Pandora's Curse
Chapter 20

The last hour drifted by quite quickly and the city was drawing closer and closer in the horizon, a bright beacon welcoming us. “Night makes the city so much more outstanding.” Warren hummed. “I remember the first time I saw New York at night, god, so many years ago but it was spectacular. Bright, bright lights, colours flaring in one huge space. It was basically impossible to miss and not one for anyone to miss.”

“I can see it.” I hum, resting my head against the cold of the window. “Do you remember much of the city of Olympus? Of...home?”

“Olympus?”

“Yes.” I murmur, my mind drifting to a place of joy, warmth and home. My mothers smile as I ran towards with the wheat grass brushing under my palms and dirtied skirt tangling around my knees and legs as I ran to her waiting arms and comforting food. “I remember growing up, dancing in the fields with other children and returning home to the smell of dinner and my mothers arms. That was my bright, bright city.” I smile sadly. “Home now, I don’t know where my home is anymore but I think that’s okay. I can make a home for myself.”

Warren hesitated, his eyes narrowing slightly as though he was trying to find words. “Pandora, for now, whatever you decide, my home is yours.” I smile at him gratefully but the sadness is inescapable.

“Olympus died after, didn’t it?” Warren sighed, but he didn’t have to answer, only nodding silently before finding words to take over the silence.

“Yes. So, my memories of it is just...a place of ruin. A place that echoed a thousand screams of death, horror and pain. I’m sorry.”

“It’s okay.” I shook my head. “It’s not your fault, a lot of faults can’t be on just one person. Olympus fell but, I’m sure lot thrived after.” Warren grew silent as we listened to the music in silence.

“Would you want to go back?”

What?

“To Greece?” I sat stunned, and shocked, unable to look away as I place my box on the floor of the car at my feet, freeing my hands. Go back to Greece?

“I-I...I don’t know. Maybe.” I stammer, unsure of what to say but the thought was both...full of joy at the thought of returning to the country of my home. And seeing how it thrived afterall this time. But a little...fear and trepidation. How was I capable of facing it?

Just like you are now. Holding the box and key in hand and not letting the fear get to you.

“I think, for now, I’d like to stay be here and deal with the little things first of all.” Warren nodded.

“Gotcha. And just so you know, Greece is stunning. The beaches especially.” My lips twitched.

“I’ll bet. I never went to the beach before. I would love to see it. Can’t say I’m a great swimmer though.” Warren laughed.

“Okay, we’ll work on that then.” Warren’s smile faded slightly as he glanced at me warily.

“How do you travel to Greece now? I remember Marios saying it’s a long trip by ship, so by boat how long is it to travel there? Or are there other methods of travel now?”

“I would definitely not take a boat to Greece. I’m okay in a ship for a brief amount of time but I don’t like that rise and fall of the ocean. I get sea sick.” I couldn’t help snickering silently at him but he scowls at me. “But we have better, faster and somewhat safer ways of travel. We fly.”

“Fly? On a plane? I thought planes were only short flights within ones country.” Warren’s brow raised as he stared at me with a look of amusement and confusion.

“I don’t know where you heard that but no. We travel on airplanes from around the country or to other countries. They are expensive and might be scary for a first timer but it’s quick, it’s fun and can be quite exciting.” Before I could ask anymore questions, Warren glances over me briefly. “How are you feeling now by the way?” I stretched absentmindedly, feeling my body still groan in protest as my muscles and joints ached.

“Sore. Tired. Really hungry actually.” I finished as my stomach reared its ugly head up. “How are you feeling as well? I can’t imagine blowing yourself up would make your body feel so great.” Warren snorted, glancing sideways as he drove down the bend, the cars high beams piercing through the dark road ahead of us.

“I’m sore from the fight. It’s been a while since I’ve been in a real big fight. The blowing up...let’s not go there. I’m capable of forgetting the pain because I don’t feel it anymore at least.” His jaw tightened slightly as he glanced at the rearview mirror. “Aello’s sisters are dead, I can’t imagine that made you feel great, regardless of how much you despise them.” I shrugged in response, trying to fight the waves of discomfort. “Pandora, you don’t need to hide your sadness or discomfort. Wishing death upon anyone...it shouldn’t be like that. I don’t wish death upon anyone but unfortunately sometimes,” He trails off. “But you don’t need to be upset with yourself for wishing you weren’t upset about their deaths. It makes you human. You’re allowed to be sad. And truly, you wouldn’t be the Pandora I know if you didn’t care and show empathy. Don’t change that.”

Oh War. It was hard to come to turns with that, considering I feel guilt and pain for Aello. I know what she feels. The loss of family, her only family.

“What happens to Aello now?”

“She’ll be in the Underworld by now and probably dragged to Tartarus. Hades will have that final say but Dion will probably push for eternal punishment.” Tartarus. The prison that was worse than just roaming the deadlands in the Underworld. The prison of the Titans. “I’ve actually seen the entrance to it once.”

What?

“What?” I gape at him, stunned blinking as the lights of the city drew closer. “You’ve seen Tartarus?!” Warren chuckled lightly.

“Just the edge. It was...fucking terrifying to witness. It was,” He hesitated, glancing down the streets for any cars and lowering his high beams as other cars started to appear on the roads with us. “We were standing on the top of hill overlooking this huge field and, there it was. It practically took up the entire field. It was just this huge, gaping vortex, like a storm. It was so dark, black like nothing but I could hear the thunder and see the lightning crackle and rumble within.”

“Was that just the entrance of Tartarus?”

“No, that was an opening given to us.”

“Us?” Warren’s lips twitched and as he stopped at the lights, he glanced at me with a faint smirk.

“I wasn’t alone. I was, accompanying someone. This was the best entrance to the Underworld, because Hades would not let a fellow like him wind up in Tartarus for no good reason.”

“Who was it?”

“You heard of Heracles?”

“Sounds familiar- Wait! Isn’t that a Disney film you mentioned!? Based on a God, son of Zeus?”

“Yes. There is a Disney film called Hercules but its very, very loosely based on him because it’s a kids film but the real Heracles is the demi-god son of Zeus and a mortal woman.”

“Wow! You travelled with a known hero? Why? What did you have to do?”

“Heracles was in the middle of doing some...favours to prove himself. He had done something bad and wanted to make things right so he sought the King Eurystheus and would do these tasks for him. The Twelve Labors of Heracles. One of them was to capture and bring back Cerberus.”

“Isn’t that the guard to the gates of the Underworld?”

“Yes, the three-headed hound, companion and guardian to Hades. Heracles succeeded in his task and so on. But Heracles and I only travelled briefly. He was...a very interesting character I’ll say but he hadn’t had the best history, childhood from what I’ve heard. I can’t imagine it would be a great life, knowing your father was Zeus. That’s a lot to unfortunately live up to, especially when you have a Goddess seeking vengeance on you.”

“No, I could not imagine it would be easy. A legacy of the Olympians on your back.” It grew quiet again but the comfortable easy silence between us. But that was quickly broken with a low rumble in my stomach and I bashfully lowered my head while Warren laughed loudly.

“Okay, I got it. I’m starving too actually.”

“Isn’t late though?”

“It’s a Saturday.”

“And?” I questioned, and Warren grinned deeply.

“Don’t worry, I know a place. It’s open late because Saturday nights are when the young and drunk are out and about. And they got food and drinks fit for a warrior after battle.” I couldn’t help laughing at the thought, throwing my head back in amusement.

“Are you saying I’m a warrior? You implied it, so you can’t take it back?”

“Well,” Warren hummed thoughtfully, glancing over me while I scowled playfully at him. “You certainly have the guts and the fire of one. Just need to work on that poker swing still.” He winked at me before we both laughed in unison.

The city was a blaring light the closer we drew and cars appearing more, lighting up the night. There was no stars in the sky or maybe it was hard to see them with so much light here on earth. Cars ahead of us, driving down the roads were a beacon for Warren to follow along towards the hundreds of dotted lights that stretched over the open, dark expansion of water below.

“It’s the Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge.” I nodded, still taking it in as we drew closer. “It’s a long line, bloody hell. Must be an accident.” I didn’t answer. No matter how many times I saw it, especially at night, it was stunning. I don’t think I’d ever get over it. The closer we drew to the bridge, I was stunned.

It was so big! Massive! Lights all around and cars in either direction, trying to get in or leave. While I watched the large bridge draw over us. Giant cables drawn tight, holding it upright with bright white-blue lights drawn along the lines. A large colossal rectangular block with a giant arch for cars to drive through was lit up like silver due to the lights from the cables, the thousands of cars slowly creeping through and workers on site. In my moments of awe and expressive delight, I was unaware of Warren staring at me until I ducked my head under the rear view mirror to watch us go under this giant archway. I felt his eyes on me, a soft look on his face as he chuckles softly. My cheeks grew hot and heady under his gaze and I smiled bashfully as I sat back in my seat.

“I’ll honestly never get over your look of awe.” Warren sighs quietly, shaking his head and pulling the car to a soft stop as traffic halts. His shoulders rise slightly as he takes a deep breath. He mutters something so quietly under his breath, I missed it.

“Pardon?” He smirks faintly, tightening his grip on the wheel as he adjusts his seat.

“It’s your eyes. The way they light up.” He mutters, avoiding looking at me but in the colourful lights, I can see his cheeks darken ever so slightly. “It’s an image I have forever imprinted now.” I grin, finding it hard to hide my smile, brushing a strand of hair back behind my ear bashfully.

“Well, thank you.” I smile at him but can’t help my eyes searching over him. The glow of lights around and above us, and the shadows settle over him like a perfect image. Ragged, roughed-up, cuts healing slowly and dried blood stained in tiny bits on his neck and through the tears on his shirt and jeans. Perfectly flawed, wasn’t that the idea. His hair was a mess, a curl and another dropped over his right eye.

That damn curl.

My throat felt heavy as I swallowed, as I traced that curl down to his eyes which turned dark and the lights glowing around and down on us passed into a shocking red. His eyes became black, heady and that crimson flicker matched the red that bathed us. My breath felt shallow and heavy, my heart thumping slowly but heavily in my chest like persuasion. His hand on the wheel tightened painfully, I expected it to snap under the pressure. I could feel growing heat inside the car, heady and powerful. It was almost difficult to breath, making my breaths more and more shallow and deeper.

“Pandóra,” His voice broke through the thundering acceleration of my heart and shallow breaths and the tension thick like a fog, the windows were misting over. His free hand reaching over, the rough calloused fingers drawing over my jaw and cheek and into my loose hair. His thumb running over the corner of my lips and my lips instinctively. His eyes flared crimson. My heart leapt into action.

Oh my Aphrodite.

I wanted him. I wanted to kiss him. And I could see he wanted that just as much. If not, more. And dear me, I wanted it to. I grasped his forearm, my fingers tracing over the cuts and sharp lines of tense muscles, feeling his sleeves bunch up slightly under my fingers-

Beep

Beep

The red lights that bathed over us suddenly faded away back to simple white ordinary, plain colours and there was a two car space gap in front of us. With a shaky sigh, Warren pulled away, moving the car up and moving the line further along while I pulled away, sitting back in my seat properly, trying to ignore the thundering in my chest. My mouth tingled from the light touch of his thumb and my body felt drawn tight and on edge. Blimey. I looked over at Warren, feeling bashful almost and seeing his jaw clenched and his eyes were pitch black. But when he met my eyes, his lips twitched and I glanced ahead, unable to fight a smile as he breathed out a soft chuckle.

“Well, that’s one lesson to learn.” He muttered, running a hand over his eyes while I tightened my lips. “Don’t get distracted while driving.” I couldn’t fight the laugh that escaped me, my shoulders trembling.

“Well,” I chuckled, running a hand through my hair and freeing it from its hairband. “At least until we get home.” I couldn’t help winking at him and he cursed loudly in a language unfamiliar to me. We sat in silence, just watching the cars barely move now, leaving us hanging in the middle a bridge and not end in sight. I slumped my head back against my seat, listening to the music drifting from the radio and my feet tapping along slowly until it hit something hard. The Box. God, it was...odd. I had it back and I just didn’t know what to think now anymore. The relief was just the biggest prominent feeling. Everything else would be figured out in time especially things that I needed to deal with, emotionally and mentally and physically I guess. Maybe, go visit the Church at Brooklyn again. I hadn’t been since...I hadn’t spoken my final gratitude to those who passed properly still. Daphne still needed care and watch, I wasn’t close to giving up on her but having left her behind at Warren’s place for a few days made me feel guilty. And so much more to process and take in. I could finally...grieve. Grieve over everything. The things I did, didn’t do. My own loss and my own...punishment.

And then figure out what to do with the box. I glanced at the box at my feet, and then the key in the cup holder. The inhabitants within the box. My gaze flickered to Warren who was watching the roads and the cars beside him, his elbow rested on the window sill. I didn’t know what other inhabitants consisted of within the box but, Warren...War. The second Horseman. Regardless of my feelings, of us, everything we’d been through together in just a couple months, he had kept his word and I trust him. The thought was almost terrifying and exhilarating but I didn’t go into that just yet because I just glanced at the clock on the car dashboard and realized almost fifteen minutes had passed and we had not moved an inch. And so had the cars on the other side.

“Is this normal?” I looked at Warren who was trying to look through the traffic ahead for any sight of what was going on.

“No. It’s not.” His voice was tight, a slight frown marring his face. He glanced back over his shoulder at the cars behind him and I could see people shifting around in seats, some stepping out, looking a little frustrated. “This is not normal at all, I think.” He reached for the radio, twisting the dials around, ignoring the crackling sound coming through and then some voices he searched through until he stopped at one.

“...slow moving on the Verrazzano Bridge tonight.”

“I heard there was some malfunctioning going on stopping cars from passing through?”

“It appears so.”

Warren cursed, grumbling as he dropped his head back into his seat, sighing. “Sorry Pan, but we might be here awhile.” I shook my head, giving him a faint smile as I took his hand in mine.

“It’s okay. Let’s just head back to yours. We can eat at home.” Warren nodded, giving me faint smile in return as he clasped my hand back.

“Sounds good.” Before he could say more, a heavy gush of wind could be heard outside the car, rattling the body and the cables to start swinging. A sudden flash and crackle and the lights along the cables high above us went dark, throwing the bridge in momentary darkness. The wind gushed back, hitting from the right, the window rattling next to me. Some cars honked distantly and Warren cursed, rolling his window to peek out through. “What the bloody hell is going on?” The lights crackled and flickered on and off before coming to light but the lights were hardly comforting. My head was bringing out the ringing alarm bell and the hair on my arms were raised by goosebumps. Something was not good at all. I heard some car doors slamming shut and movement and glancing in my side mirror, I could see people stepping out of their cars, their gazes turned towards their right. Voices rising high and I followed their sight, looking out my window to the dark expansion that led far out into the open ocean.

Oh my God.

“W-Warren!” I stammer, fighting the cold seeping through my body as I stared out unable to look away as the rising, looming mound drew closer. “WAR!” I stuttered loudly and could feel Warren tensing beside me.

“What is it-” Warren faltered his voice fading. I was suddenly fighting the door open along with my seatbelt and as soon as the door opened, I could hear the yells and screams of people on the bridge.

“Quick! War!” I practically wrenched my seatbelt off me. Warren shouted a curse and was already jumping out of his car. I quickly reached back, grasping my box and the key as Warren yanked open the boot. “Warren we have to go!” I pressed against Warren as the people on the bridge ran past, frantically running to either end. Warren threw his pack over his shoulder and without bothering to shut the boot, grabbed my hand in his and started running down the bridge in the direction we were heading. The screams and thundering feet around along with the heavy thumps as people ran through and over the cars in a desperate attempt to escape the oncoming wave. A wave I could hear. Hear the sounds of rising, rushing water growing louder and eclipsing the sounds of fear and panic. A loud blaring alarm rang through the night air, throwing the crowd into a frenzy. War and I dodging around the crowd, as Warren glanced back and pulled me harder, eyes widening in a panic as he cursed aloud.

“WAR!” I pant after him when he suddenly pulls me into an edge corner behind the block of bridge we just ran and ducks in front of it, with me stuffed between the bridge and Warren. A rushing roar and the screams grow louder and panicked.

“HOLD ON!” I could barely hear Warren as a loud crash and rush of something heavy and fast arrived and I felt the bridge quake beneath my feet. I squeezed my eyes shut as I gripped the stone corner for dear life but was unprepared for the onslaught of freezing cold water to hit me hard, filling my mouth with sea water and no air. The cold was numbing and terrifying and I realized my arms were frantically reaching out, mobile and grasping onto anything that I could possibly. But just as quick as it happened, it was over suddenly. My front grazing the stone ground as the water softened and I felt myself flop like a fish on the ground, my mouth opening and suddenly I was gasping for air for dear life while also spitting out salty water from my mouth. Soaked and frozen in shock and cold now. Oh my god, what just happened? Shaking, I raised myself up on my forearms, ignoring the sting in my eyes and seeing just...chaos all around me.

Water was spilling over the edges of the bridge in heavy streams, I could hear it. Cars were...all over the place. One car was stuck, hanging over the edge, rocking dangerously back and forth due to the frantic people inside and the people trying to help them out. People were laid or stumbling around the bridge in shock and horror, screaming or silent. Slowly, I climb to my feet, ignoring the throbbing ache in my knees and shoulder and War wasn’t in sight.

“Wa...War?” I gasp, coughing up salt water. “Warren? WAR!”

“PAN!” I hear a shout and spin around but there was nothing or no one except the side of the bridge.

And a hand clinging on for dear life!

“Oh God, Warren!” I run towards him, reaching over and grasping his other hand that he reaches out for. Forgetting he’s twice my size and weight but I pull as hard as I possibly can, helping him grab on and pull himself over. “Oh God, eísai kalá?" Warren nodded shakily, looking a little stunned and stupefied as he glanced at the sight before him. He wrapped an arm around me, pulling me to him tightly and gasping as he shook his head.

“I’m okay, we’re okay. That was...”

“Not normal?” I finish and Warren shakes his head. Trepidation levels itself deep in me and I swallow heavily. “Warren, I-my box-”

“It’s okay, it’s there.” I turn around in his arms and immediately my eyes fall on the upturned box sitting next to a car knocked over on its side. Oh thank you, Hera. I stumble towards it, feeling Warren right behind me and grateful I had shoved the key in my button pocket and it was still there. I reached for the box-

When the bridge groaned.

The box rattled as the bridge tremored, falling flat and upright. Freezing in terror and confusion, Warren tensed beside me. That was not right. My heart stuttered as it grew silent, except for the blaring car alarms and the frantic shouts from the people on the bridge as they looked around just as confused.

“What’s going on?”

“What the hell was that?” A loud rumbling twang twittered above our heads on the right side of the bridge. Following the sound, just as the bridge shook suddenly, turning my legs to jello briefly and cars went to shock, tipping over the edge and people starting to move nervously. The twang and vibrations rocked violently above my heads reminding me of red lines...spider webs...Fate. Death. Hundreds of the giant, thick cables alongside the bridge quaked and tremored nervously, disappearing in the shadow as one, two and three giant, rough crescent moons curled around the giant arch. The force and continued tremors snapping the cables from where they were attached and it was just like a game of dominos. Followed by more snaps and the cables violently writhing around like snakes, that followed down either side of the bridge. Crashing on the bridge before dropping into the ocean with heavy watery crashes. The bridge shuddered beneath our feet, groaning loudly, loudly rumbling alongside the bridge and rising higher and higher-

Wait? That wasn’t the sounds of construction groaning under pressure...that was...

“W-We need to go, Pan. PAN!” Warren’s voice was low. Low and dangerous. And terrified. I could feel his arm on my shoulders as he pulled me back and we slowly stumbled back. But almost unable to look away. The bridge trembled, crackling beneath our feet, spiderwebs cracking through the concrete and parts started to fall away and the suspension cables continued to snap without a twang, just a violent echo and the lights dropped out from each cable as curved, ivory climbed over the edge, dragging cracks along the giant archway. I stumbled back with Warren, unable to look away as the lights dropped out of sight and the bridge was bathed in the shadow of the seven - headed beast that loomed over us.

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