gold rush

Flames enveloped their homes.

She could practically feel heat flicker against her skin almost as if she stood next to the flames. It was torture. To hear the screams of pain, to hear the people she promised to protect die in pain, die fighting with one another.

It wasn’t her battle, she reminded herself about Ajax's words.

It was years later since she had returned to her family, once again defeating deviants side by side with those she loved.

Phastos with his powerful wit and even stronger dedication to help others.

Thena and her fierce determination, the only Eternal to truly listen to her thoughts and self doubt when no one else would.

Gilgamesh who was created to defend and protect, the same person she’d go to when she wanted a shoulder to lay on.

Sprite with her energetic personality that could fill a room with laughter.

Kingo and his strong sense of self confidence, who helped her find something similar within herself.

Ajax, the only eternal to have the ability to not only heal the body, but heal the mind with her soothing words and comforting embrace.

Sweet Makkari, who can run faster than the speed of sound but would slow down to be with the people she loves.

Ikaris, who although made it difficult to get to know him, made up for it with his unwavering faith and loyalty towards those he cared for.

Sersi who managed to turn Ikaris’ heart from stone into gold without her powers of matter manipulation.

And Druig. 

Heavens, she could talk about him for hours.

He was like a storm, unexpected, loud. Falling for him was as if falling from the skies until your bones crushed and she hated it. The aching need in her soul to feel his touch, clutching onto the feeling she felt of their fingers intertwined on that starry night hundreds of years ago.

How she hesitated to let go, to pull away from him. She was drawn to him and couldn’t do anything to stop it. 

“Where are the others?” Ajax questioned the few Eternals that surrounded her whilst Makkari and Thena made their way to the group.

A handful of Eternals were scattered across the globe, in an attempt to wipe out the remaining deviants that prowled the earth. The forest they currently stood in was illuminated by the flickering flames of the buildings nearby, muffled sounds of pain and death as she attempted to focus on the people in front of her.

It’s just a forest, she thought. 

It should be the place she’d feel the most herself given her abilities with nature but she couldn’t help the need to go to the villagers and help them, it was as if she had an itch she couldn’t scratch, it took everything in her power to stop her from helping those who needed her help.

She watched helplessly as they massacred one another, sounds of bullets cutting through the air before piercing someone’s flesh. The smell of death continued to strengthen as flesh was torn, blood splattered onto the ground and was soaked up by the dirt. She swore she felt the forest around her cry out helplessly begging for her to stop the damage that had been done as if the forest itself had been wounded.

She had built a bond with the very Earth she stood on, becoming one with the oceans, skies, and the roots in the ground that held onto the trees tightly, keeping them grounded. She’d continue to longingly look at the crowd, unable to heal the feeling of her heart being torn into two, the goddess of human love reduced to nothing.

She had failed them.

She had failed the little girl she’d sworn to protect the first time she stood on this very earth.

She hadn’t realised she wasn’t the only eternal to feel the same way.

“This isn’t war, it’s genocide!” Druig spat out in anger, fingers curled into a fist as he attempted to contain his emotions. 

“Their weapons have become too deadly.” Druig paused, glancing at Phastos before continuing his rant, shrugging off Ajax’s grip on his arm. “Maybe it wasn’t such a good idea helping them advance.” Druig suggested, wanting to pinpoint the blame on someone. He glanced at every Eternal that listened to his words, cautiously avoiding her gaze.

He had to blame something, someone. Because it wasn’t fair, it wasn’t fair to him to have the abilities to stop the brutal murders from occurring, only to be instructed to sit back and watch mankind kill themselves.

He mourned, he mourned those who had already been killed and those who soon will be, simply because he couldn’t save them. Druig’s grief weighed down on his shoulders, within a blink of an eye he could have all these people under his will, there would be no more fighting, no more war.

No more killing. 

It trapped him, he hated feeling helpless. He despised knowing he had the power to solve everything but couldn’t, why would Arishem force him to experience such torture?

She stayed silent as the two bickered, incapable of staring at anything but the massacre in front of her.

When will all the killing end? She thought.

“It’s too late.” Thena interrupted, voice lacking emotion. 

“Thena?” She reached out to grab Thena’s hand to gain her attention, standing beside the Eternal. 

“You okay?” She asked, softly.

“Everyone is going to die.” Thena’s monotonous voice stated.

Thena’s eyes flickered a shade of gold before turning white, she could barely acknowledge the weapon Thena conjured until it was aimed at her. Blade piercing into her skin without warning, she gasped in shock, clutching her open wound as she felt her clothes soak up the blood that began to seep through.

Thena twisted the weapon in her hand, once again aiming for the Eternal. Within seconds the injured Eternal found herself laying on the ground, far away from the group. Makkari gently laid her down in a way to avoid the wound before speeding away back to stop Thena from hurting the rest of the group. She winced as she put pressure on the bloodied wound, attempting to sit up as she heard hurried footsteps make their way towards her, Sersi had rushed her way towards the Eternal and helped her up as Ajax attempted to stop Thena.

It was sudden. The blade that went through Ajax before Gilgamesh appeared.

He was the only one that would be able to put up a fight with her. If Thena was created to destroy, then Gilgamesh was created to protect. They kept each other in balance, matching the other’s moves perfectly, always in harmony.

If people were truly destined to be with another person, names written in the stars before you were ever born. Then Thena and Gilgamesh must’ve been the product of that, soulmates. 

Made for one another.

Ajax hurriedly made her way towards the injured Eternals, attempting to heal them before more became injured. She graciously thanked Ajax as she felt her wound heal itself. If it wasn’t for the blood on her clothes, no one would’ve known she had just been stabbed.

“Are they okay?” Kingo breathed out, exhausted from the running as he made his way to the trio. Ajax nodded in response before their attention made its way back to the couple.

“Thena please, come back to us.” Gilgamesh begged. She could just about hear, before the fight  continued once again, the glow of Thena’s weapons illuminated the small section of the forest that they stood in.

A loud thud was heard before Thena fell to the ground.

It was a while later, the Eternals found themselves surrounded by a table that Thena laid on, staring at the Eternal in grief. 

Almost as if they were mourning, grieving for someone who is still here.

They waited anxiously for her to regain consciousness.

“I thought Mahd Wy’ry was a myth.” Sersi whispered after Ajax explained what had happened to Thena. 

She was leaning against the wall, next to Druig who stood with his arms crossed, a stoic impression on his face as he listened to the conversation. She knew that although he hadn’t said anything, his mind must be racing. Ajax continued to heal the rest of the Eternals from the injuries that were just obtained.

“There is no cure, so no one really talks about it.” Phastos explained, glancing back at Thena despairingly.

Seconds later, Thena awoke.

“What happened?” She croaked.

“Thena, you attacked everyone.” Ajax began, cautiously approaching Thena. 

The quieter Eternal spoke up from beside Druig. 

“You wounded Phastos and I, and nearly killed Makkari.” She explained softly before Ajax continued to speak, looking at Thena apologetically.

Thena looked around, panicked. Her eyes fell to the way Phastos clutched the side of his torso where the injury was, she could see the blood on his clothes as well as Makkaris, shaking her head in disbelief.

“I don’t- I don’t remember.”

“You have Mahd Wy’ry, your mind is fracturing under the weight of your memories.” Ajax paused briefly, laying a hand on Thena’s shoulder in an attempt to comfort her.

“All I can do is erase them so that you can start over. I will have to inform Arishem and take you back to the ship where we have the technology to help you.” She continued, voice softening as she explained the process.

Makkari interrupted, stating that Thena wouldn’t be herself anymore if that happened.

“What if it happens again? She could’ve killed you, she could’ve killed all of us.” Kingo argued, recalling how just an hour ago a majority of the Eternals were injured and bleeding at the hands of Thena.

“Please.” Thena begged.

“Please, I- I want to remember, I want to remember my life.” She pleaded, eyes glistening with the tears that began to fall.

As Ajax continued to comfort Thena, she couldn’t help but let her eyes gaze outside, the flames that still burned, hours later. It was difficult for her to tune out the cries for help from the villagers below.

She recalled Ajax’s words from years ago.

“Their fate is now in your hands.”

How can they let the humans continue to kill each other, they were brought to Earth to protect them, suddenly recalling the conversation she had with Druig weeks ago.

“According to Sprite, they’ve now begun to call me the Goddess of human love and flowers.” She let out a laugh. Druig stood beside her, amusement written on his face as she created flower crowns without using her abilities. She sat against the window of the Domo on the ledge beside it.

He watched as her fingers fumbled with the flowers before taking one out of her grasp, she jokingly rolled her eyes in return, shaking her head.

“They’ve begun to call you Antheia, you know.” He chuckled softly, ocean blue eyes staring out of the window, admiring the view below the domo whilst gently twirling the stem in between his calloused fingers.

She was in awe of his every move, breathing him in as if she’d blink and he’d suddenly disappear. Her eyes fell to his hands remembering the way his hand moulded into hers when their fingers intertwined on that unforgettable night. 

She yearned to reach out and hold his hand once more, rushing to move her gaze to somewhere else as she realized he had said something.

“What?” She questioned “But that’s not even close to my true name?” Gazing at him in confusion, eyebrows furrowed as she watched his fingers brush against the individual petals.

She watched as he carefully traced the edges of the petals, so gentle that one wouldn’t assume that he is the same Eternal that can control the minds of thousands. 

“It means flower, my love. Personally I think it’s quite fitting.” He paused, handing the flower to her, fingers grazing against her own, an unreadable expression on his face.

“Wouldn’t you agree?”

Druig suddenly spoke, snapping her out of her thoughts. 

“Why should she trust you?” He questioned, beginning to make this way to the doorway. “You’re asking her to let you erase who she is.”

“Druig, I know you’re upset but-” Ajax was cut off.

“Upset?” He shouted, she glanced at the two, wondering whether she should intervene.

“We’ve trusted you for 7,000 years and look where you’ve gotten us.” He exclaimed.

The Eternals watched in silence, wondering what was about to occur.

“I’ve watched humans destroy each other when I could stop it all in a heartbeat. Do you know what that does to someone after centuries?” 

Yes, she wanted to answer. 

“Could our mission have been a mistake? Are we really helping these people build a better world?” Druig questioned.

She saw tears escape from his eyes before he quickly turned away to face the outside, the flames continued to burn as humans continued to kill each other. The distant sounds of helpless screaming became deafening as the room fell into silence.

“We’re just like the soldiers down there.” Druig scoffed, back facing the rest of the Eternals.

“Pawns to their leaders, blinded by loyalty.”

“It ends now.” Druig demanded.

Within seconds the screaming stopped, she could just about hear the sound of metal dropping onto the ground as the soldiers silenced.

Druig was forcefully pushed against the wall by Ikaris, not phased by his Ikaris’ anger.

“Let them go.” Ikaris demanded.

“You’re going to have to make me.” Druig cockily responded.

“Druig’s right.” She whispered, causing all eyes to fall on her.

“What?” Ikaris questioned in disbelief.

She made her way towards the doorway, glancing at Ajax.

“The day we arrived here you told me something I never forgot. That their fate is in our hands now.” She pointed at the people below in emphasis.

“Since then I’ve wondered, if their fate is in our hands why are we told to sit still and watch as they kill one another?” She questioned, voice wavering as she swallowed her emotions, she couldn’t allow herself to cry now.

“How can you instruct us to be idle as humanity destroys itself? Maybe we aren’t the heroes we’ve been painted out to be.” She concluded, anxiously glancing around the room to see her family look at her in disbelief, in disappointment.

The tears began to fall.

Ikaris towered over Druig, hands balled into a fist before Ajax interrupted.

“Stop.” Ajax demanded, pulling Ikaris’ hand off Druig, Ikaris backed off, walking away from Druig.

“If you want to stop me, you’re going to have to kill me.” Druig announced stoically, before turning his back on the Eternals and walking down the steps and away from the rest of the Eternals. The villagers waited for him at the end of the steps, parting for him as he made his way through the crowd, before following him into the depths of the forest.

She held her breath as she watched him walk away, unable to pull her eyes away until his figure disappeared in the distance, glancing back at the rest of the Eternals she let out a shaky breath, hands trembling as she realised what had happened.

Druig is gone.

He left.

She couldn’t bring herself to move her body, she wanted to leave, to follow him, her body stuck in the place near the doorway. Half inside the room and the other outside of the doorway her arm brushing against Ajax’s as Ajax made her way to the centre of the room. 

“I’ll watch over Thena, let her keep her memories.” Gilgamesh decided.

“One day when she attacks you, you might have to kill her.” Ajax simply stated. Gilgamesh glanced over at Thena, eyes gazing into her own, smiling softly before looking back at Ajax.

“We’ll take that chance.”

There was a somber pause in the room, the sounds of the flames from outside could be heard as the room stood in silence.

“You may all go.” Ajax pronounced, causing all eyes to look at her in disbelief.

“The deviants are gone, there is no reason for you to stay with me.” 

“Shouldn’t you ask Arishem first?” Ikaris intervened.

“I didn’t ask you for your advice, Ikaris.” Ajax interrupted.

Ajax glanced around the room solemnly.

“This is where we say goodbye, you are free to go and live a life for yourselves, not as soldiers.” 

“One day, when we see each other again, I want you to tell me what you’ve found.” Ajax admitted softly.

She couldn’t tell how long she’s been treading for.

It must’ve been a while, she assumed, due to the ache in her legs, but she couldn’t stop.

As soon as the rest of the Eternals parted ways she found herself aimlessly walking, stuck in the thoughts in her head as she made her way through the forest.

Her family was split up.

She was free to live her own life, no longer a soldier who’s self-worth depended on her special abilities. 

She replayed the moments in her head, forcing herself to relive the moment the Eternals split up and Druig left.

Forcing herself to remember the disappointment written on their faces as she agreed to what Druig had said, she had only said how she felt yet they were disappointed in her.

She hadn’t realized she’d stumble upon the same villagers Druig walked away with, glancing up in confusion as she had bumped into someone. In front of her was a crowd, a crowd that were eerily silent, navigating their way through the forest in the dark with ease.

“Druig…” she muttered in realisation, attempting to force herself through the crowd to get to the front, she had to see him. She grunted as she pushed past the crowds, wanting to apologise for shoving past only to realise they wouldn’t hear as she recognised the gold glow of their eyes. 

“Druig!” She called out as she saw his figure in the sea of bodies, he froze, which allowed her to make her way to him. Druig turned as he heard her footsteps rushing towards him, he could recognise her just by the way she walked towards him.

She was exhausted, wanting nothing more but to lay down, but she forced herself to sped up as Druig made his way towards her.

She fell into his arms, body giving up due to exhaustion, body pressed against his own as he held her up.

Druig sighed in relief as his arms wrapped around her torso, eyes closed, resting his chin at the top of her head. She felt his arms tighten around her as let out another shaky breath. She opened her mouth to speak only for the words to get stuck in her throat, he hesitantly pulled away from her to take a look at her, waiting for her to say what’s on her mind.

He couldn’t believe she was with him, she made her way to him, even after what had happened.

“You can't just- it wasn’t fair for you-” she stumbled upon her words, he nodded, unable to stop the smile appearing on his face as she stumbled over her words, pulling her back in for another embrace.

“I know.” He responded, nodding his head in response to what she had tried to say.

“I don’t think there’s anywhere I’d rather be, other than by your side.” She confessed.

Druig felt his heart stutter in his chest, wondering whether she could’ve heard his heart skip a beat as she pressed her cheek against his chest. 

He wondered whether her lips tasted as sweet as the words she had just spoken to him were. He felt dizzy as he leaned away from her, watching the frown form on her face before he gently held her face in the palms of his hands, pulling her face closer towards his. Her eyes fluttered shut in realisation, he could just about see the skin beneath his fingers turn a shade of pink. 

She felt his lips hesitantly hover over her own causing her patience to disappear, leaning up, hands on his shoulders for balance, before pressing her lips against his own.

Druig felt a weight lifted off his shoulders, he felt drunk, intoxicated by the taste of her. The feeling of her body pressed up against his, and god did he want more, he wanted it all, he wanted her. Every touch, every kiss healed him, he felt as though she healed every broken part of him, every part that had weighed him down, made him doubt himself.

Her lips were soft against his own, Druig lost himself in the taste of her, wanting more and more until he got sick of it. But as he felt her arms wrap around her neck to pull him he knew he never would.

He poured everything he wanted to say in the kiss, all the words that got lost in translation, everything he wanted to say but couldn’t, he poured his soul into the kiss, wanting her to know how enamored he is by her.

She’s waited centuries for this, for him.

The man she had spent hundreds of years in love with, finally in her arms. She felt as though it was a dream, she’d wake up and be in the Domo, still pining over the Eternal she believed didn’t love her back.

“Wait-“ she paused, pulling away from him.

His brows furrowed in confusion as she stepped out of his arms, following her gaze that was pointed towards the villagers that stood around them. To her relief she could see the gold in their irises.

“C’mon, let’s go home.” He offered her his hand to which she took gratefully, the two making their way through the forest together, hand in hand, as the villagers followed them into the depths of the amazon forest.