"Let's…GO ON AN ADVENTURE!" said an ecstatic Dabi.
"That is the spirit, Dabi!" added Odette.
However, as they walked, and walked, and walked some more, Dabi had had enough. She groaned.
"I'm…TIRED!!! AND I'M BORED TOO! HOW IS THIS A DAMN ADVENTURE?!?!"
Athena was pretty concerned.
"Is she always like this?" she asked Joan.
"Sometimes. But she somehow calms herself down."
"Still…I find her sort of whiny."
"But I'm afraid her extreme boredom and all of that non-stop tantruming have a meaning." Heli said.
"True," said Shion, "We, as well, are tired of walking. And it's been the same scenery since we began our way over to wherever the IPS pointed."
"Besides," said Odette, "We don't even know where the island is really located, even without the IPS and GPS."
Athena's stomach began to growl.
"So hungry," she mumbled, "This reminds me, what should we do about food?"
"And most importantly," said Sena, "Where are we going to sleep for the night? It's much too cold out here."
Athena felt quite sleepy. She fell asleep in Heli's arms.
"We have to find a sanctuary somewhere a little further away from here." Heli said, "There, we can rest for a little while before continuing on with our journey."
"But where are we going to stay tonight, is the question," said Looisha, "It's going to take a miracle to find a comfortable place."
Athena then mumbled, "I wish there was a place to stay for tonight."
The Crimson Heart began to glow. The necklace had shined so blindingly, that everyone closed their eyes. And then, they were transported to an inside of an elite inn.
"Who would stay at a place like this?" asked Dabi, "We barely have any money in our pockets."
Heli put Athena down. Athena felt her pockets...and then felt coins and dollar bills inside.
"A miracle right here!" she shouted.
She then passed each bill to each and every one of the gang. It was truly a miracle, indeed.
This was quite strange. Monterey County was a protected environment. It was completely controlled by the U.S government. The weather was always sweltering like Spring and Summer. It never rained except during December and January. All citizens were provided with enough food, water, homes and all other necessities. You didn't have to worry about paying bills and earning money. The government would pay for it all. It is their responsibility to care for the citizens. So, in other words, hunger, cold and poverty was foreign in the County.
It was while the group were settling in for the night, when Athena sat up while everyone else laid down. She then frowned and sighed. And then, a familiar voice then spoke to her.
"Can't sleep, can you, ma'am?" she said.
Athena was startled and turned where the voice was coming from: it was Sena.
"I don't really feel sleepy at this time." Athena responded.
Sena snickered. "I can't either."
She then paused for a moment, while tying her ponytail.
"You know, back there…" Sena then said again, "When you noticed that Heli was in trouble…and when you both made eye contact with each other…I thought I saw you with that red light, and then we were transported to the outside of Monterey County and Riverfield. I thought to have seen you do the same thing when we couldn't find a place to stay. What do you think?"
I can't keep the secret any longer. I thought I already told everyone? I guess they didn't understand, truly.
"The truth is…"
I have to tell her! I must say that it's impossible for me to remove this beautiful piece of jewelry that I had found in the school library! And that sometimes it would just glow with an odd light. I think it's why we keep getting out of trouble. And why we are in this extravagant inn.
Athena stammered. "Well…I…"
NO! They're going to think it's all of my fault! They're probably going to think that I am the reason we're right here and not at Decelis Academy! Aaugh! What should I do?! I…I don't think I can tell them!
Sena sighed. "If you did know or if you did anything about it, then I believe that you're the one who saved us from trouble. I just asked…so that we could thank you for your good deeds. And for your help."
Sena then laid down.
"Anyways…let's try to get some sleep. We have a long way to go tomorrow morning."
Athena laid down beside Heli. She then caressed his head.
"Your welcome, darling." she whispered.
Most of the night, Athena would just toss and turn. She tried her hardest to forget about what the Crimson Girls had said about her. She felt hurt about it.
"I'm not sure what goes on inside Athena's head!
Yeah, she never reacts to anything!
Maybe that's the reason she only has Shion, Odette, and her boyfriend Heli as her friends.
Ugh! Let's not get involved with her."
These hurtful words kept happening mentally...it haunted her terribly. So harshly…a tear eventually streamed down her cheek.
It was eventually the next morning.
"Everybody! Wake up!" shouted Dabi.
"What is it, Dabi," asked Yurina, "Is it morning already?"
"Yup! It is!"
But as everyone woke up, they found themselves in a foggy environment.
"Where are we at now?" asked Shion.
Heli shuddered from the slight cold weather.
"I think we are back to where we were before." he said.
"Um…I think we've got an even bigger problem here!" Odette announced.
Joan noticed the fog.
"Is this fog, or something?" she asked.
Athena knew what it really was.
"No…it's more powdery than fog."
"What is it?" Shion asked, "Because it's getting kind of hard to breathe."
"It's…it's…BLUE POWDER!"
And then, they all made a run for it.
"We have to get out of this thick powder!" Athena exclaimed.
When they got to a lighter area of the woods, "I can breathe a little better, now." Yurina said.
"Me too," said Athena, "But it's not as blue as before."
Athena felt the air, "It's not powder anymore, it's much more different now. It's like…like condensation!"
Condensation, thought Athena, Fog? It can't be this thick? Can it really?
The fog became even thicker. And soon, Athena found herself all alone. She was slightly frightened by what was happening.
"Be careful not to lose each other, 'kay?" she shouted, "Guys? Hello! The fog is much too thick for us to see! Find a partner to keep close with!"
Where is everyone?!
And then…there were strange noises in the distance.
Grrr! Creak! Creeeak! Creak! Squeak! Squeak! Chitter!
These noises had frightened Athena even more.
She then shouted, "WHERE ARE YOU ALL?! WHERE ARE YOU?!"
What is all of this noise?! And on top of that…I can't look straight! Why is my vision so odd now? I can only see beautiful lights everywhere in my pupils! Could this be a hallucination powder in the fog? What the hell is going on?!
Athena collapsed and went unconscious for a long time. And that is when the hooded figure with the raven suddenly appeared, and took Athena and the rest of the group away.