𝔅𝔲𝔯𝔡𝔢𝔫 - 𝔉𝔢𝔪𝔒ℭ𝔵𝔏𝔢𝔬 𝔙𝔞𝔩𝔡𝔢𝔷

15. #BurnedAtTheStake!. . .Again

I had been under the sky for what felt like a while. I never really knew how long until Artemis had told me. My body no longer hurt, and if I kept my eyes closed, I was at peace. My breathing wasn't ragged anymore, I was just cold. Very, very , cold.

The winds and energy was too dangerous for anyone to get within a certain distance. I just wanted company. It was hard to hear whenever someone came up, but I managed just fine. Luke tried getting closer, but it zapped him so hard he flew back a few feet. I also couldn't tell the distance, my eyesight was fuzzy. Another guy tried getting closer, and it stopped his heart completely. Luke was mad. He said if he could've gotten closer he would've beat the shit out of me. I guess I fried someone important.

The ground was vibrating again. It started a few hours earlier. At least, I thought it was a few hours. I couldn't tell.

Someone walked up to me again, and I didn't bother to open my eyes. They had taken Annabeth from me an hour ago. . .Was it an hour ago? Or was it a day? Or was it just a few minutes? I didn't know, time's hard to tell under the weight of the sky. I wasn't even hungry, I just knew I hadn't eaten in a while. I was kind of thirsty, but as long as I didn't think about it, I was fine.

"Open your eyes." A voice I was well acquainted with ordered. 

I kept my eyes closed.

"I said," Luke growled. "To open your eyes."

"What do you want?" I asked, hearing my voice as if I was screaming and lost it.

"I'm not going to tell you. Open your fucking eyes."

I obeyed, not wanting to talk anymore. It hurt my throat, and it would be hella annoying to deal with. Luke stood in tan army pants, with a matching T-shirt. I couldn't see his shoes very well, even if they were close to me. He had that old stopwatch in his hand again.

"What?" I croaked.

"You're arriving on hour twenty-two." He said. "Artemis is here."

I wanted to laugh, someone was here to help. But really, I was weak. I felt like passing out and never waking up again. I wanted to go home with Percy to Mom. I wanted to lay down on Mom and hug them as long as I physically could. I wanted to eat something, I was starved, and my throat was dry. I just focused on other things, I had to play it off as if I was okay, it was another distraction. Just keep making jokes to yourself. Nobody needs to hear it. Just you.

He walked away and a giant hand pushed Artemis into the room. Is it a room if you're outside? shut up.

Her eyes widened when she saw me. "Unchain me. Let me help her!"

Atlas chuckled from the shadows. "I will not free you, if that is what you ask."

"It isn't!" She looked at me with concern. "She is dying!"

The winds around me were still strong, energy zapping at any bug that had interest in me. My hair was flying around my face, and my hoodie was no longer on. When had I lost it?  I had no idea. Maybe they took it when they had the bag over my head.

Atlas clicked something, and Artemis ran forward. She still had chains on, but they weren't connected to anything like I was in the trailer. She went to brace for the sky, but I stopped her.

"Wait," I said.

Artemis moved down to hear me over the winds.

"Don't take the sky from me." I said. "Once you do, I will be useless. I'll fall to the ground and be out for days. It happened to Annie. I don't know how long its been, but she's been gone for a while."