Chapter 6: Stuck

I stood on the ship, wondering what in the world Leo was thinking.

"Okay," Leo ran onto the deck. "We're good to go everybody."

"Great," Percy said with a fake smile.

"There's no river here," I said, "how do we get the ship into a river or ocean?"

"We don't," Leo smirked. "Just watch."

The ship moved straight up in the air with one big jerk.

A small scream escaped me. None of the others seemed fazed.

Leo went to work on the 'engine', whatever that was. Piper, Hazel, and Annabeth went downstairs into one of the cabins. Percy disappeared to somewhere. Nico paced the deck.

After about five minutes of watching Nico walk in circles, I asked, "Are you all right?"

"I'm fine, Ari," He said. "Just worried about Hazel."

He stopped pacing and stared off into the air.

"Why?" He asked after a few more minutes.

"Why what?"

"I don't know. I was hoping you had some inspiration for me."

"What did you do for inspiration before I showed up?"

"I didn't," Nico said.

"Well, I'm not in an inspirational mood," I said. "Think about it, Nico. The world, the fates, the gods, none of them care about us. We're just pieces in their game. When one of us… one of us dies, they don't care."

"No," Nico said. "Don't you dare think like that. People who thought like that caused the second titan war."

"Why shouldn't I?" I asked. "Who even cares anymore?"

"Ari…"

"No, you don't get it. You don't get it at all. I've lost so much just for a idiot boy to tell me that I'm not allowed to be bitter!"

Silence.

"Ari…" Nico said. "I know you've lost a lot."

"Nico," I said. "That day I met you, you told me you'd spoken to Nik. What did he say?"

"He said," Nico voice shook. "The road to redemption is filled with good intentions, but is paved with horrible deeds. He told me he killed himself just because of thoughts like yours. He was too bitter to carry on."

I said nothing, but felt tears falling down my face.

"That… that… that imbecile. How could he?"

"Ari," Nico said. "You switched to Greek again."

"I did?"

"Still doing it."

I concentrated on English.

"Okay, I think I've got it."

"No, you don't."

"I give up," I yelled. "Why am I having so much trouble with English for Zeus' sake?"

"Calm down, Ari."

"Ugh."

Annabeth ran up, closely followed by Piper and Hazel.

"We heard yelling," Annabeth said. "What's wrong?"

"Ari's having some trouble speaking in English," Nico said.

"What are you talking about?" Annabeth asked.

"She's stuck in Greek,"

"Yes and it's so annoying." I said. "I can no longer speak in English for some absurd reason."

"Why do you use bigger words when speaking in Greek?" Nico asked.

"What do you mean?" I asked.

"You called me an idiot, but a minute ago in Greek you said imbecile. And just now you said the word absurd." Nico said.

"I don't know," I said. "Greece used more etiquette."

"Not important," Annabeth said. "Why's she stuck?"

I shrugged.

Hazel sniffled. "Maybe when her emotions get higher, she has more trouble with English."

"Good idea," Annabeth said. "Try calming down, Ari."

Calm. Calm. Calm.

"Okay," I said. "This isn't going to work."

"Ummm…" Piper said. "Are you sure?"

"Yeah, why?"

"Because you're speaking English, right now." Piper stifled a laugh.

"Ugh," I said. "I give up."

Soon, we were all laughing, even Hazel.

"I need a nap," I said. "Anywhere I can sleep?"

"Yeah," Piper said. "You can take…" She glanced at Hazel. "…Jason's cabin."

Piper led me down the stairs to a hallway.

"That one," She said and pointed at a door, "is Jason's. Go sleep."

She ran back up the stairs. I wasn't really that tired, but I had to get away.

"No," a voice said. "No, no, no."

It was coming from one of the room's. Maybe Percy's?

"Annabeth," Percy said. "NO!"

I pulled open the door to Percy's room. He was on the floor, tossing and turning.

"Percy!" I yelled. "Wake up, Percy!"

"Ahh!" He yelled one last time and opened his eyes.

"Ari," He said. "Thanks."

"Another nightmare?"

He nodded. "Yeah."

"Percy," I asked, "have you ever wanted to just… I don't know… give up?"

"Yes," He said. "So many times. That never stopped me though. I reminded myself why I had to keep going."

"What would you do if you didn't have a reason to keep going?" I asked.

"I'd probably be dead," Percy said. "Annabeth is my reason and she's kept me alive many times, too."

"Oh," I said quietly. "Okay."

"Ooh," Percy said. "We aren't talking about me, are we?"

I shook my head. "Percy," I said. "Today, I got stuck in Greek. I wasn't able to speak English and I'm afraid that… that…"

"That what?"

"That it means I'm going to be too stuck in my past to focus on the future. Too stuck in Greek to focus on English." I said. "I give up, Percy!"

"Oh."

(A/Nsoooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo, What do you think? I am not one of those authors who will not post unless they get reviews, BUT IF I DON'T GET SOME REVIEWS, I WILL KILL A CHARACTER. MWAHAHAHA.)