𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑛?

there was something nibbling on her hair.

smacking away the animal, athena yelped when they tugged her hair harshly, making her quickly sit up. before she could have raised her guard, the smell of her auburn horse reached her nostrils—the smell of burning wood and grilled meat coming in second.

"almond?" she whispered, a knot forming on her forehead as she tilted her head around. "what're you doing here?" she rubbed his nose, wincing when she tried to stand up.

reaching around to touch her back, athena felt bandages wrapped around her chest, and everywhere else they had harmed her.

"it's about time you woke up."

flinching, athena wordlessly gazed over to the boy who approached her; her nose picked up on his smell almost immediately, unlocking the distant and fond memories of the boy.

her heart began hammering against her chest.

"z-zeno?"

the overwhelming smell of sadness, flowers and the desire for death radiated off the boy.

a sad yet comforting smell athena could never forget.

"yes, athena?"

she lurched forward, ignoring the tear that came from her skin before she pulled her arm back, scowling in anger as her first came in contact with his cheek.

"stop! your wounds are going to open u—ugh."

she whimpered when his fingers dug into her ribs, athena going limp in his arms before zeno softly smiled.

they were back together.

and he promised himself he wouldn't allow athena to escape from his grasp like long ago.

he would protect her.

unlike all those years ago.

-
now, we're done.

thank you guys so much for reading athena and i'm glad you all enjoyed it, and sorry about the last chapter.

i will be writing or continuing the manga, but as for when i will continue writing, it might be in a couple of months.

in any case,
thank you guys again for reading this book.
💛