Ookla the Forgotten

@Spark of Hope

Athena stumbled away, hid behind a nearby tree, and collapsed. ”Remind me to never do that again,” she whispered to herself. Then she curled her knees up to her chest and cried.

“YES I AM CERTAIN!” Athena screamed at the top of her lungs. “WHAT DO YOU WANT FROM ME?!”

“Nobody,” Athena manages to get out. “Nobody.”

The pain intensifies, and Athena’s eyes start to water. No, I must not show weakness, Athena demands herself. All he’s looking for is a small crack. I will not give him that satisfaction. She stares straight ahead, using every last bit of her willpower to not shake, to not cry. Despite her best efforts, a single, tiny tear leaks out the corner of her eye and snakes down her face.

Pain, pain, everything was burning and freezing, stabbing, shooting pain, everything making Athena almost rethink her decision, but then she remembered who she was and how she got here. She would not yield. Ever.

“Why would I respect anyone? That would mean that some people have power over me, and that is not something I want. Nobody deserves my respect.”

“Control her. Make her another one of my minions. What else do you do with someone who respects you?”

“I want her to respect me. She must, or she will die.” Athena responds calmly.

After multiple hours of lying on the ground conversing with people that others can’t see, Athena is sober enough to have a conversation. ”what do you want with me?” She asks.