it all ends with us: ruins

026

Chapter Twenty-Six:

"I just want one last chance to say goodbye."

It had taken an hour for Gaia and her older sons to get back. Atlas had fallen asleep on the floor surrounded by her own blood while Apollo was still struggling against the spell. She dropped to the floor next to her daughter and let out a loud wail. Ace wasted no time before helping Apollo down who ran to Atlas. Gaia shook herself out of her fear and began trying to wake Atlas up. The worry for her only daughter consumed her.

The Lennon's spent the rest of the day trying to nurse Atlas back to her normal self. Apollo explained what had happened and all five of the Lennon boys wanted to track their father down to murder him. Anger coursed through all of them, the only thing on their mind was to hurt Seth like he had hurt their baby sister. Gaia had to convince them that their first priority was in fact getting Atlas better.

She was fed multiple different potions and had tens of spells used on her but Atlas didn't mutter a word. She sat in silence over the two days without a hint of her usual self. She sat numb to the world, a shell of the girl she once was. She hardly ate and spent most of the day sleeping. She felt flashes of pain every time she tried to think about what had happened and even begged for someone to obliviate her.

It was now the day that Apollo, Ajax and Atlas were supposed to leave for the Parkinson's. However, none of them had even wanted to. Every ounce of excitement had left each of their body's. Gaia sat holding her daughter in a comforting embrace while the boys sat quietly scattered around the room. The clock ticked in the background like a metronome.

"I want to get out of this house." Atlas whispered causing her family to look up at her.

"Honey you don't have to go. I can OWL the Parkinson's and tell them you're sick." Gaia tells her.

"I just want to leave. I don't want to be here anymore." She whimpers.

The house felt alien to her. Everywhere she looked all she could be reminded of was what had happened. Atlas knew she would be better off in the Parkinson manor with her friends. It would allow her to forget even for a second the pain she had to endure. Even if it meant having to pretend that she was okay for the weekend, she'd do it to be able to leave.

"Okay." Gaia allows after considering all her options.

Forcing Atlas to stay at home would only make her worse. It would be much better for her to be around her friends. You can't heal in the same environment that made you sick. After a lot of arguing with her two eldest brothers who didn't want to let her out of their sight, Atlas packed an overnight bag and walked over to the fireplace and waited for her twin. Although the bruises had disappeared but it still hurt to move. Externally everything was back to normal but Atlas knew that internally and mentally she would still have scars.

Her suitcases would be sent back to Hogwarts as they would be going back as soon as the weekend was over. Ajax and Apollo had finally finished packing and made their way over to their sister. Gaia embraces Atlas in one last hug before kissing her goodbye. Ajax grabs a handful of Floo powder before the three get engulfed in green flames.

The Parkinson manor was huge. From the room they had arrived in you could tell that Pansy's parents had a lot of money. The three Lennon's step out of the fireplace and instantly were tackled into a hug. Ren's familiar scent wafted through the air as she hugged Atlas. The young girl winced slightly before embracing her back into a hug. Pansy and Kiera follow in Ren's footsteps, pulling Atlas into a hug.

"I've missed you so much." Ren squeals.

"Hey it's our turn." Lorenzo piped up.

Both Lorenzo and Theo walk over to Atlas and squish her into a bear hug making her laugh at the two. She quickly squeezes out and spots Blaise and makes her way over to him and throws her arm over his shoulders.