Athena's Savior

14 I saw her

Athena's pov

The officer to my left, clad in his dark blue uniform asked me once more, "Miss Cadman are you sure you're alright to go back to class, we can escort you home to your parents if you need." The offer, despite good intentions, was probably the worst idea I'd ever heard. The only response I could muster was a disapproving shake of my head and the officers began they're walk to their police vehicles.

As I turned my back to them, I struggled for air. I can't be there, under the same roof as them, my family.
They lied. My mind is racing so fast I can't breathe.
They knew. Holding a hand to my chest, I begged myself to let air in.
All I could think about was whether Miles knew too. I assume he doesn't since he's never mentioned it to me, but what if...no I can't even imagine it. Him lying to me all these months.

I don't know when I started crying but my cheeks were coated by my silently falling tears. Tears for my sister, who very well might be alive, myself, the anger that solidified in my chest as I thought about what my parents had done. but the front runner was confusion.

Utter confusion because if she was alive...where the hell is she? I felt hands on me and in the distance someone was speaking. I can't breathe, I need to breathe. Someone far, far away from where I was in this silent hell. The voices were muffled but I think they were speaking to me, I don't know.

I feel numb, utterly weightless, like I could fall from the sky and drift on a light breeze like a feather.

I think someone is shaking me. I desperately need air, need to breathe. But as I finally took a breathe in...

Aaron's pov

She went limp in Wren's arms and I rushed to carry her, "we need to take her to a hospital, Aaron".

I looked at Wren, there was undiluted worry, pure terror in those usually stone cold eyes. It horrified me but I didn't voice my concern as we rushed to her car and I got in the back seat holding Thea.

"What the hell happened to her?" Wren questioned me as if I had any idea. I just shook my head and watched Athena's chest rise and fall making sure she was at least breathing okay.

What is happening in that head of hers. Friday night and now this. I realized in all the chaos we hadn't thought of the officers.

I asked Wren, "what do you think those officers wanted with her?" She shook her head as her panicked eyes darted around the road. Her hands were shaking on the wheel and I realized how much Thea truly means to her.

I knew they were close but I had never considered that Thea was one of Wren's only real friends. I had seen Wren talk to dozens of people daily, but in her moments of blind panic I realized Thea was likely the only person she really cared about. Looked out for, like her sister.

"I don't care why they were there I just want to know what the hell they said to scare her to the point of passing out". She said sharply.

Athena began writhing in my lap and I told Wren to stop the car. She did immediately and whipped her head to face me. Eyes darting Thea's body head to toe as she began to wake up.

I gently brushed her hair from her face as her eyes fluttered open. She mumbled something I couldn't hear and tried sitting up.

I grabbed her waist to lift her into the seat to my left; she was so frail, I don't think she's been eating, or sleeping for that matter. I think she knew it too, purposely wearing a sweatshirt in an attempt to hide it.

She glanced around the car and to both Wren and I likely confused as to how we got here. "You fainted Athena, are you okay? What happened?" I questioned.