Truth [Book Three in Fake Series]

Part Nineteen:

Part Nineteen:

Zoe stood, stunned at the group of people her and Charlie were staring at. They had found Michael! And he was safe!

"Michael!" Zoe cried, rushing towards him, only to slow down to an awkward stop. Michael turned towards her, confusion settled on his face.

"Can I help you?" He asked. The two boys he was with looked at Zoe hungrily. She scowled as she realised what they were looking at - and it wasn't her face.

"Michael, it's me." Zoe said.

"Do I know you?" Michael looked confused. He started moving towards Zoe.

"Michael, do you not remember me?" Zoe asked desperately. "Or Charlie?"

Charlie walked up beside Zoe and glared at the boys who had been with Michael. "It's us, your friends Charlie and Zoe!" He cried.

Michael was right in front of Zoe now. He bent down and whispered in her ear. "I think I would remember if I knew a pretty lady like you." He grabbed her by the shoulder firmly, his fingers digging into her skin.

"Let me go!" Zoe tried to shake him off but Michael's grip was too strong.

Zoe watched as Michael's eyes raked her body, lingering slightly on her chest. Then he looked at her lips. His other hand moved to Zoe's waist, then went up until he was ... well, you get the picture.

"Hey!" Charlie shouted from behind Michael. "Don't touch my girlfriend!" Zoe felt Michael's body stiffen as he crumpled to the floor, Charlie hovering over him, bow held in his hands like he'd just whacked Michael over the head with it.

And just as Zoe though the situation couldn't get any worse, the bell rang.

•••

Zeus looked at his fellow Olympians. "It's time," He announced, gazing around at everyone's solemn expressions.

Athena glanced at her father uncertainly. "Are you sure?"

"They deserve to know the truth." Zeus told the other gods firmly. "Bring them in."

•••

As the high school bell rang in the corridor, classroom doors opened up and kids poured out, chattering and laughing. Then, they stopped talking and moving. Charlie watched as everyone went quiet and then whispers spread like a wildfire among the students.

Zoe was kneeling down in front of Charlie feeding Michael a piece of ambrosia. When he stirred, Charlie watched as he locked eyes with Charlie. "I'm sorry, dude." He groaned, sitting up. "I - I don't know what came over me."

"Your curse," was all Charlie said. "Memory loss. I don't blame you, I blame Tartarus."

As Zoe helped Michael to his feet, Charlie saw a bright light surround him, Michael and Zoe. It was so bright, some of the kids in the crowd had to shield their eyes for a moment.

Charlie's eyes closed, and when he opened them five seconds later, he was lying on the floor beside Zoe and Alex.