ENTRAPPED ₂

83

MADELEINE MISSED THE SWAMP MORE THAN SHE WOULD HAVE LIKED TO ADMIT.

She never thought she would actually, truly miss sleeping in a giant's leather bed in a drakon-bone hut in a festering cesspool, but right now that sounded like Elysium. Madeleine would have killed for it.

She, Ethan, Percy, Annabeth, and Bob stumbled along in the darkness, the air thick and cold, the ground alternating patches of pointy rocks and pools of muck. The terrain seemed to be designed so that Madeleine could never let her guard down. Even walking ten feet was exhausting.

Madeleine had started out from the giant's hut feeling strong again, her head clear, her belly full of drakon jerky from their packs of provisions. Now her legs were sore. Every muscle ached. She, like the others, had pulled a makeshift tunic of drakon leather over her shredded shirt, but it did little to keep out the chill.

Her focus narrowed to the ground in front of her. Nothing existed except for that and Ethan at her side. At times, she even forgot about Percy and Annabeth and Bob. Only Ethan's hand, strong and firm and reassuring, was real to Madeleine.

Whenever she even thought about giving up, hope bloomed in her chest―hot and bright and furious. Something in the giant's hut had reawakened her desire to go on. Maybe it was speaking to Jason, or seeing Connor and Castor, or finally getting through Ethan's barrier. Whatever it was, she felt almost undefeatable. They were going to get through this, because they had people waiting for them on the other side; and on this side, they had each other. The pain was just pain. Madeleine could handle pain.

Ethan seemed to be in similar spirits, and even Percy was doing alright. Annabeth, however, was another case entirely. She and Percy were holding hands, but Annabeth kept pulling away from him to wipe tears from her eyes. Something about their encounter with Damasen had really gotten to her.

A large part of Madeleine was relieved that the giant hadn't agreed to join them, though. Having to keep an eye on Bob was bad enough. Still, she couldn't help but feel an ache of pity for the giant. It was a sad life that he lived, alone. If Madeleine had had to live alone, she didn't think she would have made it very far.

Madeleine tried to project her mind elsewhere, to think of happier things. Drew doing her makeup when Madeleine got back. The four of them rolling blunts in Lee's bedroom while he played the guitar. Getting to bash Octavian's face in―oh, yes, that was certainly something that Madeleine was looking forward to. After surviving Tartarus, she was going to be doing a lot of face-bashing.

There is no after Tartarus, a voice whispered―Madeleine wasn't entirely sure if it was coming from the surrounding darkness, or if it emanated from her mind. This is the real world. Death. Darkness. Pain. You have been imagining all of the rest. Your brother understood. Now you will join him.

Be quiet, the flame of hope in her chest roared back, but it seemed just a little dimmer. If anything could dampen Madeleine's spirits, it was Luke.

"This place is worse than the River Cocytus," Percy muttered, as if reading her thoughts.

"Yes," Bob called back happily. "Much worse! It means we are close."

"I'm loving this guy's vague and nondescript commentary," Ethan murmured to Madeleine. "Really raising my spirits. I would hire him to give me a tour any day of the week."

Madeleine laughed, squeezing Ethan's hand. She knew that he was trying to keep her spirits up, and she appreciated him very much for that. She really did love Ethan. More than anything, anyone.

Madeleine had never really believed in soulmates, but if they were real, then Ethan was hers. She had no doubt about that.

"Hey, we're together," Annabeth said, turning to look at Madeleine and Ethan so they knew they were being addressed, too. Madeleine was relieved to hear that the other girl's voice seemed stronger. "We'll get through this."