Almost Gone Forever

Tradegy

August's p.o.v.

Mount Tamalpais

I groaned as we walked up the mountain, the earth felt like it was clinging to our shoes. We barely made it a mile up the mountain in 10 minutes.

It felt like I was trying to walk through jello, except thankfully, it wasn't seeping into my clothes.

I looked at Percy, his face grim and determined.

It inspired me to try harder. If my brother could do it, then I could.

We took a break about halfway up, setting up a blanket on some large flat rocks.

It felt like this was a designated stop, to allow us to rest.

I took out a peanut butter and jelly sandwich and proceeded to scarf it down, making Percy laugh at me.

I looked at him confused, until he touched the corner of his mouth.

I blushed as I wiped mine clean, saying, " Shut it, you saw nothing."

Percy laughed and said, "No way, that was gold! If only I had a camera!"

Annabeth snorted, sitting lazily next to him.

" The only camera you have is shattered in your bedroom, you dropped it taking a photo of us when we first got together."

Percy protested, invoking an argument between the two.

I flinched, noting how Thalia"s stare melted through the two.

Her stare halted the conversation, making the air tense.

I played with my thumbs, muttering," Awkward. "

The three looked at me, then all three broke out in laughter, making me smile a bit.

Thalia threw twig at me, which landed in my hair (I was NOT happy about that), and said, "Good tension breaker cousin."

I realized that her and Percy were cousins as well, then the realization slowly dawned on me.

My face heated up slowly, I couldn't even muster words for what she wanted with Percy.

GROSS.

Thalia smiled at Percy, starting some small talk with him.

I looked at Annabeth, and felt sick to my stomach. If all of us were related...

I felt my stomach flutter, then I excused myself, running to a bush and emptying my stomach.

The three looked at me concerned, but I waved them off.

" I'm fine, just need some air. Alone."

I moved to the side and sighed, muttering, " Gross, how can they do that?"

After about 10 minutes, I walked back, intending to apologize.

When I climbed the rock, I looked for them in confusion but they were nowhere to be found.

" Guys? Where did you go?"

The blanket was still on the rock, the food untouched.

I got a bad feeling in my stomach, so I slowly pulled out a dagger Will gave to me.

I looked at it, my hands shaking.

I slowly gripped my wrist and tried to steel my nerves.

" Well, well, well, look who we have here."

I looked up and paled, almost wetting myself.

A massive cyclops was looking at me, his one big eye gleaming with an emotion I don't wish to repeat.