Mount Olympus [5]

Rayah

Jackie rushes up the stairs, brushing past Jace before freezing when she sees me, "Jesus Christ!"

She swears and checks over the dagger before grabbing a hold of the handle, "I'mma pull it out, okay?" she tells me.

I shake my head quickly and scream when she does. She glances around to make sure the man isn't here anymore before telling me to take deep breaths, "S'Alright. You'll be fine. Just...Just calm down."

Jace

I hold Rayah close and keep my hands on her face, keeping myself calm.

Rayah

She tries to get me to stand and I drop right when I get on my feet, my back all bloody as my eyes go bloodshot.

She swears and thinks, "Uh...Um...the hospitals closed. I-I don't know what to do."

Jace

The look-a-like appears by the window, "Lie her back down. On her stomach. Open the shades downstairs. One of you should go stand by the children. He struck once. Who says he won't do it again."

He pauses to sigh.

"I'll fix her. Just do what I ask."

Rayah

Jackie nods and runs downstairs to do what he says. I shake my head at the look alike and back up against the wall, "Y-Your not touching me."

I wrap my arms around my stomach and cough up blood before wiping my mouth.

Jace

I move to Rayah and take her face in my hands, my eyes teary, "Ray, please. I won't let him do anything but you need help."

Rayah

I shake my head again, "He's not touching me."

Jace

I swallow and glance back to find the look-a-like gone, the chill inside me.

Tell her you'll do it then, he says in my mind.

I look back at Rayah and say what I'm told.

Rayah

I study him before nodding slowly.

Jace

He makes it seem like I'm still in control, but takes the reins. He has her lie on her stomach and sets my hand just above the wound.

You might pass out after this, or throw up. I can't remember which one, he tells me as light begins pouring from my palm and stitching Rayah's flesh back together.

Rayah

It hurts a little and my eyes close again, swallowing.

Jace

When it's done, a faded blue scar remains and the look-a-like slips out of me. My knees shake and he catches me, pulling me away from her to prevent further harm.

Rayah

The man appears behind me again and pulls me through the wall, but I realize it wasn't the same man as before. Swearing, I try to struggle out of his grip and he puts a knife to my throat while forcing me to tell him where the children are.

Jace

The look-a-like absorbs me into him, so I may see what's happening but rest enough to stand soon, and bolts downstairs. Throwing his hood down, he pulls Nic into the room where all the kids and Jackie are.

"Be on the alert," he tells them. "Something's going to happen. I'll get Rayah afterwards."

"Uh... I don't listen to--"

"Your brother is nearly unconscious," he interrupts Nic. "I reverse-possessed him. Just do what I say."

Rayah

I refuse to tell him and he slits it lightly before dropping me and searching through every room. My face goes pale and It becomes harder to breathe.