Surreal Encounter (1)

Recently, Athena had been suffering from insomnia. Every time she fell asleep, she would have to bear with seeing the nightmare again and again. So she could only brace herself and stay awake until she couldn't sleep at all...

But something good happened. Athena applied for another job and unexpectedly, after failing for the nth time, she got it! This was the happiest news for her since the past 3 months.

And here she thought that she would eventually have to become a cashier to earn money...

It seems that the goddess of fortune did not hate her that much after all!

Today was her first day at the office. Athena picked up her purse, dressed up nicely and headed out while humming to herself. Today, she wore a a long shirt reaching up to her knee and ankle jeans. Her hair were tied up in a high ponytail and her emerald eyes were glistening with undisguised excitement. She couldn't wait to earn her own money!

But alas, who knew that office life for her was just not destined to be....

Athena's new company was a little far from her home and a bit isolated. Athena couldn't walk there from home so she chose to take a bus. The route the bus took was through a desolate forest. It was a kind of shortcut. Today was her first day so she wanted to come a little early. She hopped onto the bus and sat on the last seat.

It was packed with people, all in formal attires most likely going to work. The driver was a plump man who seemed to be in his forties. The bus moved and Athena started to browse through her phone in boredom.

After a while, The bus came to a stop in the middle of the forest. Athena confusingly stood up from her seat to see what was going on all of a sudden. The driver seemed to be yelling at someone and all the people were peering out of the window. Athena peered out as well.

She saw someone standing on the middle of the road. It was a handsome young man dressed in weird clothes which she remembered to be those worn by the royalty of the medieval times, nevertheless he still looked good in them. He had white long hair reaching up to his knees and were tied up in a high ponytail. He was wearing a golden mask showing only his ocean-blue eyes. He was breathtakingly charming but looked emotionless as he gazed at the bus, seemingly looking for something.

"Oye you! Get 'way from the road! If ya don't, imma crush ya under this bus!" The angry bus driver yelled out in his weird type of English. However the man didn't budge no matter what he said. He just stood there expressionlessly. The driver's anger reached its peak and he came out of the bus followed by all the passengers who wanted to see a good show. Athena came out as well.

The driver kept yelling and some people who were in a hurry joined in as well. The man, however, didn't move an inch. Instead, he just nonchalantly flicked his sleeve a little. But what happened from that small action was..

CRASH---

The bus was flung in the air was sent flying several meters backward before in slammed into an old tree and was fragmented into many pieces that began to scatter everywhere. Many pieces flew and hit the passengers, causing some injuries.

"…"

Everyone stood there in silence, dumbfounded. Then they finally began to react as they backed away in fear. The man's eyes were so tyrannical and bloodthirsty, it seemed that even his eyes could take their life. Wherefore would they care for their injuries? Their life was on the line here!

The driver first looked at the bus then at the man in utter disbelief and overwhelming fear.

"Me….me b-bus…..n-no…..no….me….life…monster!!"

He stuttered and screamed. Soon after, everyone started to shriek and freak out as they moved back. Athena, although scared stiff, did not freak out or yell. She was a little more clear-headed as compared to others. But looking at this inhumane person who flung away a bus with a mere flicker of his sleeve, truely a person would be sent drowning in apprehension. Instinctively, she gripped the crystal pendant on her neck.

The man suddenly seemed to have noticed something and he started to walk towards the scared crowd. Another round of screams came as the people began to stumble and run backwards.

The man came close to them- no specifically Athena and stopped almost 15 steps away. By then, everybody had run except Athena, who was being pressured by the man's cold gaze. Her body was being held down by an invisible overwhelming pressure, making her incapable of movement. Suddenly, the mysterious man opened his mouth for the first time to say:

"Green destiny"

As soon as he said that in a low magnetic voice, a great amount of green light suddenly enveloped his hand. the light then began to fade to reveal a long shiny sword. The sword's handle was green and had black flames engraved on it. The sword seemed viciously sentient and dangerous.

Seeing the sword in the man's hands, all the rational thoughts Athena had left instantly vanished from her head. She backed away a few steps, trying hard to resist the pressure on her body and stared at his blue eyes blankly.

The man raised his razor-sharp sword aimed at Athena's heart!