Chapter 2: Off-balance

Waking up was painful. Cracking a single eyelid hurt. I guess that I was alive. I don't know whether I was disappointed by that outcome or not.

With a twisted sound between a grunt and whine, I swung my feet off the cot I was lying in and planted them on the ground. My bare chest tingled against the crisp air.

I patted my thighs with my hands rather than risk the agony of tilting my neck downwards. I felt the familiar feeling of tattered denim and relaxed. Denim meant jeans. Jeans meant pockets. Pockets meant riptide.

I reached into my left hip pocket and enclosed my hand around the familiar metallic cylinder. I maneuvered it out with my hand and activated it. I used the legendary weapon as a crutch to escape the nondescript room.

In hindsight, I would've noticed the lack of wall sockets or faucets in the room if I had been more aware or cared more about my safety. But I didn't, nor did I bother to, check what was outside of the room.

I found my feet yanked out from under me, and suddenly I was hanging by my ankles. The triggering of the snare also rang a nearby bell.

A few sets of footsteps approached my location, and I found myself staring at the red-rimmed eyes of Thalia Grace.

"Can you help me get down from here?" I asked. Her electric blue orbs narrowed, and before I could even brace my abs, she launched forward and punched me in the stomach.

I coughed for air and scrunched my eyes in pain. That's why I didn't notice her draw a knife and cut me down. I fell limply to the floor and barely managed to summon the energy to look up at her.

I didn't try to stand. So she crouched down. "You moron, you fucking idiot. How do you think I felt when my other best friend disappears the day after my best friend's funeral? Then, when we found you, you were so close to dying."

I couldn't bear to meet her eyes, so I didn't

I stared at the trees outside of camp, tuning her out.

I only tried to get up when Thalia said she would help me back to my tent. I hobbled back to the entrance with an arm slung over her narrow shoulders. I didn't bother to pull the covers over myself when I reached the cot. I fell into it and let unconsciousness take me.