The Hidden Truth: The Rise [NOT EDITED!]

Chapter 27: Jo

        The four of us sat on a nine forty train back to camp with practically no one on board. Leo’s arm was draped over Bianca’s shoulders while her head rested against his chest. He had his head tilted on top of hers, and was sound asleep. Those two are just too cute together. I envy them, being able to let others close to them without having to worry about their safety. It must be nice. Nico kept staring out the window as the lights flashed by us. I yawned against my will. Shifting in my seat, I tilted my head against the headrest and let myself get captured and dragged into the blackness known as unconsciousness.

         When my blue-green eyes shot open, I fearfully found myself laying in a deserted dirt field that rested just outside of the first place I was truly able to call home. Camp Half-Blood.

         "What in Hades is going on here?" I hesitantly asked myself. Did I really want to know the answer to that? What if I found my new family hurt beyond repair? Will I be able to go on knowing that I lost even more people close to me?

         I fiercely shook my head from side to side, trying to clear those petty thoughts from my mind, while lifting myself up off of the earth. I hastily tore off my now destroyed black leather jacket with silent tears spilling over my eyelids. Sitting here in a daze was not going to help anyone. I needed answers.

         I fought against my feelings of despair as to what I might find before me as I dragged myself up a small hill that was once decorated with lively green grass, but was now barren. I had to get a better vantage point of my surrounding. I spun around, looking for anyone, but dreadfully found no one in sight. They’ve got to be here somewhere.

         For the first time in a long time, I decided to ignore my head and to instead follow my heart. I began to walk in search of any sign of my family. Soon, I found my silent prayers answered when I heard the sound of swords skidding through dirt, shouting, growling. I knew the owners of those shouts! It was Bianca and Nico!

         I threw caution to the wind and shouted for my friends. “Bianca! Nico!”  I’m coming.

         Abandoning the comfort of the bare dirt field, I ran into the surrounding trees, rushing towards them. They didn’t answer me when I had screamed. Please let them be okay. I don’t think I can survive losing anymore family members.

         As I rounded a large patch of trees, I saw them. Nico and Bianca were fighting a chimera. Damn it. Where’s Leo? I hope he’s okay.

         I desperately tried to race towards them, but before I could, some asshole clamped a hand over my mouth, forcing me to be quiet. My captor quickly took a firm hold of my waist and lifted me a few inches off the ground so I couldn't escape.

         While attempting to break free from their hold I spotted something. There was a figure lying behind Bianca and Nico… I focused on the object. It was Leo. He was out cold and I could smell his blood from all the way over here. He was going to bleed to death soon if no one helped him. Fuck. I can’t do anything right. He’s going to die, crushing my sister’s heart. I can’t let him do that to Bianca. She’s already been through too much.

         With those thoughts in mind I fought against this bastard's grasp. Josephine Martin, daughter of the god of war, was sure as hell not going down easily. I am going to make this dick head wish they had never been born.  

         I flung my head back as hard as I could manage while still being held off the ground. I heard a crunch as my skull slammed into my captor’s ugly face. I was foolish to believe for even a second that I was winning this fight, because faster than I could scream 'fuck you,' I felt something cold and sharp get dragged across my throat that was followed by something wet and warm flowing down my skin. I couldn’t fight the panic the flowed through my body, causing me to tremble in fear. Blood. Once again, my injuries will hurt the ones I love. I’m so damn useless. In a flash of white, the scenery changed.