Heir of Aphrodite - 1 Heroes of Us

5 - TAYLOR

So I thought last night was horrible. Last night I had to put a dress and makeup on! Why me! I saw that Chase had a steak and lied to him when he asked me if I ate anything. Since I did a bad job dancing not only did I get bruises, I had to go to bed without eating. At least I slept good, I didn't want to get up, but of course all good things must come to an end. A familiar voice started calling my name and shaking my arm. I finally woke up to Linsley

"Come on sleepy head, you're gonna be late for breakfast and you've already gone without a meal on your first day."

That for sure woke me up. I got up right away and ran with Linsley to go get breakfast. There was a room filled with kids my age who sat at tables eating breakfast. I sat next to Chase. I think what we were eating was cereal, I felt like I was back in elementary school with their bad lunch. I started eating, I must have been eating fast because Chase seemed to notice.

"Hey you hungry?"

I stared at him blankly and was trying to figure out an excuse. "I-um. This is how I normally eat. Don't judge."

I looked down as I ate my plate of whatever this was. I was quiet the whole time lost in thought then I felt a hand on my hand and I looked up right away to see that it was Chase's hand.

"Um.. It's going to be ok, right? I mean, we'll find a way to get out of this," Chase asked me.

I was speechless. No one has ever touched me, at least not on purpose, but this guy, the guy I just met, actually reached out to me and it's not out of pity.

"Yeah, maybe. We have to make a plan first and see if there's any weaknesses." I said trying to sound confident.

"Ok guys, I don't think you get it" Lindsey interrupted. "You guys think you're the only ones who think they can get out? Think again. There's always newbies like you who think that way, but if there was a way out we would've found it already. What makes you so sure you can get out?"

I didn't say anything, I just smiled. "If you think you can find someone like me, then you're the one who's wrong."

Chase looked impressed which made me feel happy for some reason. I don't know what I'm feeling but it may just be the bad food talking.

"Well until you find that, it's time for dance lessons and after that makeup and a dress." Lindsey said

"Are you trying to torture me lady?!"

Chase laughed a little. "You don't like wearing dresses?" Chase managed to say after laughing.

"Yeah. Dresses are horrible to me. Not to mention the makeup" I said.

After breakfast passed we had to do dancing lessons. I always stepped over my feet and it always ended badly. Then there was the dinner bell and I feared for my life. I had to dance with ugly Cyclopes again.

"You better dance good tonight. It would be a shame to wreck your pretty face," the Cyclopes said. And of course you know what happened. I made a mistake. I tripped over my feet and he got angry.

"I told you to do good" the Cyclopes yelled.

Next thing I know I'm on the floor with pain on the right side of my face. He scratched me pretty deep, but not deep enough to need stitches. I got up and just stared at him.

"Well what are you standing there for weakling, let's dance" he said as if nothing had happened.

I just stared at him which gave me a punch to the face. I got back up and just stared at him. I didn't want to lose, not this way. Being manipulated by the bad guy.

"No" I said trying to sound confident.

"What did you say. I will tell you again dance with me" he said as a threat.

I realized that all eyes were on me and him now. I didn't care. I wanted to get my way so bad, I didn't care how I got it.

"No"

"Make a wise decision mortal, at least tell me why before a punish you. The petty excuses mortals make are hilarious" he said in a cocky voice.

"Free will" I said quietly.

"What?" He didn't hear me.

"Free will" I spoke up. "The one thing I cherish and the one thing I won't tolerate to lose to someone like you!"

The room fell silent. There was no music or dancers, or even feasters feasting. All eyes were on me, wondering what would happen next. Black out. For a second I didn't see anything and I only felt pain in my legs.

"You don't want to dance human! Then you don't need your legs to dance with!" He yelled angrily.

Someone stepped in front of me, all I saw was a shadow but when I finally didn't see blurry, I saw Chase. He was standing between me and the Cyclops who looked like he was going to charge me. I saw lights and symbols, symbols I recognized. One symbol I recognized as 'pulverize' was the biggest and floated on top of him. The next thing I know, Mr. Ugly is dust.

Everyone was in a state of shock as they stood still. Chase picked me up and ran yelling for Jack and Lindsey to come with. We found the the gates to get out that we're not guarded luckily. We went to an alley way to hide. As I sat down I felt so much pain in my legs. We all sat silent to make sure that the Cyclopes didn't follow.

"I think the coast is clear," I said through the pain

"What do we- where do we-" Chase seemed panicked which would have been cute, if not for the pain.

"We have to go to the house." I said trying to calm him down. "It's not far just a couple of blocks."

Jack nodded but Lindsey looked at us weird. "I'm sorry, but the thing is, well um, I'm in a different house."

"It's fine. They'll be ok with it since you helped me"

I tried to stand up but it ended in pain and with me falling down. Before I hit the ground Lindsey caught me.

"I'll help you walk there"

"No I can do it" Chase stood up to help me.

"I got it but thanks" Lindsey started putting her hands around me to support my weight. Chase took me out of Lindsey's arms and carried me.

"I told you, I got it." Chase seemed... protective.

When we were on our way, I didn't know if that meant it was over. There are Cyclops forges under our noses with innocent kids in there. Why do they have the kids working if they were created to work? Are they working on something bigger and more dangerous?