Camp Jupiter: War Games
Left Well Alone
Nyssa
Cohort I, Defense
Prompt: "Outside. Snowball fight in ten."
Words: 549
Hey! So, I have another prompt. This is for the December 2020 thread- which is snow themed. As you can tell, mine is about a snowball fight, so, yeah. I hope you enjoy. (Yeah, this prompt is late...but I was busy.)
Left Well Alone:
The snow that fell outside Annabeth Chase's window was very much unwelcome. It fell, blanketing everything in a layer of 'bliss'. The frosted flakes glinted brightly in the sun and if she looked closer, there were children playing on the corner of the street, bundled up with so many layers it was utterly ridiculous even for snow.
"What are you doing? It's nine A.M.!" Her friend's face glinted evilly in the light of her home.
"Outside. Snowball fight in ten." The door promptly shut, leaving her alone with only herself for company.
Annabeth closed her eyes. Such things were best left alone. She was best left alone, with only the memories of what had been and what may be to haunt her; then and only then was Annabeth Chase in her element.
"It's cold, can't we do this later? Mom and Dad aren't even home, they said I wasn't supposed to go into the front yard." She complained.
"Don't be such a wuss, they don't have to find out. You can practically hear my eyes rolling in my head. Come on."
A hailstone thunked outside her window- only it wasn't a hailstone. The kid jeered- between the age of nine and fourteen, giving Annabeth a stink eye. They all despised her; no children were in this house for them to play with, and Annabeth didn't play their games. And so she was left alone.
"You little- I'm going to get you back for that!" Shrieking with laughter and fear, she ran away from her pursuer, ignoring the cold jolting all the way to her toes.
"Come back!" Annabeth shrieked as she slipped, hitting her head, hard on ice.
The children laughed and ran away, slipping on patches of ice. They reminded Annabeth of herself so long ago- before the cold, the bitter, bitter cold, had set in. How carefree and happy she had been. How hopeful and bright. Not anymore, now that she was alone.
"Are you okay?" All traces of anger had fled from her expression, it was only concerned. "You went down pretty hard."
"I'm alright." She said, sitting up gingerly. Her knees and hands hurt from falling, but she hadn't broken or sprained anything. "Ow."
"I'm sorry, sorry."
The snow glittered and shone as if to taunt her. But she didn't know what she could do.
"Why do you always have to be such a-" she stopped. "Never mind."
She could only watch her helplessly.
"You know what, Annabeth? I'll leave you well alone. You deserve it."
Her hands slip from the windowsill, past the chair and tumbling down to her sides.
The numbness sets in, too numb. Maybe it's the cold. It doesn't matter.
She's been left well alone, and no one will find her until it's too late.