THIS IS A WORK OF FICTION - please don't be upset if I get something wrong or inaccurate
This has been in my drafts since 2021 and I am clearing my drafts out so here you go:)
THERES SUPOSED TO BE NORSE RUNES DANG IT
That was the last thing I ever engraved. It means that the king of calm may wear the crown, but the queen of chaos bears the blade. My parents were killed that night.
I’ve always had an interest in the different mythologies, religions even. The different ways that people worship, how they worship, what they god, or gods they worship mean. It all seemed so interesting. But as a teenager growing up in today's world, venturing out of the norm, even to learn about other things feels… almost like a betrayal.
So I stuck with the safe stuff. Learning without partaking, not actually getting the experience and just reading. Sometimes doing research online. I once even threw a Yuletide party with my friends, but that was more for fun, and everyone thought it was a normal christmas party with new little pieces.
Ever since we moved to California, really ever since Covid, my parents and I stopped going to church as much. Our belief never lessened, but we just felt like we were our own church I guess.
Once we moved to Cali, every major holiday (mostly Christmas) we would try to find a church with our beliefs to go to. We never found one that really felt like home. So, slowly, we just made our own traditions. We would go out to eat, or get take out, make hot cocoa, then go find neighborhoods with the best Christmas lights and drive around. Even if we weren’t in church, it still felt like worship, just, our way.
That's when I started to notice exactly what and how I believed. I always believed that there's a god, or gods. But I believed that all of the religions, and all of the gods and different forms they take, are all one entity. The Universe.
I always believed that the world has energy, or else how would there be just ten extra dollars in your bank account right when you need it the most. Or even the concept of karma? Which led to me believing that the energy takes the form of whatever a specific group of people need, to be able to survive.
It gives them something to worship, something to hold onto when times are hard, something to help remind them that it will all work out, or to be good people. Which is why it's okay to have different beliefs, because ultimately, they all stem from the same root.
What I didn’t realize is that root energy can take a literal form. An actual physical, tangible, you can see it in front of your face -holy-shit-whats-going-on form. That was a fun thing to learn. Real fun.
Let me take you back a bit so that you can get the gist of what's been going on in my life, and how all of this stuff started.
About two years ago, fours years into moving to California, my house was broken into by some people. I didn’t even know what was going on until I heard my moms scream, and my dads angry yell. Something that never happens.
So I rush downstairs, thinking that there’s a coyote in the backyard, or a mountain lion just attacked the fence after smelling our dog (Bean). Instead, I find three people, all standing around my parents, who are dead on the ground. I hear my mom mutter one last thing to me, before the light fully leaves their eyes and they both lay there. Unmoving.
Then I also see Bean, lying right next to them, barely breathing, covered in blood. He’s not even whimpering. None of them have seen me yet, so I try to sneak out of the front door, but before I can turn, my arms are pinned to my sides as two more people emerge from the hallway.
After a short scuffle, in which I break one of their noses, and anothers arm in my attempt to escape, I manage to get out of the door, and just start booking it. I didn’t have my keys, so I couldn’t take the car, but by the looks of it, all the tires are slashed anyways.
I ended up running for little under two miles, and hid up in a tree. Turning the location off on my phone, and not even daring to call 911. I stayed up in that tree for almost four days. In that time, one of the people found me, but I dropped a rock I had grabbed on him and he fell. I didn’t see him move after that, but I couldn’t tell if it was a trap or not, and I didn’t want to risk it.
On day five, My body was severely dehydrated, and I was debating crawling down when the EMT’s found me. Turns out, even if tracking is turned off on your phone, if really needed, it can still be tracked.
They got me down slowly, having to convince me to come down. There was a very nice EMT named Brett, he climbed up into the tree, and checked on me while I worked up the courage to come down.
While I was in the hospital he would still come and check on me, and make sure I was alright.
Later I learned that the people ended up burning my house down with everything inside. Bean had still been alive when they lit the fire, but he was long gone now. All traces of my immediate family, but the bracelet from my mom I was wearing, and my clothes were burnt to a crisp.
After that there was a whole thing with the court. Finding a place for me to stay, since I was 16 going on 17, I was going to age out soon, and the people in my parents' will were now unable to take on a kid. Then there was the guy who I dropped a rock on. He was dead. I didn’t even mean to kill him, I just didn’t want him near me.
It ended with me being emancipated, and the ruling being self-defence.
Brett still checks on me at my super tiny apartment on the very outskirts of burbank, which is still expensive, since I do an independent highschool and got a full-time job, I’m able to pay for it. There’s also the fact that because of everything that happened the gov sends me a bit of money every month to survive.
That's pretty much where I’m at now. My grandma booked a flight back to MI, my old hometown, to come visit her. My grandpa is living in assisted living currently, so I try to visit when I can. I saved up for months for this trip. It’s my first one fully by myself, I’ve never not had one of my family members with me before.
I got all my homework done, and got time off from my job so everythings all set. Now all I have to do is finish packing, and head to the airport at 3:00 tomorrow morning.
The drive to the airport is nothing special. It’s long. Boring. And pretty dark. All the perfect things for a 17 year old to be driving in. I get my paid parking, and hop on the bus to the airport, then I skip bag check (thank you rolling videos) and make it through TSA. Now, to try and find my gate.
G7, as it turns out, was pretty close to my TSA. I was able to grab some breakfast and watch some tv before they started boarding. The guy sitting in the middle seat (I’m in the window) ended up not showing up, so me and the woman in the aisle have some more space. Then it was thirty minutes on the tarmac, and finally we took off.
I forgot to mention that I have really bad flight anxiety, but only when the plane takes off and lands. So I turn on my beats, put them on max volume, and grip the chair. It’s usually the worst during landing, so I’m not all that worried right now.
After a four hour flight (and decently handled landing anxiety), we landed in chicago, where I got to enjoy a 5 hour layover. Yayyyyy. This consists of my walking around the airport, getting a cheap lunch, sleeping, and reading the norse mythology book I brought with me to show my grandma.
The person sitting next to me isn’t there again (what kind of luck is this???) and the man, maybe in his twenties and I are free to listen to our music and use both armrests. That’s when I hear the announcement that cranks my anxiety up to a 90.
“Please note that as this is a very short 45 minute flight, the seat belt sign will be kept on for the duration of this flight. There is also expected to be some turbulence today, so please stay seated and alert the attendants if you need assistance.” Turbulence. Before we even leave the tarmac my music is already at full blast and I’m gripping the arm rests like my life depends on it. Landing is going to be a nightmare.
I don’t relax the whole flight. Each big bump has me looking around to make sure that everything is okay, and that no body else is panicking. Of course no body else is, but that doesn’t really help.
“Attention passengers, we have begun our decent.” Here we go. Once I’m able to make out the colors of the cars, and people on the streets, we hit more turbulence. Oh god, oh god, oh goddddd. I grip the armrests tighter, knuckles turning white, and my breathing getting heavier. I try to squeeze my eyes shut, but I can’t take my eyes off the rapidly approaching ground. We’re coming in way to fast. It’s usually not this fast and I know this airport, it doesn’t have long tarmacs, their like, really, really short.
Please if anyone is out there listening, God, the Universe, any of the gods please don’t let this be it, please, please please, and if it is just let it be swift. Please. I’m begging you-
“Breathe.” A soft hand touches the top of mine. I tear my eyes away from the window as we hit the ground the first time. We bounce once, and my heart lurches my eyes not even seeing the person and darting back to the window, but then we land. The hand squeezes mine, one more thing to go. We lurch forward, but the hand doesn’t let go, doesn’t protest as I squeeze it in silent prayer, almost digging my nails into it. Finally we slow to a normal, taxi speed.
“See, everything was fine.” I turn to the person, expecting to see the person in the aisle seat, but instead I’m met with someone different. Sitting in the previously empty seat.
The mysterious person, still holding my hand, smiles. He has fiery, long red hair, a long face shape, slightly pointed ears. And his eyes, it’s like their old, but still have the youthful glow about them. Wise, that's the word I’m looking for. He looks like the mythological accurate description of Loki.
We reach the gate, and he pulls his hand out of mine, and stands up, offering me a hand. I don’t know this person, but we’re still on the plane, so nothing bad can happen yet. To tight of a space, and to many people. So I take it. He helps me out of our little Aisle, and lets go as we walk towards the door. I glance around to see if anyone notices the strange newcomer, but no one remarks on it. One even says how nive it was to speak with him at the gate.
I try to shake the weird encounter as I head out past TSA’s no re-enty point, thinking I left the guy behind, when a hand grabs my arm, and I spin around ready for a fight.
“Woah there, just wanted your attention. Apologies for starting you.” It’s the guy. TSA shoots us a weird look, and not wanting to start drama I just keep walking. The guy follows.
“Is there something that you need? Sorry, no, that was rude. Thank you for your help on the plane, even though I could have sworn no one was in that seat before, thank you. However, as I am still technically a minor, I would really appreciate it if you didn’t put me in any awkward situations where I have to yell for those not-so-nice-to-pedophiles TSA women over there.” The guy has a goofy grin on his face now.
“Ah, but I believe that the question is what do you want? You are the one who called out, therefore bringing me here. So, why don’t I call for the not so nice TSA maidens and tell them that you are harassing me.” He ends it with a smirk. I don’t even know where to begin with that sentence.
“How did I bring you here? And don’t even think about the TSA threat, those maidens as you call them have known me since I was like, 4. They know I wouldn’t harass someone if it wasn’t for good measure.” It’s my turn to smirk now. The mysterious redhead considers for a moment, before making his decision.
“Alright then, I’ll answer your questions, but can we please get some coffee first? You have no idea how exhausting it is to travel worlds.” How does someone even respond to that sentence? If there’s a proper way, I do not know it.
“I’m more of a cocoa person myself.” The stranger merely rolls his eyes and we walk to the nearest coffee place. I sent my grandma a text telling her I might be a bit late, and that I met up with an old friend once I sat down at the table, waiting while he got his coffee.
“So, are you going to answer my question? Or-” He shoots me a look as a waitress brings over two cups. She sets one in front of him, and one in front of me. Peppermint cocoa? How-
“How did you know?” I look at him suspiciously as he sips his coffee, a cream mustache starts to form, but he dabs it away with a napkin.
“Not even a thank you? Pity… You mortals seem to have lost your manners.” I open and close my mouth, trying to figure out if this guy is some crazy stalker with a god complex or not. I take a sip of the cocoa, it's absolutely perfect.
“Fine, fine I’ll explain. My name is Loki Lauffyson, I am a god of Asgard. Though due to your marvel and norse hobbies I assume you already knew that. I was the one who heard your calls on the plane, and decided why not see what they're about. Now I’m here, sitting with you, drinking coffee and you're drinking that sweet abomination.” What. I choke on the cocoa, doing my best not to do a spit take or snort it out my nose.
“You- You think you’re a god? Look mister, this has been interesting to say the least, but I’ve got to get to my place, and you, probably have somewhere to be. So as… Nice as this has been, I think it’s time that we part.” This guy is a creep. I go to stand up, but he grabs my hand, his grip surprisingly firm this time.
“I can prove it.” Oh this is gonna be good. I reluctantly sit back down. He gives me a glare, before grabbing one of the spoons on the table and holding it up. It starts to float. What the shit balls. It floats over into my cocoa, where it stirs the liquid around. I wave my hand above it, but there's no strings.
“That’s-” I’m at a complete loss for words. The spoon comes out of the cup, taps the drops off, and floats it onto the table where he sets it.
“Now do you believe me?” He takes another deep sip of his coffee. I take another sip of my cocoa, trying to process what is even going on.
“Aren’t you supposed to be tied up in a mountain with poison dripping down your face?”
