The ages for mixed up please go by these: Thalia is thirteen, Percy is nine, Jason is eight, Bianca is seven, and Hazel is six and Nico is five. Keep this in mind as you read this story because the ages change multiple times. Thanks.
We're Supposed to be Dead
~~Introduction~~
This is what you could call my legitimate family. Thalia—she's the oldest. Always telling us left from right. The momma bear. Next, was Jason and Percy. Percy was only older by a few months, really. Bianca comes only a year younger than them. A year after her, Hazel. And then, there was me. You might be wondering why a bunch of random names are some family. I can tell you one thing we all have in common.
We're supposed to be dead.
Chapter One
Thalia scratches behind her ear, before leaning against the stone wall like the rest of us. A little to the left, my left not yours, was a set of stairs so that you could walk on the stone. In front of us, the never-ending sea. It was dark, maybe 10 o'clock? Thalia glances at all of us.
She was in the middle. I was sitting on her lap. To the left was Hazel, then Bianca. To the right, Jason then Percy. But that's not how it's supposed to go. If everything was in order, it would start with Thalia. She's thirteen, she's the oldest. She tells us what to do, because we don't know what to do. Without her, we'd be chasing our tails, rhetorically of course. Thalia is not easily persuaded. She is stubborn, she likes pie, and she's supposed to be dead.
Percy, he's the optimistic one. Because I'm the youngest, I'm the focus of his optimisticness. If that's even a word. He picks me up and gives me piggy-back rides, and tickles me till I laugh. Thalia always shakes her head and whispers something to Percy. Percy nods, his eyes on the brick of tears. He never gives me a second glance, he just goes off and sits in the water, criss-cross applesauce. And he stares straight ahead, with big, salty tears streaming down his face. He never wipes them away. And Jason and Thalia try to get to him, but it's like they're afraid of the water. No—going in the water. Eventually Percy stands up, and walks towards them, and accepts Thalia's "mom" hug and Thalia's says she's sorry. But sorry for what? Percy is nine. He drools in his sleep, he has untameable hair, and he's supposed to be dead.
Jason gets hit in the head a lot, from what I've seen. Not from Thalia, though. From bird poo. I'm not sure why. Thalia knows, so does Percy. Jason knows too. They like secrets. It probably makes them feel special, like, I know something you don't, ha-ha. Jason, he's eight. His blonde hair is dirty—but it's not supposed to be. His hair is supposed to be bright. But the birds had decided otherwise. It was a cycle. They'd poo in his hair, Percy would laugh, but eventually gather some water in a rusty, old bucket and clean out his hair. But Percy's hands are dirty. Eventually, a few weeks later at most, the birds would come back and do it again. The cycle continues. Jason glares at those birds every time they come around. He likes secrets, he needs an umbrella, and he's supposed to be dead.
Bianca was smart. But not book smart. Street smart. She was very persuasive. She can convince a random man to get her McDonald's. She's hyper too. Considering she barely eats. Not that any of us eat much. She likes to walk up to Jason and confront him. About what? The birds. She goes all detective on him and asks him things like why he, Thalia and Percy whisper so much. I can tell you later, because the answer is obvious. Bianca is kind of loud. She admires Thalia too. She once asked Thalia why she was so perfect. Ever since, Thalia lets Bianca help her do things like start fires and stuff. But once, when nobody was watching, Thalia lit the fire so fast, it must've been a world record. It was strange. Once, Jason got to the top of a tree so fast, Nico barely had time to blink. And Percy—once he got water so fast into that bucket—I didn't even see him go to the water. It was like the water came to him. Bianca notices it too. So does Hazel. Bianca was starting to wonder. She was seven, she likes human puzzles, and she's supposed to be dead.
Hazel was quiet. She didn't like to talk much, and when she did, it was very quiet. When we go to McDonald's, she always gave her food to me instead of eating it herself. Even though I have food of my own. I'd eat the food hesitantly, but she would smile when I did eat it. It made her happy. I was starting to think she was too nice. She was hungry, I could tell. So I'd insist she should eat it and when she refused, I'd look to Thalia for help. Thalia would make a compromise, and say we should share the food. Hazel has chocolate skin, and she likes to stare at things. But staring at the horizon coming over the sea was her favourite. She'd risk a smile and Bianca and Thalia would sit on either side of her, with their legs crossed. Thalia would gesture for Nico to sit on her lap and Percy and Jason would come sit beside Thalia and we'd be one big, happy family—or as happy as we could get. That was how we always sat. Hazel was six. She is nimble, she is a mouse, and she's supposed to be dead.
Nico. Nico is my name. I'm five years old. That's eight years younger than Thalia, four years younger than Percy, three years younger than Jason, two years younger than Bianca, and one year younger than Hazel. I guess you could say I'm good at blending in. I'm the master at hide and seek. Sometimes, I can't sleep. I lay on the ground till the sun blinds me and forces me to squeeze my eyes shut. I'm small. Too small for my age. Hazel is really too small for her age. She's almost smaller than me. I'm pale and skinny no matter how much food Hazel shoves at me. Percy picks me up with such ease, I'm sure I don't weigh much. Sometimes Percy puts me on his shoulders and then he walks over to Thalia, and tells me to tell her she's short. I say it and Thalia rolls her eyes and asks Percy if he knows he's short too. I laugh at Percy's reaction and then Percy announces to everyone that we're playing hide and seek. It's fun. I'm the youngest. I like to laugh, I'm too small, and I'm supposed to be dead.
I hope you enjoyed the first chapter of this story. Let me know if you like it. Thanks!
