"So, you never told me how you got back to earth? I've been so curious to know."
"It's pretty wild. I was climbing that tree in the orchard, fell to my death, and woke up in Elysium. I asked someone who looked like he was checking people in, and he said that yes I had died, but I wasn't allowed in. Apparently there was something that Fate had for me that I never accomplished, because I had died too early. He said that he could send me back to earth in order to 'complete my mission'."
Ares was blown away. "That's incredible! It's so amazing to know that we all apparently have some sort of destiny that is supposed to be played out in our lives. So, what happens now? Do you just complete your mission and then live out your life until you die of old age?" Ares was very hopeful that this would be the case.
"Actually, that man said that once I accomplish what fate had for me, I'll get snatched right back up to Elysium. That will be a sight, won't it?! Haha!"
Ares was a little disappointed to hear that answer. "Oh okay. Well, do you know what your mission is?"
"Honestly, I had no idea until I started talking to you, but now I'm thinking it could be this whole Argos and Hector business. Maybe I need to help get things back to how they were."
Maybe having Hector as king isn't such a bad thing after all, Ares thought to himself before snapping his mind back to reality. "That could very well be what it is. Everything started falling apart once you left, so maybe you really were supposed to be here."
"Anyway, we should probably start heading back into the city. Even though I'm not looking forward to seeing crowds of people again, I'm sure your group is waiting for you." Alex didn't have family anymore since his parents died a few years ago, and he never felt like he needed friends. He always considered himself to be more of a lone wolf type, that is, with everyone except for Ares. Ares was his best friend, they were always together, but it was never a bother to Alex. They had a connection that was different than just brothers or friends, but Alex could never pinpoint what it was. Ares was always there and it wasn't annoying to Alex, it was comforting.
Ares made sure to check his sundial for the time, and his note book for the guards routes before they quietly made their was through the alleys to the city gates. It was actually quiet easy to enter, since Hector was more concerned with people getting out than he was with people coming in. They waited until the guards were changing hands to quickly sneak through the one open gate and melt into the bustling crowd on the other side.
Alex looked around and immediately felt like he was being suffocated.