Percy Jackson Little Sister (Sequel To "Broken" Written by Tyler Jane Smith)

Chapter 99

Danny:

“Are you awake?” I opened my eye just a crack, and found Katie hovering over my bed. She was staring down at me with wide, tired eyes.

I groaned and sat up. “I am now.” She smiled approvingly. And I shuffled along the bed, so that she could sit next to me.

When she was comfortable; she leaned her head back against the wall. And briefly closed her eyes.

I must've slept all day long, because it was dark outside now. The moon hanging low in the dark, blank sky. “How's Brooke?” I asked, indicating to the twin lying in the bed next to me.

“She's good. Just tired, and... Sad. Like the rest of us.” I nodded. I knew the feeling. “The wound has totally healed though.” She offered. “Only left a little scar.”

I gave her a small smile. “That's the best news I've heard all day.” We were silent for a little while.

And then, out of the blue, Katie said: “It was Zöe, Damien and Selena's funeral today.” I stared at her. The words were like knives to the heart. For the past few days, I had been kidding myself. Not letting myself accept that they were really gone. A funeral... Well, that was just proof that everything that had happened, was real.

I wanted to cry, but instead I said. “H...H...How can you have a funeral... Without the bodies?”

She looked at me for a long time. “They do it differently here, or so I'm told. There's these burial shrouds. And they have a ceremony, and they burn them.”

I shook my head. “They should've woken me up. I would've wanted to go.”

She shrugged, looking sympathetic. “They didn't wake any of the kids up.” I was silent for a while then. And I was just about to nod off for good.

When Katie touched my arm. “Danny,” she whispered. “I just want you to know, that none of this was your fault. And that, you're a good person. There's a lot of people who care about you, me and Brooke are some of those people. Don't beat yourself up. And don't tell yourself that you're worthless. Because you're not. I might be a kid, but I know what it feels like to think you're not good enough. I know what it feels like to want to give up. I can help you, if you'll let me.”

I took her hand and held it. “I will.”