Athena’s grip tightened on her katana. Her eyes widened as she shook. Gluttony was only listed 2, she’d fought way higher Sins, this was fine!

  Her shaking stopped, replaced with controlled anger.Ozzie warned her about this. Don’t accept the food. What did that mean? Gluttony whistled, dragging her jaw hand across the ground. It created a sharp sound, like nails on a chalkboard.

  Athena had to think, one wrong move and she was out.

  She didn’t move, one ripple could trigger her. Even being listed as 2 was a threat. Sloth wasn’t as sloppy as she seemed.

  Athena breathed too hard, and moved her boot. A tiny ripple faded out in the black and red water. Gluttony disappeared, a long, eerie silence held between Athena’s ears.

  Her breathing became rapid, her eyes darted to corners, when she felt a breeze behind her. Just in time she had deflected the move, the jawed hand of Gluttony too close to her face.

  She shoved Gluttony off, her rotting flesh burning Athena’s nose. Gluttony’s ribs were visible, it seemed as if claw marks were on them?Like some, animal had purposely clawed and torn her open.

  Gluttony didn’t hesitate to fight back though. She swung her jawed hand and clamped it shut trying to get Athena’s fighting arm.

  When Athena tried to grab Gluttony’s arm to throw her over Athena’s shoulder. Gluttony winced back, fear shining in her blind eyes, fear. For a Sin? What was she so afraid of? She actually backed off.

  But it was only less than a minute that she remained harmless. By the next she was ready to kill again. She growled, launching her jaw.

  Her broken and torn body snapped terrifyingly. She screamed.

  “I AM ARNAKI, GLUTTONY, TAKE ME FOR NO FOOL!” Arnaki screamed, anger rising full in her voice.

  Her jaw gripped Athena, slinging her across the room. Athena bolted back, her boots thundering on the ground. Gluttony peeked a blind eye from her tunic.

  Athena leapt into the air. Arnaki raised her jawed hand, snapping at air, Athena had flipped to dodge her. That was an advantage Athena had. She could see. Little did she know Arnaki could too, just, differently.

  The pools were like Arnaki’s body, Athena was just a mere ant crawling upon her skin. A mere imbecile to rid of her path to greatness. Something that has been long due to her.

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  Athena grabbed her katana and missed Arnaki’s heart by an inch. And ended up cutting off her shoulder. Arnaki growled, raising her jaw again and grabbing Athena’s leg. She raised her other hand, which twirled a mini scythe dazzling in blood. Arnaki put the scythe to Athena’s heart. Before almost crying her next words.

  “Let's see how you like it.” She hissed. “You will understand MY pain..”

  The scythe was drawn down Athena’s body, reaching her stomach. But Arnaki almost didn’t do it. What did she mean, understand my pain?

  Instead of hurting her anymore, Arnaki dropped her. Shaking intensely.

  Tears swelled up to her eyes. She murmured to herself, some kind of begging plea over and over.

  “I’m sorry!Please, please, please, I’m sorry–”

  Her head jerked straight up. Athena winced at the sound of cracked bones. Arnaki’s blind pale eyes turned pristine gold, her laugh was full of cruel amusement.

  Athena grabbed her katana and stabbed Arnaki in the heart. The gold faded away, the laughter stopped. Arnaki fell down. Her jaw fell loose. Tears painted her face.

  Her breath was coming fast, like Athena’s.

  “I’m sorry!” She twitched, throwing herself over and over from side to side. “Please Mama!” She shook.

  Athena crouched near her side, what was happening?This was all new, what happened to her? Athena sighed, knowing she would regret it.

  “If you need someone to talk to, for now. I’m listening. It's not like I have anywhere else to be.”

  Arnaki smiled, tears still falling. She inhaled, her body began to wither, so she spoke fast.

  “I was born in the New Ages, when the kingdoms formed. My family loved me deeply, I-I was pretty, so we got around. I was walking home when–,” Her blind eyes widened with pure fear. “I didn’t know him! He was a stranger and—” She sobbed. “He turned me to ruin, my body ripped and my tunic torn. The cruel man had even pierced my eyes, so I’d forget his shitty face.” Arnaki faced Athena. “I was only twelve.” She sobbed, her lip trembling. “Thats when Hubris came. Promised me life and revenge. I accepted. I didn’t see his form, but I took whatever chance I got—”

  Her voice faded off as she faded away. “-Thank you,”

  Athena breathed in the air, before exhaling. They weren’t born this way. I need to find what was before the New Ages. Athena still had no idea how to escape. If Arnaki had controls on the pools, maybe she had a way out. Athena picked up the red, dim fading crystal that fell.

  She raised it high, and slammed it into the pools. It shattered, pieces going everywhere. A voice echoed in the space.

  “What have you done?!”

  The walls of towering black rivers stopped. A giant rumble answered throughout the space. Suddenly, the base of the water gave out. Athena fell into the pool. Her black hair came undone and spiraled around her. Her scream ran through the roots of this space.

  Her own voice echoed, like being replayed from the start over and over. She turned to her hand, it was fading, multiple versions of it were skimming. Her blue-lit flaming eyes flickered with black, red, and normal blue again. Until she hit rock bottom.