𝐒𝐓𝐑𝐄𝐍𝐆𝐓𝐇, Clarisse la Rue

𝐢. pasta or endless mazes? tough choice

STRENGTH
━━ act three, chapter one.

ˏˋ°•*⁀➷

   NABI'S NIGHTMARE STARTED LIKE THIS.

   She found herself stuck in some kind of long corridor, that stretched endlessly in both directions. The ceiling was solid stone. Normally, her dreams had a little sense to them, but this time? She had no clue what was going on.

   "That way," A voice called out, "follow me."

   The person's footsteps grew louder, and Nabi realised that it was an entire group of people—their feet simultaneously striking the Earth, the sound of gravel shuffling beneath them.

   Nabi held her breath as the shadows turned the corner, and she was standing face to face with Luke, of all people, and his men.

She bit back a curse, staring into his eyes—there was less light in them than she remembered, the blue a dark, saturated colour that Nabi couldn't recognise—as she got into a fighting stance. But his glare turned away, and she was left awkwardly watching him count his troop of demigods.

"Luke?" She mumbled.

He couldn't seem to hear her. Neither did the rest of his group, so cautiously, she walked closer. Luke muttered something under his breath, before asking his warriors, "Where's Chris?"

   They all looked around. A tall boy with brown hair, raised a sword in the air over the crowd of soldiers. "He seemed really weird when we were packing up camp."

   "I didn't ask if he was acting weird, Alabaster," Luke scowled, pinching the bridge of his nose, "I asked where he was."

   Alabaster shrugged. "I think he's coming."

   Clearly, Luke was stressed. His scowl deepened, and he swung Backbiter, his sword, about impatiently—his troops cowered back, afraid by his menacing weapon. Even though she was still invisible, Nabi backed up too.

"I hear him." Luke said.

At first, when Nabi heard the sound of hastened running, she flinched. She thought that somebody was gonna spot her and unexpectedly attack. But it was just Chris. With crazed eyes and a trembling in his voice, carrying his sword in one hand.

   "Mary!" He cried, "Mary— I saw her, down here!"

   Nabi's eyebrows pinched together. There was a glint in his brown eyes that didn't seem right. Even when they had fought on the Princess Andromeda...

   "Mary?" Luke frowned, "Chris, what are you talking about?"

   Nabi was pretty confused too. Who was Mary?

   Chris went to run a hand through his hair, before tugging it roughly. He whimpered, and screwed his eyes shut. "She was here... she was here, and then—"

   "Chris!" Luke yelled, "Snap out of it! We can't just stop and wait. The rest of our men are tired, and we don't know when the Labyrinth will change."

   Chris shook his head, and then lunged to grab Alabaster's shirt. The brown haired boy yelped, "Hey, dude! What the—"

   "You!" Chris growled—something about him wasn't him, but then his grip on Alabaster loosened and he blinked, "I... I'm sorry. I don't..."