Forgotten memories

...Lamp

We recounted the entire ordeal to Chiron. As we concluded, Chiron turned his attention to Mr. D.

"We should launch a search for Annabeth immediately," Chiron suggested.

"I'll go," Thalia and Percy chimed in simultaneously.

Mr. D sniffed dismissively. "Certainly not!"

Both Thalia and Percy erupted in complaints, but Mr. D raised his hand, signaling for silence. The angry purplish fire in his eyes hinted at divine repercussions if we continued.

"From what you have told me," Mr. D declared, "we have broken even on this escapade. We have, ah, regrettably lost Annie Bell—"

"Annabeth," Thalia snapped, her frustration evident. Percy had mentioned Annabeth attending camp since the age of seven, yet Mr. D continued to feign ignorance of her name.

"Yes, yes," he conceded. "And you procured a small, annoying boy and a glorified lamp to replace her. So, I see no point in risking further half-bloods on a ridiculous rescue. The possibility is very great that this Annie girl is dead."

Though irked by the lamp reference, I held my tongue. Percy, however, seemed ready to throttle Mr. D. Zeus had appointed him as the camp director for a century as punishment for his misconduct on Olympus. What was intended as retribution for Mr. D became a sentence for the campers.

"Annabeth may be alive," Chiron interjected, struggling to sound optimistic. He had practically raised Annabeth during her year-round camper days. Percy never ceased singing her praises.

"She's very bright. If... if our enemies have her, she will try to play for time. She may even pretend to cooperate."

"That's right," Thalia affirmed. "Luke would want her alive."

Concerned about Luke, I ventured to ask, "This Luke guy, what is he? Is he like an evil god?"

Percy exchanged a glance with Thalia, who turned stoic. "It's a long story, but the short one is this: There was a camper who was resented, then he went rogue, found the remains of Kronos, and now he's trying to resurrect the Titan lord to destroy the camp and the gods," Percy explained cautiously, glancing nervously at Thalia. Her expression hardened.

"In which case," Mr. D interjected with apathy, "I'm afraid she will have to be smart enough to escape on her own."

Percy, angered, rose from the table.

"Percy," Chiron warned. In the recesses of my mind, I recognized Mr. D as someone not to trifle with—even for impulsive ADHD kids like me, he offered no leniency. A strange familiarity lingered, yet I couldn't place it.

"You're glad to lose another camper," Percy accused, his tone seething. "You'd like it if we all disappeared!"

Mr. D stifled a yawn. "You have a point?"

"Yeah," Percy growled. "Just because you were sent here as a punishment doesn't mean you have to be a lazy jerk! This is your civilization, too. Maybe you could try helping a little!"

For a moment, the crackle of the fire was the only sound. The light cast a sinister glow in Mr. D's eyes as he prepared to respond—likely with a curse capable of obliterating someone—when Nico burst into the room, closely followed by Grover.

"SO COOL!" Nico exclaimed, extending his hands towards Chiron. "You're... you're a centaur!"

Chiron managed a nervous smile. "Yes, Mr. di Angelo, if you please. Though, I prefer to stay in human form in this wheelchair for, ah, first encounters."

"Whoa!" Nico exclaimed, shifting his gaze to Mr. D. "You're the wine dude? No way!"

Mr. D diverted his eyes from Percy, shooting Nico a look of disdain. "The wine dude?"