The haughty baby fox
After some time, Ruth finally left Athena's body. Athena did not feel any different. She was still her weak self.
"Why do you live in a caravan?" Athena asked curiously.
"My parents were fortune-tellers," Lana replied. "They lived in a caravan and were travellers."
Athena nodded in understanding.
She thought of something and stretched her hand out and said with a coy smile, "You are a fortune-teller right? Can you tell me my fortune?"
Lana looked surprised when she noticed her eyes sparkle with anticipation. She coughed and said, "I am not yet strong but I can give it a try. Can you place your hand on the crystal ball?" Athena did as she was told.
"Place the other one too and close your eyes," Lana instructed. Athena obeyed and closed her eyes. A few minutes passed but nothing happened.
"Is it working?" she asked.
"Shush. Just focus," said Lana. Athena tried to concentrate.
After what seemed to be an eternity, the darkness faded and Athena saw a girl who looked like her. She looked at her in surprise. Although she looked like her, there was something strange about her.
She was surrounded by fire and had a wild look in her eyes. She seemed to be completely affected by the fire. She was wearing an emerald dress that was covered with blood and a vicious smile was plastered on her face.
When the other Athena turned to look at her, she felt a chill run down her spine and backed away subconsciously. "Don't come anywhere near me!" the real Athena screamed.
The scary looking Athena just smiled strangely and kept on coming closer. "What are you so afraid of Athena? You are me... Only that you are still pathetic and weak." Her eyes flickered from green to purple. The real Athena moved back. "No. I am not you!"
She felt danger coming from the scary Athena. Her eyes fell on her blood soaked dress and the hairs on her back stood. The only word that came to her mind was... Run!
She spun around and fled! A cold and bone chilling laughter rang in her ears as she ran faster.
She had not yet run too far when her heart began to ache. She softly cursed as she involuntarily slowed down a little.
"This is who you are Athena!" the other Athena laughed. Her laughter was cold and emotionless just like her expression. "You can't run away from the truth!"
Athena did not stop running. She just wanted to get away from this freak! As she ran she did not notice the rock that was in front of her and stumbled over it and fell. Everything suddenly turned dark.
She opened her eyes when she heard someone coughing violently. She turned to see Lana laying on the ground looking deathly pale. Blood seeped out of the corner of her lips.
"What happened to you?" she asked in confusion as she moved towards her. Lana moved away from her with fear dancing in her eyes. Athena furrowed her eyebrows. "Lana?"
She remained silent.
Athena scratched her head. Can somebody tell me what is going on here?
After some time, Lana opened her mouth and said, "I can't tell you."
"But you told me that you will tell me my fortune," Athena frowned.
"I wish I can tell you but I can't because I am not sure..." she trailed off.
"What are you not sure of?"
She did not reply.
Athena sighed. "Then how am I going to find her?" she muttered to herself but Lana heard her.
"Who are you looking for?" she asked curiously.
"My mother," she answered with her head lowered. "I don't even know if she is alive or not."
Lana pursed her lips before her eyes brightened. "I can't help you to find her but I know somebody who can help you."
Athena looked at the smiling girl. Wasn't she scared a minute ago? She did not understand her mood swings at all. "Who is he or she?"
"A witch. She is a bit mysterious and lives in this town."
"A witch and she lives in this town?" Lana nodded.
"Could you take me to see her one day?"
"Eh, I have never seen her in person. Actually, I don't even know what she looks like."
"..." Athena facepalmed. This girl...
She turned to look at the silent Ruth but she shook her head. She also did not know the mysterious witch.
"What about her name?" Athena asked Lana. "Do you know it?"
Lana fell in deep thought before shaking her head. Athena's lips twitched. How could she look for her then? Shaking her head helplessly, she changed the subject.
"So what does David do for a living?" Athena asked curiously.
"He kidnaps people and sell them as slaves," Lana gritted her teeth. "That bastard!"
Athena,"..." She turned to look at Ruth speechlessly. Ruth turned red with embarrassment and blurted out, "I didn't know that's what he did for a living at that time."
Athena shook her head and looked at Lana. An evil glint flashed in her eyes. "I think I have a plan."
A thin and pitiful looking girl sat at the roadside, crying heartbreakingly. She was hugging her knees, her eyes were red. She looked a bit frightened. A carriage then passed by and stopped beside her. A tall young man stepped out. He looked like a kind and handsome guy. He did not look like a murderer at all.
'This is not what I expected,' thought the girl as she looked at the man in a frightened manner.
"Who ar... are you?" the girl stammered as she backed away from the approaching man. The man smiled gently at the frightened and crying girl. "Little girl, why are you crying?"
"I am lost... I don't remember the way home," she sobbed.
The man's kind smile widened. Although the girl looked skinny and barely fourteen, he will still get a reasonable pay from those old pigs right?
"Is that why you are crying?"
The girl nodded.
"Don't cry anymore. I am going to take you home," the man said as he stretched his hand.
The girl became a bit cautious. "Mommy once told me to not trust strangers."
She looked at the man's fake kind smile and laughed sarcastically deep down but still kept a pitiful expression on her face.
"You don't trust me?" the man pulled a long face. "I just wanted to help you but if you don't want..." The man turned around and pretended to leave. Just as he expected, a soft and panicking voice called him. "Mister, please take me with you!"
He smirked evilly but said to the girl gently, "Okay, if that's what you want..." She caught a glimpse of his evil smirk but continued to play dumb and followed him.
Just as he was about to get into the carriage, he felt something cold pierce his back, catching him off guard. He turned around to see a different person and the girl whom he had met was nowhere to be seen.
"Lana?! Why are you here? Why did you attack me? Where is the girl?" he asked in confusion as he fell down.
"Looking for me?"
Lana moved aside to reveal a girl who no longer looked frightened. Instead she was smiling evilly.
"What's the meaning of this?" he asked weakly.
"David Brown... It's nice to meet you again," Lana said as she pulled out a dagger. "It's time to do what I should have done a long time ago." With that she stabbed him in the chest. David tried to dodge Lana's attacks but the unbearable pain he felt restrained his movements.
Athena watched Lana stab him to death without any emotion. There was no way she could feel pity for a murderer. Ruth watched David take his last breath with a complicated expression. "David," she whispered but did not say anything else.