Bella's POV
I closed my eyes, slowly. Knowing Edward would like to know that I'm at least trying to fall asleep. At the same time, I didn't want to. Because the nightmares would come back. They only started yesterday. Yet, I'm getting so much information. I've been too scared to tell anyone. I didn't want them to freak, or if they'll leave me on the streets. I doubt that'll ever happen, but. I want to avoid it at all costs.
Over the day, I've been getting visions. Of what looks like my past. And I'm scared of it, all I know is that I have a brother. And, we've been to scary places, it would be dark and cold. Sometimes I'd get a different memory, like one with another boy, named Percy. Or a girl, Annabeth. Maybe even a sister I found out I had, named Banica. But, that's all I know. Is that I have siblings named Nico and Banica, and friends named Percy and Annabeth. I don't know anything else.
But, I know their visions. Because they all just seem so... real. And, they sometimes include me too. Like, even though I've only seen this memory for the first time, I know what to say. It's very strange. And I don't like strange.
"Go to sleep Bella." Edward whispered, and that seemed to do the trick. I felt the darkness surrounding me as another memory came.
I was staring at Percy. He was trying to explain something.
"You promised you would protect her," Nico said. I stared at Percy,
"Nico," He said. "I tried. But Bianca gave herself up to save the rest of us. I told her not to. But she-"
"You promised!" Nico glared at him. I put a hand on Nico, ignoring the tears rolling down my cheeks. "I shouldn't have trust you." His voice broke. "you lied to me. My nightmares were right!"
"Wait. What nightmares?" I asked, concern dipping into my voice. He flung the god statue to the ground. It clattered across the icy marble.
"I hate you!"
"She might be alive," Percy said desperately. "I don't know for sure-"
"She's dead." He closed his eyes. His whole body trembled with rage. "I should've known it earlier. She's in the Fields of Asphodel, standing before the judges right now, being evaluated. I can feel it."
"What do you mean, you can feel it?" I asked. Before he could answer, I heard a new sound behind me. A hissing, clattering noise. Percy drew his sword and Nico gasped. He spun around and saw four skeleton warriors. They grinned fleshless grins and advanced with swords drawn. I wasn't sure how they'd made it inside the camp, but it didn't matter. I'd never get help in time.
"You're trying to kill me!" Nico screamed. "You brought these...these things?"
"No! I mean, yes, they followed me, but no! Bella, get Nico outta here! They can't be destroyed." Percy said shoving Nico away, trying to save him.
"C'mon Nico." I said taking his hand although he pushed both Percy and I aside.
"I don't trust you!" He screamed.
I didn't see the rest, everything seemed to bubble out and fade away. And that was when another one came up, I don't like this. I don't like any of this.
I was in a casino, sitting next to Banica and Nico. We were having fun. We were having too much fun. A man stood close to us, wearing a black suit. Just standing there. I started up at him, the happiness starting to wear off. Now I was getting suspicious.
"C'mon Bella!" Nico said happily taking my hand and pulling me over to another game. I kept having the strange feeling, that we were missing something big.
"What year is it again?" I asked I asked the man for the third time today. The man signed and looked down at me, his glasses sliding off his nose a little.
"1949." It was the same answer ever time, but that didn't stop my cautious self take over. Bianca stared at me in confusion although turned back to our little brother, helping him win the game that he had become so attached to over the past hours. I pulled Bianca over.
"Just going to the bathroom," I called to the man, who had already placed a hand on my shoulder. His grip loosened and I continued around the corner. I pulled Bianca out in front of me, so we were facing each other in the dark hallway.
"What's wrong?" She asked, concern dipping into her voice.
"I feel like we're missing something, something big. Like... I dunno, but time seems to just fly by here." I frowned. I was smart enough to notice, I was no more than 14 when we first entered the casino. But I had a very observaint eye.
"More lotus flowers?" A woman asked sweetly.
"No thanks," I said.
The image stopped moving after that. It all faded away and
I was sitting in a hotel, with Nico, Bianca, what I thought was my mother and father. They looked peaceful. Well, not really. But, my parents looked like nothing I would've imagined. My father was deathly pale, pale and skinny. I didn't have time to study my mother before my father spoke, bringing my attention back onto him.
"You don't know my family." My father said darkly. "Please, Maria, I can't lose you." I glanced at Nico, he looked younger than my other vision. This must be before the casino.
She touched his lips with her fingers. "You will not lose me. Wait for me while I get my purse. Watch the children." She said. She kissed the lord of the dead and rose from the sofa. My father watched her walk upsatairs as if every step away caused him pain. A moment later, he tense. We stopped playing, we could sense something too.
"No!" My father said, but he was too slow. A black frame held us close together so the explosion wouldn't hurt us. I couldn't see what was going on, I didn't want to. I covered my ears with my hands and shut my eyes, bringing my two younger siblings closer. I could hear my father shouting and cursing. I could feel a death, a painful one, leaving her body. My mother, her soul passing from this life to the next. She was dead. I opened my eyes in a flash, terrified. Only to see a girl infront of us, my father started chanting a curse under his breath in what I recall was Ancient Greek.
I sat up gasping for breath. Edward's arms wrapped around me.
"Are you okay?" He asked urgently.
"Yeah." I muttered. "Fine, just a nightmare." I was trying to reassure Edward and myself.
"You were talking in your sleep." He said frowning. "You said names. Nico, Percy, Banica. Who are they?" Have to come up with a lie, have to come up with a lie!
"They're nothing. They don't mean anything." I looked up at him, he opened his mouth to object although I kissed him before he had a chance. He pulled back. "What time is it?" I asked suddenly.
"5:47." He replied frowning.
"You should go get ready for school." I whispered patting his cheek, before getting out of bed and walking out the door. I glanced back and saw my bed empty. I sighed, knowing I won't be able to keep this lie away from them. They all have their ways of making people speak. I changed and went downstairs, making my breakfast. Charlie must've left. The house was silent. I ate my cereal in silence. I want my brother, I want him to explain to me what's going on. Or my father. I need someone, someone who'll understand. I sighed again as I put the bowl in the sink.
"Um..." I started looking at the ceiling. "Nico, brother. If you can hear me, well. I just wanted to say that I need you. I'm lost and confused. Can you help me?" It's not like I was expecting an answer, but I sighed again when I didn't hear one. I turned back to look at the driveway. Edward should be here soon. I grabbed my bag and waited in the kitchen. I heard the door open, Edward was here. He needs to learn how to knock. A cold hand wrapped around my hand. I looked up, Edward was standing over me. It's time for school already?
"Let's go." He said gently leading me out of my house. "Are you okay?"
"What?" I asked turning my attention to him as he held the car door opened for me.
"I asked if you were okay." He replied closing the door and sitting in the driver's seat. "You seem very off today, is everything alright?"
"Yeah, I'm good." I said, my voice turned hoarse. "Guess I'm just nervous for the tests." He sighed in relief.
"Good." He said, he actually sounded like my lie was believeable. "I thought it was something worse." He leaned over and kissed my head gently. His cold lips shocking my head. We made it to the classes easily, the next time I had another vision, was during lunch.
"All right, enough!" Percy closed his eyes, trying to think about something. I stared at him intently, waiting for my instructions. "The Holland Tunnel. Jake, take the Hephaestus cabin there. Use Greek fire, set traps. Whatever you've got." He grinned.
"Gladly. We've got a score to settle. For Beckendorf!" The whole cabin roared in approval. I placed my hand on Percy's shoulder.
"I'll help them." I said, "I don't know, maybe zombies on fire will be a lot more useful." I grinned and shrugged. Percy nodded and Jake clapped his hand on my back, smearing oil on my camp shirt.
The image faded away quickly, and I was back at lunch. Edward and Alice were talking reguarly, as if nothing had just happened to me. They were speaking the same conversation that they were talking about when I first left. Guess I wasn't that long. The bell rung and we left for Biology. We got our tests and started. I was only in the middle of the test when another vision came to me.
"I'll need someone to cover for me while I'm bring the dead up, alright!" I said as we walked toward the tunnel. "It takes a lot of work to do that."
"Okay." Jake said. "I'll have Sam watch over you." A 14-year-old boy walked up to me. Jake leaned closer to me and whispered, "Don't worry, he's a lot tougher than he looks." We made it to the tunnel and the cabin started setting up when the first wave of monsters came up.
"Sam!" I shouted, he ran over to me, carrying what looked like a hammer. I started immedeately when Sam got into a defensive position in front of me. I chanted a helpful phrase which might help me rise the dead. Rising the dead takes a lot of work. The ground split opened and the dead started to crawl up, traps sprang everywhere and I fell to the ground. I used up too much energy. I grabbed the extra Ambrosia in my pocket and shoved it in my mouth. I got up just as quickly, taking my knife out, looking around to see who needs help. There was a little girl, 8 years-old by the looks of it. She was working on a trap, she was about to cut a string when a Hellhound lunged for her, I didn't make it in time, it dragged her to the ground, away from her project. I stabbed it, letting out a sigh I held my hand down to help her up. Of course, I didn't know what condition she was in. When I looked down, I gasped in shock. The skin on her face was peeling off, her eyes were red as well as the rest of her face. Blood dripping- I looked away, my breakfast coming up my throat. I whipped around before a hellhound could devour me, stabbing it. Tears poured down my face, tears for the small girl.
I blinked a couple times, I was back in Biology. I looked around, nothing seemed to have changed. I looked down at my paper, a few wet blotches were sitting on the paper. Mr. Bannar walked over to me standing over Edward and I.
"Bella," He started. I looked up at him. "Do you want to go to the nurse, you look like you're going to be sick."
"Can I get water?" I croaked. The image of the girl still sitting in my mind. Mr. Bannar nodded quickly, I stood up, everyone's eyes on me, and hurried out. I ran to the water fountain, leaning against the wall. I covered my mouth with my hands, a small sob escaped my lips, as more tears fell down my face. I don't want this. I wan't these visions to stop, right now. I slid down the wall until I was at the bottom, I placed my head in my hands and let out another sob. I felt another presence next to me, long, cold arms wrapped around my shoulders.
"Are you okay?" Edward's voice rang in my ears. I shook my head quickly. He held me close to his chest.
"Scared." I managed to whisper.
"Don't worry, we'll catch her, everything will be fine."
"It's not that." I replied, and I wished I didn't.
"Then, what is it?" He asked.
"It's... it's too hard to explain,"
"I think I'll be able to keep up."
"Maybe some other time. It's not really the conversation to have in school." I said looking up, wiping the tears away. I still remember the little girl, I tired to push that image out of my mind, but it won't go. It keeps replaying, that scene.
"Do you want to go back?" He asked politely.
"I don't think that'd be the best idea." I admitted. "I'm still pretty shaken up."
"Can you please tell me what it's about?" He begged.
"Sorry, but I'll explain when the time's right, and..." I paused for a second, starting to stand. "When I know more about this." He frowned, he started to open his mouth to ask another question when the bell rang. "Well, better get to my next class." I said trying to sound as cheerful as possible. Apparently it wasn't enough. I walked to the next building, Edward watching my every move. I quickly turned the corner, wanting to get away from him. Gym passed by quickly. Before I knew it, I was walking to Edward's car with Alice and Edward.
"I have forseen...," Alice began in an ominous tone. Edward threw an elbow toward her ribs, which she neatly dodged. "Fine," she grumbled. "Edward is making me do this. But I did foresee that you would be more difficult if I surprised you."
"In English?" I requested, I was having a bad enough day already. I didn't want Alice to make me work this out on my own too. But it seemed like they've already forgotten about my little scene in Biology.
"So you're -I mean we're- having a graduation party. It's no big thing. Nothing to freak out over. But I saw that you would freak out if I tried to make it a surprise party," she danced out of the way as Edward reached over to muss her hair "and Edward said I had to tell you. But it's nothing. Promise." I sighed heavily.
"Fine." I said finally. She looked shocked at my answer. "There's no point in arguing anyways. Although, couldn't you have waited a few weeks to tell me about this?" I asked petulantly. "Now I'll just be stressed that much longer." Alice frowned at me.
"Bella," she said slowly. "Do you know what day it is?"
"Monday?" I offered. She rolled her eyes.
"Yes. It is Monday... the fourth." She grabbed my elbow, spun me halfway around, and pointed toward a big yellow poster taped to the gym door. There, in sharp black letters, was the date of graduation. Exactly one week from today.
"It's the fourth? Of June? Are you sure?" I asked, I am sure something important is supposed to happen today. I can feel it. Neither one answered. Alice just shook her head sadly, geigning disappointment, and Edward's eyebrows lifted. "It can't be! How did that happen?" I tried to count backwards in my head, but I couldn't figure out where the days had gone. I was too stressed out over these visions to realize what day it was. In a vague way, I was aware of Edward holding the car door for me, of Alice chattering from the backseat, of the rain hammering against the windshield. Edward seemed to realize that I was only there in body; he didn't try to pull me out of my abstraction. Or maybe he did, and I was past noticing. I was having another vision.
A boy sat on the ground, he had blond hair, golden eyes, and a scar running down his face.
"You can't... can't do it yourself. He'll break my control. He'll defend himself. Only my hand. I know where. I can...can keep him controlled." He was glowing now, his skin started to smoke. Percy was standing over him, he raised the knive to strike. Then he looked at Annabeth, a goat-man cradling her in his arms, trying to shield her. "Please," the boy groaned. "No time." Percy stared at the boy for a second before handing the knive to him.
"Percy? Are you... um..." The goat-man yelped. Percy ignored him and watched at Luke grasped the hilt. Percy stood before him-defenseless. The boy unlatched the side straps of his armor, exposing a small bit of his skin just under his left arm, a place that would be very hard to hit. With difficulty, he stabbed himself. It wasn't a deep cut, but the boy howled. His eyes glowed like lava. The room shook, throwing us off our feet. An aura of energy surrounded the boy, growing brighter and brighter. I shut my eyes and felt a force like a nuclear explosion blister my skin and crack my lips. It was silent for a long time. When I opened my eyes Percy was staring at the boy. His left side was bloody, his eyes were open-blue eyes. His breath was deep rattle.
"Good...blade," he croaked. Percy knelt next to him. Annabeth limped over with the goat-man's support. They both had tears in their eyes. The boy gazed at Annabeth. "You know. I almost killed you, but you knew..."
"Shhh..." Her voice trembled. "You were a hero at the end, Luke. You'll go to Elysium." He shook his head weakly.
I blinked twice. Everything was just as it was before, Alice was chatting in the back, and Edward was glancing at me every second or two. Luke. Where do I know that name? We were at my house, I quickly got out. I ran in, surprisingly I didn't trip. I didn't want to look at them, their eyes, they were the same color as Luke's. I was soaking when I got inside. Edward was standing in the rain, outside his door. I shut the door, and leaned on the door. I let out my breath I was holding and I slid to the ground.
"Luke." I repeated.