All Over Again

Disclaimer: All rights to Rick Riordan and Greeks

Chapter 6: Almost Dead

If there's one thing I learned from my stay with the Survivors is that they know how to punish someone. The only thing left to do is to wait.

I lost track of time.

I don't know for how long I was in the Doom room (the name suited it). It could have been hours or days before I finally woke up. I couldn't tell the difference between night and day. It was hard to go to sleep and even wake up.

The monster called hunger kept me awake. But eventually, I would fall asleep. Yet, I wouldn't want to wake up because I knew there was nothing for me anymore. I lost contact with Nico. I didn't dream at all.

Overall, I was lonely. The whirring of the machines faded out. It was as if they didn't exist anymore. The straps were still forbidding me from getting up. I felt as if my whole body was paralyzed. I was pretty sure my blood circulation was slowing down every passing second.

It was horrible.

I don't know how long it was until I heard voices. At first I thought I lost it. That I had gone crazy of the loneliness. But then I realized that the voices were coming from the machines. The rumbling of my stomach made it hard to focus. My head hurt and my vision blurred as I cocked my head to the side and tried to focus on the machines.

"Hello? Victoria?" The female voice asked. The person had an accent, one I couldn't place.

"Y-yes?" My voice sounded hoarse, and my throat wasn't helping.

"Oh, you're alive." She sounded disappointed. "Well, Victoria, you have passed the first test."

Test? "What test?" I asked. My voice was barely a whisper. I wondered how she could hear me. Then, I asked myself, who the hell is she?

"Don't worry, it will be over soon."

A year before my mom disappeared, I witnessed my first harsh winter. It was like none other. The coldness was too much to bear. My mother didn't allow me to go out. She would leave early and come back around noon. Her lips would turn from their rosy pink to blue. Her skin would turn an unearthly white. She would come home with teeth chattering.

That winter, she got really sick. No medicine would help. I watched as my mom's breath got shorter and slower. There was nothing I could do. I remember sitting next to her by the bed and listening to the wind outside.

Then, she spoke on the second week. "Victoria," I leaned closer. Her voice was almost gone and I noticed how much energy it took for her to speak. "There's something you can do to help."

Eager, I listened to the directions she told me. Fifteen minutes later I walked to the well with a rope in my hands. I was freezing. The coat I had on wasn't helping. After reaching the well I tied the rope to a nearby tree. The cold made my fingers numb. It was clumsy work, but the knot was fine.

I took a deep breath and gripping the rope, I jumped into the well. I was stupid. I didn't even think about what I was doing. My feet hit the frozen water with a thump. I heard a crack and yelped as I let go of the rope and fell, crumbling towards the ground. I immediately sat up but regretted it as I slipped.

My body was small enough to fit in the well; therefore I fell flat on my back. I groaned in pain and slowly sat up. Spots danced before my eyes. I cursed for the first time and ignored the pain. I controlled my breathing and counted to ten.

Once I calmed down, I got to work. With my eleven year old strength, I tried to stand up. It hurt so much. I figured I broke my ankle. I started to cry. I don't know how long I was there. I was crying, freezing, and yet, somehow breathing after being in the cold so long.

I wiped my tears away and got to work. My mom needed me. I looked around for this olive symbol imprinted on one of the bricks of the well. I spot it a few inches to my left. I took out the switchblade from my boot and cut along the brick's side. The brick fell, slightly cracking the ice.

I held my breath, waiting for the ice to break and falling through the cold water, sinking till I'm dead.

Nothing happened.

I let my breath go and looked inside where the brick was. I found a small package. It was barely the size of both my hands combined. I slowly pulled it out and put it inside my coat. It took a long time because my hands were too numb. After a few struggles I put the brick back on its place.

I slowly stood up, ignoring the pain from my ankle. I used the wall for support and prayed that the ice wouldn't break. Thinking back on it, I don't know who I was praying to. I just prayed like never before.

I gripped the roped and pulled it to make sure it was stable. It was still good. I gripped the rope and started climbing. My mother taught a few summers ago. I made it to the top. I put a foot over the well wall and pushed my weight forward towards the snow as I let go of the rope.

I landed on the soft, cold snow. I stood up, spitting snow back on the ground. I smiled. I made it. I was alive.

My triumph was soon over once I realized I had to hurry back home. I tried my best to run on snow with numb feet. Thankfully, I made it safe. When I opened the door, my mother was sitting on the bed. She looked up to me and weakly smiled. "Thank you, Victoria."

I didn't bother to take off my boots and hurried over to her. I pulled out the package and gave it to her. I watched as my mom opened it and pulled out a small, rectangular thing. She took a deep breath, closed her eyes, and ate it.

I frowned. "What was that?"

My mom opened her eyes and they slowly refilled themselves with energy. "Ambrosia, food of the gods,"

After the lady stopped speaking, the door opened. Well, I think it was a door. I heard two sets of footsteps coming towards me. Once one of the people was over me, I spoke, "Who are you?"

It was a teenage boy with spiked, black hair, light brown eyes, and pale skin. He reminded me of someone, but I couldn't place who. He had a nose ring and when he opened his mouth to speak, I saw fangs. I heard my breath hitch.

"Chillax, I don't bite." He leaned over to unlock the straps on me. I held my breath the whole time as the other person unlocked the bottom straps. Once I was free, I slowly sat up. I rubbed my ankles and wrists.

The other person was Hazel. I was relieved to see her. Then, I remembered she was the one to poison me. I glared at her.

Hazel looked away from me and at the teen. "Max, take her to Ms. Wilson, she'll know what to do." She walked out.

I didn't like the sound of that, but there was nothing to do. My energy was low and I could barely sit up. I was about to stand up when Max stopped me. "Whoa, there, kid, let me."

He put one arm around my shoulders, the other under my knees. I automatically held him by his neck. I didn't complain or even said thanks. Max carried me out the door and into a hallway. The walls and floor were white. Faint light shone on us.

He caught me looked at the light as we walked down the hallway. There was no one else beside us. I noticed there were also doors, all of them with different styles. I looked back at mine and saw the words: EXPERIMENTAL PATIENT: DANGEROUS, NUMBER 7.

Don't trust them. A voice in my head told me. I gulped.

Max brought me to a door that was a peach color and had the words: MS. WILSON, NURSE. He kicked it once and the door was opened by an old lady. She was probably in her late sixties, with gray hair, a wrinkly face, but her eyes were beautiful. They were a light blue that reminded of the outside world.

The woman stepped back with a kind smile. "Alex, who's this?"

Max sighed as he stepped in. "Ms. Wilson, its Alex's brother, Max, how many times do I have to remind you?"

"Oh!" Ms. Wilson blushed and closed the door behind us. "I'm just teasing you, Max. Just put her over there on one of the beds."

Max carefully laid me down on one of the many beds near a wall. Once I was safely on the bed, he turned around and walked to the door. "Hazel or I will come to pick her up. Just call us if anything extraordinary happens." He glanced at me. I looked away.

Ms. Wilson clapped her hands. "All right, Maxi." Max groaned, but smiled. He walked out and closed the door behind him.

Ms. Wilson turned towards me and walked over. She smiled. Thankfully, her teeth were normal. "Hello, missy. How are you feeling today?"

She sat down at the edge of the bed. "Alive," I responded.

Ms. Wilson laughed. "Oh, you got humor, young lady, yes you do."

I warily looked around the room. It was slightly bigger than the Doom Room, and didn't have as many machines. Ms. Wilson sat on a chair and pulled something from her desk a few feet away. I saw a dagger on top.

"What… what are you going to do to me?" I asked. My voice was still hoarse.

Ms. Wilson kept going through her stuff. "Oh, I'm just looked for some nectar. It's very rare nowadays. If you were someone else, I would just give you regular, mortal medicine."

"Someone else? You mean, if I wasn't a patient?" I said the word with hatred.

Ms. Wilson stopped and looked over at me. "That's not what I meant, honey."

I looked away. No one had me called me that since my mother. "Then, what did you mean?"

Ms. Wilson sighed. "Listen, honey-"

"Don't call me that!" I blurted out.

Ms. Wilson looked scared and pushed a red button on the wall, near her. "Who are you?" She asked.

I didn't feel worried that she probably called for security or the fact that she looked very scared. Instead, I felt in control and prideful. I slowly sat up, causing Ms. Wilson to back away. "I'm Victoria, daughter of Thanatos."

I don't remember saying that. It was as if someone was controlling me. Before I knew it, the door sprung open, and Star was standing there, with Max and Hazel behind her. Star was holding some sort of gun. She looked directly into my eyes. For a second, she looked like the Ice Lady. Before I knew it, she let the trigger go, and I sprung back on the bed, pretty sure I was dead.

Hello, readers! Now, before cursing at me or virtually shooting me, please stop. I know I haven't updated in like forever. But honestly, I don't like writing anymore. I mean, I like it, but it's getting kind of boring. I think it's just because I have a bunch of stories to finish. But I will promise you one thing. This story will be finished, have a sequel, and be awesome. It WILL take time, but I won't give up. I don't care much about the others, because this one is my favorite. Now, secret time!

Secret: Victoria's mom is alive.

Thanks to:

Foxbracken – Phoenix Everren: Well, Victoria is well and alive… for now. Ha-ha, just kidding. She will stay alive throughout the story. Thank you so much for always reviewing :)

Person: Oh… so many questions, not enough time. Well, I will answer them now. No, her dad isn't Poseidon. Yes, it seemed like it, but no, sorry. The seven are trapped and Gaea was trapped by Percy aldfbvasluefbal. Sorry about that, the Fates aren't allowing me to tell you ;) just yet. Thanks for reviewing and Awww! Am I that good of a writer?

SakuraFlutist: I'm really sorry at the fast pace and I hope this chapter kind of clarified your confusion. If not, feel free to PM me. Thank you so much for your support! :)

Please review :D