𝐒𝐏𝐀𝐑𝐑𝐎𝐖 ༄ ᴘercy ᴊᴀᴄᴋꜱᴏɴ

my beastly friend pops by

The walk down the road is shorter than it looks, but no less terrifying. Crickets chirp in the long necks of greenery on both sides, accompanying the rattle of what I hoped to be insects and not snakes. Even the thought made my skin crawl.

The others seemed to be faring similar to me, not that it eased my nerves. Annabeth was clutching her dagger, her head tilted in an almost feline manner, every muscle tensed. Percy took the rear, but by his uncharacteristic silence, I knew he was similarly freaked out. Kai stood beside me at the front, a frown creasing his face.

The depressing surroundings darkened my mood, as I began to think of how dangerous this really was. Eventually, the only thing I could really think of was the man from my dreams, regret pooling in my stomach like lead. Oh, I was so stupid. He could be the one waiting for me, and here I was, leading my friends right into his hands.

I was such a fool. I was meant to take a different three people, ones who I didn't care about. That was the plan. But as soon as they protested, I gave in. Was I really that weak-willed?

They could die on this quest. It'd be on me.

Bile rises in my throat, my stomach churning, and I swallow hard to keep it down, desperate to keep myself together.

"Let's play a game." Kai says, and the noise is so unexpected in the silence that I immediately jump.

I glance at him. "Really? We spent like an hour on the truck playing games."

Kai shakes his heads. "Those were card games. I'm talking about truth or dare or never have I ever or 21 questions."

Annabeth shrugs, falling into step beside me, Percy following a moment later. "Let's do 21 questions."

Kai grins, nodding. "Okay, favourite colour? Mine's orange."

I wrinkle my nose in disgust. "Ew. Orange? Green is definitely better."

Annabeth nods. "I prefer brown."

Percy shakes his head. "You're all wrong. Blue is supreme."

Kai snorts. "Well of course you'd say that - your dad's god of the sea."

Percy just shakes his head. "No - it's kind of a thing with me and my mom. My old step-dad - he said he didn't believe in blue food so, on principle, me and my mom made as much blue foods as we could." He grins, glancing at us. "So blue just is a little special to me." Then he shrugs. "I mean, having my dad be the god of the sea probably helps too though."

"That's so cute." I hum, smiling. "Your mom sounds lovely."

Percy nods. "She is. She's amazing. You should meet her, I think she'd like you."

My cheeks warm and I smile at him, about to respond-

A scream cuts through the air.

"AHHHHHH!"

The sound is raw and desperate before it cuts off, just as abruptly as it came.

We all freeze at the scream, our head shooting in the direction it came from. Further down the dark road, much further.

"Help me!" Someone screams again, their cry high pitched and painful. "Stop! PLEASE!"

The sheer pain in their voice has us immediately running, Kalon in my hand as I sprint. The pounding on the ground seems louder than normal, like the beat of a drum as I reverberates through your soul. My breath comes fast and uneven as the town finally comes into view.

It's a ghost town.

Around us, are nothing but abandoned houses. They look like something out of a cowboy film, complete with the rusty hanging signs and wooden shacks. Paint is peeling from the walls, wind rattling loose shutters as dust curls around our feet. It's something from an old Western.