Mortals (A Percy Jackson Story)

Chapter 9

Annabeth

It has been eight days. Eight days of this torture. Eight days of sitting in this room, watching my friends and I die slowly. Eight days of a feeling of despair slowly crushing me and my spirit. Eight days.

Jason had stopped receiving torture ever since he almost died of blood loss. I think the people doing the torturing were afraid to lose their plaything. Luke and his buddy had also backed off, settling for threats and hard slaps across the face. At least for me, anyway.

Percy. Percy, he was a completely different story. He is almost never in our cell anymore. My best guess is that he pissed off the wrong people and now has even more "activities." When I do see him, he can't speak. Even if he could, I don't think he would. I don't think any of us will.

Every four days, we get a break. Every three days, we receive a plate of stale bread, and an apple. Every morning, we receive a dirty cup of filthy water. If their goal was to weaken us, they were succeeding.

Day nine was the day I snapped. Not that anyone knew. Day nine was the day I began studying each guard, searching for weaknesses. Searching for an escape.

I believe I went insane for a period of time. I'm not entirely sure, but if I didn't, I must've came close. But, I am getting ahead of myself. For you to truly understand what happened, I need to start on the night of day eight.

Day eight was the day we had a break. The entire morning, was spent regaining our strength. But, as far as I can tell, it was only making us weaker. It gave us time to remember of what had happened in the previous days. And to have nightmares about what was happening to the others.

But day eight was different. The torturers had eased up a bit, due to the close call with Jason. So on the night of day eight, we all spoke for the first time since our first break day.

Jason woke up, and soon after so did Percy. He still drooled in his sleep. I find it amazing that in such a terrible and animalistic situation, something so, human, could still be found.

We first assessed each other's injuries, Jason's leg still broken, along with various other injuries, and Percy refused to let us see. He did manage to keep the room light though, cracking jokes and making up strange songs to keep us upbeat. That's when the fractures that were in my heart began widening.

At some point, one of us had suggested playing a game. I suspect it was Percy. He swept his raven hair caked with blood to the side, and flashed me that smile that made my insides melt. Yes, despite our situation, his smile still did that to me.

"Let's play.... Never Have I Ever," he said with a mischievous smirk. Jason gave a snort and shook his head.

"I don't even know why I am agreeing to this but sure, I guess," Jason said, wincing a little. "I will go first. Never have I ever.... Drank any sort of alcohol."

I raised my hand, along with Percy, who had a look of shock on his face. I was surprised as well.

"Not even in church?" I asked.

"I take grape juice," he said with a sheepish smile.

"Wait, what is the punishment?" Percy asked.

(AN: If you don't know how to play, it's pretty simple. The person up has to say something they've never done, and if any of the people they are playing with have done it, the people who have done it must take a sip of an alcoholic drink. But bc I am underage, my friends and I do ketchup shots. Gross, right?)

"Tell about the first time you've ever drank alcohol," Jason said.

"I only took it in church," I said.