I am NOT Rick Riordan, thus I own none of his properties (or talent).

Learn To Love Again

The Frightened

~Boy's P.O.V.~

When I wake up, I refuse to open my eyes. All the pain, all the fear, it can be subdued, sometimes, by staying still.

It took me a moment to realize I was being held. My heart picked up the pace, but I remained still. It had been so long since he held me . . . but this person didn't reek of alcohol, but a steady emit of ocean water. I love the ocean. I waited silently for this new body to react, but the breath of the other was deep and even, and I knew he was asleep.

After a few minutes, the stranger shifted, and my brain kick-shifted. Hey, stupid, you're not safe! This person could hurt you! I thought it stupid that I was worried about being hurt. I mean, what I have been doing for the past two weeks? Even so, I let out a weak cry, to which the stranger started.

The slight movement set me into panic mode. I put my hands on his chest and pushed back. That's when I realized how weak I was. Adding adrinaline, I was able to push myself far off to the other side of the bed, where a bruise on my ribs landed flat on the floor, and it knocked the breath out of me, despite the carpeting. Weren't those broken? I noted somewhere in the chaos of the situation. I was hopelessly tangled into the blankets and sheets, and even with the lingering flare of panic, I couldn't pick myself up even to my hands and knees.

By now, the stranger had caught on to what happened. "Hey! You're okay."

I froze of at the kindness in his voice. My eyes watered at the tone. When's the last time anyone has spoke to me like that? I thought. My lip wavered from all the questions that begged to spill out. But instead, they overwhelmed me and a wail was the only thing that flooded out.

The man reached forward and I cringed back instinctively.

"It's alright. I'm just going to help you back up to the bed, and untangle you. Okay?"

He waited for my approval, but I was too scared to do anything more than tremble. He sighed, than picked me up, somehow leaving the blankets on the floor without any trouble. The stranger laid me down, then got up and went to get the blankets. During this, I realized I was wearing underwear. I was filled with a mix of fear and gratitude. I haven't been this dressed in a while.

Bringing me back from my thoughts, blanket after blanket was skillfully draped over me. I whimpered, expecting the man to get back under the covers, but after one cautious glance, he turned and walked to the door, where he opened it to two looming shadows. Whispers were exchanged, glances turned to me making it impossible for eye contact. At last, the man turned to me, speaking up. "This is a safe place." Then the door was closed behind them all and their footsteps faded away.

Without the heat of the stranger, a shiver ran through me, the ever-present aura of cold surrounding me once again.

My brain had just now took in the appearance of the man; eyes the color of the ocean water, a deep sea green. Tan and fit, with untamed black hair, the texture of waves. It was as if he had juist been born simply of the vast water.

Suddenly my eyes drooped, and the exhaustion from the event had hit me, a dreamless sleep consumed me.