AMACon 3: Oikos (30 Day Drabble Challenge)

Chapter 6 - Thuo

Maine Mendoza and Richard Faulkerson Jr. woke up to the sound of pouring rain. They opened their eyes, only to realize that they were holding each other's hands, an old key wedged between it.

"What's going on?" Maine sat up, looking around at her surroundings. She took the key that they were holding, and placed it in her pocket.

RJ stood up, moving away from Maine. He didn't understand what was happening. One minute they were cuddling in bed, and the next minute they came back to the place where they first met.

"RJ? Do you remember anything? Do you know why we're back here?"

Lost in thought, he didn't realize that Maine was already in front of him with a worried look on her face. She reached out her hand to his and he instinctively pulled back.

"Are you okay?" 

"Maine..." RJ began, but stopped when his memories suddenly came rushing back. He closed his eyes for a few moments before turning to look at Maine. 

"Why?"

"I don't..."

He already knew her secrets. He knew why she approached him. He also knew why she was always uneasy whenever he talks about their future. He knew right from the start that whatever relationship they had was temporary. She would have to leave once she completed her mission. I never thought that my life would end this way.

"I know why you're here," RJ said in a hoarse voice. "I've known it all along though I never said it."

"What?" Maine's jaw dropped. "Why did you let me get this far? Why did you let me fall for you?"

"I couldn't help myself," RJ confessed. "I wanted you to stay with me even if it was just for a short while."

Maine averted her eyes. He was doomed from the start. Her mother had been quite firm on that. This would be easier if I hadn't gone and fallen in love with him.

He stalked over to her, placing his arms around her. "Maine, please stay. I promise I'll do my best to make you happy. I'll give you all my love and make sure that you'll never be alone. Just stay with me."

She stared up at him, hoping desperately that he could understand. As much as she would like things to be different, she can't do anything else. She needs to go back. Not for her sake, but for the sake of her kingdom. It wasn't just her happiness on the line.

You know what you must do. A female voice echoed in her head. Do it now or forever lose your chance. 

She pulled his arms away from her, a lone tear streaking down  her right cheek. "I'm sorry."

"I don't understand," RJ said in a broken voice. "Are you really going to-"

"I have to," she whispered as if she was trying to convince herself.

He laughed bitterly. "Can you do me one last favor then?"

"What is it?"

"Can you look me in the eyes and tell me for the last time, that you love me?"

"Why do I have to say it?" Maine said with a sigh. "Don't make this harder than it already is, RJ."

"Because I love you," RJ said with a smile, the dimple on his left cheek deepening.  "I want to hear those words before I die, Menggay."

She finally nodded at him, her eyes flooding with tears.

Suddenly, a door shimmering with light appeared behind her. She took out the key from her pocket, an heirloom passed down from mother to daughter, and inserted the lock. I'm sorry, RJ. I can't say the words that you want to hear. She knew in her heart that she would have stayed if she did. So, she opened the door and stepped in, disappearing after a few moments

She didn't even turn back.

If she did, she would have seen RJ smiling before he collapsed on the ground. She would have also seen him lying in a pool of his own blood.

Dead.

***

Minutes later, a bright flash appeared and everything was covered in darkness. Death himself approached his fallen figure.

"Another one?" Death sighed deeply. "They never learn."

"I'm not even surprised," a female voice said.

Death turned. "Why, it's the Goddess of Love herself! Aphrodite, my dear, what are you doing here?"

"I wanted to check things out," she said primly. "They're soulmates."

"Oh, I'm sure! That's probably why she killed him, right?"

Aphrodite waved him off. "Oh, please! They are perfect. Just wait and see."
"He's dead and she's back in her own world," he said exasperated. "What else can you do?"

"The boy will live."

"He what? How is that possible? Hades doesn't allow the other Gods to meddle with the lives of mortals!"

"I know that," Aphrodite glared at him. "So I convinced him to grant me this tiny favor."

For a price, I'm sure. Death thought to himself.

"I must say, I haven't had this fun since Paris and that wretched Helen were still alive!" Aphrodite continued.

"What are your plans?"

"You'll just have to wait and see," Aphrodite replied with a smirk. "Let's just say that the girl wouldn't know what hit her. Especially when he comes to her world with a key of his own."

Death's jaw dropped. "What? Are you trying to end...?"

"The curse? Well, that's up to them. I'm merely a spectator."

Aphrodite then took out the vial of life from Hades. She looked at Death, imploring him to do his part. He immediately returned the man's soul.

Aphrodite then poured the vial's content into the man's mouth. 

He started to convulse and the air around them shifted.

"What now?" Death asked impatiently.

"We wait," Aphrodite replied to him.

*Thuo is a Greek word meaning to sacrifice, to slay, kill, or slaughter.

***
A/N: Thanks for reading! Let me know what you think. My twitter handle is @nataliagrace02! 😊