ENTRAPPED ₂

3

ETHAN HATED JASON MORE ALL THE WAY TO THE BIG HOUSE'S FRONT DOOR.

Don't get him wrong: Jason wasn't special. Ethan Nakamura hated a lot of things. He always had, even when Madeleine had still been around. He just hated things more without her.

He hated the Big House, with its four stories and wraparound porch and lounge chairs. He hated Chiron, who lived in the Big House, because the centaur seemed to spend more time sending kids to their deaths than doing anything useful. He hated Camp Half-Blood, because it was full of impotent assholes and Ethan only stuck around because it would destroy Madeleine if he left. (A fact he found ironic, because for once, it was her who was gone.)

Ethan hated both of Jason's friends, because he could tell they were both hiding something. He hated Jason for being the only authentic one. He hated Hera for giving them a false lead on Madeleine and Percy.

Honestly, Ethan could go on. He could go on for days and days and days about everything he hated, but he figured that wasn't the point. He actually figured he should probably calm himself down, because if he kept thinking like this, he was going to throw Jason into the ground and stomp his teeth out just because he existed. That was bad. Ethan was supposed to be changing. Also, Annabeth would kill him.

Unfortunately, Ethan didn't hate Annabeth. His life would have been a lot easier if he did.

Jason tensed and stopped short just as they reached the porch.

"What?" Ethan asked, his tone harsher than he had intended.

Jason took a step away from him. "I am not supposed to be here."

Despite his disdain for the other boy, Ethan laughed. "Yeah, get used to the feeling." He gestured dramatically to the stairs. "After you. I'd rather not see Chiron if I can avoid it."

Jason's eyes darted from Drew to Ethan. "Who's Chiron?"

Drew's smile was painful. "Oh, you'll see, sweetie." She put her hand on Jason's back and gently pushed him forward. "Go on, before I make you."

Jason turned to face them. He seemed to decide that Drew was the lesser of two evils, because he asked her his next question: "Why do you guys hate us so much?"

Drew rolled her eyes. "Oh, please. Don't bore me. I don't care for you. I just want my friend back."

"What friend?" Jason asked. "I swear, I don't know anything. Like, literally."

"Close your mouth," Drew said, and Jason's jaw immediately snapped shut. She was charmspeaking; Ethan knew it immediately. He rarely heard it because she never used it on the people that she cared about; but in this instance, it was both amusing and helpful.

After a few seconds of struggle, Jason unhinged his jaw. He looked at Drew with something like fear in his eyes and backed away from both of them. "What was that?"

"Scurry along," Drew called, her voice normal again. "I could make you do a lot worse, sweetheart."

Jason cast them with one last look, then hurried up the porch and into the house.

Ethan and Drew looked at each other. They did not smile. There was no joy to be had from tormenting this strange new boy. There was no joy to be had at all.

Here was the thing: Ethan and Drew were innately bad people with dead fathers and shit mothers. They hated the world and most of the people in it. They would not be the same people without Lee and Madeleine.

That was why it hurt so fucking much.

"I need a cigarette," Ethan decided. He reached into his pocket and pulled out a pack, then slid two out with his thumb and held them out to Drew. She plucked one away eloquently and put it to her lips, pulling out a pink lighter from her pocket as Ethan took the other cigarette and tucked the remainder of them away.