ENTRAPPED ₂

32

WHEN MADELEINE WOKE, IT WAS DAYLIGHT. The sun was in her eyes, making her squint. She raised a groggy hand to shield herself.

"Morning," a cheerful voice said. "Sorry I'm too bright. And hot. And amazing."

She glanced over at the man next to her, driving her stolen car. Golden blonde hair, sunglasses, a sharp smile. Apollo.

She had thought she was dreaming.

"Fucking California," she murmured, sitting up in her seat. Her body ached. Her left hand, the one that she hadn't used to shield her eyes, was resting on the center console, still firmly tucked in Apollo's. The sight made her chest ache, though she wasn't sure why.

"Actually," Apollo said, "we're in Oregon." He swerved the car, making Madeleine jolt. "What do you want from McDonald's?"

She just stared at him. Apollo sighed. "I really have to do everything, don't I?" He stretched into the backseat, his shirt riding up and revealing his tan torso. He rummaged through Madeleine's backpack and produced a wad of American dollars. "Bingo. I love questers."

"Hey," Madeleine said. "You're a god. Summon your own money."

Apollo huffed. "Chill. McDonald's is cheap, and your friends will have plenty of money if they survive. And if they don't, well... they won't very well need their money, will they?"

Madeleine scowled and leaned back in her seat. She stretched, trying to shake the grogginess from her body. The conversation with Iris was coming back in bits and pieces. Honestly, if not for Apollo at her side, Madeleine would have probably started to panic.

Apollo tossed her the McDonald's bag. He shoved two drinks into the car's cupholders, then tossed the remainder of the cash back into Madeleine's bag. Then he pulled back out onto the road, none too gently.

"You're a crazy driver," Madeleine said. She rummaged through the paper bag and produced a breakfast sandwich, which she inhaled. "What time is it?"

Apollo glanced in the rearview mirror. "Nine," he answered. "We're about an hour out." He was all casual movements, but his tone had tightened. He reached into the cupholder and sipped his orange juice.

"Did you get me a Coke?" Madeleine asked, studying her own bubbling cup. "At nine in the morning?"

"You'll need the caffeine," Apollo said, in that same grim tone.

Madeleine's stomach turned just a little. "What am I facing here?"

Apollo shook his head. "I would love to tell you, but I'm only allowed to be here because I swore that I wouldn't tell you. Just..." his knuckles turned white on the steering wheel. "Just be careful. Don't get cocky."

"Me?" Madeleine asked. "Cocky? Look at yourself."

He smiled, but his mouth was nearly a straight line. They drove in silence for a little while. Then Apollo asked, voice measured, "Do you remember me?"

Did she remember him?

It was all a blur. A kitchen counter. A Coke with alcohol in it. His hands burning against her waist. Madeleine woke up screaming and Apollo held her back from leaving. He told her about Daphne. Hyacinth. Cassandra. Three specters. They had kissed. Madeleine had threaded Apollo back together after a millennia of grief. Apollo had held Madeleine by the shoulders until he was sure she would not crumble.

They hadn't had anyone. Madeleine woke up screaming over and over again, and he never walked out. She had never understood why.

Apollo seeing her on an island. Apollo scooping her into his arms after the war was over and she was gutted from the inside out. Apollo visiting Camp Half-Blood. They would sit on the roof of the Hermes Cabin, sharing a Coke with whiskey. He would put his arm around her waist. She'd lower her cheek to his collarbones. Everything was still.