3. Runaway

“Sometimes escape is a better choice rather than die for nothing.”

Athena Xander

***

When Athena Xander opened her eyes the next morning, she found herself laying over the bed. There was no one beside her. Athena looked so confused as that woman doesn't remember what had happened last night because everything seemed so blurry. Athena tried to be calm but the fact is, she can’t lie to herself that she was scared because she found herself laid naked on the bed as her black dress and underwear were scattered on the floor.

‘Calm down, Athena. Everything will be alright.’ She chanted these words as she thought it could help her to be calm in this situation and she took a deep breath and took a step to collect her dress and wear it on the spot as her legs trembled. Even Athena was still dizzy but she insisted on getting out of this mansion.

Athena tried her best to recall about what had happened last night but she could not think any further as she found a bunch of blurry images that she couldn’t identify what was that and it left her with a lot of questions in her head.

Athena looked around and found there was no one around. That means the situation was clear and it was good so she could get out of this place without any trouble. Athena had to walk around thirty minutes before she found a taxi that sent her to her studio apartment.

Athena felt so exhausted and her neck also in pain when she arrived at her room. Athena was also a little bit astonished when she looked at the mirror in the bathroom because she could see a bite wound on her neck. It seemed like there was something that bit her neck and she didn’t remember anything so she felt so frustrated as well.

Athena cleaned the wound carefully because the wound delivered a burning sensation all over her delicate skin. The wound in her neck made her realize that she has to take the consequences from that man because her mission failed. It was possible if that man wanted her life now.

By thinking about that possibility made her head dizzy and all that she wanted right now was to just take a rest for a while before she has to deal with the cruel reality in front of her. Athena doesn't know if she is ready or not for the consequences that she has to deal with.

Yes, of course, she was aware there are a lot of rules in the organization and an important rule that she has to remember as assassins, that the client must be someone that never existed even if the mission had failed. Even if the target wanted to kill her, she has to deal with something like that alone

The worst possibility happened to her perhaps would happen soon because Athena was quite certain that Zev found the silver dagger that was hidden on her leg and covered by her dress slit. At this moment, Athena also has to prepare because there was a possibility that Zev Russel would kill her soon. He has a lot of subordinates and Athena was aware of what she was faced with since that man said killing Zev Russel became her last mission.

Athena took a deep breath because I know her life was in danger since she decided to become an assassin but now she just wanted to forget everything for a while until her mom came from the door suddenly and slapped her face so hard. That slap made her head blank for a while but actually, the pain that she felt was not on her face but it was in her heart instead. Athena also doesn't understand how this slap delivered more pain than the wound on her neck that almost burned her?

“Mom,”

Actually, Athena wanted to say a lot of things to her mom and tell her what had happened to her but all those words just stuck in her head, just vanished suddenly when she saw Edrica’s face.

“That man told me that he will kill me and your brother because you are so dumb! How come you failed on your mission!” Edrica looked so mad until her face became reddish.

“Mom,”

Actually, Athena wanted to tell her that her target had hurted her. He hurted her neck but it looked like Edrica was just concerned about herself and her son. Somehow, Athena had ever thought her mom was treated her like this because she was a first born so her mom was more concerned about her brother than her. But why? No one could choose to be a first born, middle born or last born but Athena felt her heart was cold and chill. She just wanted to be alone at this moment.

Athena gasped the air as she felt her heart felt so heavy. She tried to compose herself before facing her mom. “Mom, you can go.”

PLAK!

The second slap landed on her face again. She was exhausted so she didn't want to say a single word to her.

“Athena! Do you want to whoosh me away?!” Edrica looked so mad as her eyes got bigger when she stared at her. Actually, her mom has always been like that but Athena doesn't understand why she felt that she could not tolerate what her mom had done to her right now anymore.

Athena turned her body around. Usually, Athena didn’t cry easily even though her heart was trampling on the ground by her mom or anyone else. Even though Athena felt broken, again and over again. Deep down in her heart, she knew that her mom would never change and what she had to do was just accept the truth even though that was not easy at all to have a mother like Edrica.

“Okay! Now just give me the money, I need to go before that man sends his man to kill me because of your dumbness.” Edrica opened her right palm in front of Athena as if she was ready to get the money from her daughter as her face looked so infuriated.

Athena just wanted peace so she took her purse and gave it to her mom. “Mom, you can take all the money and the cards you know the password, just take it.” Athena said nonchalantly.

Edrica stared at her awkwardly as if she was astonished but Athena knew her mom so well. Edrica was happy as she accepted Athena's purse and there was a happy smile on her face. Meanwhile Athena gasped as she couldn’t hide the exhausted, pain and agony that she was felt all this time.

“Athena, are you serious?” Edrica asked her daughter with a happy face.

“Mom, don’t you say that you want my money? Just take it.” She confirmed it.

At this point, Athena just surrendered everything about her mom. She surrendered to hope that someday her mom would change. Athena thinks, as a daughter, perhaps she was too naive and too hoped that her mom would love her like she loved her brother but then, she just realized, no one could force anybody else's feelings even if she was your own mom.

Edrica opened the purse and her smile looked wider than before when she found a large amount of cash before she gave Athena’s Id card back to her before she left Athena alone in her studio apartment.

Again, Athena took a long deep breath when Edrica left her apartment like this after she took all of her money but at this time, Athena doesn’t want to think about anything but sleep until she heard someone open her apartment door. Athena just wanted to surrender if Zev's subordinate wanted to kill her so she chose to close her eyes as if she was ready to die as the door was closed.

“Athena, what are you doing? Just sleep in your room.”

‘Why could I hear Ares’ voice? Wasn’t he with mom?’ There were some questions in her mind after she heard a familiar voice in her ears so she opened her eyes and she found that her brother was standing in front of her as he looked at her confusedly.

“Athena, what happened to you?”

“Ares! Why did you come here?” Athena asked her little brother who came to her apartment with a big backpack on his back. Athena knew her brother wanted to sleep over in her apartment but this was a little bit weird.

“Mom asked me to come here and stay with you. She said that she had to go.” Ares looked so frustrated when he told her about this matter.

“So Mom doesn’t go with you but leaves you with me instead?” Athena could not believe that their mom just left them without money.

“The fact that you still see me here, right?” Ares asked. His gloomy face was like understand what had happened here and his eyes told her as if he could read what was in Athena’s mind right now.

“Okay, then I will be honest to you.” Athena looked at her brother with a serious face.

“What?!”

“I gave all of my money to Mom and now, we have nothing left.”

“Okay, I know.” Ares answered her nonchalantly and of course Ares’ reaction made her so confused and curious at the same time.

“Wait? Ares, how do you know?”

“Athena, that's easy! Mom would never ask me to be here if she wants me to go with her, right?”

“Okay, you’re right. I never thought my brother could sense something like this.” Athena really doesn't know if she should complain or compliment her smart brother.

“But, you don’t need to worry because I have enough money.” Ares looked at her and smiled. “I have some money that I earned all this time so don’t worry.” He said proudly.

“That’s good,” Athena responded as she tapped Ares’ shoulder lightly. “I want to sleep. I was so exhausted.” She said again.

“Wait!” Ares grabbed her left arm before she almost took a step to go to her bedroom.

“What?”

“Let me dress your wound.” Ares said while he took off his backpack and put it on the floor before he took the medicine kit on the cabinet.

Athena let Ares dress her wound. At this time, she knew Ares must be so confused when he saw the wound on her neck.

“Athena, what happened to your neck?” Ares asked her in curiosity.

“I don’t know. I don’t remember anything.” Athena answered her brother nonchalantly because she really didn't know what happened to her at that time.

“You said that you don’t remember anything?! I hope my sister didn’t do something stupid.” Ares murmured.

‘Yes! But … what if… I really made a big mistake.’