Incarnates Of Olympus

The Wise White Owl

As the afternoon gradually regressed into the evening, Corey sat in his bedroom studying the strange mark on his hand. Any and all efforts to remove the mark proved futile, and Corey's exasperation grew as a result. Confounding matters was the repeated sighting of the white owl. Corey knew there couldn't have been any kind of connection. He was certain that the sightings and the mark on his hand were a coincidence. Yet, he couldn't shake the feeling that none of what he'd experienced was coincidence. His thoughts were interrupted by a knock on the door, and Patricia slowly opened the door from the other side. Corey hid the mark under his free hand as his mother entered.

"Dinner's almost ready, Corey." Patricia said.

"Yeah, great. I'm not hunger though, so I'll eat later." Corey replied. His lack of hunger wasn't entirely a falsehood.

Patricia sensed something was amiss and asked, "Are you okay? You seem perturbed about something."

Corey sighed exhaustedly before he said, "I was hoping Dad would pick me up today. I kind of blew up his face a little bit."

"And, you wanted to apologize to him. He told me over the phone," Patricia concluded, to which Corey nodded affirmatively. She approached her son and knelt down in front of him, touching his hands. "He knows you didn't mean it. He only wants the best for you and your sister, we both do."

"I know," Corey said with a slight nod. "I guess I'm just trying to win his trust or approval or something."

Patricia smirked at the admission of her son before she said, "C'mon, let's get some dinner before your sister eats it all."

"I already ate mine, and I might eat yours too, dork." Maggie suddenly claimed, having been hiding behind the bedroom door the entire time.

"You eat my dinner and I'll feed you to the neighbor's cat, so help me, God." Corey playfully threatened just before chasing after Maggie.

Patricia was left with a smile on her face and even shook her head in amusement. As she was on her way out of Corey's room, she heard a faint rumble from outside. Patricia checked the window and was surprised to find the sky covered in dark clouds. Flashes of light flashed across the clouds and vanished just as quickly. Patricia was puzzled. The forecast of the day called for clear skies and no rain. Patricia declined to think too deep into into it and left the the room, unaware of the silhouette outside the window.

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Later that evening, Corey was sitting in the living room eating his dinner. A plate of meatloaf and salad rested in his lap and he steadily consumed the meal. Maggie was laid out on the floor stomach first watching that evening's wrestling show, probably one of the few things the siblings had in common. After a while, Corey finished his dinner and walked into into the kitchen where he dropped his dish into the sink. Patricia was there but she speaking on the phone, so Corey took to cleaning his own dish as he was taught in his youth. He tried to listen in on the conversation his mother was having over the phone and quietly surmised that she was speaking to his father. He inwardly wished to speak to his father, to perhaps make some amends for their earlier argument.

Upon finishing his dishes, Corey prepared to return the living room when, to his horror, he saw it. The white owl appeared outside the living room window, eyeing Corey once again. In a sudden panic, Corey rushed out of the kitchen and straight across the living room faster than any pro wrestler he might've watched on television. He startled Maggie in the process, while also bewildering his mother into ending the call. Corey reached the window and hastily opened it. There was nothing; no sign of the white owl. It was as if it vanished into thin air.

"Corey," Patricia called out, while Maggie was sitting upright on the floor. "What's wrong?"

"I..." Corey tried to explain but he couldn't find the words. "I'm not feeling too good. I think I'm going to to turn in for the night."