The Shadows Between Us

Chapter 5

"Ava!" My shout rang out across the schoolyard, making the green-eyed girl look up and smile.

Her smile... it made my heart flutter as if I had just run a marathon. Thinking back to that morning, I was still in shock. I'd actually managed to do it — I actually asked her out.

That afternoon was going to be the best day of my life.

I could still remember that day so clearly, like it was carved into my mind. The way everything seemed so... perfect at the time.

We had made plans to go to this little café downtown. It served these weird carrot cupcakes Ava loved for some reason. Ava had been the light of my life back then. She was laid-back, casual, easy to talk to. It felt like I could be myself around her. That's why I liked her so much.

We were sitting at the café, laughing about something stupid — I don't even remember what — well, some idiot in the kitchens must have left the oven on, because smoke had filled the room, making everything smell sour.

Ava and I hadn't noticed it at first, until the fire alarms went off. She had been smiling, sipping her iced coffee.

I had stood up, almost knocking over my chair.

Ava looked alarmed, worried even, but I... I just had that feeling. That something wasn't normal, wasn't human.

Of course, the other customers had been ushered out of the shop already.

"We need to go," I had told her. Ava had looked at me with just this... fear in her eyes.

"Run, Lizzy!" she had said, her voice panicked.

I don't know when she took control of the situation. She grabbed my hand, dragging me... even though she was leading, I think I guided her as to where we went.

We reached the beach — I don't even know why we ran there. Maybe it was instinct. Maybe I thought the ocean could protect me, being a daughter of Poseidon and all. Except... I didn't know that back then.

The sour smell from the shop... it had seemed to follow us like a swarm of flies. I could still smell it.

Ava had turned to me, breathless, and grabbed my shoulders, trying to get me to calm down. "Lizzy, you need to hide. Lizzy?"

That's when it happened. That's when everything went wrong.

There was this... voice. It seemed familiar, as if I had heard it in my dreams and my subconscious recognised it while my waking brain didn't.

I knew it wasn't just in my head.

From her stricken expression, I had known Ava heard it too.

It echoed around us, scornful and menacing.

Why, hello, little demigods! My, my, my, what fun I will have with you two.

Ava tried, she tried to get me to run, but I wouldn't leave her. We stood our ground, and... and that's when it happened. The thing, for lack of a better word, struck. I couldn't protect her. I didn't know how. I wasn't strong enough.

One moment, Ava was there, and then, with a popping noise... she just wasn't.

It happened so fast. She was gone. Just like that. And I was convinced it was my fault. I still am.

I had led her to that place, to that moment. The voice... why did I have a feeling it was after me?

𓆝 𓆟 𓆞 𓆝 𓆟

Of course, after the love of my life died, (I'm putting this lightly but in reality I was inconsolable), I ran away from home.

I didn't know what else to do; it had seemed at the time that there was nothing else to stay for.

But from then on, wherever I went, that voice followed.

It would appear, always at the worst moments, always when I was defenceless or in the middle of a battle with a monster.

Someone from camp must have found me once I collapsed after one of those battles. I don't really remember.

But it followed me here.

And on my first night here, when I ran away, I know I heard people following me, trying to make me come back.

It had been chasing me from the forest when I discovered my 'Poseidon powers'.

I thought I had dispelled it.

Will must have been one of the people chasing me.

And... the voice got him. It's like he's... possessed or something. He didn't recognise me. His voice sounded exactly like the thing that killed Ava.

I'm so sorry, Nico.

I've hurt so many people.