𝑷𝒆𝒕𝒂𝒍𝒔 𝒊𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝑨𝒔𝒉𝒆𝒔

𝐒𝐄𝐂𝐑𝐄𝐓𝐒 𝐀𝐍𝐃 𝐒𝐀𝐍𝐂𝐓𝐔𝐀𝐑𝐈𝐄𝐒 🪨

The air in the council chamber felt suffocating with tension as Hector addressed the gathered elders, articulating defenses and strategies with precision. I strained to absorb his words, but my thoughts drifted, burdened by the doubts that had plagued me since the previous night. Each of Hector's statements was measured, his gaze unwavering, yet I felt a growing unease gnawing at my resolve. Quietly, I excused myself, slipping out of the meeting in search of solace. As I wandered through the empty corridors, each step seemed to echo my turmoil. Eventually, I found myself at the familiar window in my chambers, the overcast sky outside deepening into a foreboding gray. It mirrored my thoughts, heavy and turbulent, as I gazed into the distance, hoping to find clarity amidst the encroaching shadows.

"Sabryna," a voice said softly, startling me.

I spun around to find a figure cloaked in shimmering light standing in the middle of the corridor. It was Athena, her presence both awe-inspiring and calming. Her piercing gray eyes locked with mine, and a shiver ran down my spine. I could hardly believe she was there, standing before me like a vision from the heavens.

"My goddess," I whispered, falling to my knees in reverence.

"Rise, Sabryna," Athena said, her voice steady but gentle. "There is no time for formalities."

I stood slowly, unsure of what to say, my heart pounding. "Why have you come to me?"

Athena moved closer, her golden armor glinting even in the dim light. "Troy will fall," she said simply, without hesitation, as though it was already a known fact. "You must prepare yourself."

A lump formed in my throat. "But...Hector speaks of hope, of strategies. How can Troy fall with its greatest warriors defending it?"

Athena's expression softened. "The future is not as simple as plans and hope. There are forces beyond your control. But I have come to show you a way out when the time comes."

I swallowed, fear gripping me. "A way out? What do you mean?"

She raised her hand, and before me, the stone wall shimmered and shifted. Slowly, a passageway revealed itself, hidden behind layers of stone. It was narrow and dark, but unmistakably a hidden path, leading away from the heart of Troy.

"When the city burns," Athena said, her voice low but commanding, "you will use this passage. It leads far beyond the walls, where none will follow."

My breath caught. "And...what of Hector? What of my future?" The question burst from me before I could stop it, fear and longing colliding in my chest. "Will I be with him, or...with Achilles?"

Athena's eyes flickered with something unreadable. "Neither," she answered. The word hung in the air like a final judgment. "Your path is not with them. You will carve your own destiny, Sabryna."

"Neither?" I echoed, the weight of her words sinking in. "But...Hector...Achilles...I don't understand. I thought—"

"You think of the present, but I see beyond. There is more to your story than the love of men, more than the ties of battle." Athena's gaze softened, and for a moment, she seemed almost...maternal. "You are more than the choices you've made."

I opened my mouth to argue, to plead for more clarity, but the goddess had already begun to fade, her shimmering form dissolving into the air.

"Remember the passage," she said, her voice echoing softly as she disappeared. "And when the time comes, you will know what to do." I stood alone, staring at the hidden passage, the weight of her message heavy in my chest. I had asked for clarity, and yet, I felt more uncertain than ever. But now, I knew one thing for certain—when the end came, when Troy's walls crumbled, I had a way out.

But would I take it? And if I did, what would that mean for me...and the men who had shaped my heart? I couldn't answer those questions yet, but one thing was clear. The choice would be mine, and mine alone.

—

The air in the passage was cooler than I expected, the dampness clinging to my skin as I ventured deeper into the tunnel Athena had shown me. I could still feel the goddess's presence lingering in the back of my mind, her cryptic words about neither Hector nor Achilles weighing on my thoughts. But I pushed those feelings aside for now—this wasn't about them. This was about understanding the hidden path I might need one day. I wasn't planning to escape, not yet. My heart was still bound to Troy and everything that was happening within its walls. The council, the war, Hector...Achilles. Yet something urged me to follow this route, to get familiar with it in case the day came when I had no choice but to use it.

The light from my torch flickered across the stone walls, casting long shadows that danced as I walked. The tunnel twisted and turned, the space narrowing in some parts and expanding in others. It was a labyrinth beneath the city, a secret that few, if any, besides Athena, knew about. Each step I took deepened the silence, the only sound being the faint echo of my footsteps.

I pressed on, my fingers grazing the rough stone to guide me through the darkest parts. The air was musty, thick with the scent of the earth, but it wasn't oppressive. Instead, it felt strangely calming, as though I were moving through an ancient part of Troy that had been untouched by the chaos above.

Soon, the narrow tunnel began to widen, and a faint breeze reached my face, carrying with it the unmistakable scent of salt and sea. I paused, the sound of waves faintly echoing ahead. My heartbeat quickened. I wasn't sure where this would lead, but I knew I had to see it through.

After what felt like an eternity, the tunnel opened up to a hidden cove, the sunlight breaking through the clouds and illuminating the space. I stepped out cautiously, the sand beneath my feet cool and soft. The sea stretched out before me, calm and serene. It was so different from the city, where the tension of war could be felt in every corner. Here, beyond Troy's walls, everything was still.

I walked a few steps closer to the water, gazing out at the horizon. There was a ship, small and unassuming, anchored a little way out. It wasn't part of the Greek fleet; it looked private, almost forgotten. My curiosity piqued, but I wasn't here to leave. This was just a reconnaissance, an exploration. If things became desperate, this would be the path to take. I could escape. But today, I was only learning, understanding this place for what it was.

Athena had revealed this to me for a reason. I had to trust her wisdom, even if it wasn't clear to me yet.

As I stood there, my eyes wandered back toward the entrance of the passage. The sky above was growing darker, clouds beginning to swirl ominously, just like the uncertainty swirling inside me. I couldn't help but wonder about what Athena had said—neither Hector nor Achilles.

What did that mean for me? For Troy?

I turned back toward the passage, the sea breeze gently tugging at my hair. The city awaited, and I needed to be ready for whatever storm was brewing, both inside the walls and within myself. This hidden escape would be here if I needed it. But for now, my place was in Troy.