Chapter 7
Lawrence p.o.v
"Hopefully the others will join us soon." That sent a shiver up my spine, what did he mean others.
Emilee voiced my question "Who are the others?" Thomas just smiled at her.
"Ah," he said, "Here they are now." As he spoke more ghosts walked out of me, they stood next to Thomas, so now there were seven in total. This was too much, I fumbled in my pocket for a smoke. I put it to my lips and lit it, the nicotine calming me.
"Who are you." I asked to the assembled spirits. The one on the far left stepped forward. He was wearing Greek armour, holding a large round shield in his left hand, and a long spear in his right. His torso was covered in stab and slash wounds. When he spoke he had a strange accent that I couldn't place.
"I am Tripolius, son of Aries, a warrior of the great Spartan rear guard left to defend the mountain pass Thermopylae from the million strong Persian invaders." He stepped back and the man next to him stepped forward. He wore glittering Roman armour, he held a large rectangular shield, and a gladius hung at his hip. The side of his head was caved in, and blood dripped from wounds on his chest.
"I am Maxis, son of Jupiter, elite centurion guard of the Roman legions. I fought many foe and was killed at Trebia while doing battle with Hannibal." The next to step forward wore a redcoat uniform, he held a musket, and spoke in a British accent. His chest had a few bullet wounds in the center, and stab wounds dotted around it.
"I'm Alex, son of Athena, I fought Napoleon throughout the Mediterranean, and Europe. Finally I fell to his forces at Waterloo." The next man was black, with an American civil war uniform, he held a musket. There were two stab wounds in his chest, he was covered in dirt, and his eyes were slightly bulged out, like he'd been choked to death.
"My name's Jones, son of Apollo, I was a Yankee in the civil war. Died 1865 from artillery fire." The next man wore a Canadian world war one uniform, he had a rifle slung over his shoulder. The skin on his face and hands had been partially melted off, revealing ivory underneath.
"I'm Lloyd, son of Poseidon, Canadian red devil, fought through most of the war, helped take Vimy, fought in all three battles of Ypres, died in the last one, in the mud of Passchendaele." Thomas stayed back and the guy next to him stepped up. He was black, he wore a '60s American Green Beret uniform, he held an M16, and had a Colt 1911 on his hip. His legs were mangled and burnt, but he still somehow walked.
"I'm Damian, son of Pluto, I was a Green Beret in Vietnam, got my legs blown off on a retreat, bled to death in the jungle."
Thomas stepped forward again.
"We are the souls of fallen heroes, we inhabit your body. Our skills and knowledge are passed onto you, however our memories are too. This is a blessing and a burden but you can learn to control it. You are destined for greatness Lawrence, do not fail." With that they faded into the night.
After an awkward silence I said. "No pressure." Emilee laughed, the sound clear and bright in the foggy October morning, all the built up tension immediately dissipated. I started to laugh with her, Nico cracked a smile before speaking.
"Let's get back now." We nodded and held his arms. I saw Emilee looking at me, I met her eyes and she looked away as we dissolved for the third time today.
We reappeared in the Hades cabin next to a very bored looking Will. He smiled when he saw Nico, but it evaporated when Emilee appeared. She collapsed to the floor, I caught her just before she face planted and laid her on her back. Her nose was bleeding, badly, and her face was pale and covered in sweat.
Will ran over and kneeled next to her. "What's wrong with her?" He asked frantically.
"You tell me!" I shouted back, "She was getting dizzy and stuff when we teleported before. But not like this." Will checked her pulse, and did some other doctor shit before lifting her up bridal style.
"Her sinuses are ruptured, we need to get her to the infirmary. Come on!" I ran with him opening the cabin door. He barked some orders to a few campers who ran off towards the big house. I didn't process what he was saying, I was too worried about Emilee. Sure, I hadn't known her long, but she'd brought me here, and helped me. Plus, it wasn't like I had anyone else.
We ran up to the big house doors where a camper was waiting with a stretcher. She helped us lay Emilee down on it and Will wheeled her into the camp infirmary. He told me to stay outside, I wanted to protest but he shut the doors in my face.
I paced in the hallway for the whole two hours they were in there. When the door finally opened it was Will. "She's going to be ok." I breathed a huge sigh of relief which had been building in my chest. "You should go In there." I nodded and walked past him.
Emilee was sitting propped up in a cot reading. I walked over to her and sat in the small plastic chair by her bed. "Hey," She turned to me groggily.
"Hey," Her speech was slow and slurred, which concerned me a little.
"You feeling alright?" I asked. She put down her book and nodded.
"They put me under, I'm still a little
loopy." She kneaded her eyes then winced like it was painful, her hands rested back on her chest, fingers interlaced like she was being buried.
My vision changed, I was seeing through Jones's eyes, it was my mother's funeral. I was nine years old, wearing the only black clothes I owned, holding my baby sister's hand while she cried into my shoulder.
Our Father was nowhere to be seen, most likely drunk. The morning Sun shone weakly on the old cemetery, the worn beaten gravestones casting feeble shadows.
The priest spoke but I wasn't listening, I was thinking about my mother, her hugs, her cooking, the way she'd ruffle my hair and tell me everything would work out. I wanted her back, it wasn't fair. I held back my tears, I couldn't cry, my sister needed me now.
My vision returned slowly, Emilee had a concerned look on her face. I felt a single tear trace its way down my face.
"Lawrence," I looked into her green eyes full of worry. "Are you okay?" I smiled a melancholic smile and replied.
"No."