"Where… am I?"
Athena felt herself falling endlessly, her body weightless, her thoughts heavy.
"Why am I falling?"
"Is this hell… or something worse?"
A bitter smile touched her lips.
"If this is punishment," she whispered hollowly,
"then I'll accept it. I deserve to suffer for what I did to my beloved."
Thud.
Her body crashed onto cold ground.
Pain spread through her limbs, but she didn't scream.
She didn't even move.
Suddenly—
A woman dressed in flowing red appeared before her, eyes shining with strange amusement.
With a grin too bright for the darkness, she spoke enthusiastically,
My darling… do you wish to return?"
Athena slowly lifted her gaze.
There was no light in her eyes.
They were empty—like still water drained of its depth.
"Why?" Athena asked, her voice hollow.
"What would even change? This is just fantasy."
She let out a breathless laugh.
"Fate can't be changed. Once something happens… it's already done."
The woman clicked her tongue playfully.
"Oh my, oh my," she said, circling Athena.
"You look far too pale for this kind of conversation, beauty."
Then her tone softened—yet carried an ancient weight.
"Darling, it wasn't fate."
Athena frowned.
"Fate isn't as cruel as you believe," the woman continued.
"You call it destiny, but it was nothing more than mistakes—woven together by ignorance."
She leaned closer.
""God is not cruel. He has his own designs."
"What happened to you—was it fate?"
"Or the work of an enemy?"
"Or perhaps… the balance of nature
itself?"
This chance," the woman whispered,
"has fallen upon you from the heavens."
"And you would be a fool to waste it."
Silence followed.
Athena lowered her head, deep in thought.
No matter what kind of trap this is…
I'll fall into it.
Because she had nothing left to lose.
Slowly, she spoke—
"Yes. I'm willing to return to the past."
Her voice steadied.
"This time, I'll protect everything that is dearest to me."
The woman's smile faltered—just slightly.
"But, darling…" she said hesitantly.
"In this world, nothing comes for free."
"To gain something… you must give something."
"You know this, don't you?"
Athena didn't hesitate.
"Yes."
She laughed softly.
"There's nothing left for me to lose anyway."
"So tell me… what must I give?"
The woman's expression turned serious.
_______________
( The rest of their conversation blurred—hidden from the flow of time. )
______________________
Then—
"One more thing," the woman said coldly.
"Darling, you must choose."
Athena stiffened.
"Between the man you love… and the man you hate."
"If you choose the man you love—"
"He will cease to exist in the world you cherish."
Athena's breath caught.
"But if you choose the man you hate," the woman continued,
"He will return to the past alongside you."
"With all his memories intact."
Athena's eyes widened in shock.
"So you mean…" she whispered,
"If I choose the—"
To be continued…