The Next Generation: Hades's Helm

Chapter 9: Ally

They chase after the girl, rooftop to rooftop, for at least thirty minutes. Sally would probably be worrying about them by now. Or maybe she's desensitized from her kids disappearing after she raised Percy. Who knows.

Anyways. After about five more minutes of leaping from rooftop to rooftop, Estelle and Ally finally manage to catch up with the girl. Ally sprints as fast as she can and stops in front of the girl, Estelle behind her so she can't run again.

The unknown girl looks between Ally and Estelle, only one of her eyes visible. She doesn't speak, doesn't scream. Instead, she reaches into her back pocket and pulls out a pocket knife.

Ally's eyes widen when she sees the knife. She motions for Estelle to back away, not wanting the mortal to get hurt. She takes a step closer to the girl, her hands up in surrender. "Hey, it's okay. We're not going to hurt you. I promise."

The girl looks Ally up and down, gripping her knife tightly. From the way she's holding it, Ally can tell that she's used it before. The girl's gaze slowly drifts down to Ally's dagger.

She can see my dagger. Okay, so she's definitely a demigod. Ally thinks as she watches the girl's eyes. Moving slowly, trying not to freak out the girl, Ally draws her dagger and drops it, kicking it away.

Ally watches as the girl's eyes soften slightly. She takes a step closer, although this was a step too close. The unidentified girl punches Ally in the face.

Ally falls back from the force of the blow, having been caught off guard. The girl hadn't stabbed her or attacked her with the knife, that was good. But the blade must've caught her lip as she fell back.

Ally feels a ripping pain in her lower lip. She raises her hand, wiping away the blood. From what the daughter of Athena can tell, her bottom lip is completely torn through and severed. From where the blood and pain is coming from, it seems to be on the left side of her bottom lip.

Ally grunts and stands up, wiping away more blood. But despite the fact that the girl hurt her, she doesn't feel anger. She knows the girl was just afraid and felt the need to defend herself.

As Ally looks up, she can see Estelle standing beside the girl. Estelle doesn't touch her, but she does gently take the knife from the unidentified child.

The girl doesn't look very happy about her defense mechanism being taken away. But she lets Estelle take her pocket knife.

The girl never makes eye contact, which Ally finds odd. But she doesn't comment on it for now. Right now, this unidentified demigod needs help.

Eventually, Ally and Estelle manage to lead the girl out of the alleyways and onto the main streets. They walk into an arcade that Ally and Estelle often spend time in. They lead her into the bathroom, always speaking in calm tones, trying not to scare the girl.

Ally gets the girl to pull down her hood, and is shocked by what she sees. The girl's neck is covered in scars. There's only one scar on her face, but it's by far the worst. It's dark and prominent, following underneath her left cheekbone.

Ally tries not to stare at the scars. She grabs a few paper towels and wets one, handing it to clean her face. The scarred demigod obliges, wiping the dirt and grime off of her face and neck.

Ally and Estelle then lead the girl out, grabbing their backpacks, including Estelle grabbing the scarred girl's backpack. They then walk into a clothing store. The same clothing store that Sally had bought clothes for Ally.

Ally uses the little money she has left to buy the girl a hoodie and pants, which the girl chose in black. Ally also buys the girl a black gaitor mask, figuring it would be easier for the girl to cover her scars with a mask instead of her hood.

Personally, Ally didn't think she needed to cover her scars, but from the way the girl was acting when her scars were exposed, she clearly feels vulnerable with them visible. And since the girl was wearing a hoodie and pants, Ally can only assume that the scars cover more than just her neck.

Ally buys the clothes and the three girls go back to the arcade, giving the girl the clean and intact clothes to change into.

While the unknown girl gets changed, Ally and Estelle sit at the table. After a while, Estelle speaks up.

"We should get back to the apartment soon," Estelle says, her leg bouncing under the table. "My mom's probably starting to get worried."

Ally chuckles, but she knows Estelle is right. She just isn't looking forward to telling Sally why they were late. The woman had let her stay with her and her family, and Ally repays her by almost getting her daughter hurt or killed?

"Hey, your lip's still bleeding. Like, a lot," Estelle says, pulling Ally out of her thoughts.

Ally brings a hand up and wipes her face, her hand coming back with bright red blood on her fingers. "Huh. It doesn't even hurt anymore. The medics are probably going to chew me out for leaving it uncovered."

A confused look crosses Estelle's expression. "Why would the medics yell at you for that?"

"Because leaving a wound uncovered for this long is dangerous. Dirt or other stuff could get in it. It could get infected. Plus, my lip is split open. I'll probaby need stitches." Ally says, shrugging.

The girl then walks out, dressed in her black hoodie, black pants, and black gaitor mask.

Ally glances at the girl as she comes out of the bathroom. She and Estelle stand up, the three girls shouldering their backpacks and start to walk back to the Jackson-Blofis apartment.

"So, what's your name?" Estelle asks, shoving her hands in her pockets awkwardly.

The girl doesn't answer immediately. She glances at Ally, who still has blood coming out of her lip. It's mostly stopped, but Ally can tell the girl feels bad. Eventually, the girl looks down at the floor and answers. "Hayley..."

"Well, Hayley, how did you end up in the alleyway?" Estelle asks, trying to break the awkward silence.

Ally can see Hayley's expression harden and her jaw clench. She quickly steps in, hoping Hayley wouldn't close off completely. "That's okay, you don't have to tell us. We're just trying to help.

The conversation fades as the girls continue to walk. After about a ten minute walk,, Ally, Estelle, and Hayley reach the apartment building. They go in, get onto the elevator, and Estelle presses the button for their floor.

While the elevator goes up, Ally's thoughts wonder once again. This was her last day of school. Soon, she would be on a quest that she didn't know if she would survive. She didn't even know who she was going on the quest with. She didn't even know the prophecy. All she knew was this quest was another chance to prove herself to Athena. Maybe, just maybe, this quest would finally make Athena proud.