"Thalia, breakfast."
Nothing. No "Ugh, coming, Mother," or "I'm not hungry," or any of that. I knocked. Still no reply. So I grabbed the doorknob and pulled. Locked. I sighed angrily, and then banged on the door.
"Open the door, you little brat! Look, I'm sorry about Jason, ok? I'm sorry he's gone. I'm sorry we didn't look for him as much. I'm sorry I yelled at you for calling the police. I'm sorry I said you betrayed me. I'm sorry we argued. I'm sorry for everything. I'm sorry."
I didn't even notice the tears rolling down my cheeks. But Thalia still didn't answer me. I wasn't even mad. More sad than mad. So I went to my room, changed, did my make-up, grabbed my keys and went outside. I was about to open the door to my car when I spotted something white streaming down my daughter's bedroom window; tied up bed sheets. I choked back a gasp. But that's impossible, I thought, she's afraid of heights. I whipped open my cellular phone and, with trembling fingers, dialed 9-1-1. Five minutes later two fire trucks and a police car pulled up. Two of the firefighters brought me up onto the ladder. I ignored the firefighter next to me, who kept asking me if I was really the one lady he saw on his daughter's favorite TV show. When we reached the window I gingerly peered inside, and to my horror, the room was empty. Even Aegis, Thalia's favorite gift from Zeus, was not on her desk, where it usually was. My daughter, my only remaining child, my jewel, was gone. She had run away, perhaps dead by now. My eyes welled up, and tears flooded out of my eyes.
"THALIA!"
"What was your name again?"
I sighed. Luke was really annoying.
"Thalia."
He grinned. "Oh, yeah, I forgot!"
"For the fourth time?"
"Yup."
Luke scratched his head. "And you're sure your mom is ok with you leaving her?"
I swallowed. "Yeah, I'm sure."
"Ok, cool! Let's go!"
I walked behind Luke, because I didn't want him to see me cry.