The Outcasts

Chapter Three - Ivy

Thursday, May 28, 2020 - 2:25 pm

Ivy glowered, stalking across the grassy entrance of Grottingsedge's campus, the dorms fading in the distance. The campus was too big for their own good. No middle school (high school, whatever) needed this much space.

She walked as she considered her options. She had determined Evelyn was a demigod, though her godly parent was still unknown. It didn't help that she didn't seem to have either a mother or a father. She could probably rule out Jupiter and Neptune, since she hadn't instinctively used either water or weather as a defense mechanism. Mercury or Ceres were her current guesses.

She passed the hotel where Evelyn's aunt resided for the time being. The place looked shabby and worn down, yet still probably too expensive for Ivy to stay a night or two. At least it was only about 2:30, so Ivy had a few more hours to figure out where she would stay for the night.

Thursday, May 28, 2020 - 8:00 pm

Ivy ended up in an alley in a suburban neighborhood. Suburbs were usually the safest areas to sleep, although the residents weren't always the nicest about 'dirty hobos.'

After scouting out the area for any monsters or other dangers, Ivy set down a blanket and small pillow, a concealed gun and several knives within arms reach. When she was finally certain she was safe, well, as safe as a demigod could get, Ivy allowed herself to drift off.

She stood in a field, grass expanding as far as the eye could see. She took a deep breath, soaking in the sun. A warm breeze blew her hair around ,pleasant on her face. Butterflies and bees flew around each flower as Ivy walked, grass brushing up to her knees, the sun beating down on her. She walked for a few minutes, the air turning brisk and frosty. She shivered, wrapping her arms around her torso. She could see her breath as she puffed out a sigh.

Ivy furrowed her brow in confusion. She was in a warm field, the sun was shining, butterflies and bees were around, colorful plants grew around her. There was no reason she should be cold. But as she glared back at the sun and swept her hair away from her face, her eyes widened. The sun was gone, as were the butterflies and bees. Instead, a motionless plane of dead grass stared at her.

Ivy looked around, squeezing herself tighter. There weren't any noises, no wind, no movement. Like the world was holding its breath, waiting for her to do something.

She began to explore, looking for anything living. This place was not right. A sick queasiness filled her, and she felt utterly, completely, alone. She wished for the butterflies and bees to return and fill her with warmth. She wished the sun would rise again, or even for the moon to show herself.

Nothing was real. No grasses, dead or alive, layed around her. No moon nor sun in the sky. No winged insects, no flowers, no anything. They had all stopped.

Breathing became harder and harder, the air thinning. She tried calling out for anything, anyone, but nothing came out of her mouth. Reaching with everything she could, Ivy screamed, falling in on herself.

A wolf appeared. Lupa.

Young one, Lupa said, why so alone?

"I don't know," Ivy gasped, desperate for someone to understand. "I- I can't breathe, no one is here, I can't-."

Why are you alone? Where are your friends?

"Lupa, help me! I can't breathe!"

You are alone. Why are you alone?

Tears ran down her cheeks, salty and wet. No, not tears. Rain?

The air around Ivy's head rippled, changing colors as she looked around her. She instantly recognized where she was; she had been fighting in this field for as long as she could remember.