Icarus - Annabeth Chase

chapter eleven.

Akira was back to normal and they were all thankful for that, she was starting to scare them. She explained that was what happened after using her powers for to long and using them to much. She wasn't sad, she was more pissed off because she made a promise that she wouldn't let her die for the gods, they didn't deserve her sacrifice yet she did. And she hated it.

At the edge of the dump, they found a tow truck so old it might've been thrown away itself. But the engine started, and it had a full tank of gas, so they decided to borrow it.

Akira drove. She didn't seem as stunned as Zoe or Grover or Percy, not anymore, she was rage fueled and that alone was enough for her to start a fucking war.

"The skeletons are still out there," she reminded them. "We need to keep moving."

Thalia was sat next to her with a straight face, she didn't seem as affected either and Akira liked that. She was strong and often let her emotions control her but not now, not when they needed people to be strong.

She navigated them through the desert, under clear blue skies, the sand so bright it hurt to look at. Zoe sat with Grover and Percy in the back, quiet as a mouse. The air was cool and dry, but the nice weather just seemed like an insult after losing Bianca.

His hand closed around the little figurine that had cost her life. He still couldn't even tell what god it was supposed to be. Nico would know.

He wanted to believe that Bianca was still alive somewhere. But he had a bad feeling that she was gone for good.

"It should've been me," He said. "I should've gone into the giant."

"If you don't shut up I'll pummel you 'till you can't breathe." She sounded pissed so he stopped talking about it.

"Don't say that!" Grover panicked. "It's bad enough Annabeth is gone, and now Bianca. Do you think I could stand it if..." He sniffled. "Do you think anybody else would be my best friend?"

"Hey! What am I, chopped liver?" Akira exclaimed, Grover smiling at her through the review mirror.

He wiped under his eyes with an oily cloth that left his face grimy, like he had on war paint. "I'm... I'm okay."

But he wasn't okay. Ever since the encounter in New Mexico—whatever had happened when that wild wind blew through—he seemed really fragile, even more emotional than usual. Percy was afraid to talk to him about it, because he might start bawling.

At least there's one good thing about having a friend who gets freaked out more than you do. He realized he couldn't stay depressed. He had to set aside thinking about Bianca and keep them going forward, the way Thalia and Akira were doing. He wondered what she and Akira were talking about in the front of the truck.

"You don't look affected." Thalia spoke.

"I was. Not anymore. You get used to it after so many years, now I'm just angry." Akira gripped the steering wheel so hard her knuckles turned white and Thalia was scared she would break her hand and pull the wheel right off.

"I spent so many years as a tree I forgot how to deal with stuff like this," She chuckled bitterly and Akira could relate, spending so many years just wandering on auto pilot you forget what it's like to actually be alive.

"When me and my family died I.. I was devastated because I got another chance at life but I wasn't really living, you know?" Thalia nodded but then did a double take, what?

"What do you mean when me and my family died?"

"Exactly that. We were slaughtered by a man that I had rejected earlier that day. They payed the price for my selfishness because when I died Persephone was waiting for me, a smile on her face as if everyone I ever loved didn't die at my hands. She said it wasn't my time yet, the gods had something in store for me so she granted me immortality, gave me her blessing and sent me on my merry way."