Raymond's POV:
We were exhausted to say the least. We all sat on the beach in the bodies of our gods. The battle was over. For your information, no we didn't win.
'Then how did it end?' I can hear you ask.
Well simple. At Aphrodite's command the monsters and deities all disappeared back into the sea. Same way back as they came.
It concerned me. That meant that whatever this was, wasn't over yet. They'd just come back. They didn't even seem tired. Us not so much... Our gods are fine of course. Us hosts on the other hand?
It'll probably be a couple of days until we completely regenerate. Well... Completely? Not really.
After a bit of catching our breath we all get up and drive our chariots back to the base. There was no use in staying here if our opponents left and our base is protected by a child and new host.
As we drive back I see Zeus drive his own chariot. A rare sight to see really, but since his charioteer was knocked out he had little choice. Speaking of the charioteer, Nike's limp body layed in Apollo's arms as he had joined Hermes.
As soon as we arrived back at the base we knew something was wrong. The usual cover up on the entrance had been forced open and the sigma blinked uselessly. I could hear Phineas and Hephaestus growl.
"Sam and the new kid better have an explanation for this. Do you have any idea how long it takes to fix this?" He grumbled.
"I hate to burst your bubble, but I don't think either of them could do this." Chronos noted.
"Hestia isn't strong enough and Athena is, but she wouldn't use this kind of raw power."
"Artemis, you go first with Hermes. Demeter, Hera, you two last." Hades says, taking the lead.
He might not always seem like it, but he is quite a good leader. Hades and I also have been together the longest and got everyone together. We have been sort of taking the lead ever since this whole thing started about five years ago.
Flashback:
"You know Raymond you should be careful. Rally racing is super gnarly and dangerous..." Mahad said.
"Maybe. But tell me this buddy. What good is life if you don't feel like you're alive?" I respond.
Mahad eyes me as I gear up to get behind the wheel. I don't know what he's worried about. He makes it seem like it's my first time doing a rally.
"You've never seen anything like Dakar Ray. The dessert is more teacherous than you think." He reminds me.
"I know, but I'll be alright. So don't worry about it." I wink as I pull on my helmet.
I get in the car and make sure everything is good to go. I just have to make it to the first post and then I can take it easy and get prepped for the next day.
A few hours later I'm racing my car through the desert. I follow the GPS although it feels like I'm only going straight ahead with the sea of sand around me.
It's endless and the heat has me sweating in the full body suit and helmet. But I won't give up. I have to try my best. Maybe if I do well enough I can get some more sponsers for next season.
Suddenly I see a flash in the corner of my eye. I quickly glance in its direction but it's gone. Probably just the heat messing with my vision. Yet I can't shake this weird sensation that something is going to happen. Something that will change everything.
A flash again to my right. Instantly I look. Probably a bad idea behind the wheel of a car, but I couldn't help myself. I look back ahead, but keep looking to my right every few moments. This is kind of freaky really.
Then out of nowhere a light starts shining from the left. It feels like the sun is blinding me, but that's impossible because seeing the direction I went in the sun was supposed to be behind me.
As I can feel the light coming closer I start sweating more and more. The meters of my car are going haywire and the Com with my team is getting choppy. What the hell is going on?!
"Mahad! Mahad can you hear me?!" I yell into the mic.
"R-ray.. Wh-.... What's going-... O-oohh-nnn.."
I can barely make out what he says.
"Something is coming from my left man! I don't know what but it's coming!" I practically screech as I dare to take a look.
I takes everything I have to keep my eyes on the bright light. I make out a vague figure rushing through the dessert with a huge sand cloud behind it.
"Mahad it wants me man!" I yell.
Whatever that thing is it scares the living hell out of me. I punch the gas pedal all the way to the floor and soar through the desert sand. I jump over a dune and make a successful landing, riding on.
I hang out the window for a second to see if I'm still being followed. Soon enough I'm back in my seat, feeling like all the blood is sucked from my face.
What is that thing?! And how is it this fast?!
Present:
I follow close behind Artemis and Hermes, but not too close. In case there is something they need to warn me about. That way they'll actually have the time to warn me.
Soon enough I catch up with them in the main room. The fire is died out, which immedialty alarms me. If Sam and Hestia were here it would burn on its own. It's because of their connection with fire that it just lights itself.
"Check the hallways down below. Hermes, you're fast. I know you're running low on energy, but if they're not here we need to think about our next move." Hades said.
I could feel he wasn't expecting Hermes to find either Skyler or Sam.
In what seemed like a flash Hermes ran all the way through the catacombs and back. He breathed heavily when he stood in front of us.
"Common Luke, a little longer." I could here him tell his host.
"It hurts man. I can't. I'll slip." Luke responded in a voice that sounded like he was hanging off the edge of a cliff.
"I won't let you slip. As soon as we morph back I'll make sure your soul is secure. But right now we have to stay like this." Hermes said in a calm tone.
Then he straightened himself up and looked towards me and Hades.
"They're not here. But there are signs of a struggle and Athena and Hestia's energy is drenched all over the place down there." He reported.
Behind me all the others started gathering in the room as well. I spotted a limp Nike in between Demeter and Hera. I heard Hades mutter a Greek curse.
"Take your rest. You all deserve it and your hosts need it. Make sure Nike has a place to stay as well. We'll go search for Skyler and Sam as soon as our hosts are up for it." Hades announced.
I had a feeling this was going to be a very long night.