NEW OLYMPIANS (ISSUE 1) by Kelly Logue (best books for students to read .txt) 📕

pushed?”

“Uh...,” Alex began, fumbling in her memory. “The G button a bunch of times, and the closed door button a couple of times...”

“How many times,” the woman snarled.

“I...I don't know,” Alex stammered, choking on her own defeat.

“I'm sorry,” the woman said softly. “I shouldn't have snapped at you. This is not your fault. And, I will help you out of this. Trust me.”

“How the hell did this even happen?” Alex screamed. “Am I dead? In hell? Am I going crazy? What's happening!”

“You're grasping at straws,” the woman hissed. “Stop it! All you're doing is making yourself upset, and you need to keep a clear head.”

But the words broken had her. The situation had broken her. Life had broken her. And, now Alex let the tears empty out of her.

“Alex,” the woman said, still stern but more caring now. “You need to be strong. How you got here isn't as important as how we get you home. Do you understand?”

Alex nodded, then felt stupid. The woman couldn't even see her.

“Please, just tell me where am I...” Alex whimpered.

“The Gray Lands,” came the answer on the other line.

“Is that some sort of Lord the Rings thing?” Alex asked, wiping her nose with the back of her sleeve.

“Lord of the Rings?” The woman asked in return, sounding generally confused.

“You know,” Alex said. “It's like a bunch of movies I saw when I was kid...”

“It is in the The Gray Lands where the lost children of Men dwell,” the woman intoned, “Robbed of their innocence by the Devil, himself...”

“Oh,” Alex said. “So it's like a Peter Pan thing.”

“The point, Alex,” the woman asserted, “is that you should not have been able to find your way there. There are rules that even bind the Devil’s power... UNLESS...”

The woman let the world hang in the air, and Alex’s heart raced with both excitement and dread.

“Do you still have your maidenhood, girl?” The woman asked now in a hushed whisper.

“Um...” Alex began, unsure of what to say.

“Have you lain with a man?” The woman screeched. “Tell me the truth!”

“Technically, no...” Alex answered, her face blushing red. “I’m still a virgin.”

“By the Goddess of Dawn!” The woman cried.

“Wait,” Alex chirped. “I see someone outside.”

“Alex!” The woman screamed. “Did you listen to anything I said?”

“Yeah, but,” Alex answered. “It's just a girl. I mean, if it were a man, I could understand, the whole need to be cautious, but...”

“Alex,” the woman cried. “I'm begging you. Stay inside the elevator. Do not break the seal...”

“She might know something, we don't,” Alex said, cutting the woman off. “It can hurt to just talk to her, right?”

“Alex,” the woman cried. “Listen, please...”

“I’ll be right back,” Alex said, and let the phone drop.

Truthfully, Alex was glad for the break. Talking to that strange woman really wasn’t getting her anywhere.

“Alex, Alex,” she heard the woman’s voice call out from the phone. “You are in grave danger...”

But Alex had already made up her mind. She took a deep breath, and stepped outside.

Almost immediately, she regretted it, as a wintry chill ran up her spine.

The cold seemed at odds with the barren landscape surrounded her, and the fiery red sky that crackled above.

Alex shivered again, and sinfully white puffed out of mouth with each breath. Still she carried herself forward, towards the girl with the warm and friendly smile.

But up close, Alex held herself back.

The girl looked quite striking. Tall and thin, and yet very feminine.

Despite the girl’s barely legal age, Alex blushed a little. She had been telling the truth when she had said she hadn’t been with any boys. But she hadn’t exactly been so pure and innocent when it came to the ladies, especially during her wild collegian days.

“E-E-Excuse me,” Alex said, stammering a little out of lustful nervousness. “I’m lost. Can you help me find my way home?”

The girl's warm smile widened.

It wasn’t a pretty sight!

And Alex, bit her lip, wondering if she had made a terrible mistake.

“That I can,” the girl answered. But her voice dragged in a low whispering, and out of instinct Alex drew a little closer in order to hear her. “I'd never forgive myself, if I didn't help out someone with such a pretty face.”

“Y-Y-Yeah,” Alex said, stammering again, but the lust had gone away, leaving only the nervousness. “If you could just point the way out, then I’ll be on my way. Sound good?”

The girl shook her head, and then ran a finger across the brim of her large black hat. But the wide smile never dropped from the girl’s face.

“Now, now,” the girl said. “That wouldn’t be right. You asked my help, and as the Dagger Witch I’m obligated to give it.”

Dagger Witch, Alex let the name turn over and over again in her mind.

“You know,” Alex said, casting off a nervous chuckle as she did so. “I think I’m okay. Found it on my phone. Thanks.”

Alex stepped back. She thought about running, but this girl was in way better shape, and it wouldn’t be much of a chase, in the long run.

Plus, the more primitive part of her mind told her that it wasn’t a good idea to turn your back on this crazy bitch.

“I know a shortcut,” the girl said. “Get you home, lickedily split.”

“Oh,” Alex said, trying her best to appear calm as her thumb secretly tapped the numbers on her phone for what she hoped was 9-1-1.”

“Yes ma’am,” the girl answered, drawing near. “The quickest way is to send you back in pieces.”

Alex had just enough time to stifle a scream, as the girl drew a large glimmering knife from her long coat.

“You like it?” The girl asked. Her voice higher pitched, as she shrieked from excitement. “Made it from the rib bone of a demon that I killed with my bare hands, after luring it into my bed. Sharpened the curve on it’s ugly skull.”

The girl's smile widened into an opened mouth grin, revealing her jagged, rotten teeth.

“Now,” the girl said. “You got a lot of meat on ya...”

Alex stumbled back, but lost her footing. Her cell phone, flying from her hand.

The girl giggled as she raised the bone knife high.

“But don’t you worry,” the girl snickered. “My little baby will slice you up really good, and you’ll hardly feel a thing. For that is the mercy of the Dagger Witch...”

Alex threw up her hands, knowing it was pointless, but her death would not come from the mercy of the Dagger Witch.

“What is that?” The girl cried, lowering the knife.

Alex vigorously shook her head, not understanding.

“There’s a man,” the girl said, distracted. “A man singing...”

Alex heard it now too, and almost laughed.

Her salvation had come from the musical stylizing of: Dancing in the Moonlight by King Harvest. A song currently playing in offline shuffle mode from her phone.

“That box,” the girl said, pointing at the phone with her knife. “You got a man trapped in there.”

“Yeah,” Alex said, while at the same time taking the opportunity to get back on her feet.

But as soon as she was standing, the girl snagged her by the front of her shirt and pulled her in close.

“A deal, miss,” the girl said. Her face alight with wild excitement.

Alex wrinkled her nose, the girl’s breath smelled like death itself.

“Your life,” the girl hissed. “For your miracle box.”

“Uh...sure,” Alex gasped.

The girl squealed in delight, and then busied herself by swaying back and forth in tune to the music.

“The code is 2-0-1-7,” Alex offered. “If it goes dark.”

“Much obliged,” the girl said.

Alex shrugged.

Oh well, she thought. Probably time for an upgrade anyway.

Her relief proved short lived, and Alex could now feel a hundred of eyes staring at her.

She turned, and it was worse than she could possibly imagine. For there stood a horde of feral children, and hideous, drooling hunger corrupting their innocent young faces.

They slowly advanced, for these animals were long skilled at drawing out terror.

“I thought I was free to go,” Alex cried, appealing to the strange Dagger Witch.

“You are with me,” the girl clarified. “But you still need to make a deal with all of them, if you want to leave with your skin intact.”

“But that’s not fair,” Alex uttered under her breath.

Not that the Dagger Witch much noticed or cared, as she happily sang along with the music.

Alex closed her eyes, and lowered her head―surrendering herself to the inevitable.

But, just as quickly, she snapped awake, at the sound of a shrill and piercing howl.

“Grandmother Death!” One of the feral children wailed―a girl of no more than ten. But the girl was quickly swept away, as the horde ran for their lives.

Alex, meanwhile, stood stock still in open mouth surprised. Watching, as a large hut carried by even larger chicken legs scurried rapidly towards her.

Soon, the hut bowed, and Alex’s eyes traced its descent as it hunched down coming to rest a few feet from her person.

Alex winced as the hut’s door squeaked open on heavy, rusted hinges.

A young woman stepped out of the entryway. Her hair was a blood red, and her skin looked white as a ghost.

“Hello, Alex,” the woman said, holding out her hand. “We spoke on the phone. Madam Hex.”

“Oh thank god,” Alex sobbed, taking the woman’s pale hand into hers.

The vampish woman quickly ushered her young charge inside, and slammed the door shut behind them.

“Go sit by the fire,” Madam Hex commanded.

“I’m...I’m fine,” Alex started to say. But she wasn’t, and her body soon betrayed her, as it shook uncontrollably.

Alex acquiesced, soon taking her place in a large comfortable chair nestled by the hearth. The fire felt both warm and soothing, and her eyes drooped with the approach of sleep. But, her mind allowed no rest, for even here in the warmth and safety of this strange hut, something felt off.

The chairs, she realized. Except for the one she sat in, the rest of the chairs had pushed far away from the fire light.

How strange, Alex though.

The pale woman returned, and pressed a tea cup in her hand.

Without thinking, Alex gulped the tea down, even though she never fancied herself much of a tea drinker. It tasted sweet.

Immediately, she felt alert and awake.

The caffeine snapping her back to the reality of this mad world.

Madam Hex, however, seemed to be lost in thought as she stared into the empty tea cup.

Suddenly, the pale woman emitted a hideous shrill cry, and cast the tea cup violently aside.

“We’ve been deceived!”

“What?” Alex asked, shrinking back the chair.

“We must get you home, immediately,” Madam Hex answered. “A great evil seeks entry in your world, and has used you as its pawn in that scheme.”

“What are you talking about?” Alex snapped.

“Silence,” Hex said, and held up her hand to emphasize her point.

The pale woman needn’t have bothered. Alex found herself at lost for words, but nevertheless felt dirty.

“There is no time for self pity,” the pale woman said. “Look into my eyes, child.”

Alex lifted her head, and now found herself captivated by the pale woman’s piercing blue eyes.

“Remember,” Hex intoned. “Remember, what you’ve lost.”

Alex snapped awake, her head spinning.

Again, she had the suspicion of being watched, and that suspicion proved correct, as Madam Hex sat in a chair across from her. But, Alex couldn’t help but notice that the pale woman had taken her place far away from the fire.

“I’ve done all I can,” Hex answered solemnly. “The rest is up to you.”

Alex looked down, and now saw she held a small slip of paper in her hand. The letter G had been written down twelve times, followed by the words “CLOSE DOOR” twice.

“Enter the sequence in reverse order,” Madam Hex offered. “That will take you home.”

Alex started to say something, but the pale woman gestured for silence once more.

“I will take you as close to the elevator as I can,” Hex said.

Action followed words, and Alex felt the hut first rise, and then lurch forward.

The pale woman meanwhile closed her eyes, and hung her head low.

“Did I do something wrong?” Alex ventured.

Hex shook her head, but said nothing more.

Alex felt her heart sink, even