After The Storm.

"Enemies Ahead," a mechanical female voice instructed from the side of Minerva and instantly on screen, showed Minerva is knocked down by Enemies. "Form up on me," against instructed the robotic voice of the game from Minerva's side.

As soon as, Kratos saw his teammate, Minerva knocked down by enemies squad, he rushed towards her and instructed in his croaked voice, "Minerva, crawl towards my direction and come out from the room." Kratos was a teenager of only eighteen years, whose voice was still transforming, so it was croaked and hoarse. But, Minerva hadn't spoken ever with her teammates in her own voice, so again the robotic voice instructed, "Enemies Ahead." But ignoring Minerva's instruction, Kratos ran into the building to revive his partner, where his other two teammates also followed him. They all could see the footprints of the enemies yet ran to save her. Minerva could realize that enemies were waiting for her teammates and the moment they would enter inside the room, they would be killed. They would lose the match.

So without finding any other choice, Minerva turned on her microphone and shouted in her silvery tone, "Don't come inside. The whole squad is waiting for you, Kratos. Let me die." The moment Kratos got the silvery voice of a teen girl, his heart skipped a beat. It was as pleasant as a melodious song. It was first time, he heard Minerva's voice. Minerva had never talked before, though he wanted to hear her voice and was really curious about her, but he had never forced her to talk. She was the best sniper of their squad, so by any chance, he didn't want to lose her.

He instantly replied, " Don't worry, Minerva. You just crawl towards the empty corner. I will throw a grenade first." Minerva followed Krato's instruction and soon she saw all enemies squad wiped out in a blink of an eye. Kratos along with Aquaman and Assasiner entered inside the room and immediately Kratos revived Minerva.

Minerva mumbled in her sweet teen voice, "Thank you, Kratos." These three words were the best complement in the world for Kratos. Kratos felt like he was ready to fight against all the enemies alone just to hear these words from her. Four of them were playing together for last two months and they had already won numerous online esports competition and won all of them in swift and professional way.  The match ended within few minutes and their screen lit up with the words, "Winner Winner Chicken Dinner."

From that day, Minerva used to talk with her teammates during the time of match and instructed them. Their team got famous in the platform of online esports. 

Kratos  could feel he had a soft corner for that girl so he used to protect her all the time, in the game. Kratos was the name of Nicolas Walker's gaming account. He was the one and only son of famous industrialist Christopher Walker who was literally the most powerful  tycoon of Los Angeles. Nicolas loved to talk to Minerva and they used to play whole night. Minerva was little shy at first but soon she started feeling comfortable with Kratos and her teammates and she knew it very well Kratos was the one who used to rescue her all the time.

It was almost three months, she was playing with her squad and she got to know many usual information about Kratos. They started behaving like friends though she hadn't shared  much about herself.

In one weekend, Minerva was playing the game with others when her mother, Rhea entered into her room with a bright smile in her face and declared happily, " Daisy dear, I have got a good news for you. Start packing your stuffs. We are moving to Los Angeles. Your father has got his promotion." Daisy's father, Henry Miller was an employee of Knight Corporation and her mother was a beautician. They were a happy upper-middle class family, used to live at Phoenix in Arizona and never faced lack of any necessary needs of life. 

The moment Daisy got the news, she immediately jumped from her bed, leaving the game in the middle and asked her mother gleefully, "Really Mom? We are moving to Los Angeles?" She was extremely excited but not only because she was going to move in a new city but also she was happy because her teammates lived in Los Angeles. She was extremely excited as she was going to meet Kratos and the rest of the team, at last. Explaining everything, when her mom left the room, she finally remembered about the game and hurriedly picked up her phone. But, surprisingly she found that she was still alive and Kratos was protecting her from every single enemy.

She turned on her microphone and in an apologetic tone, she said, "Sorry, I was talking with my mom as she came to inform me about something important."

Nicolas immediately replied, "It's alright, Minerva. As long as I am alive, none can touch you. You can trust me." Daisy giggled out and replied, " Thank you, my saviour. I will remember your help." The match ended smoothly and they won the title with 15 kills. After saying good bye, everyone was going to leave the game when suddenly Daisy asked in her sweet tone, "In which college do you all study in Los Angeles?" Her unexpected question shocked them but Nicolas replied casually, " Los Angeles City College. Why?"

Ignoring Nicolas's question, Daisy replied hastily, "Bye guys. See you soon," and went offline immediately. Drawing a little smile on his lips, Nicolas murmured, "Strange girl."

Daisy ran out from her room and headed to the hall where Henry and Rhea were packing their stuffs. Seeing Daisy, Henry called out in his husky voice, "Daisy. Come here dear. Why don't you help us in packing?" Taking huge strides, Daisy reached near her father. After little pause, Henry continued in his affectionate tone, "I know dear, it is difficult for you to move in a new city suddenly in the middle of the session. But your dad  has no choice my little girl. Are you angry with me?" "Of course not, Dad. I am extremely excited and happy for you," Daisy exclaimed happily, while packing the show pieces which were placed on the nearby racks.

Henry's face lit up with a bright smile and he replied placing his hand on Daisy's shoulder, "Thank you dear." They continued their packing till evening.

After packing, Daisy asked her father, "Dad, have you decided any college for me in Los Angeles?" Henry replied, "Yes, your mom has selected some colleges for you. Do you want to study in any particular college?" Daisy replied happily, "yes, yes. I want to admit in Los Angeles City College." Henry nodded his head positively and replied, "Alright, Let's fill up the form then." Both father and daughter spent rest of the evening in the official website of Los Angeles City College.

At last when Daisy got her admission, they completed their dinner together and headed towards bedroom little early as next day they were going to have a long day.

After lying on the bed, Daisy murmured, " My squad, I am coming to surprise you all." Then while imagining about Los Angeles, Daisy fell into deep sleep. But that poor little girl didn't even imagine how her life was going to turn upside down, in Los Angeles and what a fatal future was waiting for her.