Gemini|| #Wattys2019

Chapter 10

"So you just expect me to believe you?" I ask, once his announcement officially sets in. After everything that's happened tonight, I only just now realize how late it's gotten. The sky--at least, the little bit of it that I can see through the canopy--is pitch black. Atlas sighs and runs his pale fingers through his hair.

"Believe me if you want, or don't. I really have no preference." Silence falls upon us and I take a seat in front of a large tree root, protruding from the ground at the edge of the clearing. I lay back a bit more to rest my head on it and stair up at the leafy black ceiling above me.

"So what's the plan?" I finally say, now that my anger has calmed down a good amount.

"I thought you said you don't care what I do." His words bite but his voice remains level. He's just as tired of our bickering as I am.

"Well, if your job is to make sure i'm alive and I no longer have a companion to protect me, I guess that means you're stuck with me." He groans under his breath, but I take his lack of an argument to mean he knows I'm right. I use the opportunity to ask my question from earlier tonight. "By the way, why do the Renegades want me alive so badly?"

"They think you have some kind of potential." Atlas doesn't seem convinced.

"Potential for what?" I challenge.

"Potential for change." He glances over at me for a split second before latching onto a low hanging branch and swinging himself up into the trees. The Virgo finds a limb large enough to lay on and does just that, placing his hands up behind his head and closing his eyes. "They think you're some kind of savior who's going to change the world for them."

"That's a lot of pressure." I mumble.

"Don't take it to literally," Atlas chuckles. "Half of them are old and senile while the rest of them will follow anything Viridian says."

"Who's Viridian?"

"A crazy chick who thinks she's a prophet." A small grin finds its way onto his face.

"She sounds like a great person to hang around." My sarcasm is not subtle.

"She actually is." The smile grows wider. "She may be slightly psycho but she's still one of my closest friends."

"What's her sign?" My curiosity gets the better of me.

"She's a Cancer." In my head, I immediately start recalling everything I've learned about Cancers. My sync with the Chip makes it easy to organize my thoughts.

Cancers. Not my most compatible sign but not my least either. They're supposedly pretty sensitive but overall, kind people. Not to mention, highly compatible with Virgos. The thought invokes a smirk upon my lips.

"You know," I begin, slyly. I recall the smile he wore when thinking about her. "You and her could make a great couple." I wink at him but his smile quickly wears off and he rolls his eyes at me.

"Does everything have to be about the zodiac and compatibility with you?" He snaps.

"Well, for someone who claims to be such a rebel of his horoscope, you tend to fit yours very well." I suppose it's not possible to go without arguing for more than a few minutes.

"I'm sick of your voice." Atlas remains calm as he chucks a twig across the open area. "Get some sleep, I can keep watch."

"Don't you need sleep to?" I ask.

"I rarely sleep, Lady. Believe me, I can last a few more days without rest." He replies, then we return to silence. I turn over onto my right side, facing away from Atlas, my head still flat against the tree root. An icy breeze rushes over me, forcing me to curl deeper into my riding hood. My eyes close shut and I try my hardest to fall asleep on such a chilly night. Then I remember my latest night terrors and realize that sleeping is apparently not an option.