Page 13 of Ares' Shield
“No, you’re not. I hadn’t noticed anyone was missing either, and the guy whom I watched walk blankly through the wards, I couldn’t even recall his name.”
I feel like a dick for not knowing the guy’s name. The school isn’t that big. I really should make more of an effort to get to know people, but I’m gone on missions more than I’m here.
“So, they definitely aren’t leaving on their own. There is something else at play here,” Rebecca says thoughtfully.
“Right, there was no one there. He bumped right into me and didn’t even acknowledge my existence.”
“Someone is going to need to find out what’s happening,” Rebecca says under her breath.
Damn it, why is it always me? I’m still trying to make up missing work from when we went to the underworld. Can’t I catch a break?
“Can you at least tell the professors we are excused for a week or something then? I’m so far behind on homework because of these crazy quests, it’s not funny,” I say with a huff.
“Being a hero is difficult and sometimes comes with added challenges. You will need to learn those things, so I can’t excuse you.” Rebecca waves a hand dismissively.
Well, shit. I’m going to be in college for the rest of my life, apparently.
“I don’t want to be a hero. It kind of just always falls in my lap.” I shrug.
Jayden raises a brow at me. “I don’t believe that for a second. You’re always running toward danger instead of away from it. Even when I ask you to stop.”
“Fine, I have a hero complex.” I roll my eyes.
Jayden is obsessed with my safety to a point of being obnoxious sometimes.
“What are we going to do about the missing students?” I ask.
“You’re the only one who’s actually seen them leave. Are we sure that this is what’s actually happening and it’s not just random?” Rebecca runs her hand over the back of her neck.
“Random? Didn’t you say you know of three in the last week who have left? Now it’s four. I don’t think this is random, Rebecca.”
“I know you’re right, but I can hope it’s a fluke instead of something that means I have to send you all out into the unknown to protect the school and the world… again.”
She’s not wrong. How I would love to go one month without crazy shit happening. It would be amazing to actually just go to classes without having people or objects going missing at every turn.
“That’s called false hope, Rebecca. Until this war that’s brewing is won, that’s all we can expect,” I say with a sigh.
Raven glances at me with a grin. She hates having to make up work, but any day that she can use her weapons against evil fucking monsters is a good day to her.
“I say we find the missing students and get this over with.” Raven crosses her arms.
“We have no idea where to look.”
“That’s why we have an oracle. We also have Adrian. I bet he’s had all kinds of visions.” Raven leans forward.
“It doesn’t work like that, Raven,” I grumble.
“I’ll see if I can contact the oracle,” Rebecca says. “He has been increasingly more difficult to contact lately.”
“I wonder why. Is there a problem with the oracle?” I ask no one in particular.
Is the oracle a part of this? Is there a reason he is being less helpful now?
“What if the oracle is in on this?” Raven gasps.
“Then we’re all in trouble.” Rebecca grimaces.
Fuck, I had a feeling she was going to say that, but I was hoping I was wrong.
