Broken Promises

chapter 15

Athena gets lost into his sea of emerald green watered eyes. She conveys herself to tell him what actually happened the night he and she almost died. She takes a deep breath and all her nervousness rushes out in a downpour of heavy breathing. She can’t do this to him though. She needs to tell him the truth. He reaches for her hand and gives her a reassuring squeeze. She musters her nervousness and tells the story.

“The last clown did actually stab you in the back but something else happened to us while we were down there.” She begins trailing off.

“Continue Athena.” Jason demands sternly as he continues to hold both of her small, icy hands in his large, warm ones. She sighs again.

“I had a little trouble carrying you up the tree.” She admits softly.

“You’re not exactly light you know!” Athena hollers. Jason’s face contorts into a grin as if he knew she’d never be able to carry him.

“I was struggling with your body when I heard a branch crack in the distance. I stopped immediately and snapped my head in the sound’s direction. As if by reflex, I reached into the backpack and readied the axe in my hand. Out of the trees approached a boy. Not like Phillip, but more of Gray’s characteristics. His broad muscular arms were prominent in the moon’s dim light. He stepped closer to me and as I shielded your body with mine, he said something to me.

‘I want to help you.’ I was confused until when he motioned towards your lifeless body against the tree stump. He cautiously stepped towards your body and lifted you onto his shoulder. He carried you up the tree for me and adjusted you into the sitting position against the rough bark. He climbed back down and I thanked him for helping me. He then introduced himself as Lux. Before I realized he was one of the careers, he punched me in the stomach. I fell to my knees as he repeatedly kicked my abdomen. The warm blood flew out of my mouth. I thought I was about to die when I gathered my energy to notice I still had the axe in my hand. He menacingly stood over me, superior.

‘You’re so pathetic Athena. Look at you, a weak little girl. I still don’t understand how you killed Twinkle. How did you do that again?’ I wiped the blood from my mouth and spit out,

“Like this.” I whipped the axe towards him and he landed forward with a thud. His head rolled toward my knees and I lifted it tentatively. The expression was shocked as the blood dripped out of its neck. I threw it aside and grabbed my axe. I limped toward the tree and looked up to see you sitting there. I held my side and climbed to the top. I fixed up our wombs and fell asleep in your arms.” She looks up at Jason and it’s as if everything she’s just said flies right over his head.

“Jason. Jason, what’s wrong?” She studies his eyes. They’re lighter than usual and much more intense. He lets go of her hands and looks toward the ground as if there are the world’s unknown answers embedded into the dirt. She turns his face towards her and stares into his eyes.

“Athena, why did you kill him?”