"If the world is ending, let me be by your side."

Charlie didn't ask to be here.

Charlie didn't want to be here.

And yet Fate seems to dislike the fortunate.

Her parents had got themselves lost. Again. She'd decided that London certainly was easier to navigate, given that each street had its own unique character, whereas this city was a repeated pattern of bright lights and dull coffee shops. Even Times Square had been practically unrecognisable when they passed through it, she'd only realised where they were when she received a mental image of Steve Rogers running barefoot down the road.

Another thing she'd discovered was how downright loud it was. Anything she had to say she needed to shout in order for her mum and dad to hear her. And most of the time her words were lost to the roar of vehicles and people. As a small-town kid, it was very intimidating.

Charlie sighs, glancing over the top of her book to see what progress her parents have made on figuring out where they are. No more luck than a dime. Meaning: they've got absolutely nowhere and are scratching their heads in confusion.

She considers her options for a moment before noting her page number and placing it back in her bag, "You know you can always go and ask someone. I'm sure the woman at the cash register might help us."

Her dad looks at her with a raised brow, putting down the map in his hands, "You know, you could go ask her."

Charlie is quick to shake her head, "Nope! Please don't make me do it. You know I'll forget what she says the moment I come back."

Her mum sighs, glancing at her husband with resignation in her eyes, "Just go see if she can help us get un-lost."

The girl smirks smugly, looking all-too prideful of herself as her father stands from their cheap, little outside table and walks over to the cashier—not before chucking the map in his hands at Charlie. She yelps in protest but laughs along with her mum, finding amusement in their moment of distress.

She shakes her head with a chuckle and pulls out her pocket sketchbook, flipping it to a blank page. It doesn't particularly bother her when her mother gets up to aid in locating their location, even as it leaves her by herself. Sure, she doesn't like big crowds, but where they are, there's practically nobody around. A few stray folk, but that's the case anywhere you go, even in the big cities.

Her pencil darts across the small page, sketching out the newest monstrosity in her mind. At least, that's what it might be to others. To her, it's the face of a Hellhound, soon to be accompanied by the jarring image of a sphinx. In all fairness, it's not turning out quite how she wanted it to and animals aren't her strong suit. It was meant to be a more peaceful looking creature but now it just looks like it came straight from the Underworld itself.

Charlie wrinkles her nose at it, lifting her pencil from the page. 'Damn. That needs some holy water.'

Just as she dwells on it, something else catches her eye. Or rather, someone.

She doesn't bother hiding her concern at the sight of a girl about her age, carrying a ripped 'Finding Dory' bag filled to the brim with books and sweets. Her dark hair is tousled, stray strands pulled from her ponytail, and sweat glistens on her flushed cheeks. Even her hold on her bag is weary, her fingers almost trembling as she finds the strength to take step after step.

Charlie's daringly compassionate heart can't take it, and she grabs one of the plastic water bottles from the table, dropping her sketchbook in her bag before she slings it over her shoulder. She spares a glance back at her parents, and to her luck, finds them preoccupied and deep in discussion. A tiny breath of relief escapes her lips and she smiles slightly, standing from her seat and jogging across the small square.

The girl visibly flinches at her sudden appearance, taking a step backwards as her fingers twitch towards her shorts' pocket. Perhaps a habit? Charlie doesn't question it much, only smiling kindly as she offers up the bottle in her hand.

"You all right?" She asks softly, searching the girl's deep sea-green eyes for any trace of unease, "Here, thought you might want this."

"Thanks," the girl gulps down the water like there is no tomorrow, and you can instantly see the difference the water gives her.

"I'm Charlie," she continues, desperately praying that her brain doesn't give up halfway through this sort-of conversation. "If you wanted to know, I mean."

The girl chuckles, "Thanks for the help, Charlie," she gave her a smile, "I'm Ashley."

"Pleased to-uh-meet you," Charlie awkwardly offers her hand to shake. "Sorry, I'm not very good at this kind of stuff."

Ashley laughs, "Neither am I," she admits, still holding onto the plastic water bottle that was now empty except for a small puddle at the bottom.

Charlie's phone vibrates in her pocket and she pulls it out to see whatever message has popped up. She squints at it in hopes of making it easier to read, finding glee in the fact that her phone has finally connected to the cafe wifi.

With furrowed brows, she reads the delayed message, muttering quietly to herself, "I've already gotten lost five times, I'm sure that I'm going to get lost a few more times."

Charlie chuckles softly, putting her phone away again and lifting her eyes to meet the stranger's confused features. She frowns at Ashley, not understanding the bewilderment displayed on her face.

"What was that you just said?"

She blinks, mildly taken aback, "I-I was just reading a friend's message. Why? Something wrong?"

Ashley stares at her, "That was the message I literally just sent to my friend."

"Wait... Hold on," Charlie taps her finger with her thumb, mind reeling. "That would mean... Silver?"

Ashley looks shocked, "You're Drag0nRider201," she realizes.

Charlie laughs, jumping forward and giving her friend a massive bearhug. She grins, tightening her grip slightly before releasing the girl and stepping back to truly appreciate her online friend's presence. "Look at you! Wow. I-I hadn't actually thought we'd bump into each other. New York's huge!"

"No doubt about that," Ashley laughs, "I swear I've already gotten lost at least seven, or thirty times."

"What happened to you?" She asks with concern, studying the exhaustion evident in her stance, "Why are you so... worn out?"

Ashley starts rambling, the stress of the last two days finally taking an impact on her. She doesn't notice when her friend's attention is drawn elsewhere.

"Ashley," Charlie pats her chest, eyes wide.

"Turns out I'm the daughter of Poseidon—" the girl continues her rambling, oblivious.

"Ashley—"

"And I can control water—"

"Ashley!" Charlie cries, smacking her face, "Look!"

Ashley looks at her funny and spins around to face whatever has made her friend so desperate. Charlie watches the colour drain from her face as her own heart starts pounding with a mix of terror and adrenaline. Exactly where there shouldn't be is a creature that haunts nightmares, that prowls in darkness.

"T-that's a Manticore," Charlie gulps, lip trembling. The monster snarls.

"No time," Ashley decides, tightly grasping her friend's wrist. "Run!"

It's at that moment that the Manticore charges, bellowing a horrifying roar that sends prickles down your spine. It cares not for the screams around it, paws pounding on the pavement below it.

Charlie shrieks, stumbling after Ashley as fast as her legs will allow. The scorching sun is of no concern now, and the pair sprint through the streets, uncaring of where they wind up. It is only the sound of the monster behind that keeps the girls going, the snorts of hot breath that linger on their necks all too motivating.

They turn a corner and for the first time in her life, Charlie sees everything flash before her eyes. The oncoming truck doesn't slow and the girl doesn't find the strength to move, standing wide-eyed in the middle of the road.

A strangled cry leaves her throat as she's yanked aside, all visions of past times disappearing from her sight. She's not given any time to recover before being thrown forward, expected without orders to continue running. Her lungs can't cope, but are forced to as Ashley grabs the handle of her rucksack and drags her along.

"Can't... breathe," she gasps weakly, eyes bulging as she desperately struggles for air.

"Shit, shit, shit," Ashley keeps cursing as they run.

Charlie screams suddenly, falling to the pavement as a huge scorpion-like stinger embeds itself in her bag, "Ashley!"

Ashley skids to a halt and brings out the knife that quickly folds out into the sword. She swings it at the Manticore's stinger, slicing a deep wound that makes it retract with a roar.

"A sword?!" That's all Charlie finds herself able to say, her mind only forming half sentences.

Ashley shakes her head, giving Charlie an awkward smile, "I'll explain later!"

"The hell is going on?!" She screams, tears staining her red cheeks. "No, no, stupid! Keep running!" Charlie scolds herself, breathless and exhausted.

Someone curses her as she bumps into them, their anger turning quickly to fear when faced with the open maw of the Manticore. She tries not to think about how their screams end abruptly with a jarring 'crunch'.

A choked sob escapes her throat, her airways shut as she trips over her own feet. Her mind is a blur of panicked thoughts, firing questions as fast as a striking cobra. The comparison makes her flinch, and a good thing too, seeing as a massive paw slams down where she was just moments ago.

Charlie can hear Ashley cursing beside her, the girl pathetically swinging a bronze-like blade at the monster on their tails. 'Surely, she must have managed to nick the beast with the sword,' Charlie prays to her God, trying to force herself to launch back into a sprint. Her limbs fail to abide to her command, too weak to complete such a task.

She starts crying, and though not for the first time, it renders her vulnerable and weak as she loses what little control she has on her emotions. It is only through her bleary eyesight that she watches as someone else's blade skewers the Manticore through the chest, showering them in a fine golden dust.

A short and cautious conversation starts up between Ashley and the stranger, their voices hushed and low. The tension between them is thicker than mud, heating faster than a gas fire. But it softens with a glance at the gathering crowd and the briefest look towards Charlie.

Ashley lifts her friend with a hand around her arm, a gentle smile on her lips as she tries not to think about how easily Charlie could have died. Apparently—according to Silena, their Lady and saviour—mortals can't see monsters, as something called 'Mist' clouds their sight. But Charlie hadn't seen things as they weren't. She was the one to point out the truth...

Ashley looks to Silena about and speaks her thought process aloud to their savior.

"Then she'll come with us," Silena commands, and all Charlie's mind can comprehend is how pretty she is, "Chiron is waiting for us."

Okay, I'm saying this now in case you didn't know. These characters are basically author-inserts. Charlie is me. I cannot run. I have asthma. And I am an emotional bean ready to take on anyone.