Finding Home

Chapter 4 - Captured

~38 years later~

I flinched as the general whipped him again. "Stop." I pleaded. "Stop!"

Luke looked over, smiling through his pain. "I'm fine, Percy. Don't—" He was cut off by the whip cracking down again. He cried out in pain, though I could tell he was trying not to.

"Stop!" I shouted again. "Hurt me, not him!"

"Percy, no! I'm not worth it."

I knew he believed what he was saying, and it made me angry. I knew I could take the pain, and I wasn't going to let him get hurt. "Yes, you are." I whispered as the general dragged me over to him.

Luke struggled in the general's grip as he dragged him to the chair across the room. The look in his eyes reminded me of how we were captured in the first place.

I was in my sixteen-year-old form as I searched the now empty battlefield for the general. When I finally spotted him, my blood ran cold. He stood with a knife to Luke's neck. His eyes were wide. He knew I saw him and was frantically mind-messaging me.

Go, leave me here, he said.

Never. I was not going to fail someone else I cared about. Not again.

"Commander," the general started, "surrender now or I will kill your friend."

I would have snapped my fingers and killed him instantly for even daring to touch Luke, but I was worn out. The battle had lasted for hours, and I was drained of energy, since I hadn't built up endurance for my powers much. I raised my hands. "I surrender." I said, my eyes not leaving Luke. I knew he couldn't have really killed Luke, but the reforming process was excruciating, and I didn't want him to go through that.

"Hood," he said, snapping his fingers impatiently.

I gritted my teeth as I slowly lowered my hood, revealing my identity. "Just don't hurt him," I muttered.

"You're awfully young, Commander. I wonder, is your little friend here the same?" he mused, a sadistic smile adorning his face.

"Like I would tell you," I snapped.

The general just smirked and spoke to Luke. "Lower your hood."

"No," Luke refused, following my example of not telling the general.

"Fine. Men, shoot the commander," he said. The guards aimed their weapons at my head, though it seemed they had issues with shooting at a kid.

"Wait!" Luke shouted.

The guards hesitated, glancing at the general for directions. He gestured for them to pause. "What?"

Luke lowered his hood, revealing his most current looks: shoulder length white hair and pale pink eyes, which met mine apologetically. "Don't shoot him."

The general grinned. "Chain the commander." He commanded his guards. "Use the new chains. They should hold him."

The guards did what the general said. As soon as the manacles were around my wrists and neck, I could feel the rest of my powers drain out of me. "You have me now." I said. "Let him go."

He smirked. "I never said I would let him go, just that I wouldn't kill him."

I struggled against my chains. "You tricked me." I growled.

"Ah ah." He pressed the knife closer to Luke's neck, drawing a thin line of silver ichor. "Don't forget who's in charge here."

I froze, guilt flooding me. "I'm so sorry," I said to Luke.