Chapter 4

Leo Valdez lay curled in a ball. He didn't know how much time had passed since Gaea kidnaped him. Was it night or day? Or was it nights or days? He fought the sudden urge to panic, to allow fear and hopelessness to consume him.

No. He wouldn't allow it. Couldn't allow it. Sure, his friends had teased him and all, but he wasn't going to avenge the world for that. Heck, whoever invented the phrase "sticks and stones can break my bones, but words won't kill me" surely needed a punch in the face or something.

Someone would come for him. Of course, he rather it not be Gaea, but someone would. They always did… because they needed him. His friends needed Leo Valdez, son of Hephaestus, the pyromancer. The mechanic. The "class clown." Because without him, none of this would be possible. No other son of Hephaestus could organize a plan for the Argo ship. Or build a fire-breathing dragon. Leo was Leo, and he knew his friends needed him for that.

But here he was, struggling to regain consciousness, Gods know were.

Well, this sucks. Leo thought to himself, waiting in this dark green cave…

Piper McLean made her way to Jason's cabin on the Argo II. She figured she'd let him cool down by himself for a while. He was pretty worked up about it. I mean, we all are, but it's his best friend, Piper thought to herself. If Leo should forgive anyone, it should be Jason. But she didn't think Leo believed in Jason anymore. Jason… Jason was completely loyal to his friends. He didn't have it in him to be disloyal.

Poor Leo. Sighing, Piper knocked on Jason's door and prepared for the angry testosterone she was about to face. "Jason" she said, knocking once more. No reply. Not waiting for his response, she opened the door, only to find an empty room. Piper took in what she saw before her eyes; his comforter lay half on the bed, his suitcase was open, and clothes were scattered hastily across the floor. The closet door was open, and several of the hangers had fallen to the floor.

"Someone was in a hurry" Piper said to herself, "but where to?"

She began to put some of the items back in their place. She made up his bed, organized his closet, and finally looked down to the corner where his suitcase had spilled many of its contents. Tucking a strand of hair behind her head, she kneeled down and started to re-pack his things. Just as she lifted a pair of sweatpants, a folded piece of paper fell out. Puzzled, Piper unfolded the paper and stared at the picture in her hands. It was taken months ago, before all three of their lives had changed. Piper, Leo and Jason had just begun to flourish their friendship. Jason and Piper weren't a thing, and life was sweet. Innocent. Piper's hands shook as a tear fell down her cheek. Gods, those were the days. Piper studied the photograph Leo, and her heart ached. He stood in the middle of the three, his arms around them. Even though his smile was mischievous and playful, his eyes said that he loved every second this moment. Coming to think about it, Piper thought this was the only picture Leo hadn't made bunny ears on one of them, or something.

"Gods, those were the days" She said, this time out loud. Her eyes darted from Leo, to Jason, and back to Leo, and finally, she understood where Jason went.

"Jason, no" She breathed out, leaning her head on the wall. She still held the photo, and allowed unshed tears to fall.

"Haha! Did I scare you? Hmm, hmm! Did I scare you!".

Jason's jaw was dropped as he stared at the girl in front of him. She looked about his age and was the definition of Goth. Skull-decorated Doc Martens, ripped black tights, a dark purple mini-skirt, a black and red corset, the spiked collar, and black pigtails that touched her waist. That didn't even include the makeup. But one thing caused Jason to ponder. She wore a black and white tragedy/ comedy mask.

"Uh…" Jason replied, eying the girl. He knew screaming wasn't completely necessary, but she was a little creepy.

"So I scared you right?! Yes! Woohoo!". Jason still stared.

"Uh.."

"Is that the only word you know?" The girl asked out of curiosity.

"Uh…" Jason said for the third time.

"You're so silly, Jason Grace."

That wasn't good. When a random stranger knew your first and last name, they had to be a little shady. Especially if they were dressed like they took a trip through Hot Topic Xtreme.

"How do you know my name?" Jason demanded.

"Oh silly, you are so silly. First of all, everyone knows your name. And second, you yourself just confirmed it. Silly, silly, silly."

"Okay… Uh, why is it so…"

"Creepy? Like one of those old time country movie scenes?" She giggled. "Because of me! Why else would it be like that?"

"I honestly don't know." As the Goth girl ranted on and on, Jason slowly started to back up. At first she didn't notice, but then…

"Hey, mister! Where do you think you are going, hmm? I haven't even skimmed you yet."

Yup. Things just got a lot shadier.

Jason pointed his javelin towards the girl, ready in his stance.

"No need to get feisty! Trust me; you won't feel a thing once I skim that pretty, silky skin off." As the girl finished her sentence, she pulled out a bronze fork from her skirt. Before his eyes, the fork grew larger and larger until the bottom of the fork touched the ground, taking the appearance of a trident.

"Woah." Jason said, backing away.

"I think you mean yummy!" The girl said. Just as Jason thought it couldn't get any worse, the girl pulled out a knife from her skirt.

"No, no, no, no, no!" Jason yelled, foreseeing what would happen to the knife. The girl only giggled. Before the knife could expand to full size, Jason slammed his spear across her hand, causing her to drop the knife.

"Hey! That wasn't nice! Bad Jason, bad. Oh well, I'll have to do this the hard way." Before Jason could move, the Goth girl swung her fork, its tongs missing Jason by a hair.

This is not happening to me, Jason thought as he shook his head.

His spear met the fork midair, and sparks flew, creating a halo around them.

"Can't you find someone else to eat?" Jason asked between his clenched teeth.

"Well, yes. Yes, I can. I have been doing so for the past thousands of years. But Mama G gave me specific instructions to eat you. Looks like it isn't your lucky day."

Jason swung his foot on top of the "x" both weapons made, standing on one leg while pushing the other onto the fork. This caused the girl to yelp and release her grip. As both of Jason's feet touched the ground, the girl swung her fork at them.

"Those stay on the ground, mister."

Jason jumped and ran around the girl, jabbing at her core.

"Ow!" She yelled, falling to the floor. She pulled up her corset, and looked for the wound.

"No…" She wined as her wound collapsed in on its self, her body turning into sand.

Jason watched the pile of sand dust form, and returned his coin to his pocket. He smirked at something Leo would say if he were here.

"Bon appetit!"