The Fall of the Ancient Pantheon

Ch. 2 So his name is....

“Lilly! What happened?” Maddie’s voice screamed from the phone, pulling me back to reality.

I couldn’t answer. My pulse was racing too fast. I couldn’t speak. The world felt like it was slowing down. His gaze was like a physical force, keeping me trapped in place. I couldn’t tear my eyes away.

“Lilly! Hello?!” Maddie’s voice was distant now, as if it were coming from miles away.

“What?” His voice was low, confused, as he slowly turned his head, breaking the strange spell he’d put me under. His eyes shifted from me to the surroundings, looking lost. “What happened?”

"Lilly?!" Maddie’s voice came through the phone with urgency, sharper now.

I quickly grabbed the phone, pulling it off speaker as I struggled to control my breathing. "I’m sorry, Maddie. He suddenly woke up, and it startled me."

The man—*Damon*, it seemed from the name on his badge—turned his gaze to me. “Do you know what happened here? Are you alright?” His voice was steady, but his confusion was clear.

I nodded, though I found it difficult to speak. He was striking—his piercing eyes, yes, but also his strong jawline and high cheekbones that gave his face a chiseled, almost ethereal quality. His wavy golden-brown hair, effortlessly styled, seemed untouched by the crash, as though he’d just walked out of a photo shoot.

“Lilly?” Maddie’s voice broke through, sounding more concerned now.

“Sorry, um... he’s conscious and speaking. Would you like me to hand him the phone?” I asked, trying to keep my focus.

“No, you can keep me on speaker. I’ll ask him some questions. Stay with him until help arrives,” Maddie instructed, her voice professional but laced with concern.

I put the phone back on speaker, setting it on the ground between us. Maddie’s calm voice began asking Damon a series of triage questions. As she worked through them, the distant sound of sirens grew louder—help was finally on its way.

“Maddie, I don’t mean to interrupt, but I hear sirens. Do you need me to stay on the line until they arrive?” I asked, my voice tight with the growing tension.

“Yes, I’ll stay on the line until the paramedics take Mr. Okeanós to the hospital,” Maddie replied without hesitation.

Damon’s voice cut through, dismissive yet calm. “Oh, there’s no need for that. I’m fine.”

*Mr. Okeanós*. The name sounded familiar, but I couldn’t place it.

“Mr. Okeanós, at least allow the paramedics to assess you,” Maddie insisted, her tone more urgent. “There’s a high possibility you’ve suffered internal injuries or a concussion.”

Damon’s response was surprisingly casual. “No need to be formal. Just call me Damon.” His eyes met mine, and he smiled faintly. “And to answer your plea, Ms. Maddie, I’ll let them check me over, but I won’t accept any further treatment unless they find something serious.”

As if on cue, the wail of sirens grew louder, and moments later, the paramedics and firetruck arrived, their vehicles blocking the entrance to the campus. The scene shifted into motion—firefighters worked seamlessly with the local police to secure the area, while paramedics rushed to Damon, immediately assessing his condition. I watched, both amazed and overwhelmed by their precision as they sprang into action.

I couldn’t help but feel a sense of awe as the professionals moved in—this was no longer just a random accident. Things were serious now, and I had no idea where they were about to take this mysterious man in front of me.

“Miss, are you Lilly? The one who called 911?” The officer asked, his name badge reading Pierce.

“Yes, sir. That’s me,” I confirmed, my voice steady but my heart still racing.

“I’ve got a few questions for you about what you witnessed. Do you recall any details about the driver, the vehicle, or any part of the license plate?” Officer Pierce's tone was professional, but there was an edge of urgency.

I hesitated for a moment. There was something I had never told anyone—not even my parents. I have a photographic memory. It’s a blessing, sure, but when it comes to recalling things I’d rather forget... like this... it’s a curse. I didn’t want to get bogged down in those details, so I focused on the scene in front of me instead.

I closed my eyes, picturing the event as vividly as if it had just happened. “The car was black, with a small dent on the driver’s side, right under the headlight. It was definitely a sedan, and the logo looked like either a BMW or a Volkswagen—those two I tend to mix up,” I said, offering a half-truth. Small discrepancies like that kept people from digging too deep.

Officer Pierce scribbled down the details, then glanced up at me. “That’s good, Lilly. Anything else you can remember? If not, don’t worry. What you’ve given us is already really helpful.”

I paused, acting like I was deep in thought. I wasn’t, of course—I was buying time, making sure the details I gave were enough. “The windows were tinted, so I couldn’t get a clear look at the driver. But the license plate was definitely from New York. I think it was... Charlie, Zulu, Foxtrot... 1-6-0-7,” I added, dropping in a few more specifics, even if some of it wasn’t entirely accurate. Just enough to sound convincing.

“That’s excellent,” Officer Pierce replied. “Do you have any photos or anything else that might help us track down the driver? As you know, hit and runs are serious—especially when it involves pedestrians.”

I shook my head, feigning regret. “Unfortunately, no, officer. But,” I said, trailing off as I glanced around, my eyes searching for something. “I do know that the campus installed cameras at every intersection to keep track of traffic and signage violations,” I added, my eyes landing on one of the cameras at the far end of the intersection. “There’s one right there.”

Officer Pierce's eyes followed my gesture, and his expression brightened. “Perfect. That could be incredibly useful. Thank you, Lilly. You've been very helpful. Now, do you need any medical attention? We can have the paramedics check you out.”

I paused for a moment, considering. I didn’t feel injured, but something didn’t sit right. My body was fine, but my mind... it was on edge. I looked over my limbs, checking myself, and tried to control my erratic pulse. “Actually, maybe just a quick triage. I feel a little off,” I said, trying to sound casual, though my heart rate had spiked again.

Officer Pierce nodded. “I’ll have someone take a look at you. Thanks again for your help, Lilly.”

Officer Pierce gave a sharp nod, then gestured for me to follow. As we reached the ambulance, he pointed for me to sit on the edge of the vehicle's tailgate. Without a word, he walked off, speaking to someone—likely arranging for someone to check me out. I sat there, my mind racing, but my gaze wandered, scanning the crowd. Something was off. People were moving, but at a pace that didn’t add up. They had arrived in a rush, but now they were... slowing down? My brain couldn’t make sense of it, but before I could dive deeper into the confusion, a sudden chill gripped me.

It wasn’t just the cold morning air. No, this was different. My skin prickled with the unmistakable sensation of being watched. A primal, bone-deep warning screamed at me, flooding my body with the instinct to flee. I turned my head cautiously, eyes darting. And there he was—Mr. Okeanós—his eyes locked onto mine as paramedics worked frantically around him.

My heart lurched, hammering in my chest, and a cold sweat broke out across my skin. The warning, the fear—it was overwhelming. I couldn’t tear my gaze away. Something was terribly wrong, and whatever it was, it was coming for me. Although I knew I was surrounded by people and technically safe, something deep inside me screamed that I was gravely mistaken. My instincts told me I was wrong—dangerously wrong. As I tried to stay focused, an overwhelming darkness consumed me. Then, my vision went black.