The beeping rung through her ears, a foreign sound echoing. Her surroundings were a blur, no color registering. As her sight finally resumed, all she could see were off-white walls and a chair by the door. The beeping continued, and as she looked to the side Marissa realized she was hooked up to a monitor. Needles and bandages covered her arms, and she was clad in a white hospital gown. When did this happen? She had no answer for that.
There was no reconciliation of the past few days, hours, even. Everything was a daze, and if she hadn't pinched herself twice she would've thought this was a dream.
Where was everyone?
Marissa would've figured if she was hurt, people would be around. Nurses, doctors . . .but she was eternally alone, and she couldn't figure out if that was a blessing or a curse. She'd have time to figure that out. "Hello?" she called out. Her voice echoed off the walls, and slight shuffling was apparent. But no one appeared, and a lump in her throat grew bigger as she realized she was alone. Alone for good.
But this time she was wrong. Sort of.
Appearing from the door was a boy, eighteen at most, with dark hair and a ghastly appearance. His clothes were dark, and place skin seeped from the remnants of his torn jeans and low-cut shirt. He didn't say a word to her, as he turned around and whispered to someone else. He approached the bed with a cold aura, his eyes deep set and almost black. Marissa didn't remember this boy. She struggled to remember, but it made her head hurt. She closed her eyes.
"Who are you?"
The voice rung out, and the question was left in mid-air. Marissa peeked through her eyelids, sitting up slightly before opening her mouth. She would've answered, but she was afraid to. Information seemed risky at the moment, and she was lucky enough to remember her own name. How could she supply such information when she barely know what was going on?
"I don't know."
The phrase didn't suit well with him, "What do you mean? You came onto our territory. Did you come from Camp Jupiter?"
Marissa cocked her head. "No. I don't remember anything."
The boy muttered, "If this is Hera's doing . . ."
"Who?" she scratched her head. "I don't know why I'm here, I don't remember anything. Frankly, I'm still unsure of my name."
"Well? Your name?"
"Marissa - I think," but that last part was murmured to herself.
"Nico."
He didn't give her a warm greeting, that was for sure. He left the room, towards his friend. Marissa couldn't tell whether this was a bad situation - or this was test. Either way, she was quite upset. Not only did she not remember anything, but she couldn't believe she had put herself into this state. Injuring herself so bad her memory was let loose.
The boy - Nico - emerged slowly, with his friend. His friend was quite. . .good-looking, but at the moment, the piercing headache was taking up her thoughts. The other boy - who she'd learn was Percy - smiled briefly at her. Before he spoke, Nico whispered something into to his ear, and he nodded. "Marissa, right?"
She nodded.
Still unsure.
"We need to know where you came from. We found you inside the borders, knocked out."
"I have no idea where I came from. I don't understand whats going on. How come I can't remember anything?" her voice sounded desperate.
"i don't know," the boy sighed. "We need to figure out how to contact your godly parent - they'll help. But we need to know."
"Godly parent? What is this? Greek mythology?" she laughed. "Stop playing games. I want to leave and go home. . .wherever that is."
Percy gave her an exasperated look, "What do you mean? Who is your parent?"
"I don't know! I don't understand whats going on. . .As far as I'm concerned, I don't have any parents. How am I supposed to remember?"
Apparently this was a bad case of amnesia, and Percy figured she was never claimed. But little did they know.
And little did Marissa.