Sign of the Times

you're gonna die. much love, mom

I really think I sat on the swings for an eternity. I watched as kids came and left the playground. I watched as kids built a snowman then used it as a hiding place during a snowball fight. Live, laugh, love being deprived of a true childhood. 

When I finally left the sun was setting and the snow started falling again. I walked into the little forrest next to the park, finding a little pond and sat down, throwing little pebbles into it. 

My heart practically stopped, ripped open my chest, and walked away when a voice sounded from behind me. A voice I knew all too well. "Hello, dear." 

I jump to my feet and turn around, to make sure it really was her. "Mom?" I walk towards her and go to touch her, but my hand falling right through her arm. "You're a ghost." My heart pings with sadness remembering she is kinda dead. 

"Yes I am. But I have been watching over you and you have been doing so well, my little sun!" Her voice is just how I remember it: warm, cozy, and soothing. 

"I, I have been trying my best." She smiles at me. "Why are you here? And why now? Not that I am mad, just . . . "

"Confused?" I nod my head. "Well, I saw that Apollo paid you a little visit and I thought that I would have to as well."

"The prophecy." She smiles a sorry smile. "What is it?"

"I can't tell you that." 

I frown, then get angry. "Great, so both people who know the prophecy can't tell me. Even my own mother who is fucking dead won't tell me. That is just great!"

"That is something that will come in due time."

"Then why are you even here, mom? Why did you come all this way from the underworld for the first time in however long?"

She sighs, looking at the pond and a little frog that was sitting on a rock. "I came to tell you your fate." That sounds worthy. "I must warn you though, it isn't a good one. I tried protecting you from it, I really did try, but I couldn't."

"What is it?"

"When I first had you, I found out the prophecy about you. Something in it told me that you die. Your death would end a war. That is why we left during World War II, so no one could use you or your powers to the point of your death."

"But it wasn't about that war," I finish.

"But it wasn't about that war," she agrees. "You need to stay alive until your time comes or you will not succeed."

"So, I just need to accept my fate as dying when some other kid turns 18?" 

"I am so sorry my child. I wish things were different, but-"

"But they aren't," I interrupt. "So, I need to go back to camp, be not alone, then die. You know what? It was wonderful to see you mother, but I have to go be a pawn for a stupid war where I am sacrificed. See you hopefully never again." 

I walk into another shadow, picturing camp in all of its glory. I can't believe I am going to camp right now. I can't believe this. But it was either go to a place I hate or hang out with my dead mother who told  me I need to plan on joining her soon.

Now, I specifically chose the woods to show up in because it was night and I would have assumed that no one would be there. I would have time to plan out what I was going to say, what I was going to do, blah, blah, blah, but apparently the fates took this whole "don't be alone thing" to another level.

When I stepped out of the shadow the entire fucking camp and hunters are there. And just to rub it in some more a random mummy lady decided to show up as well. Then the mummy lady decided to speak: