The Normal Life of Laika McNamara

Athena

The three women combed through the city, looking for Patricia, and making sure Hecate wasn't following them. Laika wasn't paying much attention to what the two women in front of her were talking about, it was probably more things about the Chronos Society or their past or anything else she did not and would not understand. She did manage to catch a small phrase that Iris said, however, and it got her curious.

"We haven't seen Athena in what seems like forever."

"Wait, like, the Greek goddess? What are you talking about, again?"

Iris turned around to face Laika, now walking backwards to talk.

"You mean you haven't noticed that all of us are named after Greek gods and goddesses? Phobos? Hecate? Iris?"

Laika suddenly felt stupid. That's why everything sounded familiar!

"But, yeah, we haven't really... told you about Athena yet... Actually, you've seen her way more recently than us..."

"What do you mean that I've seen her more recently? Wouldn't you have seen her because she's helping you get away from the Chronos Society or something?"

"She's Patricia, Laika." Phobos butted in.

Laika was in shock. This statement raised more questions than it answered, but at least it answered why someone would want to assassinate her and possibly how she survived. The three women walked in silence for a long time. Phobos eventually slowed to a stop, and Iris and Laika did the same. They all stood there in silence for a while. Iris looked at Laika, seemingly signaling her to ask questions, and now that Laika thought about it, Phobos did seem more loosened up to giving out answers at the moment.

"So Patricia's real name is Athena?"

"No, her real name is Patricia. All of us are assigned a new name when we are inducted into the Chronos Society."

"Oh, that makes sense. So, what were your names before you were 'inducted'?"

Phobos and Iris answered simultaneously and uncomfortably answered with 'I literally can't tell you,' and 'I'd rather not talk about it.' Surprisingly, Iris was the one that said the last one. She looked as if she was about to cry, lost in her own memories.

After a while, Iris had calmed down, with the help of Phobos, of course.

"Sorry. Right. Athena. Rescue mission. Okay. Sorry about that."

"It's... fi-"

"Let's go."

"O- oh. Okay."

"Wait, look over there:"

Phobos pointed towards a park. Hecate was standing in it, with an orb that was pulsating rapidly. Laika huddled close to the other two, and Iris turned the three women invisible. They hurried over to Hecate, and followed after him just as he opened the portal. Hecate placed an orb on a pedestal, and left without a trace. The three women, invisible, were now trapped in the headquarters of the Chronos Society itself.