Hope and Doom are always quick to switch. Some may seem gone, but really, they've only slept. Others just need a light to find their way through the labyrinth they have created. While some need to accept themselves. Through darkness, you will fi...
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After School -
Marco POV:
"So what happened yesterday?" "Nothing useful" "Damn it." It had been an interesting couple of days. And Kahala, that's what I call her, had woken up earlier than me for once and grabbed control. So while I overslept she did as she pleased. Lyra's a much faster walker, so she gets home before me, so it was myself and I ... and Kahala, walking home. As far as I can tell, she doesn't mind the name, she certainly knows which meaning I chose it for. Though that might be why she likes it, who knows, maybe someone already gave her that name before because she wouldn't say her own. I examined her and did it often hoping to find a difference in her each day. She's hung around since I was about six, she looked like an adult to me then. I thought it was cool that I had a spirit. Like an imaginary friend that was real, though she was not what I imagined. Not at all. It's odd though, I know she's drifted around and wandered for a while because she has spoken about other people she's clung to. Her dress also looks like it was made or worn in B.C. Early B.C. She's been around for a long time, I can tell. She seems tired, and I'm surely not the only one to think this. We reached my house and stopped. Two houses farther down was Lyra's house. That's how I met her, Lyra and her mother moved in close to me, and the two first distanced themselves from the neighborhood. But I was able to convince Lyra to sit with me at lunch once, that's how we became friends. I stood still thinking for a few moments. Then impatiently, Kahala asked, "Are you just gonna keep standing here?" I quickly glanced at her before looking at my driveway, it was empty. Meaning my parents weren't home, meaning I had an excuse to hang with Lyra. "No, I'm heading to Lyra's," I said confidently. "Without telling?" "As though you're one to talk." I retorted. She does many things I will not name that are more than minor inconveniences in life. I walked up to the door and knocked. Then waited a few moments before Lyra opened the door. "Hey, you're quick didn't even take my bag off yet. I assume your parents aren't home?" She said, sounding unsurprised. I nodded, "Yeah, and I was also hoping to get more information on what happened the other day." Lyra froze, fear flashing through her eyes for a moment before she nervously said, "I don't think that's a good idea. At least not a good idea to worry about right at this second. My Mom's in the kitchen if you wanna say hi to her." Lyra changing topics like this was common. It became a skill she mastered, especially when quite a bit of the time the questions she would be asked were personal. No one knows anything about Lyra except for her mother, me, and a few teachers she's bonded with. And even then, I still don't know everything about her. I smiled and Lyra recognized I wasn't going to push. This was our way of communicating, and Lyra moved out of the way to let me in. I walked into the house and instantly began to smell food from the kitchen. Funny enough, something I recognized, probably because it's one of Zoey's more well-known dishes to make. Izmir Kofte, also known as Turkish meatballs in tomato sauce, spicy too. I quietly laughed, confusing Lyra. She asked, "Is something funny?" I shrugged, "Kind of. Did your mother know I was coming?" Lyra shook her head and in a tired voice said, "No, I don't think so. Let's just go say hi." We walked to her kitchen and right as we reached the doorway. Lyra looked up, paused, and sighed while shaking her head, and then stepped to the right. In an instant, a practical blur of something came flying at my face. With no time to even react, it hit me and knocked me down. I squeezed my eyes shut and began to hear laughter and squeaks. I slowly opened one eye and saw Lyra crack a small smile, but it disappeared quickly. Kahala stood over me and all she had to say was, "Come on, you should have been prepared or even cautious." Her hands were on her hips as she spoke in an unamused tone. "Is it funny to watch you fall? Yes. Does it get boring after a while because you don't even try to get out of it? Also yes." Suddenly, a candle-lit lamp appeared mere inches away from my face, it began to make creaking noises like it needed oil. But that was just how it spoke. I giggled, still sounding winded from the fall, "Hey Hopps. How was your day." The candle inside flickered, lighting up the glass and small area around it, and then it did a few loops in the air. Suddenly, the voice of an older woman filled with a mischievous/sarcastic tone, yet a barely audible hint of worry asked, "Are you alright, dear?" I raised a hand and said, "Doing ...... Great." Then my hand dropped back down on the floor, and I heard squeaks combined with chirping noises. I sat up and looked at the woman by the counter. Her tank top with flowy shoulderless sleeves and jeans fit her well. Her hair was bouncy and curly, with shorter pieces pulled up in a ponytail. Her eyes sparkled with excitement and mischief. This was Zoey Argos. A stubborn woman who always loved to cause chaos, and she made a nice living for Lyra and her off of her small business of drawing and writing commissions. And her creativity knew no bounds, her pranks were proof of that. And I was one of the unfortunate neighborhood targets. Sitting on the counter beside her was Lyra's pet squirrel, it was making chirping noises that sounded like it was laughing at me. I stood up, brushed myself off, smiling, and asked, "So how are you, Mrs. Argos?" "Ms. Argos, dear. You know how I feel about that term. Also, I've been fine. How's your mother after my uh? Scare, a week ago?" Zoey said, correcting me and asking if my mother was alright. Context, she and the squirrel who was named Chip, were walking home when they were in the middle of the street while my mother was driving. About gave her a heart attack, but neither parties were hurt. I nervously laughed, "Heh, don't worry. She's fine. Probably won't be behind the wheel for a few more days." The gem end of Hopps swished in the air back and forth like the tail of a dog. Chip, had his tail moving back and forth as well. They were both in good moods. Zoey giggled and said, "That's good, I like causing chaos, but that was a little much for me." For the next hour, with Chip and Hopps running around, the three of us had some food as we discussed the last few days, we left out how Kahala took control of me yesterday. It was odd though, how easily I treated this as normal. Hopps, Chip, Lyra, Zoey, Kahala, there's still so much I don't know. So much they won't tell me. "So someone told me, one of the parents, that there were a couple of new kids in town." Said Zoey as she began to clean off the table. "New kids?" I asked puzzled. Zoey excitedly nodded, "Yep, I hear one of them even lives in the neighborhood, not on this street, but still close enough. I wonder what kind of pranks they'll fall for." Zoey placed all the dishes in the sink to begin washing, I chuckled, "Your mother is one of a kind Lyra." I looked over, and Lyra was staring at the table, her hands shaking. Her eyes showed fear. "Lyra?" I rested my hand on her wrist, and she flinched, squeezing her eyes shut. But she relaxed once she opened them and realized it was me. Kahala had been wandering around the room and looked out the window she said, "Hey, idiot. Your parents are back." I looked toward Kahala, and Lyra looked where I was looking. She couldn't see or hear Kahala, so if I did something, she would always take note. Lyra stood up and walked toward the window to see what I was looking at, she walked through Kahala and saw the car outside. Kahala moved over to me and began to poke me, nagging me to get going. I ignored her, but it was hard, "I should probably get going, "I said sounding disappointed, my relationship with my parents was tense. If I was lucky they'd already be knocked out on the couch together, I didn't need a lecture on how Lyra was a bad influence on me. Lyra looked down, she was disappointed herself, but she shook herself and said, "Alright, I'll see you tomorrow, I've got to talk with Mom anyways." Curious, I asked, "What are you guys gonna talk about?" Lyra shrugged, "Just some things." With her back to us and washing dishes, Zoey said, "I'm sure Marco can stay a few minutes to hear this." Lyra stuttered and said, "N-No, this isn't just something. It has to do with someone." Zoey sighed, continuing to wash the dishes, and asked, "Who?" "Uncle." Zoey stopped. The room was in complete silence except for the faucet that continued running. Zoey's hands were shaking and Lyra stood frozen still. Kahala and I knew near to nothing about Lyra's other relatives. Nothing about her father and uncle, and the last time I asked Zoey about her parents, that was the first time I saw her angry. Not irritated or slight annoyance. Angry. If it weren't for the few pencil-drawn and shaded pictures around the house, I wouldn't even know how her father looked. "Marco." Said a very quiet and visibly angered voice, coming from Zoey. "Y-Yes, Ms. Argos." I stammered. "Go home. Now, please." Her voice shook, it almost sounded like she crying, yet angry enough that she could yell at any second. Kahala stood in dumbfounded silence and shock. She stared at the ground, her arms at her sides, and her fists clenched. I glanced between the three and let out a breath of regret. "Alright, I'll get going. Just, are you two going to be okay?" Zoey and Lyra wouldn't look at me. I waited for an answer for a few moments, but I knew they would stay quiet. Moments like this, it's like they've taken a vow of silence to the world. Not until they believe no one hears. Kahala stood at the doorway of the kitchen. The squeaks and chirps from Hopps and Chip had ended, they were observing from the doorway Kahala was standing in. Kahala stared blankly at me, waiting. She couldn't stray more than 7 yards from me. It was one of her unfortunate perks. We both agreed to hate it. I picked up my bag and said, "I'll see you tomorrow, alright Lyra?" She gave a slight nod, still keeping away from eye contact. Zoey finally turned off the running faucet and turned to face me. Her eyes were dead, filled with hopelessness, for a moment, I could see a flash of grief. Grief I hadn't seen in her eyes for years. She smiled sadly, "Don't let your parents cause you too much trouble, okay?" I smiled and assured her, "Never do." Now leaving the house, I knew I shouldn't worry too much. They would be back to their normal selves by tomorrow. But ...... Even with all I heard about demigods and the Greek realms, something Lyra said once will always confuse me. (You break Fate's gate, your future is forever undone, and forever out of their control.) "Thinking about what she said a little while ago?" Asked Kahala. I hummed. "Oh yeah, I wonder what she meant." "She probably meant don't mess with time or something stupid." "If Lyra says something vague like that, we know it's never really stupid." Kahala made a small hmph and began jumping on every crack she could find on the sidewalk. I grinned, "What are you doing?" "Step on a crack, you break your mother's back, step on a line you break your father's spine. I really hope they feel this from beyond the grave." "You don't mean that." I said, still smiling. "I do. He deserves it at least." Kahala remarked. I laughed. "How do I deal with your cruelty?" "It's not cruel. It's sweet justice. Besides, he can't say or do anything this time." "This time?" "Not your business Mr. Joyfest" "Alright alright. Not my business. But Joyfests are fun." "So you say."
