The Gathering

Chapter Nine

"Woah calm down, we'll get there" James said with an even tone.

"It has to be the truth" Danny muttered under his breath.

I knew he was right. "We're children of Athena" I said, gesturing to James, Ava, Danny, and I, "And these are children of Ares" gesturing to Adrian and Chris, "and we have come to you with a request"

"Wait wait wait. Hold up a second. You're children of Athena and you think you can just come waltzing in here asking for favors? Have you been living under a rock the past 250 years, you know the history we have" the younger one said angrily, his aqua eyes burning with rage.

"I know you dont think much of us but please hear us out. The gods are returning and we need all the help we can get. Please" I begged.

"Ha! The gods? Theyre gone, and I sont see a reason for them to return now. The worlds gone to shit along with any chance of them ruling any part of this world. The monsters would overrun them in seconds"

All the while the younger one talked, the older stood complacently behind, occasionally making a sour ewpression whenever he said a particularly angry word. Why was the younger one the one in charge?

"I might as well end your little crusade now. It'll save any future heartbreak, it would simply an act of mercy" the younger one threatened.

"Please no, give us a chance to prove ourselves" I pleaded.

"I have half a mind to lock you all up right now. The other half of me wants to feed you to the zombies. Frankly, none of me wants to help you"

"Jayden, I think we need to honestly consider this as an option" the older one said, finally speaking.

"Oh shut it Noah. You know you have no influence over me" Jayden shot back.

"Try me" Noah said, and knocked Jayden to the side. Quickly he formed more water to hold the barrier over us and keep the zombies out.

"Thank you. Will you help us?" I asked gratefully.

"I can't. Forgive me, but I still have a duty to my people. Take this chance and leave. Most will not be as merciful as me" Noah instructed.

"Please. Let us talk to someone. We need this, to show that we have overcome old rivalries and show the leaders how safe we are" I pleaded.

I saw Jayden stirring, so I knew I needed to make it quick. "Just leave! I'll drown out the zombies but then you have to run. Trust me on this, there is nothing for you here" Noah ordered.

In that moment I was too caught up in convincing Noah to notice Jayden, we all were. Except Danny. Jayden took the trident off the back of his wetsuit and got to his knees. Finally turning to register his presence, I moved to grab my pack and stop his trident. But Jayden was more experienced than I took him for. He threw the trident at me and at the bag, knocking me to the ground and the bag several feet away and then threw a dagger only a half second later that I didn't see coming. Danny, no doubt having read his mind, jumped into action and took the blow to shield me.

"NO! WHAT HAVE YOU DONE!" I screamed. This can't be happening. No no no no no. Not Danny. Danny can't die. Everyone just stood in shock as Danny's life drained from his eyes at my feet.

"WHAT ARE YOU DOING?! HELP ME! PLEASE!" I pleaded.

Danny coughed weakly, "It's okay Vande. There's nothing they can do. I had the best time on this journey, even if I didn't get to finish it" he said, and went limp. It's over. He's dead.

"Ha. Good luck with that. I think we'll be leaving on that note" Jayden said unsympathetically, jumping to his feet.

"Jayden we can't just-" Noah began, muscles straining to keep up the wat.

"Just get your sorry ass over here. If they're as good as they say, they can beat these zombies no problem" Jayden ordered.

Noah obeyed, but didn't look happy about it. He glanced back forlornly, as if to say sorry, but it's not like that did us any good.

The pair walked out to sea and the dome protecting us from the lingering zombie horde evaporated, and the glistening water disappeared with our hope.

I stepped up and drew one of my daggers, one pissed off son of Athena against 30 zombies.

I zapped the first five to a burnt husk and turned to another group of five, quickly turning them to a pile of ash. From there, I ran right through the mass, mowing down any that came close.

Slash after slash of my blade found me at the edge of the city, still intact.
"Vande-" Ava began to say.

"No. I don't want to hear it. I was the only one with Danny when he died and and you stood there like it was nothing" I said harshly. I knew I didn't mean this, but they hurt me and I wanted them to know it.

James opened up his mouth, as if to say something back but thought better of it.

With the rest of them at my back, I hoisted Danny up from the blood stained ground and headed out towards the Empire State Building, where I was going to bury him.