HIDDEN

Chapter 18

"We die?!"

"Hypothetically speaking," Roxanne replied, "It's not like it's happened to us before. There's a possibility we'll survive if we're not forced into it."

"Wow, this is a great way to coax someone into joining you guys", Mia said sarcastically.

"This is not a joke", Roxanne said seriously.

"But what do you want me to say? 'Yeah, let's all go and walk right into our graves?' I have a good life here. I have people I want to get back to", Mia replied desperately.

"And we don't?", Roxanne asked upset. Dale stopped eating and looked away from them, still bending his head.

Mia heard what she just said. There was a tension in the air.

"I... I- I didn't... I didn't mean it like that.... I'm sorry", Mia said quietly, filled with remorse.

Roxanne heaved a sigh. "It's ok. This is all new to you so I don't expect you to have the most pleasant tone on hearing all this."

"Thanks for understanding", Mia responded gratefully, "But honestly... what's the worse that can happen if Cronus is set free."

"Become the ruler of the world, forcing everyone to worship him; Teras would be everywhere torturing and eating people; Have our family and friends killed right in front of us for putting up a fight, if he doesn't torture and kill us first; Destroy the whole world as form of revenge... oh, need I go on?", Roxanne listed blankly looking at Mia.

"No. Please, I get it", Mia said looking hopeless at this point.

"... There's a reason I said we need your help to seal him off two years from now", Roxanne tried to draw a silver lining, "Since you don't already know, the lunar eclipse, also known as the red moon or the blood moon makes our powers stronger, almost to that of an actual god. We noticed the sudden increase of our power whenever there was a lunar eclipse... How do you normally feel during those times?"

"Me? I've never really paid much attention, or thought about it but now that I think about it... I could tell whenever it happens, even if I'm sleeping. My body reacts but, that's about it", Mia explained.

"Hmmm", Roxanne hummed, "It's not the same for Dale though. His powers increase whenever there's a blue moon. It also has an effect on us but not as much as the red. The possibility for a blue moon and lunar eclipse happening at the same time is extremely rare. They call it the 'Super Blood Blue Moon'. It happened once before in 1866."

"So you guys want to go to Tartarus and seal Cronus off when all of you are almost at full strength, stronger than you've ever been?" Mia predicted.

"Exactly", Nathan agreed, "But I believe that as we grow stronger on that day, so will Cronus, so it's a risk. It may be even more difficult to seal him off then. It'll require more effort. Even if he doesn't get stronger in the presence of the red or blue moon, the combined moon would definitely have an effect. He may not be able to open the gate but he'll be able to send out more teras, stronger than before, to force us to do so."

"What about the- umm, other teras. Won't they grow stronger?" Mia inquired.

"Teras aren't like gods or titans. Their just monsters that obey the will of the master that sent them, so it's unlikely", Nathan explained.

"It's still a risk", Mia complained, "Let's say I agreed to join you guys,... why do we have to wait? We can strike now or some time soon."

"We can't!" Roxanne said sternly while clutching her fist.

"Why though. I think the odds are better now. I've seen what you guys can do. Why wait for their number to increase", Mia argued.

"Not. Yet!" Roxanne said fiercely, trying to hold back.