Zeus

Gangs. A girl. War. Fights. Love. Hate. Death.

All words to describe the city of Athens. The most dangerous city in the country. But only those who have been there know that.

Athens is not a place for tourism. Not many people who visit, make it out alive.

Vicki, 16, has finally found a home willing to adopt her after 6 years of jumping from home to home, family to family, foster to foster. Some were good. Some bad. Some could, would, and did the unthinkable. But now she didnt have to deal with that.

But she had no idea of the secrets that the friendly "welcome to Athens" sign hides.

Or did she?

She wasn't ever supposed to end up in the system. Or end up on her meds. She remembered nothing of her life before 10 years old.

She had always knew something was missing, but this? This was more than she could ever handle remembering.

****

"Wow, I thought it was just you guys and Artemis."

"There's a whole world of gangs. There are gangs in every country, some even I don't know as a leader."

"Is it tough being a leader?"

"Some times. Especially when I have to deal with loss. But I also give some opportunities to people who need it. I've even given a homeless man a small job and it set him up for life."

"That's cool. Are the Zusians tyrants. I mean were they?" something about the name doesn't shake me. It's stuck in my head for some reason.

"They more are now. There's speculation that a kid got out safe and will one day take back the leadership, but after seeing the wreckage first hand, I don't think anybody left it alive," he says it. But he doesn't sound like he even believes himself.

"Did the kid get out? Is it even slightly possible?"

"Between you and me. I helped her escape. I know she got out. But I don't think she lived long after we lost contact. Why do you ask?"

"Something about the name... It is vaguely familiar but I don't know why. Maybe it's just my meds."

"You might have just heard it before."
***
Cover by @_scintillas