CWH 2

A really genius way of being an idiot

Annabeth

Annabeth slowly filled in the lines with pencil, feeling a bit sick as she did so. It was interesting, but also a bit like watching a horror movie from inside of it.

When decoded, the letter said,

'I think someone is watching me. In case of the likely event of my kidnapping, I am writing this journal with my observations. 

In this letter, I would like to remind you of a few things. Keefe, remember to cool down and accept help before running off to rescue me; not that I don't appreciate it, but it would hurt me even more if any of you got injured, captured, or worse. 

Hoping you all are just fine, and that we'll meet again later (after kicking some major snatcher butt).

Love, Sophie.'

The note put most of them into a funk, with many of the activities barely being enjoyed. Annabeth stole moments from the weekend to decipher the rest of the notes, finishing the last, half filled page a few minutes before lights out.

"Whatcha got?" Piper asked, leaning over to peer over Annabeth's shoulder. 

Jerking the book away, she said "I can read it aloud if everyone likes, but it'll take too long to have everyone read it over my shoulder." Scrambling forward, Alex propped her chin on her hands.

"Ready for story time, Miss Chase!" The overly squeaky little-kid voice and the fake adoration caused Annabeth to snort loudly, but she turned to the first page and cleared her throat, ready to read aloud.

"Today is the first day of camp for me, and I'm excited to see both new friends and old. However, I have the strangest tingling feeling, almost like all those times the Neverseen were watching, waiting to ambush. I could be paranoid, but... I need to keep my eyes open.

*****

The first full day here, and I continue to see shadows EVERYWHERE. I'm glad I encoded these journal entries, because if something happens, I want there to be a written record of my discoveries."

Flipping the page, Annabeth continued to read the entries in order.

"I went on a hike today, and something seems to be wrong with the forest. Our grove is in the deep, magic part of the forest, our dens just barely on the more powerful side of the barrier. Magic creatures may be disappearing from nearby, so now my mission is twofold; find the animals, and defeat the people who are most likely stalking me.

*****

I SAW A CLOAK! I can't be imagining this, because I heard a muttered curse from a patch of brambles, and when I checked there was an eye shaped patch caught on the thorns. Hope that whoever it was got scratched. A lot. They deserve it after messing with me so much.

*****

Ugh. I woke up in a cold sweat last night, remembering our previous encounters with the Neverseen. Memories of hated voices calling me Moonlark as if it were a curse word when it is actually the first name I ever had, trying to use me to get to the secrets of my creators (that IS what they are, but that doesn't mean I'm not human... elf... you know what I mean by that!). 

We still don't know for sure the fates of those agents who got caught in that avalanche. The boulders crushed that base, but we shouldn't have taken the deaths as a granted. I should have... Best not to dwell on 'maybes' and 'should haves'. Guilt's a slippery slope, and I need my wits about me now more than ever.

*****

Okay. I'm not learning anything jumping at every shadow that leaps when I swing my flashlight. I might just have to initiate a fight, and trust that Ro will come help when I call. If all goes well, we can finally tie up the loose ends that still haunt the blackest parts of my mind.