all our broken skies, a kotlc + pjo/hoo fanfic

chapter eight

Sophie heard footsteps rushing towards her. Her heart staggered; Shade had left, leaving her alone to face whatever came. And also to recover from what had just happened. She wasn't going to freak out again—at least, she didn't think so—but Sophie was still unsettled.

The blonde tugged an eyelash out instinctively, finding it calmed her nerves. She took a deep breath before pushing herself to her feet. Shade couldn't have made it far; if she was in danger, they'd come.

...Right?

Of course they would, Sophie chided herself. They helped you. They wouldn't do that if they didn't want to keep you safe. And why would they give you a name if they weren't planning on coming back?

The owners of the footsteps emerged from the darkness, the lanterns casting shadows on their faces. Rachel looked out of breath, immediately leaning against the railing. Percy, however, seemed fine, just worried.

"Sophie? You okay?" he asked. She took note of the pen he was anxiously fiddling with, twirling between his fingers without looking at it.

After a moment, Sophie nodded. "Y-Yeah. I just..." She couldn't tell them she'd been eavesdropping. That would only make them more suspicious of her. No, she'd just lie. Had she been a good liar before the amnesia accident. "I, um, I thought... I thought I saw the person from earlier. The one who was following us. With the silver hair?"

Percy frowned, scanning the bridge.

"Were they?" Rachel asked.

"What?"

The redhead brushed some of her hair out of her face. "Were they following you?"

Sophie shrugged. "I don't know. Maybe? I just... I got scared. I'm a little on edge." She smiled awkwardly.

"Happens to the best of us," Percy assured her. "Do you have somewhere to stay?"

"Oh, uh." She thought of the storage unit she'd found Gethen in, the only place she knew of to stay. There wasn't really enough room, and she didn't want to force him to sleep on the floor. "I... Not really? It's kinda far from here."

"You can stay with us," he offered.

"And by us, he means him, his parents, and his little sister," Rachel chimed in.

Percy glanced at her. "You can stay over too, if you want." The redhead hesitated. "I'll have my mom bake cookies."

"Deal," Rachel said immediately.

Sophie tugged another eyelash out, frowning slightly at the ground. Should she? Was this wise? After all, she was trusting two possibly delusional teens.

I mean, it's not like you have anywhere else to stay...

She sighed. "I— Sure."

-

One would think that Percy's mom would be a bit more concerned about him bringing him a strange girl, but she accepted it in stride, introducing herself as Sally an her husband as Paul. The woman gave off a soothing homely vibe that calmed Sophie's nerves. Sally reminded her of someone, but she couldn't place who. Even though mouthwatering cookie they were served sent sparks through her brain.

Sophie and Rachel were in the living room, the blonde taking the floor despite the other's protests. She didn't mind, though; she felt fat more comfortable on solid ground.

Although she didn't have a watch, Sophie could tell it was getting late. The sky had fully darkened long ago, but she found herself unable to sleep. Her mind kept drifting to what had happened on the bridge. And Shade—something about them didn't make sense to her, but she couldn't place what it was.