Ravenous Nights

Chapter 6 : The Hulk

After some time, Athena finally woke up and found that she was lying inside a car.

She blinked a few more times to get a clearer picture of her situation and that happened before she passed out.

She trembled a little from the memory, but when she saw Zeus sitting on the driver’s seat she felt relaxed.

What happened tonight rocked her world. It was terrifying and never wanted to experience anything like that again.

Suddenly, the man spoke while looking ahead, “What was that?”

“What …do you mean?” She didn’t understand all she wanted was to fall in love. All she wanted was to experience saying those three words “I love you”

That was all she wanted her only wish ….so why can’t things just go smoothly as she wished?

“Going off with an unknown man without even knowing a thing about and went off with him as if you were waiting to be hit on. How dumb can one be?” He looked sharply at her through the rear mirror.

Should I really give up now? The thought of it made Athena's heartbreak.

“I just wanted to fall in love so I went to a blind date.”

“Oh my, freaking God! What is wrong with you? I think you need good counselling.” He said in a serious determined tone.

Is this man trying to insult me in a friendliest way?

“What? A counselling” I shouted in exasperation with his absurd suggestion.

“Do you think I have lost my SCREWS that I need a counselling?!”

Is he serious?

“Of course I was right you totally need it going in a club; that too for a blind date and leaving with him as if he is your Romeo and you are like take me I’m Free~ It is 21st Century, not innocent 1900s movies.”

Athena sighed taking a sip from the water bottle in her hand given by Zeus.

“That’s too much I don’t need a counsellor for such a petty reason look I am grateful for you to save me but- I have a Job to attend 'every day' so it is not possible to go faraway place”.

“Instead of going to a counsellor, you can just log into their website his name is Wonton. And it’s for free isn’t it great.”

“Yes, yes very Great.” She said in a sarcastic way. “Alright, you win. I will send a message to whoever this is.” I sighed in defeat.

“By the way, Lucifer’s Hotel is filled with rich scum bags and dirty-minded jerks like the one you met back there so don’t go there till you have guts to say no.”

She just nodded in response.

“Address” he added and Athena looked at him with a confused face.

“You remember where you live right? You must go home now”

“You are right” she trailed off. Her voice was weak, almost weak, almost whisper.

He started the engine and smoothly wound his way to Kelly house.

During the trip to Kelly’s home, Athena rested her head on the car window as her gaze focused on the passing by street lights outside.

What happened tonight rocked her world out of balance. It was terrifying she never wanted to experience anything like that ever again. However, this man saved her.

She gazed at the man’s head silently.

The moment Zeus parked up by Kelly’s building entrance,

Athena opened the door and scrambled out of the car. Athena didn’t turn around to look at him again. She walked straight ahead inside the building, seemingly unaffected, but on the inside, her heart was still unable to calm down. However, by the time she stood outside Kelly’s door, Athena looked like the tears tried so hard to hold in, were about to burst out.

When Kelly opened the door and saw her expression Athena immediately went to hug her. She felt herself calm down a little when she felt in Kelly’s arms around her.

Kelly, “What happened Athena come in quick?!”

She started to recount what had happened.

“He…He” Athena uttered and busted crying.

“He took me near the corridor and tried to molest me”.

Kelly was speechless. She suddenly had an urge to go out and rip that guy’s hand and a slippery mouth that couldn’t keep to himself. She was angry at that bastard and at herself. How could she have anyone let hurt her?

“Zeus came and saved me luckily.” Althea sighed in relief.

“I ‘m sorry, Athena, I shouldn’t have set a blind date for you----?” Kelly was shortly cut off by the loud sound of the main door opening.

“Hello girls what are you both up too?” the chirpy voice ringed out from the entrance, my cousin, Catina.

“Well, your lovely cousin got into trouble!” Kelly exclaimed for which Catina watched me with concern and disbelief shining brightly in her eyes.

Catina's parents had passed away in a plane crash three years ago and from then on we are each other’s support and source of family love. While I am a little impulsive type of person, Catina is soft-spoken and think-before you speak kind of girl. Though we are cousins, we love each other more than any other sibling would do.

Catina is twenty and was about to complete her university in a couple of months, whereas Athena is older one between both of us with twenty-one years of life experience and a very good, most reviewed and praised kinder garden teacher. Catina is a bright student, unlike me who just bluffed in answer sheets and always wanted to be a real estate agent since I had a weird obsession for houses.

“Uh Huh! What has she done now?” Catina sighed and took a seat beside me. Placing a hand on my head which…

…Which…

…DIDN’T CALM ME DOWN A BIT!!

Kelly nodded, “She went for a blind date and took a guy in the corner to make out with him and then punched him blackout! Just like The Hulk”

“WHAT! That’s not what had happened…” Althea had to relay information again.

Catina gasped in horror at what Athena said and just scratched my head and Kelly’s head.

“What do you expect from me? One must never say no to their best friend for setting up blind date”. Kelly reacted in an embarrassed smile sounding as honourable as she could.

Catina sighed at Kelly’s words “These girls seriously need some wise words to change impulsive nature. Kelly take one thing or the other responsibility for. Without proper thinking just based on friendship setting up a blind date.”

Ouch, she scary! Kelly whispered to me as we gigged.

Catina scrunched her nose in irritation and looked at both of us as if she was ready to kill us any time soon.

“I agree ___ I am a little impetuous” I looked at Catina and Kelly who raised their eyes mockingly, “okay very impetuous.”

Athena was unable to sleep that night. Her mind was completely occupied by the thoughts of Zeus and his different version the one she had a romantic dance with, the one who saved her and dropped her home and the grandma Zeus who lectured life to her.

She spent an hour just rolling on her bed, holding her phone tightly and as she glanced at it every other second, trying to make a decision. She now realized that even such a little thing like this wasn’t easy for her at all.

In the end, Athena simply fell asleep on her pillow.

The next morning, Athena woke up early as always. After eating breakfast with Kelly.