Chapter Text
Through marble-walled halls that crumbled and shook, a young man rushed. He had no care for the ornate ceiling, or the chandelier that came crashing down behind him. His sight did not waver even as through the glass windows he could see nearby buildings collapsing and citizens running for their lives. His only goal was the room at the end of the hall and the child within. A strong quake of the ground caused him to lose his footing and fall, his armor letting out a sharp metallic sound as it hit the floor. The man, however, rose unhindered. Despite the unstable ground, his determination to reach his goal kept him going. As he made it to the room, he attempted to open the door. Despite using all his strength, it would not open.
"Seph! Can you hear me? I need you to tell me if the door is blocked!" He shouted through the door.
The voice of a child rang back, meek and scared.
"It's not, but the wall shook and I can't move the door now."
The man breathed in relief to hear the child's voice.
"Alright. Stay under your bed. I'll get you out of here." He waited before throwing his body against the door.
It took three attempts but finally, it broke free, the wall shaking as support had vanished. In the room was a bed, and under it was a young girl, barely 8 years old. Ginger hair fell to her waist and she was dressed in a silken nightgown.
The child crawled out and ran to the man, terrified. "Brother! I'm scared!"
The young man scooped her into his arms, wrapping a shawl around her.
"Here you go. Keep this one."
She was carried out of the building quickly, and not a moment too soon. Seconds after they left the threshold, the home joined the dozens of others that had collapsed. It scared the girl and she cried as her brother carried her through the decimated city. Shortly after, they met with two others and he spoke.
"Minerva, Jupiter, is it done?" The woman, Minerva, nodded her head. "It is done Hades. Juno has been captured, and a plan for human survival has been initiated. But are you sure it should be Persephone?"
The girl didn't react as she was named, too young to understand the mission she was given.
Hades nodded. He had faith in his sister.
"I'm certain. She's strong. I've given her the shawl, and a ring. They're coded to her."
Their discussion wavered, continuing to plan, but Persephone's attention would not hold. Instead, she wondered what was happening. Why was her entire world crashing down? She wondered if it could be connected to the meetings her brother would have when he thought she was sleeping, or why he wanted to draw blood the last time he went to the doctor. Her mind wandered further and further from their conversation until she realized her brother was carrying her to two people. Two humans. She looked at him, confusion crossing her thought. "Brother. What's happening? What's going on? I don't understand."
This time he didn't answer, placing her down and handing her a necklace.
"You'll understand one day. I'm sorry."
He stood and looked at the two humans.
"Take her and run. Go!"
A hand grasped her arm and pulled her away from her brother. Moments later the roof collapsed. She would never see her brother again.