‘Ragnarök the final battle of the gods and giants that ended the world of man and god’ Syn read the beginning of the chapter however was suddenly interrupted by the announcement emerging from the speaker in the corner of the classroom. School was finished. He placed his book on Norse mythology in his bag, said his goodbyes to everyone he called friend and left the classroom.

Syn walked home from his school for the final time, today marked his GCSE’s complete and his final day of school. Enjoying the wind that blew around Liverpool, he walked through quiet streets, purposefully choosing to avoid any many roads when he could, he preferred the extra silence over the few minutes he’d save. After twenty minutes he made it home. He unlocked the door and entered his house; it wasn’t large, and his physical size sometimes made it a little difficult to get around, but he had his own room and therefore couldn’t complain.

“I’m Back” he called out to the house but there was no reply. ‘They must still be out’. He lived with grandparents, well at least ever since his parents died when he was five. He could remember his father but for some reason anytime he tried to remember his mother his mind felt cloudy and would start to ache. He eventually stopped trying. Syn took off his shoes at the door, catching a glance of himself in the mirror on the wall, the wind had dishevelled his black hair. He pushed his long hair out his face allowing it to flow behind his ears with the Norse style braids at the side of his head, his mother apparently liked, stopping it from falling back over his face and the one black, long strand he liked still hanging over his ice blue eyes. Satisfied with his appearance, he then made his way up the stairs, which were pretty much instantly in your face when you entered, the stairs where on the right while the hallway to living room and kitchen travelled beside it on the left. Syn’s room was the first door you saw once you got upstairs right beside the bathroom. As soon as he entered his room he let his bag fall to the ground and he sat on his bed. A long sigh escaped his mouth as he finally accepted he was finished with school and now just had to wait for his results and pretend the tiny fear in the corner of his mind that he could’ve failed didn’t exist. But didn’t every kid do that. He hoped they did or that was just another thing that made him different.

He got changed out his uniform and was putting on some more comfortable clothes when the table beside his wardrobe caught his eye. On the table sat a display of photo’s showing him as a child with his grandparents and some even with his dad but none with his mum. Leaving the photos behind him he emptied his bag and then walked over the small bookshelf that ran under his bedroom window. It was filled mostly with books of mythology and legends from all around the world. He placed his Norse mythology book back into its spot and grabbed out a book on Greek mythology before heading back downstairs. Syn entered the kitchen and filled the kettle with water before switching it on and leaning comfortably against the counter. As the kettle sung and steam rose into the kitchen air, Syn pulled his phone from his pocket. Seeing he had notifications in the group chat, that he shared with his friends, he clicked on it. A chuckle escaped his mouth as he read through the messages. It hadn’t even been an hour since school ended but they were already organising when they’d meet up. He happily agreed to everyone’s plans and put his phone away as a sharp click behind him indicated the water had finished boiling. Grabbing a mug from the rack besides the kettle he quickly made a cup of tea and went and sat in the living room making sure to place the mug on a coaster, so his nan didn’t kill him. Taking a sip of hot tea he sunk into the couch and began reading ‘Damn Zeus liked to get it on’. The sound of the door opening echoed through the house. The voices of his grandparents soon followed. Suddenly a behemoth of a man with a wild white beard and bald head wandered into the living room practically having to duck beneath the doorframe before taking a seat in his armchair that was placed right infront of the TV. Syn’s grandad was one of the only people he knew bigger than him standing at six and a half feet tall. He originated from the isles of Greece where he then came to England and met Syn’s grandmother.

“How was your last day?” he asked while turning on the TV and putting on the news. Despite living in Liverpool for over twenty years he’d never lost the accent of his homeland nor had his skin tone ever paled despite the United kingdom’s weather.

“It went fast which was good and also was only a half day which is a bonus” Syn told his grandfather. Syn didn’t know about other places, but in Liverpool any kids in year eleven finished once they completed all their GCSE tests they were done, and Syn only had a test in the morning and therefore could finish before lunch.

“Well that’s good” the kind voice of his grandmother resonated from the living room door. A small woman with short curly hair wandered in, well Syn always thought of her as short but that was just compared to him and his grandad, his nan was actually above the average height.

“Syn I bought a lot of those oven pizza’s and things you like” She told him with a smile “Since you’ll be here a lot more now I doubt you’d want cook every meal”.

“Thanks nan” Syn replied. His nan then left to the kitchen to stock the fridges and Syn turned to TV while continuing to drink his tea. He then heard his grandad mumble in distaste.

“What’s happened?” Syn asked.

“Two stabbings last night”.

“Where about?”

“Just outside the city centre” he informed him. The news continued and then commented about the thunderstorm that happened last night that shocked him.

“Four people struck by lightning in one night” Syn stated surprised.

His granddad grunted “All killed as well, Zeus must be enraged”.

“Zeus?” Syn questioned his shock suddenly replaced by confusion “One why Zeus we’re in England and two who even says that in the modern day” Syn grinned.

A thin smile emerged on his grandad’s “Old habit”. ‘Old habit’ Syn’s face creased but he quickly shrugged it off, his grandfather often said confusing things and he’d learn to just ignore them. He quickly finished his tea before it went cold and went to the kitchen to wash his mug. His nan had finished stocking the fridge and was placing the bags back into the cub-board.

“Are you hungry?” she asked him “It’s about the time you’d usually have lunch”.

“Nah I’m alright” he told her “I’ll eat something later”. After washing and drying the mug he then placed it back on the mug rack beside the kettle.

“What’s your plans for the rest of the day?” she asked.

“Just going to relax, might play some games online later if my friends are on” he told her. He then returned to his room and laid on his bed relaxing when his phone suddenly vibrated. A grin appeared on his face as he saw his friends telling him to ‘get on the game with them’. He spent the next couple hours playing games with his friends and eating one of the meat-feast oven pizza his nan bought him. By the time he was finished playing the sky had darkened and just like the night before another thunderstorm had emerged from nowhere. Rain battered his window, and the wind shook the house as it howled like a wolf. Ignoring it Syn turned on his TV that was opposite his bed and put on a film only then realising he’d forgot to buy snacks on the way home from school. Letting out an annoyed sigh he left his room and walked downstairs. Putting on his black trainers he popped his head into the living room.

“Just going the shop need me to grab anything?” he asked his grandparents.

“You’re going out in that thunderstorm?” his nan asked worried.

“I’m only going the corner shop across the road, I’ll be fine” he told her.

“We’re low on sugar if you don’t mind picking some up” she told him.

“Sugar got it, grandad do you need anything?”.

“Crisp”.

“I won’t be long” Syn nodded. He grabbed his coat from the rack under the stairs and walked out into the storm. Instantly the wind grabbed hold of him, and the rain attacked him, the weight of his coat practically doubling as it was layered with water. He jogged across the road, not wanting to be in the rain longer than he needed to, the sky flashing white as he crossed. Thunder then boomed across the sky as he entered the shop. ‘That was almost instant. Must be close’. He got his grandad his crisp, got the sugar his nan requested and then spent more money than he’d like to admit on a collection of sweets and crisp for himself. After the shopkeeper placed everything in a bag he said his thanks and re-entered the storm. Instantly lightning struck once again, and thunder followed almost immediately. ‘I should get home’. After making sure it was safe he ran across the road. Reaching his house he opened the door and was about to enter when he heard a scream. An extremely panicked scream. He stared off in the direction where he’d just heard it and suddenly the scream came again. Syn gave a glance the worsening storm and sighed to himself as he placed the bag on the counter beside the door before shutting it. He knew this was a bad idea but when had that ever stopped him. He set off towards where he heard the scream.