The tale of Athena

Deep in the woods lies an old hag and her granddaughter a beautiful maiden. I know what you are thinking this is about to be another Rapunzel story. You are wrong however. This story begins in the modern ara of the 21st century.

Long ago the family was cursed by an evil witch that no one in the family was to be beautiful, everyone was cursed to live an eternity hideous away from the town folk. This was the case until a beautiful baby girl was born into the family. With no father her birth remains a mystery how could someone so beautiful come from a family so hideous? From rumors it was said that the girl had snuck off and went into the village falling in love with one of the villagers, which resulted in the birth of Athena. Her mother wanted the best for her, to be able to live outside their perimeters and make a destiny for herself that falls far from the curse. Because of her mothers sudden death, Athena was forbidden to leave the home. One day she heard something coming from afar while her grandmother was out picking dinner. She knew she wasn't allowed out but her curiosity overtook her and she slipped out the door. After all she thought to herself 'i will be back before Gramma comes home'

She traveled for quite some time trying to find where the noise was coming from until she came upon a big monster hovering over and cutting down the trees spitting them out like garbage all chopped up. She had never seen anything like this for her whole life she had been stuck inside the house to her this was monster that needed to be stopped. Not thinking she jumped out in front of the machine and proclaimed they stop.

The machine abruptly stopped and a head popped out. "Listen tree hugger we are just doing our job, if you'll move along so we can finish"

Confused at what they were saying she stepped closer putting her hands on the machine and spoke to it. Instantly the machine spit a few puffs of soke and completely shut off.

"Hey what did you do to my truck" the angry man jumped out of the truck and started walking towards her.

"I simply asked it to stop what it was doing and explained how you are tearing up my home." Curious at realizing this person spoke different than her she walked closer and examining them closer.

He looked at her up and down and smirked, "oh you're a strange one aren't you how about I take you to my truck and show you how a man makes a living for a fine maiden such as yourself."

"Man? What is this man?"

He smirked again leaning closer, leant down to her ear and whispered "oh I can show you that to darling you won't be disappointed I assure" shocked at what was happening she stepped back as she was stepping back she tripped on a broken limb and from behind someone caught her from falling.

"Who might you be, are you lost?"

She looked up at him and in shock her heart began to flutter and she smiled. It felt so good, she had never felt anything like that before. She hugged him knowing somehow she could trust him. He laughed and separated her from him.

"What is your name?" He asked her and she looked at the other man who had gasped. These must be men she gasped she had never seen a man so this was all new to her.

She placed her hands beside her and looked up at the man once more, "Athena, my name is Athena. I was asking this man why he was tearing up my home these woods have belonged to my family for centuries."

"Maybe its a big misunderstanding, why don't we go to city hall and see what they have to say about this."

"What is a city hall?"

He smiled at her, "city hall is where people go to proclaim any problems they may have, pay taxes and bills, and view records."

"Is it far I mustn't take to long for my grandma will be back soon."

He looked around and asked her where she came from has she been here her whole life. She explained to him that for her safety her grandma has kept her in the house her whole life. She didn't understand what was happening and that she must get back soon. He offered to take care of her and keep her safe if she came with him. He could sense something was night right. On the way to City hall she explained to him that at a young age she was mysteriously born and shortly after her mother passed away.

Once they got to city hall he opened her door for her and she crawled out the car right onto the ground looking all around. She had never driven in a car and it took thirty minutes to convince her it was safe to get in. She didn't understand what was happening once the scenery around her changed so quickly. She was a little nauseous from the ride and threw up in the trash. There were so many people around her that she was astonished by it. The only person before today she had ever met was just her grandma.

"This is Athena, we found her in the woods while we clearing way for the new subdivisions when this lady popped up and claimed the land has belonged to her family for centuries. Is there anything we can do."

She was pulled out of her thoughts mid conversation when she realized she had followed them inside and were standing by a desk with a woman behind glass, she looked at it and walked closer touching it and looking all around.

"Can you please not touch that ma'am I wouldn't want to have to clean that again."

"I'm so sorry I have never seen this before it's all so new."

"What did you say your name was miss?"

"Athena woodland"

"Hmmm" some clicks on the screen "mhhm" a few more clicks "aha yes thats it, Fantasia Woodland appeared 24 years ago from the woods and then vanished, it says here we could never find her that they searched and searched but had no luck"

"My mother was Fantasia, she came here?"

"It appears that way dear, whatever did happen to your mother?"

"She passed away after I was born and the village was over taken by a sickness the only thing left of us are me and my grandma. To keep me safe she never let me leave the house. It was forbidden…" she realized she should already be back that her grandma is probably looking for her. "I must go my grandma must be worried"

"Sweetie if what you are saying is true you are safer here than with your grandma , why don't you com have a seat and I explain something's to you about your mother"

She abliged and they both had a deep conversation about why her mother had come to the town and why it was very important that she not go back. Pain struck her deep as more of it was told and she began to feel lightheaded and the next thing she knows she was awaken in a bed. He grandma in a funny suit at the foot of her bed.

"Its time to come back home sweetie it's been to long we need to go before they come back you will get the infection that they all have."

With a rapsy voice she said no. She explained everything to her grandma and the utter shock on her grandma's face said that she knew all along what had happened. Athena afraid screamed for help. A nurse came running in and a few people with guns took her grandma away. Shortly after they had her speak with them they let someone in. It was the guy that saved her from falling.

"I wanted to see if you was okay?"

"I'm okay they took her away I just don't know how I didn't know all these years she was the evil I was supposed to be protected from."

" A lot of the people we think are there to love us and protect us are actually the enemy tearing us down. Its up to us to defend ourselves and give us what we actually need"

"That's beautiful"

"Its the truth often times the truth is much better spoken than left unspoken"

"What is your name? I seem to have forgotten."

"Ian"

With a smile she says, "we will be great friends Ian."