Mortal Hospitals

" Dem don't cry, i hate it when you cry."

Anatkah sighed. "Don't feel so bad, Dem. I probably would have done the exact same thing if I had been in your place."

" we don't blame you for anything, it was my fault."

" i should have made you stay but i didn't." I shrug and say " too late for me to stop you but i hope you stay."

I nod as if I were saying I will

Oakland parked the car somewhere and hobbled to the hospital, using his wooden walking stick as he entered and looked around for Hazel and Noonian. He finally saw Hazel and went up to her, looking around tentatively. "Ish he inside?"

"When Georgia adopted me," Anatkah said slowly, "after Mom died... I ran away. It was like living in a war zone... so I ran for it." She smiled at Demetrius, "But I didn't have friends to run after me."

" when i was an orphan, i always had to look after myself but now, we have each other."

"In the strict sense, I suppose I wasn't ever an orphan. Mom died and Georgia - my aunt - took me in. I just didn't want to live through World War III." Anatkah traced an abstract pattern on Demetrius' sheets with one finger, not really looking at any of them. "Erin showed up a few weeks after I left..."

" well it doesn't matter, we just have to stick together and we can beat anything."

Anatkah made an unenthusiastic gesture with one hand, still tracing absently.

" well i can tell Anatkah agrees." I say sarcastically.

"I'm just tired of the endless fighting," she said wearily. "I mean.. it's gotten so bad that it's a rarity for a demigod to survive to adulthood now and to be able to live in the outside world. Sometimes I feel like it's just not worth it."

" it is always worth it, why do you guys have a death wish?"

"I like being alive... just... the constant conflict... and it never lets up... only worsens as the gods' power weakens and the monsters get stronger. If it comes to war though, I know where I stand."

" i don't want anything to happen to you guys but i can't help if you guys give up, and it certainly doesn't help when you walk into traffic." I say the last part jokingly trying to lighten the mood.

"Oh I'm not giving up," Anatkah said darkly. "But a war with Gaia would almost certainly kill me... spiritually that is."

" i won't give up, i plan on being on the front lines and kill whatever stands in our way, i will kill every monster i can."

"And I'll be fending off the demigods," Anatkah said quietly.

I hear her and say " what!"

"You heard me." Anatkah turned her bright green on him defiantly. "The gods never helped me and I turned to Gaia. If it hadn't been for Her..." she shook her head. "Even if it kills me, I will fight for Her because I owe Her everything."

the very core of my being is being rocked and i sit down. I yell " why would you make a deal with Gaea!"

"I never made a deal," Anatkah said softly. "I'm sorry Ben... Demetrius, but I belong with Her."