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Chapter 8
Hazel
Dinner was uncomfortable. As they all sat at the table, covered with delicious food, no one seemed to have the appetite. Everyone except Frank, that is.
The fight between them had taken a toll on all of them. Coach Hedge had muttered something about Death Boy and Lightning Boy being possible threats to his health before grabbing some fruit and going into his room. Nico and Frank sat on either side of Hazel, but Nico seemed to want to stay as far away as possible from everyone. The silence was unbearable.
Jason cleared his throat. "As we saw today, Gaea was obviously involved with this… quarrel that happened today."
Hazel looked up from her plate. "Yeah. I have summoned jewels on the ground before, but never in the air. I don't think I could attract them from all the way up here."
"Makes sense, but why would Gaea do that? I mean, there's no benefit for her," said Piper. "Is there?"
"It might not be Gaea." A hush fell over the room. Hazel turned to look at Nico. Jason raised an eyebrow. "And why would it not be her?"
"It could be that Hazel has some power she never knew of. She never tried it from a high altitude, so there's no telling if she could or not."
"You do have a point." said Frank through a mouthful of peas. "But that was still freaky."
"Yeah," said Leo. "Ever since…." He stopped. Everyone looked down at their plates. They couldn't bear to remember the fact that Percy and Annabeth were gone.
After dinner, Hazel went to stand at the rail. She sighed, remembering the fight between her boyfriend and…well…brother. She had frozen up, didn't know what to do. Nico was defending her from Coach Hedge, and Frank was only trying to pull Nico away from Coach Hedge. Hazel felt torn between Nico and Frank. She couldn't take sides, even if she wanted to, without hurting someone's feelings. She sighed again. If only Annabeth and Percy were here, she thought. They would know what to do.
"Thinking about Percy and Annabeth again?" Hazel jumped. She turned, thinking it was Nico, but instead, Frank was standing behind her.
"Oh, Frank, you startled me." He came to stand next to her.
"I miss Percy," he said sadly, gazing at the stars. "and Annabeth. She actually had the patience to help me understand something."
"Frank, are you saying that I'm not patient enough with you?" Hazel was stumped.
"No!" Frank exclaimed. "You are wonderful the way you are." He turned back to look at the stars.
Hazel patted the pocket containing Frank's firewood. It was his life, and he had entrusted it to her. She couldn't let him down.
Then the ship shuddered. Hazel grabbed Frank's arm for support. Leo came running up the stairs.
"What's happening?" yelled Hazel.
"I don't know!" Leo yelled as he fumbled with the controls. "Maybe a malfunction? But that would be impossible!" He continued muttering to himself.
Jason and Piper came up to the deck. "What happened?" Jason asked Frank.
"I don't know; Leo said something about an impossible malfunction."
"What?"
"Guys? We have bad news," called Leo. "The ship is unstable. Festus says there's possibly a virus in his wires. Which I don't think is possible!"
"And what are we supposed to do?" asked Piper as the ship shook again. Everyone grabbed the rail for support.
"I found the problem! It's turbulence! We are on unsteady winds!" cried Leo, frantically steering the ship.
"Let me try and calm the winds a bit." Jason thrust out his hand and concentrated. Nothing happened. The shaking got worse. Boxes and cargo began sliding around on the deck.
"I can't do anything! It's not responding!" yelled Jason.
"Hold on to something! I can't guarantee a smooth ride! Don't want anyone to go overBOOOOAAAAARRRRRRDDDDD!" shouted Leo as the ship tilted fifty degrees to the right.
"HAZEL! HELP!" yelled Frank frantically. He was sliding down, and about to fall over the side! Hazel stretched out her arms as far as it would go and tried to grasp his hand.
"Almost there….." she strained.
At that moment, the Argo II slanted even more, and as Hazel watched with horror, Frank slid across the deck, over the rail, and out of her sight.
