The Hanging Man • JW

Run

The shoes thudding on the floor was the only thing to be heard as the five horsemen streamed to the roof of the arena that five minutes ago they had been performing in.

Quickly and skilfully, they raced down the fire escape, always throwing looks behind their shoulders. 

"Go any slower, Jack!" Athena put her hand on his shoulder, pushing him slightly.

He looked behind his shoulder at her, a eyebrow raised. "Okay, worried Wendy, calm down"

Athenas mouth dropped. '"Calm down? We're on the run from the cops! You know what, just run!"

For the rest of the way down the ran in silence, hoping they would make it. Finally, they reached the bottom and Danny turned around.

"Remember," he panted, facing Athena and Jack, "you two stick together."

She took a sideways glance to Jack, who was smiling cheesily at her. Rolling her eyes, she waved at the others and jogged off with him.

Jack took her hand, pulling her into a alleyway. He took out his cop costume, and threw Athena a 'cowboy' style crop top and denim shorts over to her. She would blend in right with the stampeding crowd outside the alleyway. 

"Don't peak," she smirked, Jack's cheeks flushing red.

The nerves piled high, creating a nervous between the two as they finished getting into their costumes. 

Athena must say, she wouldn't mind seeing Jack in a police officer uniform more often.

Jack's brown eyes traveled up to her blue ones, and he done a half hearted smile. "You ready?" He asked, biting his lip nervously.

"Sure am, Wilder, cuff me up," she replied. Athena spun around so she was facing away from Jack, and let him tie a pair of magic cuffs around her wrists.

Gently, he put his hands on the top of her shoulders and led her into the crowd with him following close behind. She hoped he didn't feel the shiver that had ran down her spine.

People were everywhere, neon lights around their necks and clothes similar to Athenas.

"He's over there," Jack spoke into her ear so he was heard over the yelling crowd.

Scanning the crowd, Athena noticed Rhodes standing on top of a cop car. 

Jack led her over to him, and once they were close to him he fumbled with the cuffs to make it look like he was arresting her.

Whilst Rhodes wasn't paying attention, Jack quickly popped a tracking device in his pocket.

Suddenly, he spun around. Dylans eyes immediately widened once he spotted Jack, and widened even more when he saw Athena next to him.

Athena automatically pulled off the stunt cuffs, and grabbed Jack's hand.

"Stop them!" Rhodes yelled as the two weaved through the crowd.

Jack pulled Athena into a small gap between two buildings. They were both panting heavily with exhaustion and exhilaration. Soon enough,  Rhodes came racing past, unknowingly following himself.

Athena broke into a grin as she let go of the breath she had been holding in.

She looked up at Jack, who was already looking back at her.  They broke into a silence as Athena began to held her breath again. The two were just staring into one another's eyes, like they didn't have the cops chasing after them, like they didn't just preform a magic show that would make history.

Athena was frozen as Jack leant in, her heart thumping wildly in her chest. Suddenly, Henley had ran into the alleyway, panting.

The two pulled apart before Henley had time to notice. The older girl turned around and jumped at the sight of the two.

"Oh it's you two! You both look really red, have you been running to?"

Athena bit her lip, looking at Jack from the corner of her eyes. He was flushed red too, but certainly not from running.

"Yes, but let's go, Danny and Meritt will be waiting," Athena spoke quickly, stepping out of the small alley.

The three set off at a jog towards the place where the five were planning to meet up. 

***

1 month later

Athena sat on the sofa, bored. She was aimlessly shuffling a deck of cards whilst Jack was throwing some cards at her. Danny looked as impatient as ever whilst he scribbled on plenty of paper, muttering to himself.

The Horsemen were back at the apartment where it all began. Where Athena met her new family and began a journey she would never have thought of doing.

"Right, okay, I think I've got it," Daniel said confidently, looking up to Jack and Athena.

"Hit me," Athena yawned, dropping the cards onto the coffee table.

They all knew the plan. It was Jack's time to show what he could do, to finally show he wasn't just some amatuer magician.

"You're joining him on his stunt," Danny said bluntly, pointing to Athena.

"I'm what now? I wouldn't really like to fake my death, thank you for the offer though," Athena grumbled, crossing her arms.

Daniel raised a eyebrow, so Athena did the same. "Look, you and Jack are the youngest two-"

"Doesn't mean we need to die together!"

"Listen!" Danny snapped. "So people obviously think you'd be a good couple, and it would be more heartbreaking and maybe even more realistic if you two 'died' together."

Athena scowled, but didn't say anything. Based on the facts, it was a good idea. Her eyes traveled to Jack, who was smiling at her eagerly. Surely he wouldn't mind someone to join him on his fake death journey.

But it wasn't about what Athena wanted, and she knew that. She was being selfish.

"Fine," she sighed, "I'll fake my own death. You owe me, Atlas."

Jack grinned happily, and wrapped his arm around her shoulder. "That's my girl!"

Athena couldn't help a smile creep up on her lips as she shook her head.

Now all they had to do was play the waiting game...

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This was quite a short chapter, so I'm sorry!  Especially after not uploading in a bit but I've been quite busy with school starting and such.
But anyway here's this chapter so I hope you enjoy it!