrifying promise. His grip on Thea's waist was unyielding, as though she might break under the weight of his resolve.

Thea didn't even know what to make of him-he was striking, undeniably so, but his eyes were hard, as if they had seen too much and carried a burden that no one should ever have to bear. The smell of his leather jacket overwhelmed her senses, a heady combination of smoke, something dark, and the faintest trace of cologne. But it was his presence, more than anything, that kept her rooted to the spot. His grip on her waist tightened again, forcing her to look up at him. His expression never wavered as he studied the two men before them.

The two men, dressed in dark clothing, didn't flinch. The one who had spoken earlier, the smaller one, stepped forward, his eyes narrowed. There was a flicker of anger in his gaze, but also something else-something that suggested he knew more than he was letting on.

"You can't protect her forever, Hermes," the smaller man said, his voice thick with menace. "Cronos will get what he wants, he always does."

Hermes's jaw clenched. "Not this time," he muttered, his grip tightening once more on Thea. She wasn't sure if it was to protect her or to keep her still.

The two men exchanged one last glance before they retreated into the shadows, their movements swift and almost unnatural. The darkness seemed to swallow them up as though they had never existed at all. The sound of their retreating footsteps faded, leaving only the distant hum of the city. For a moment, everything was silent.

Thea was left standing there, still unsure of what was happening. Her savior didn't move, still as stone. But something had changed. The tension in the air was palpable, and she could feel the weight of the world pressing down on her.

"Shae!" she suddenly screamed, her heart leaping into her throat as she rushed to her friend.

Her knees hit the pavement as she crouched beside the lifeless body of Shae, her hands trembling as they hovered over her. Shae's chest didn't rise and fall with breath. Her skin was cold, too cold. Thea's heart felt as if it had stopped beating. Her vision blurred, but she refused to look away.

"Shae, please, wake up!" Thea's voice broke as she whispered her name over and over, but there was no response. She was gone. Just like that.

"She's dead, Lissandre," Hermes said, his voice soft, but the words struck her like a punch to the gut.

The name he used felt wrong, like a bad memory she couldn't shake. "Shut up!" Thea snapped, her voice hoarse, her throat raw from the emotional weight. "My name is not Lissandre. It's Thea, damn it! Why are you all calling me that?" She felt her chest constrict with a mixture of grief and frustration, but there was something else there too-a sense of being trapped. She had no answers, no explanation, and everything was spinning out of control.

For a long moment, Hermes didn't say anything. He simply stood there, watching her as she cradled Shae's lifeless form in her arms. His face was unreadable, but there was something almost... sorrowful in his gaze.

"All will be explained in time," he said at last, his voice quiet. "For now, I need to get you out of here."

"No," Thea shook her head, the panic rising again. She couldn't leave. Not like this. Not with Shae lying in the dirt. "I can't," she whispered, tears streaming down her face. "I can't leave her alone. I have to wait-I have to-"

The words broke off as she let out a sob, her body shaking. Her fingers ran through Shae's hair, trying to find some semblance of warmth in the lifeless body. But it was too late. Nothing could bring her back. Nothing could change what had happened.

Hermes's gaze softened for a brief moment, but it didn't last long. "I'm sorry for your loss, Thea," he said, his voice almost gentle. "But we do not have time. You must come with me now, to begin your training."

Her head snapped up at the word. Training? What was he talking about? None of this made sense. She couldn't even think straight.

"What?" Thea whispered, her voice cracking. "Training? What are you talking about?" She looked at him like he had lost his mind, her confusion growing with every passing second.

Hermes's expression hardened again. His patience seemed to wear thin. "You must rediscover your powers and help us defeat Cronos once more."

The words hit her like a ton of bricks, and she took a step back. Her heart pounded in her chest as she struggled to understand what was happening. Powers? Cronos? What the hell was he talking about?

"Are you insane?" she whispered, her voice trembling. "What the fuck are you talking about? Cronos? Powers? You're out of your fucking mind!" She could feel the hysteria rising in her chest, her breath quickening as she fought to keep it together. Everything was unraveling. It didn't make sense. It couldn't.

Hermes rolled his eyes, his exasperation palpable. "I don't have time for your silly dramatics, Lissandre-"

"My name is Thea!" she screeched, the hysteria bubbling over, spilling out of her in a wave of frustration and grief.

She didn't know what to do. She didn't know what was real anymore. She just wanted to scream. She wanted to run. But where would she go? What was she supposed to do?

Police sirens suddenly pierced the night, their shrill wail growing louder with each passing second. Hermes made a noise of annoyance. "They're quicker than before," he muttered under his breath. Thea's eyes darted to the flashing lights in the distance, a knot of fear tightening in her stomach.

Without another word, Hermes moved away from her, stepping backward into the darkness with fluid, practiced movements. The shadows seemed to embrace him, swallowing him whole. He didn't look back.

"This isn't over, Thea," he called, his voice distant and foreboding.

Her breath hitched, and she found herself staring after him, wondering why she even cared. She should have been angry, scared, confused-everything. But the truth was, she was tired. Tired of being thrown into this world of uncertainty, of loss, of questions she couldn't answer.

"Where are you going?" she whispered, her voice barely audible.

The last thing she saw before the darkness overtook him was a smirk-a dangerous, knowing smirk.

"Don't fear," he said, his voice just barely a whisper in the air. "You'll be seeing me again, real soon."

And then he was gone.

The world felt quieter, but it wasn't peaceful. It was heavy. It was suffocating.

And Thea, standing alone in the cold, could only wonder how deep this nightmare was about to go.