ATHENA RUSSO:

I walk out of the hospital with a grin on my face. I'm so glad they've discharged me. The food there was shit. And even Ares agrees.

Ares links his arm with mine and looks down at me, "When we get home do you want to sneak out?"

My eyes widen, "Sneak out?!" He looks behind him making sure Elijah didn't hear since he's walking behind us.

"Fucking hell Athena. You do know what whispering is, right?"

I huff, "Yes I do, actually."

"Well what I meant by sneaking out is to go get some food from the grocery store," he says, flicking my forehead.

I glare at him. "I don't know what your sudden obsession with flicking my forehead comes from but you need to stop before you bruise it," I say.

He gives me a goofy smile, "But it's so fun!"

"Well, it hurts!" I protest.

He huffs, "Fine. I'll flick your forehead, gently." I give him a blank stare. Is he being serious right now? "We're not sneaking out. I've just been discharged from the hospital," I tell him.

We make it to the car and he opens the door for me. I thank him and get in. Thankfully I can sit by the window. Ares gets in.

We're about to continue our conversation but then I realize Elijah isn't here.

"Where did Elijah go?" I ask, looking around. Ares shrugs, "I don't know. Maybe he's got superpowers and disappeared."

I hum, "Maybe."

Ares opens his mouth to call for Elijah but a voice makes us scream.

"I'm right here you idiots."

I clutch my chest as I look at Elijah who's calmly sitting in the driver's seat. My heart pounds against my chest and I take a deep breath to try and calm myself down.

"Since when did you get here?" Ares shrieks.

Elijah looks at us like we're stupid, "You didn't see me walking past you?"

Me and Ares look at each other. "I think you were right Ares, he does have superpowers. He can teleport." Ares has a proud look on his face, "I'm always right." I shake my head with a smile.

✩ ✩ ✩

Now I don't know if I should choose to give my brothers the silent treatment or just forget it.

"I think you should give them the silent treatment," Ares advises as we walk into the house. Can he read my mind? Okay. I'm not going to ask him if he will start thinking he's got superpowers too.

I look at him, "Really?"

He nods, "They didn't visit you once. I've decided to steal all the snacks and food so poor Greta won't have anything to use to make dinner tonight." I grab his hand and drag him to the kitchen.

"Hey! Didn't the doctor say you need bed rest?"

I roll my eyes, "A little bit of walking won't kill me."

We make it to the kitchen and see Greta. She is a part of the kitchen staff. Great is a nice old lady from what I've heard she loves us. She's like family. I've made it my mission to make me her favorite but when Elijah took me down to the kitchen she was asking me questions left and right and made soup for me. She sees us and throws a towel over her shoulder.

She opens her arms, Ares grins and runs up to her, and engulfs her in a hug. I smile. She slaps his back, "Not you! Her. Amore mio, come here."

I've learned a couple of words in Italian and I know that means my love. See. I'm so smart.

Ares scoffs and lets go of Greta. I grin and hug her. She pats my head, "I've made soup for you."

I gasp, "No way!"

She pulls away and grins. Her face falls and looks at me properly. She shakes her head, disappointed, "What has that hospital been feeding you?"

"Oh my God Greta you won't believe the food they gave her! Even I didn't like it," Ares tells her, opening the fridge. He frowns, "Hey. Why is it empty?"

Great glares at him, "Because you ate all of the food. No one is having dinner tonight."

I snort.

Ares's eyes tear up, "No! Please. I'll go to the store and get some food. I'll be back." Ares runs out of the room and a few seconds later I hear the front door slam shut.

"Okay. Now come, you need to tell me if the soup is good."

I turn around and see Greta standing beside the stove. She stirs the soup in the pot. She pours some of it into a small bowl and gives it to me.

I thank her and try some of it. She watches me, eyes full of hope. I look at her and nod in approval, "Greta, this might be my new favorite soup I've ever tried." She wraps her arms around me, "I knew you would love it!" I laugh and hug her back.

I hear footsteps and I let go of her and turn around. Dante. His face lights up when he sees me and he goes to hug me. I step aside from him and turn back around, "Greta, I'll come back later. Can you save some of the soup for me?"

She looks at me and Dante. Then at me. Then at Dante. Then at me. Then at Dante. Then at me.

She grabs onto my shoulders and kisses me on the cheek. "Of course, I can! Now go, amore mio." I smile at her and leave the kitchen, knowing I also left a very confused Dante.

Ares did say I should give the silent treatment, I don't know if that was good enough. Or did I just ignore him? They're both the same thing. I shake my head at my subconscious.

I don't know where the rest of my brothers are. I'd rather not. Elijah dropped me and Ares here and left. I go up to my room and everything seems normal.

But why doesn't it feel like it? I slowly shut the door behind me and go into the bathroom. It looks normal, it's like I never punched the mirror. I don't know what it is but something feels off. I go to my closet and check it seems normal here. I clench my fists and stand in the middle of the room.

I just stand there like a statue, staring out the window.

I shake my head and see my phone on the nightstand, charging. That wasn't there before. I sigh in relief. Something has changed. I don't know what I expected when I came into my room.

I guess I just wanted something to change so I know at least I know something happened while I was gone. That it just hasn't been the same without me. Although it has.

I take my phone off the charger and unlock it. No messages. Why am I even surprised? I only have my brothers on here.

I want Ares to come back.

I turn my phone off and throw it on the bed.

I sit down on my bed and stare at the ground. I look at the pile of books next to my bed. I don't have the energy to read. I don't have the energy to do anything.

But I just want something to happen.

That's it.

I get up from my bed and look at the doors around me. I know Dante is home but I've ignored him. I'm just going to find him and apologize.

I go down the stairs and see Deigo. I wonder where he was, he wasn't here when I came back. He smiles at me, "Hello Athena."

I smile at him, "Hi. Do you know where Dante is?"

"Oh, he just left. Why?"

Oh.

I shake my head, "I wanted to tell him something but it's fine it can wait." I turn around and go back up the stairs. Ares isn't here. Elijah isn't here. Dante isn't here. Maybe Marcello is here. I go to his door and gently knock on it. A smile creeps on my face.

I don't get a response. Oh, he isn't here too. Hold on. He might be in the gym.

I rush down the stairs and go to the gym. I open it and it's empty, it's just dead quiet in here. I shut the door and sigh.

Out of nowhere, my head is pounding. I touch my forehead, squeezing my eyes shut, fighting off the feeling of nausea. Where did this headache come from? I shake my head, snapping out of it. Focus.

Maybe Domenico is here.

I go back up the stairs, feeling the confused look from Diego. I go to Dom's door and knock. I smile, hoping he's here.

No response.

I take a step back and my smile slightly falls. I go to Lorenzo's door. I take a deep breath before knocking on his door.

No response.

I take a step back and look around, my vision slightly blurring. I blink a couple of times for my vision to go back to normal.

Maybe he's in his office?

I jog down the stairs and quickly walk to his office. I press my ear to the door and I don't hear anything. I put on a big smile and knock on his door.

"He isn't here," I hear Diego say.

I turn around and see Diego, he must have followed me, he watches me with pity. "Are any of them here?" I ask him.

He gives me a sad look and shakes his head, "Unfortunately no, they all went out." My big smile turns into a small one.

"Do you want to hang out?" I ask, hopeful. Please say yes.

Diego glances at his watch, "I'm sorry but I'm leaving soon. I'm taking a week off."

I feel my throat close up and I hold back my tears, "It's okay. Don't worry. Is Greta still here?"

He shakes his head, "She just left. Lorenzo immediately requested all the staff take the day off today."

I nod, "Alright. I'm just going to my room. I'll see you when you come back." He smiles, "I'll be back before you know it."

I walk past him and slowly walk up the stairs. The rhythm of blood throbbing in my temple doesn't go away. I make it to my room and shut the door. I feel a shooting pain in my stomach. I wince, my brows furrow tight with pain.

What is happening with me?

My shaky hands grab my phone and I call Ares. I wait awhile for him to answer until I hear his voice.

"Hey what's up?" he says with a happy tone. I sigh, "Hey Ares. Do you mind getting some medicine for me? My head hurts and I just don't feel well—"

"Ha! Got you. This is just my voicemail. If all the food is gone, it wasn't me."

I stare at my phone, slightly disappointed. I hang up and call Elijah, but he doesn't answer either. I turn my phone off and sit down on the floor and close my eyes.

It's only one in the afternoon. Why are none of them here? It's fine. Ares should be home soon.

Everything hurts. Why does everything hurt? And why am I so hot all of sudden? I fan my face and breathe slowly but I just feel even hotter.

I need to wash my face.

I stand up and my vision blurs and the pounding in my head is worse. I take a step forward and unexpectedly my knees buckle and I fall to the floor.