Missing Boy

“How long have you been crouching there?”

Hesperia sprung up, crashing into Marcus as he was peering over her shoulder. The girl had drawn in the dirt a rough map of the city of Rome.

“None of your business,” Hesperia ignored the boy as he followed her, tugging lightly at her elbow, “I said, it’s none of your business! Leave me alone, and don’t ever find me again.”

“Come on, tell me what’s wrong. It’s about the house on fire, isn’t it?”

Hesperia stopped in her tracks, and swiveled around.

“Don’t you dare mention that again,” her voice was low, yet it shook ever so slightly, as she took a deep breath, “If you value you and your family’s lives.”

Marcus took a step back. This was unlike the girl who had agreed to help him steal the bread.

-

It was not before long Marcus was standing in front of the villa he had snuck in roughly a week ago.

He could feel a bitter pool of guilt churning inside his stomach, yes.

But he raised his fist nevertheless, pounding twice upon the wooden door.

-

Ever since that day when Hesperia told Marcus off, he had seemed to take it seriously, keeping out of her sights obediently. Which was not like him at all. But at least she could rest assured that whatever mess she had gotten herself into, Marcus and his family wouldn’t be dragged into it.

Hesperia swung her legs as she perched on the lowermost branch of a tree overlooking Rome just behind the Temple of Ceres. It was as radiant as it could be in the dark night. Candles that were burned in each household would flicker to life, dotting the land like the stars did upon the inky black screen of the realm of Uranus.

Sometimes, under the stars and constellations, Hesperia would imagine herself among them every now and then, talking to them and meeting the gods herself. It was already a month since she had met Marcus, and two months since she was thrown back in time. Perhaps she would one day be among the stars, with all the crazy things that had already happened to her.

Every evening, she would come up to this tree, to this branch, and reminisce about what was happening in the modern world. She missed the conveniences in life, the air conditioning, the modern plumbing systems, tissue paper, and a lot of other things of the sort. She would think about how her family was doing without her, and how they reacted when she went missing. She would pray now, at the Olympians high above, and pray for guidance for her little brother, whom Hesperia was sure would be struggling through his studies. It would make the girl chuckle for a while.

And then when she finished her prayers, she would return to the secret underground room behind the temple, and close her eyes until the next morning when Sabina would arrive to wake her up.

But apparently this was not every evening, nor would she return to her underground bedroom tonight.

-

To say that Marcia was worried was too much of an understatement. Her breath was shallow, her lips trembling and her eyes were red and puffy. Marcia had found Hesperia where Hesperia always was, in the tree gazing up into the heavens.

“Hes-hesperia!” Marcia’s voice was wobbly, “Have you seen Marcus?”

Hesperia furrowed her eyebrows. Wasn’t he supposed to be back in his apartment already, the sun being almost down? He couldn’t have been caught, Hesperia had made sure no one else, not even Sabina knew of Marcus’ involvement.

“I haven’t seen him in two days. I told him to stay away from me, and he did.”

Marcia nodded, but Hesperia noticed the faint trickle of tears that slid slowly down Marcia’s cheeks.

“Hey,” Hesperia patted the other’s back, “We’re going to find him. I promise.”

“When?” Marcia sniffled.

Hesperia tugged up the ends of her own lips, trying to appear as optimistic as she could no matter how unsure she was about finding Marcus.

“When? Now, of course.”

-

The two girls sneaked along the dim torch-lit roads as the blanket of blackness was draped over the world. They were as careful as they could be, with dark cloaks drawn over their backs and hoods pulled over their heads. Hesperia had handed Marcia one of her two sacrificial daggers, both of which she got from Sabina, who in turn had sneaked two out of the temple. Hesperia remembered asking if that would have been a bad idea, but Sabina had reassured her that the other priestesses would not notice.

Puddles covered the ground, leaving Hesperia and Marcia to avoid them as not to make sloshing sounds that would alarm the patrolling soldiers.

“Where are we going?” Marcia looked better now, her eyes gleaming with a newfound excitement that reminded Hesperia of her twin Marcus.

“Marcia, look at me.” Hesperia had led her into a dark corner where she hoped no one could overhear them. “I have my suspicions of where he might be,” Hesperia bit her lip, not sure how Marcia would handle her deductions, “I think that he is now held under the Julii’s household.”

“WHAT?” Marcia clapped her hands over mouth, but it was too late. Her voice was carried through the empty streets, and Hesperia heard the none-too-familiar sound of boots, this time splashing through water. There was a couple of vines dangling off of the wall nearby, just enough to fit one person. Hesperia shoved Marcia under them.

“Hey!” Marcia hissed, “What about you? You need to hide, too.” She made to move out, but was pushed back under.

“You have your four younger siblings to care for right now. Plus, you were innocent. You should not take the responsibility.” Hesperia didn’t wait for Marcia to reply as she walked back into the lit streets.

It was not before long Hesperia had found the men who were, well, finding her. She took off her hood, and to both Hesperia’s and their surprise, the two men were the same ones who had confronted her in the alleyway. And they recognized her as well.

Hesperia gave them a lop-sided grin she hoped to be taunting, and did the only thing that she could. Run.