(All rights go to Mr. Riordan)
Chapter 2
Katie's pov.
I ran as fast as I could to my cabin, I heard shouts behind me, but they sounded far and distant. I threw open the door, and flung myself on my bed. But, for some reason I couldn't cry, or sob, or anything but unclasp my locket from my neck with trembling fingers, I opened it slowly and looked at him.
My dad's warm smile shone from the small locket, there was a picture of him holding me in his arms when I was first born, and there was one where I was hugging him a year before. He had just gotten me a brand new gardening set, and a huge selection of seeds. I looked at the picture and I felt hot tears running down my cheeks.
My eyes stung but I didn't look away. I stared straight at it and the tears I hadn't been able to shed earlier tumbled down my cheeks. I started sobbing, with painful breaths and curled up into a ball, as if protecting me.
Then I heard soft footsteps and a voice, "Katie? Are you all right?" with that I just sobbed harder. "Great. Nice going Travis." I hear him call out to himself. I then hear him sigh, and sit down next to me and lay an arm around my shoulders. Five seconds later I had my arms around his torso and me burrowing my face in his chest. I sob and he rubs my back.
It took me about ten minutes to finally calm down, and I realized I must have completely ruined his shirt. I look up at him and I say "Ummm… I think I ruined your shirt." I am surprised how weak and hollow my voice sounds but Travis's smile immediately feel better. I try to remove my arms but he just shakes his head so we just sit there until I realize how late it is. I tell Travis "It's getting late and we still have to pack." Travis looked at me bewildered and I ask, "What? You didn't think I was going to stay here did you? I have to save him." His look softens into something like pity. "You don't have to go, Katie. The others and I will save him." "No! He is probably freaking out by now, and needs to see a friendly face. I will not let him worry even worse if he doesn't trust you." I counter. He nods and says, "The stubborn Katie. Always wants to prove others wrong, oh well. Get ready, we are leaving at 5:00 a.m. Okay?" I nod, and stand up. After I shoo him out of the cabin I get changed for bed. I don't feel like dinner, so I just slip out of my clothes and into some pajamas and sink into my bed, knowing my life will be in danger in less than 12 hours.
I sleep peacefully for about five hours then I feel my dreams turn violently and I see my dad tied up on a post and battered and bruised. I saw a silhouette towering over him saying, "Where's your daughter, old man? Has she forgotten you already?" my dad shakes his head and screams, "She will find you… you monster! She will find you and destroy you!" but he hasn't seen the curled knife and the thing turns around and says, straight at me, "You better hurry little girl, you better hurry." I wake up screaming "DAD!" and shaking like a leaf. My older brother, Josh, who gave up the title of Cabin Leader when he saw I really deserved it, which I still don't agree with, ran over to me. "Katie! What's wrong…? Nightmare?" he asks understandably. I nod my head and is still trembling. He sighs and lays me back down and tucks me in like my dad did when I was younger. But, it relaxes me a little to know he is trying to make me feel better. He looks at me kindly and softly says, "Don't worry, Katie. Your dad will be just fine, now get some sleep." I look at him and say, "Why did you give me the title Josh? You can be calm in every situation and as sweet as anybody I know. I'm here shaking like a leaf…" he interrupts, "And you have a good reason to, look Katie, I don't exactly know… you just gave me this feeling that you were, like destined to be our Cabin Leader… And besides, I'm much happier in the background, but you should really get some sleep." I nod and whisper, "Thanks Josh. This really means a lot, more then you know." He nods and says, "Good-night, Katie." He kisses me on the forehead as I whisper, "Good night Josh." And slip into a deep and thankfully dreamless slumber.