Mount Olympus

Rayah

...'Just one kiss...' I repeat, looking into his eyes. He nods with a smile. And then we lean in...

I wake right as it's about to happen, and take my head in my hands.

Jace

I wake and try to push the whole thing out of my mind, not wanting to think about it.

"You okay?" I ask, finding Rayah holding her head in her hands.

Rayah

"I'm...So confused," I breathe, glancing up at him, "A dream. A weird...weird dream," I whisper.

Jace

I nod before shaking the rest of my dream off, "Me too..."

Rayah

I nod, still curious of who the guy in the dream was, but shake it off, looking over at Jace.

Jace

I run a hand through my hair and stand, kissing her forehead, "I'm...gonna go for a run. I need to clear my head. Come with?"

Rayah

I nod and grab my headphones and phone, standing, "Yeah. I could use a run."

Jace

I slip my headphones in and put my running shoes on, blasting the loudest Three Days Grace song I can find. I tell Alyx where we're going and lead Rayah out, holding the door for her.

Rayah

I thank Jace for holding the door open and set my watch, taking a deep breath before turning to Jace, "Where are we running to?"

Jace

I just point to the path that runs by the creek before taking off.

Rayah

I nod and follow, cranking up Cobra Starship. I sing along to it as I run.

You were a problem child
Been grounded your whole life
So now you runnin' wild
Playin' with them good girls
No that ain't your style.
You think you're hot sh*t
And ooh I love it
I love it yeah, yeah

I'm used to the path, used to run in it when I was little, and Take a deep breath.

Jace

I want to close my eyes and drown out the world, all my thoughts, all my worries, with the song that plays, but keep running instead. The next song comes on and I stop after it hits the chorus, taking my head in my hands as I close my eyes. The voice from the dream rings around in my head, the words mixing with that of the song, and everything I tried to push back floods my mind instead.



I just drop where I stand, letting things take their course.

Rayah

Jace drops where he is and I take out a earplug and crouch next to him, "Jay?" I ask, worried.

Jace

Rayah crouches next to me and asks me a question. I open my eyes and pause my music, letting the silence of the world heal the damage the thoughts had done.

"Fine," I lie, "I just need to think. Go ahead. I'll meet up with you later."

Rayah

I study him before nodding, "You sure?"