reflection ● jason grace

Dakota is Daria's savior.

For maybe the first time in her life, Daria didn't know what to do.

She had a vague memory of the last five minutes. Atticus looked at Jason immediately after Benny fell. He said something; Michael grabbed her arm and dragged her along with the rest of them. At the last moment, Daria turned.

Demigods don't vaporize like monsters do.

Vaguely, she was aware of Mitch stumbling along with them, being supported from three different sides. Michael refused to let go of her arm. She didn't know how she would continue if he did.

Mea culpa, a voice echoed in her head. Mea maxima culpa.

They made their way to the surface; she knew she was supposed to recognize the feeling of light and the green color of the grass, but everything felt buzzingly numb. Her brain felt foggy. Her bones felt like they were turning to dust. Her breath came out unevenly, but she felt like it wasn't supposed to come out at all.

Then Nathan appeared in her line of sight. She knew they had to keep moving, but his face was bitter and harsh. Daria couldn't bring herself to look at it.

"Daria," he snapped, voice tinged with the similar pain of responsibility. "He died. I was the one who checked. You cannot do this now."

"Leave her alone," Reyna's familiar sharpness pierced through the haze. "We'll keep moving. You don't have to be cruel about it. Jason?"

He was in charge now, Daria recognized. Okay.

"Mitch doesn't look too great guys," Michael grunted. "You and Reyna are injured. We can't go on forever."

"We can't stop now," Jason muttered. Daria knew he was trying to think of a solution, but the pain and shock were getting to all of them. "Atticus will catch up with us."

There were a few beats of silence in which Daria could hear Mitch's light groans accompanied by the rustling of the wind and the chirps of birds and animals. Even the thought of swallowing made her sick. Everything was too loud. Her hands shook in Reyna's who'd taken them in comfort.

"Jason," Michael pressed. "You need to make a decision."

"I know! I," he faltered. Daria stared at her shoes, mostly because she felt like the world was spinning in front of her, but when she finally couldn't bear the noise anymore, Jason's blue eyes were on her.

"Daria," he said softly. Everyone could hear him, but the words were only meant for her. "I need you. Are you with me?"

Somehow, her mind flew to three years ago. She wasn't even aware of the memory until just now.

"If you want me, I'll be by your side."

Jason gave her a crooked grin, so full of affinity for her that Daria almost did a double-take. "I never doubted it."

He needed her. And Daria never went back on her word.

"Yeah," she cleared her throat, trying to get a better breath though the air around her still seemed thin. "I'm here."

And somehow, that was all he needed. The tension he was holding left his body, Daria wished she could do the same. "Michael, give Mitch as much ambrosia as we can risk. We can't stop after this. Nathan, how long till we reach camp?"

Nathan glanced at the unresponsive son of Mars. "With Mitch? A day, maybe more."

Jason shook his head. "Mitch isn't a factor. He's lost a lot of weight – Michael and I can carry him. Hell, Reyna can too. I want us to be back at camp before the sun sets."