Phillip Harrington took pride in his excellent communicating skills, or more accurately, his ability to charm people - especially women - into fawning over him, or at least, to be fond of him enough so he could have them wrapped around his fingers, ready to work them to his advantage when the time comes. Making a good first impression on others was a crucial part to being a lawyer; something that he didn't have to worry about.

"Oh stop it Mr. Harrington, you're too much!" half-giggled the woman as she blushed over Phillip's compliment on her looks. Phillip offered an Oscar-worthy smile in reply. "Well it's true Ms. Thompson, I mean if I had a teacher who looked like you back in high school I would have been too distracted to pass any my classes." he teased, the polite smile not faltering from his expressions.

 The guidance counsellor laughed, "Oh you are too kind Mr-"

"Please, call me Phillip." he interrupted smoothly.

"Phillip." Carol Thompson smiled back, holding a stack of paper in her hands as they walked past the boy's dormitory.  "Well, I better get going...plenty of students to guide." She said in her obvious southern accent. "Samuel's room is just the the last one down the corridor." she gestured with her head. "It was nice meeting you, Phillip." she smiled, before disappearing into the stairs.

"You too." Phillip nodded with another smile, before gently making his way towards his son's dorm room. For some reason, the man found himself taking a deep breath before approaching the door. It had been a while since he last spoke to his son, the last time being his daughter's funeral, and he wouldn't have classified, shouting furiously at Samuel as 'speaking'.

The lawyer knocked systematically on the door.

one.two.

the-goddess-of-wisdom replied to your post: samuel, nate, arianna.

Trying to steal my man again Colt [grins]

The flaxen haired male awaited in anticipation for the arrival of his fellow classmates and friends. His footsteps slapped in a consistent pattern onto the pavement as he walked back and forth. Sebastian had been placed in several leadership roles in his lifetime. He had been seventh grade representative, vice president of the student council in middle school, and he was the captain of the swim team for crying out loud! However, this was a leadership position where there was much more at stake than a sparkling trophy or a luxurious school field trip. Like Coach Dawson had said, people were going to get hurt — it was inevitable. One was to expect the unexpected. Taking a deep breath to release the tension that he had been holding in since the announcement, Sebastian continued his routine. Being the leader of this task not only made him responsible for himself but for the people who chose to fight alongside him. They all knew the treacherous consequences of the task — but it wasn't even about them. The tasks were about bringing back those who had fallen. Momentarily shutting his eyes, he recalled the moments he shared with them.

The sound of metal clanging against metal echoed in the locker room. Laughter and conversations surrounded the jovial atmosphere as teenage males haphazardly threw on their clothes and prepared themselves for a well deserved rest. Sebastian leaned against the cool metal of his locker. A cloth towel suddenly blurred his vision as the fabric made contact with his skin. A familiar chuckle escaped the perpretator's lips and Sebastian mock grumbled. Lifting the towel and taking a peek behind the cloth he saw a curly haired freshman. He was grinning mischievously from ear to ear — flaunting a Mickey Mouse shirt and still in his swim trunks. "Landon." Sebastian laughed as he spoke his name out loud; matching Landon's grin with one of his own.

Lifting his cellular phone and reading the pixelated text message, Sebastian couldn't help but smile faintly. Trust Samuel to stay alongside him through thick and thin. Running a hand through his hair and letting out a broken chuckle, his eyes continued to scan the words on screen. A sickly blue yellow glow emitted from his phone as a more genuine smile appeared on his features. He knew what to do — Samuel's text message only confirmed it. Rummaging through his dark hotel room, he hurriedly packed his belongings.

He sat quietly beside Nathaniel — busily flirting away with the beautiful brunette girl who sat across from him. Sebastian twiddled his thumbs for lack of anything better to do. He hadn't found Summer in the crowd of freshmen passing through the halls and, by the looks of it, he wasn't going to anytime soon. So, instead of chosing to sit alone for remainder of his high school years, he had taken Nathaniel's offer up and sat with him. Sebastian wasn't exactly friends with him — it was their first day really — but he seemed like the perfect candidate for a potential friend. Glancing momentarily at the mysterious dark haired boy who sat across from him, he tried recalling his name. It had begun with an H — but he couldn't remember it for the life of him. Suddenly, a clattering of metal forks and spoons was heard. Looking up behind his tousled blonde hair, Sebastian found himself face to face with a fellow newcomer. The boy had to be a freshman, just like him, yet he carried an air of confidence about him. A boyish grin on his features, the boy took the seat next to mysterious H-named boy and laughed. "Shiloh Ross." He stated arrogantly and Sebastian fought the urge to raise his eyebrow at him. Shiloh only chuckled at him and gave him a friendly smile. "You must be the kid all the coaches are talking about."

I'm hoping that we've managed to generate enough excitement for the twelve tasks that the students will undergo in order to save their fallen classmates. A lot of you have been wondering just exactly how the tasks work. I'm going to try to explain it in the best way that I can and I hope that you understand. If not, then you're welcome to message the main or any of the admin's character accounts for more information and any questions that you might have. As you all know, there are twelve tasks. We are separating the tasks into four categories. Tasks 1-3 will be Category 1. Tasks 5-7 will be Category 2. Tasks 8-10 will be Category 3. Tasks 4, 11, and 12 will be Category 4. Task 4 was originally supposed to be within Category 2; however, Eliza (who plays Zeus) may be away during the time that the tasks take place. Nathaniel King (Zeus) is the leader of Task 4 and it will be necessary for him to assist in that task. 

Category 1 will be going first. This means that the primary characters involved in Tasks 1-3 will be the first to head off and accomplish their task. It is very important for the leaders of these tasks to know this. If your character is the leader of a task, then it is your responsibility as a player to make sure that all the characters within your group are informed and constantly updated with what is going on in your task. It might seem hard because of timezone differences; however, Nicz and I are here to help. If you need to get announcements out to the characters in your group, we can always make admin announcements about it. In order for the tasks to begin, the leader of the task should post a para. It doesn't have to be a long or complicated one, just one stating that they are about to begin their journey. Afterwards, other characters will reply to it. All groups will meet with a staff member before leaving the stadium. This way, you'll be given a heads up on all there is to know about your task. The staff members that you should go to are: Ms. T or Coach Dawson also known as Elpis or Chiron. For the most part, if you find that the players behind Ms. T or Coach Dawson are not online, you're welcome to post your starter para anyway. Just know that the groups should meet with a staff member sometime while the task is taking place. Before is suggested, but if the task has already begun, you should make sure to para the past. The students won't automatically know what to do.

Nicz and I will be posting events that occur during the tasks such as when certain monsters appear or how to accomplish the task. Be prepared because we aren't going to make this easy for you. Leaders can generally decide what happens along the way but you should always refer back to the main to know what is going on during your task. Locations, transportation, and whatnot may be posted as well. 

Concerning battle strategy and what to do during the tasks, the group of characters can talk to one another during the task. You are allowed to make chats and posts that group members can reply to. Don't be afraid to start individual paras as well! You may be in a group, but you are not limited to para-ing only within the group para. You are allowed to god-mod monsters and so forth. Just know that your character isn't perfect and it shouldn't be such an easy feat to defeat a monster.

If your character is participating in the current task, they aren't able to talk to the characters who are not. I know that this kind of sucks but it just wouldn't make sense. You can't really have an ongoing conversation about being in the stadium while you're para-ing your character fighting a monster. As much as I'd love to be able to allow that, it isn't plausible. Leaders should contact us on the main when they feel that the task has been completed. Nicz and I will read over paras and, if we give you the ok, your task will be done and your characters can return back to Greece.

Is everyone excited for the tasks to begin?

THE TASKS HAVE OFFICIALLY BEGUN.

Greece Airport.

12.00 pm

Fate.

Such a curious thing, isn't it?

There was no time. Hastily slipping on his suit jacket, Samuel Harrington ran towards the exit as fast as he could. He pushed himself through the large crowds, pissing off a few tourists as he bumped into them. Normally he would have stopped and apologized, but there was no time for apologies. There was just no time. His blue eyes quickly scanned around the platform, desperately searching for a taxi that wasn't taken. 

Humans look at it in two different ways: Some believe that their fate has been set in stone that there was no escaping from it; while others believe that they make their own destiny. 

Samuel tossed his back into the back seat as he hopped in, startling the half-asleep cab driver. "Olympic Stadium, please. And do hurry." he said, struggling to stop his request from sounding like a plea. The boy looked out the window as the cab drove onto the main road. He couldn't believe it. He was in Greece, back in the school trip he was so intent on missing. He would have missed the whole thing, too. But after the dream he had the night before, he booked the first flight available. The dream was still embedded in his brain - it was the same woman in some of his previous dreams - her pearl white dress, carrying a scroll so gracefully, so intelligently as she stood on her chariot, ready for war. But last night it was different.

*As she stood on her chariot, there was a large snake behind her, cunningly slithering it's way towards the woman. Watch out! Behind you! Samuel tried to warn her, but it was as if she didn't hear him at all. The snake exposed it's sharp fangs getting closer and closer to the woman, she eventually turned around, but it was too late. The snake had struck.*

He couldn't really explain it, but as soon as he woke up, Samuel knew who the woman represented, and what his dream meant. 

Sage was in danger. 

The conclusion that he came to wasn't really rational, but his gut feeling was too strong for him to not follow it. Sure, there was a chance that he could be wrong. but this was the love of his life he was talking about - he wasn't about to take that chance. 

But truth was, humans are foolish and naive. They know nothing of fate. Nothing of destiny. Mortals know not of anything beyond the little bubble that they have created themselves. When you're immortal, words like fate and destiny have less meaning to you. Other words become more powerful, so powerful that we can be obsessed with it for five centuries. 

"Here!" Samuel exclaimed as the car approached the entrance of the stadium. "I mean, stop here, thank you." he nodded at the driver as the cab started to slow down as in approached the entrance. 

Vengeance. That was the word that drove us, the Gorgons insane for what felt like eternity. We will never forgive Athena for what that whore did to our sister. It wasn't enough that she turned our beautiful Medusa... INTO SO HIDEOUS BEAST?! SHE HAS TO SEND PERSEUS TO DECAPITATE HER AS WELL? SUCH UNSPEAKABLE CRUELTY COMING FROM A GODDESS! But thanks to that meteor shower, we knew Athena's true location. She was not the powerful goddess we once feared anymore- she was vulnerable - a mortal. It was our chance to strike. Our chance to avenge our sister once and for all. Stheno dipped the arrow in Hydra's venom and passed it to me. "She is stepping out of the protection dome, sister. Now steady your bow!" she commanded, and I gladly obeyed.

Athena will die today. 

Samuel let out a sigh of relief as he spotted Sage standing at the entrance of the stadium, walking back and forth as she waited impatiently for him. A smile stretched across the boy's face. It was so good seeing her again. It felt even better seeing her safe, and unharmed. Perhaps his dream was what it was after all - just a dream. As soon as he paid the taxi driver and stepped out of the car, an almost-blinding reflection of light distracted his eyes. The boy looked up to see where the source of light was coming from, and he saw it. At the rooftop of the small building just across the street from the stadium stood two women - whose arms and faces were covered with tattoos, and to Samuel's horror, they were tattoos of snakes. One of the women was holding some sort of crossbow, and she was in attack mode, just about to let pull the trigger. "No." Samuel muttered breathlessly as he ran towards the direction where the arrow was aimed at - Sage.

"Sage, Look out!"

It all happened so fast. Samuel didn't even stop to think it through, there was just no time for that. It was an instinctive response. The boy was not an athlete, but he jumped the best he could, basically throwing his own body right in front of Sage. 

He didn't feel his body hit the cold, hard pavement. He didn't even feel the arrow pierce through his heart. The adrenaline he had previously felt running through his veins was replaced by the searing pain of the poison, now piercing throughout every part of his body. 

They say that in death, your whole life flashes before you. But for Samuel, he could only see one thing. Tears rolled down his face as the surroundings started to fade away, even Sage, who was crying screaming for help became a blurred figure. In death, Samuel's life did not flash before his eyes. He only so one thing. The one person that he had truly loved unconditionally. 

"Gracie..." he whispered, almost smiling.

And then it all went to black. 

_______________________________________________

Clinking, twisting, turning, spinning

The works of the air plane's little gears. 

Students boarding, smiling, talking

Unbeknownst to them the looming fears.

The land of myths, a storm is brewing

Unlike anything they have seen before,

The night sky, a lonely light is dwindling

PREVIOUSLY.... (link)

11:00 pm

Paris, France.

The night before Rome.

_____________________

It was a great night. The masquerade, spending the night at Sage’s room – it almost felt like one big dream. Samuel could not remember the last time he had ever felt that happy. An unconscious smile made its way on the boy’s face as walked down the corridors, headed towards his hotel room. He couldn’t wait to tell his room mate Riles about what had transpired between Sage and himself the night before. All that uncertainty that he had about Sage, all the suspension about the basis of their relationship melted away that night. He awoke feeling something that he hadn’t felt ever since that first night he took things further with Sage after the barn party – certainty. All he knew was that he loved Sage, and that he wanted to express how he felt about her officially. But alas, Sage was already out with her friends when he woke up, so Samuel devised a plan – to officially ask Sage to be his girlfriend during the first day of Rome. Being an avid reader of Jane Austen and other romance literary that had people wonder about his sexuality, Samuel was no stranger to grand romantic gestures, and that was exactly what he had planned to do in Rome.

The smile fledged fully as he thought about his plans for Rome. Samuel knocked on the door twice, expecting for his room mate to unlock the door for him.  There was no answer. The blonde sighed as he lazily fished out the key-card from the front pocket of his suit. As soon as he closed to door behind him, he instantly jumped onto his bed, exhausted from a whole day of exploring Paris for one last time. Mrs. Thompson really knew how to make the itinerary activities energy-consuming. Samuel’s tired blue eyes started to narrow as he stared at the painting-decorated ceiling of his suite. Never would he thought that he would have fun in Paris. Not without Gracie with him. A feeling of sadness swept over his heart. The details of the ceiling started to blur, slowly fading to black. Before his eyes shut, he managed a grieving whisper, “I wish you were here with me, Gracie.”

***

 11:20 pm

 “Sammy.”

The boy’s heart pounded when he heard his name. The sweetness in her voice was hard to forget.

“Sammy wake up!”

He shut his eyes tighter instead. It wasn’t possible. It couldn’t be her. Had he gone insane?  Had the constant bottling up of his feelings finally drove him insane? He felt small, warm fingers curling around his.  His eyes opened wide. 

Samuel sat up straight, paralyzed. It was as if his lungs had collapsed, and he was struggling to breath. Could one’s body system completely shut down from just mere sight? Her bright, blue eyes stared into his, and hooked right into his soul.

“Gracie?” he managed to whisper, his face now pale white. Was this another dream? He wasn’t surprised by the vividness of it all, but his previous dreams had been about gods or goddesses, about people from the ancient past. Never about people from his own. Never about the one thing he had been running away from.

“What’s wrong, Sammy?” she frowned in genuine confusion, as if the only thing that was out of the ordinary about that situation was his shocked reaction. She was wearing her ‘going-out’ outfit, a pink Barbie-Doll t-shirt and her favourite, rose-patterned dress. The same outfit she had worn on that fateful day.  She turned to look outside the balcony; the moonlight glimmered off her silky brunette hair. Part of Samuel was wishing that it was all real – that she was sent to him as one of God’s guardian angels. But then a daunting thought came to him. He didn’t deserve an angel. That was why God took Gracie back in the first place. Samuel flinched as his father’s voice came blasting from the past. “Give me back my angel! Give her back to me! This is all your fault Gabriel! Give me back my Gracie!” Samuel struggled to keep his hands from shaking.

A smile stretched across her face as her innocent eyes stared at the scenery of Paris. She turned back to him with the same smile. “What are you waiting for, Sammy? We’re finally in Paris! Let’s go!” she pulled on his arm, urging him to get out of bed. Samuel did exactly that, and as if she had been at the hotel many times before, she ran out the room. He could hear the thumping sound her little feet made when she skipped across the floor. “Wait...” Samuel muttered breathlessly. Dream or not, he wasn’t ready to see his sister disappear. Not again. “Gracie wait up!” he yelled out as he ran towards her direction. Suddenly he was transported back into the past, before that day, when it was just him and little Gracie.

“Come on, let me show you something.” Samuel childishly patted on his little sister’s back, still wondering if it was all real of a mere lapse in reality. But did it matter? No. All that mattered was that right then and there, was his chance to spend another minute with Gracie.  Samuel forced a smile as he fought to hold back the tears, leading his sister up the stairs, towards the rooftop. Gracie loved- loves the view of the beautiful city lights at night, just like he did. She struggled climbed up the stairs, her eyes filled with the sparkle of excitement and curiosity. Samuel extended his hand to help her up. “On three?” he asked. She nodded impatiently.  “One. Two. Three!” and she was up.  Samuel held open the door, bowing as he waited for Gracie to go through. “Right this way, your highness.” Hearing her giggle again was priceless.

“Whoa, it’s beautiful up here, Sammy!” Samuel caught up to his sister as she ran towards the edge of the rooftop. “Be careful Gracie, it’s quite…” he choked a little. “…dangerous, up here.” It was dangerous everywhere. He heard another cry from the past. “She shouldn’t have been there, Gabriel. She went there for you, you know that right? She shouldn’t have been there!” Samuel couldn’t argue with his father. It was his fault.  He couldn’t bear it anymore. With the guilt. With the grief. With the loss. And seeing Gracie again… it was like opening up the box where he kept all those horrible memories in. The memories of him getting that call from his parents, telling him that Gracie had run away from home. The memories of his trip towards the morgue, praying the hardest that he could that the coroner was wrong. The memory of seeing Gracie, his little Gracie, lying on the table like that, her face pale white, the violent bruises around her neck…

He couldn’t hold back the tears anymore. Samuel’s knees felt extremely weak, until he finally kneeled down in front of his little sister. His arms reached out to hug her, but they went straight through her, and she vanished.  He heard faint sounds of distraught sobbing, only to realize that it was his own. “I’m so sorry…” he sobbed, the tears now rolling down his cheeks. “I’m so sorry Gracie! I wish…I wish I could..” he could what, turn back time? He wish that he could’ve returned the calls from home more often? That he should have visited her more? That she hadn’t gone to catch the bus to see him that day? That she hadn’t been taken by that monster? What exactly did he wish for? “I wish… I can see you again.”

Then Samuel slowly stood back up, glancing at the ground below in realization. There was a way he could do that. To see her again. He started to move closer to the edge of the building. The eighteen-storey tall building. There was a way. The desperate boy lifted his right foot into mid air. The boy smiled through his tears.  “On three, Gracie.” He whispered.

“One. Two-"

To be continued....

___________________

SEE WHAT HAPPENS IN MRS T'S PERSPECTIVE HERE

OOC: I actually intended to finish it off but I'm running out of time, so I'll post what I've got so far first in a neat-cliffhanger way haha. anyway I apologize for the length. I got a little carried off. There could be grammatical errors obviously cause I can't be bother checking hhaha. Anyways what do ya'll think?