ENTRAPPED ₂

82

MADELEINE WAS SITTING CROSS-LEGGED ON THE FLOOR OF HER CABIN ON THE ARGO II. Sitting on her bed facing her, feet flat on the floor, eyes sadder than she had ever seen, was Jason.

"Hello, Jason Grace," Madeleine said, like she had been expecting him.

She knew she was still in Tartarus somewhere, her body limp, her friends probably being butchered by a giant. She didn't have the strength to care. Her consciousness had finally separated from her body like a helium balloon. Now, she was stuck in limbo with a son of Jupiter that may or may not be real.

"Hello, Madeleine Aetos," he answered softly.

They studied each other for a moment. Jason's shaggy hair was whipping around his head as though there was a gust of wind in the room, though the air felt absolutely still to Madeleine.

She wondered why it was Jason who was appearing to her. There was a million people that Madeleine was closer to than this boy. Her friends at camp, a handful of gods... and if she needed to talk to someone on the Argo II, then Nico was there. She would even argue that she knew more about Hazel and Frank than she did Jason.

And yet, here he was.

She remembered that this was the first place they had ever actually had a conversation with each other. He had told her about Tanner, and about how he knew why she hated him. She had told him how much he looked like Luke. After seeing her older brother, Jason was a haunting sight.

She had given him The Hunger Games. Now, she doubted she would ever get it back.

"How's Tartarus?" Jason asked quietly.

"Terrible," Madeleine answered. "Very, very bad."

"But you're all... I mean, you're all still alive, aren't you?" Jason looked so desperate that Madeleine didn't have the heart to tell him how awful the state of them was.

"Yes," she answered evenly. "I―yes, Jason."

They sat in very thick silence. Softly, Madeleine asked, "How are things on the ship?"

"They're okay," Jason said. He sounded incredibly sad. "Actually, they're not okay. Everything is a mess. Things are so... they're so quiet now, Madeleine. It's like we can't bear to speak to one another. Even Piper and Leo and I haven't really been... we just speak in whispers, that's all. Like we're all puzzle pieces that got broken apart."

"That's very poetic of you, Jason Grace," Madeleine said.

"I like your book," Jason answered, with a wry smile.

They watched each other for another moment. Jason had delicate golden eyelashes. There was sunlight streaming in through the window. Oh, what Madeleine wouldn't give for some real sun.

"I've been getting closer to Nico, I think," Jason said, his tone wavering with hopefulness. "He... he actually talks to me sometimes, I mean. He doesn't talk to anyone else except Hazel."

Madeleine reached out. Jason took her hand. For a moment, they just sat there. His palm was oddly warm and solid.

"Is this real?" she whispered. "I want this to be real."

"I think it's real," Jason answered. "Did Annabeth send a letter to Reyna?"

"Yes," Madeleine whispered.

The wind was still whipping his hair. Quietly, because it was a dream and Madeleine knew she could not bear to tell anyone else, she said, "I'm so tired, Jason."

Jason's mouth pulled down. He had been smiling feebly, but he wasn't anymore.

"I know," he murmured. "I know. I'm so sorry I couldn't make it faster. I didn't―"