𝐈𝐓𝐄𝐑𝐔𝐌 • Heroes of Olympus

It Started With a Dream

ANDY WAS STUCK. No, she was trapped. Trapped in a humongous cave as dark as night. The air was stuffy and humid, but it didn’t have enough oxygen. The daughter of Apollo felt her heartbeat rise as her labored breaths filled the cave. Sweat dripped from her forehead. She tried to feel her Swiss Army knife in her pocket. Her breath hitched when she felt nothing underneath the cloth of her jeans. Her only weapon, gone.

The earth around her stirred, as though it gained a sudden consciousness. It reminded Andy of the Labyrinth, something she never wanted to remember again. She tried to move, but her legs were stuck to the ground. She wasn’t easily frightened, but the lack of light triggered intense claustrophobia.

The cave shook, shaking Andy’s very bones. A soft laughter rang out. It filled the cave, echoing from every direction. Something seemed to be pulling her legs into the earth. She glanced down, almost screaming at the sight of her legs, or rather, the lack of it.

 It took her a moment to realize that it wasn’t something that was pulling her in. Rather, the earth itself was pulling her, slowly gobbling her up, an inch at a time. She was already knee-deep in the earth. Time was running.

A darker shape shifted in the darkness. It turned towards Andy, or maybe away from her, she couldn’t tell. The shape let out a laugh, as though amused to see her. The sound was like rocks grinding against each other.

“Look who it is,” it roared. “Little Fotos, stuck in a cave.”

Andy gritted her teeth. She knew that voice. It was the same voice that had spoken in her previous dreams. She hated it.

“Who are you?” she screamed. “Why do you keep bothering me?”

“You’ll know soon enough,” came the reply. “But until then, I will stay here, making sure you won’t stop my brothers from rising.”

“I don’t even know you, much less your brothers,” Andy snapped. She couldn’t show fear, not here. “I don’t care about your rise or fall. Leave me out of this.”

“Oh, but you soon will. When you do, remember this; this is a war you cannot win. So run off while you still can, little insect.”

The figure laughed again. Its shape slowly dissolved into nothingness. The laughter morphed into the soft one from earlier. It echoed louder. Andy tried, and failed, at controlling her fear. The cave was closing in on her, darkening as it edged closer. The air was getting thick, crowded, and unmoving. Andy panted, her eyes wild.

No, she told herself. I won’t die here. I won’t let it get me.

She pulled hard against the ground. Her limps ached with the effort, but she wouldn’t give in. The ground pulled harder, the laughter getting louder still. Andy bent all her will towards getting out. Her face scrunched up with concentration. The earth shook. The laughter quietened. The pulling got weaker. She kept trying.

A violent shake split the ground before her. Andy was spit out onto the edge of the newly formed chasm. A dark shape rose from it. Andy couldn’t make anything out, but the figure seemed important. She stepped closer, but it remained darker than ever.

“Fear not, Andrea Fotos,” said the figure, “for I am your ally.”

The voice was feminine, and strangely familiar. Andy tried to place it, but couldn’t.

“Who are you?” she blurted out. “And why should I trust you?”

The figure laughed. A graceful, young laugh, unlike the cruel laughter from before.

“My identity cannot be revealed until I’ve spoken to you of my message,” it said. “The risk is too high.”

“What is your message, then?” asked Andy, impatience creeping in.