United

Athena stood uncomfortably in line, covering her bare midriff. Payton, of course, spoke with the men in front of them without hesitation. They were attractive and it was clear that Payton was enjoying their attention, but Athena felt like they burnt holes into her skin with each lingering gaze. She shifted on her hips trying to ignore the dialogue Payton was constantly dragging her into. Athena’s gaze transferred from the jocks to the hulking men in black that made the guys in front of them look like child’s play. The hulks made their way down the line, searching through the crowd. One of them made eye contact with Athena, hit his friend’s chest, and both of their eyes landed on her. She turned away suddenly more introverted than before and prayed they wouldn’t approach her.
“Athena White and Payton Maz?” One of the burly men asked. Payton grabbed Athena’s hand in a show of anxiety and their own gazes fell upon the men in front of them.
“Yes?” Payton asked warily.
“You must have friends in high places. We’d appreciate it if you’d join us inside.” The second man spoke with a voice deep and in some way, threatening, like he was the cat and we were mice. The girls walked awkwardly behind the men as they passed snickering people in line. Both men were double the size and their strides tripled that of the girls. The pair ran after the men, in heels, in front of judgy bimbos, with the only light being that of the gold sign that differentiated the dark building from the rest when the sun went to rest. Uncomfortable? Very. The stench of alcohol became more apparent with each step and when the door finally opened, Athena’s nose was assaulted by body odor and tequila. Once inside, the bodyguards disappeared without a second word.
“I’ll go get drinks.” Payton yelled over the music just before the crowd swallowed her whole. Athena stood awkwardly as she glanced down at the phone bent on her wrist. It turned on with her just looking at her wrist and gave the time. It was 12:01 am. Athena was finally 21 and yet she wasn’t as excited or happy as she thought she would be. She could drink all she wanted, but was haunted by the last time she had an alcoholic beverage. She was 18 in Australia and got shitfaced after 3 shots of vodka and a few sips of moonshine. She flew to America the next morning, searing headache and all.
She switched her gears and gave her right arm an acknowledging nod. One hour and 2 minutes. A pit seemed to tear wider in her stomach as she suddenly became hyperaware of her surroundings. The club was split into two levels. VIP signs plagued every staircase and the lower level was riddled with bodies bumping and hands everywhere. Different neon lights lit the dark figures that moved with the beat. A hand grasped Athena’s shoulder and she gasped.
“Payton.” She sighed.
“Woah, girl! You need to find your chill. Here! Shots! The best remedy!” She grinned revealing her perfectly white teeth. She extended a clear shot to her. Athena accepted graciously and threw the shot back as soon as she hand her clammy fingers wrapped around it. She coughed at the burning sensation it left in her throat.
“Vodka?”
“Vodka!” Payton yelled gleefully. “Come one! Let’s dance!”
Athena and Payton danced in the center of the floor. Payton let go easily and swayed with her arms above her head. She let anyone and everyone grind or grope her. Athena was the exact opposite. Athena held her arms in close, elbowing her pesky neighbors who got a little to handsy, and couldn’t shake the feeling that somebody’s eyes was following her every move. Athena swayed her hips while moving in a circle so she could stealthily search the crowd for the lingering gaze. As Athena looked up at the VIP balcony that overlooked the dance floor, someone cowered away from the edge. Athena still shaken by the person on the ledge, noticed that her timer had begun to admit a red light. One minute.
“Pay.” When she didn’t respond, Athena raised her voice, “Payton!”
The crowd parted only enough to let the small brunette slip through before closing completely, leaving the two of them in the center. Her green gaze was fixated on her own red wrist before her sparkling eyes met Athena’s. Payton mouthed “It’s time” before grabbing Athena’s wrist and dragging her away from the surge of people. Payton was calm as the pair stood by the bar, but Athena fidgeted with a napkin, tearing it to shreds in nervousness. Her heart was in her throat. She didn’t understand the contradicting feelings she was experiencing at the given time. She repeatedly told herself that she never believed in the timer and yet, at that exact moment, her nerves denied her that lie.
“I need a drink.” Athena mumbled as she flagged down a bartender. Payton watched curiously as Athena ordered her drink. The bartender set the drink in front of Athena and when she reached for it, her blinking red clock caught Payton’s attention. Payton looked down at her own timer and hers reflected Athena’s.

00:00:00:00:00:04 Thump. Thump.
00:00:00:00:00:03 Thump. Thump.
00:00:00:00:00:02 Thump. Thump.
00:00:00:00:00:01 Thump. Thump.

“Payton! Athena!” Sounded behind the girls. The two turned to face the voice in sync and came face-to-face with Niall and Luke. Athena gasped and looked at her timer. Niall and PAyton followed suit, glancing at their grey zeros.
“No! No! No! No!” Athena cried.
“Athena.” Payton mumbled sadly.
“No, I won’t accept this. I knew this was all a ploy. I refuse to be controlled by your grandfather!” Athena seethed.
Athena ran for the door and Payton called out, “Athena!”
Athena didn’t stop and left Payton standing in front of the two boys: one smirking and the other was twisted with confusion.
“What’s going on?” Luke asked.
“Luke, what time is it?” Payton pursed her lips in a tight line.
“1:0--oh.” Luke realized then looked at Niall and a confused look surfaced once more, “Wait. If yours, Athena’s, and Niall’s all went off, who’s whose soulmate?”
“I-I don’t know. I… uh… I don’t know about Athena, but I have no idea who I was looking at when my timer went off.” Payton stammered. Payton was met with a deafening silence, even with the club music blasting. “Right. Um. I’m going to go find A.”
Payton turned on her heels and practically ran away from the boys. She hadn’t realized she was holding her breath until she was met with the cool reprieve of the nighttime air. She gave out a big huff and started in the direction of Athena’s car, but stopped as she noticed a blonde sadly slumped on the curb.
“Athena?” Payton asked morosely.
“Yeah.” Athena pathetically croaked. Payton sat beside the lone girl. Minutes of silence and cars passed before Athena spoke with a voice rich with emotion, “You know, I remember the day I got my work assignment letter. I remember the defeated look my mum gave me as she read it over.”

Athena joyfully jumped down the stairs, wanting to ask her mother if she could go out after midnight to celebrate her then birthday. Athena skipped through the house as she made her way to the kitchen. She stopped abruptly in the doorway when she found her mum’s normally soft features taken over by a twisted grimace.
“Mum? Are you alright?” Athena questioned.
Her mother’s warm, kind eyes were flooded with tears and it tore Athena’s heart from her chest. “This came through the Capital Screen this mornin’.” Her mother pushed a paper towards the edge of the table and motioned for Athena to look at it.
Athena picked it up and made an attempt to swallow the lump that had grown in her throat that failed miserably. Athena progressively had a harder time reading the letter as tears began to blur her vision. They wanted to send Athena away from her familiars and a sudden weight took over Athena’s body like she was Atlas. If he could do this to her oceans away, how much farther could his reach go? She was growing wearier every day and she was only 17, how could her life be anything but gloomy?
“I don’t want to go.” Athena spoke barely above a whisper.
Miranda, Athena’s mother, looked up at her with a sad face to say, “I know. I know. We just-” She stopped as if the sentence were caught in her windpipe.
“Mum, they already sent Jack away in the militia and now they’re forcing me to a whole new continent. Why? Why do they hate us so much?” Athena spoke softly, her voice weak.
Miranda lethargically threw her arms open, indicating she wanted a hug. Athena sank to met her mother who sat below her. Miranda and Athena embraced with a few sniffles breaking the silence every now and then.

“I know, sweet pea.” Payton comforted, “That night was one of my least favorite. I hate what they did to us and our families. I’m just glad they kept the three musketeers together.”
Athena laughed and finished with a sniffle before gaining the courage to speak again. “You and I both know that that lil’ shit only did it to keep us all under his watchful eye. I think a robot could do his job with more compassion.”
“Again, I know, but we can pretend for a little, right?” Pay whispered.
“Let’s go home.” Athena said as she hefted herself from the curb, but stumbled to do so.
Payton stood quickly to stabilize Athena, “Girl, you only had one shot.”
“Okay, I admit, I may or may not have drowned six more before I came out here.” Athena’s playful laughter soon turned into sobs as Pay rubbed her back.
“Shhhh. It’s okay.” She lulled.
“I think I left my clutch inside. I’ll go grab it and be right back out.” Athena said after she stopped crying.
“Hey, I’ll go get it.” Payton offered as she watched Athena try to clean her mascara tracks from beneath her eyes.
“No, it’s fine. Could you pull the car around?”

Notes