4. Athena: Nothing Like The Movies

Among the numerous random information embedded in my mind, was basic self-defense, and for that, I'll forever be grateful to the universe.

I watched the man with the whistle around his neck rest his palm against the side of the black car and tightened my grip on the blade.

Inhale. Aim.

Exhale. Throw.

One moment, my sharp trusty friend was airborne and the next, it was exactly where I'd meant to put it. In the center of his palm and hopefully a little through the car so I'd have some time to deal with the other one.

Well, Nik did always tell me that I have a deadly aim when I got frustrated with him and threw things at his head.

The man screamed, but I didn't hear it. I was already running at the second person, who was reaching into the car for something. Probably a gun. Probably, I'm gonna die. Probably, I should have stayed hidden and called 911. Oh well, never mind. Too late.

I wasn't strong. Oh, hell no, I was far from strong. But I knew where to hit so it hurt.

Kick on the back of the elbow so he can't reach for the gun, or whatever he was trying to get.

One punch on the nose.

Another at his solar plexus.

Kick to the groin and he was down.

My body was working on autopilot. I couldn't think. But it was definitely nothing like the movies, where the good guys do all the hitting and never get hit themselves.

My opponent happened to have a knife too. It was in his ankle holster and I wasn't quick enough to hit his other arm before he retrieved it.

The first swipe of his knife took me in the upper arm. It wasn't that deep.

I turned around for a split second to check on the other guy and he was still howling in pain and trying to get my blade out of his palm. Good.

When I turned back around, I felt something warm on my skin. I touched it and saw blood gushing out of a deep cut from across my left collar bone. That's gonna scar bad if I live to let it heal. I was high on adrenaline, feeling absolutely zero pain from the injury.

I kicked him between his legs again, much harder this time, and thankfully, it knocked him out.

Then I noticed something that made me almost cry out in joy. Nik was not unconscious. He was semi-conscious. His eyelids were fluttering and his head rolled from side to side. I dropped down beside him.

"Nik! Nik, you have to stay awake. Get up Nik, you have to walk, c'mon Nik get up!"

I looked up once, to see that the blade was almost out of his palm.

"Athena?" Nik mumbled almost like he was about to fall asleep.

"Fuck we're out of time." I muttered under my breath and somehow jerked Nik up on his feet. He leaned onto my side.

"Nik, I need you to walk, okay? Can you do that?"

"Y-yes."

I don't know why he said that. I had to half run, half walk while almost carrying him with me. We were still in the parking lot, a few cars away from the man, when I heard the footsteps.

He was coming after us. And fast.

I somehow managed to make it to the school entrance with him.

"Nik, listen to me, I'm gonna distract him. I need you to go inside and get help, okay? My bag is behind Phoebe's car. There's evidence in my phone. Can you do that?"

"What? No! It's a huge risk. Come inside with me, we can call 911 from the school phone. They took mine." He said, quite awake by now.

"I think he has a gun. I can't let him go inside the school. He's after you. So, if I make him think you're with me, I can buy enough time. Now shut up and go."

He was about to argue but I pushed him behind the doors and bolted.

I hated running. I could never run very fast. But today, I ran like my life depended on it. Because it did.

I knew I'll never be fast enough to outrun him – even fell down a couple of times - but I was out of the school and far enough before he caught up with me. I heard the click of a gun.

It was a deserted alley. Dead end. Lucky me.

I dropped to my knees and put both my hands up.

"Where is the boy?" The man snarled.

I remained silent. He repeated his question, cocking his gun again. I could see his hands shaking and the wound on his palm was still bleeding.

The adrenaline was beginning to wear off and I bit my lips to stop screaming as the pain in my collarbone kicked in.

"Calling the cops, who are probably on their way by now." I gritted out.

The way his face twisted; told me he didn't like my answer.

And then I heard the screech of tires. It was the same black car; driven by the man I had knocked out earlier.

"The boy isn't here. Cops on the way."

"Shit! Director's gonna be pissed. Alright get the girl and let's go. She's seen too much."

Right now, all I was seeing were black spots, swimming in my vision, growing bigger and bigger.

The last thought I had before blacking out completely was that Nik was safe.

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