ENTRAPPED ₂

94

MADELEINE WAS IN HER CABIN AGAIN, CURLED UP IN THE RUMPLED CLOTHES SHE HAD PUT ON A DAY AND A HALF AGO: HER OWN BLUE JEANS AND ETHAN NAKAMURA'S SHIRT. She had barely moved from this position for hours, only stirring when one of her crewmates decided to try and drag her out of her bedroom. Thus far, none of them had succeeded.

Hazel and Frank had been the first to visit her, and Madeleine had happily hugged them and forced them to explain everything she had missed.

As they spoke, Madeleine had not realized how much Hazel and Frank cared for them―Percy was inherently likeable, but Madeleine had not always been the kindest to the two Romans, particularly Frank. But seeing them looking at her with such relief in their eyes, she could not help hugging them tightly.

After Frank left to go patrol above decks with Jason, Hazel lowered her voice and recounted something Madeleine had been suspecting: Leo had met Calypso. Hazel filled her in on all of the events that had happened while Madeleine was gone, but she was only really interested in the part where Leo had been sent off to Ogygia and the part where Jason and Nico had been drastically different toward each other after finding Diocletian's scepter in Split. Madeleine would have to interrogate Jason about that; but, strangely enough, she figured Leo would come to her about Calypso before she had to go to him.

"He still hasn't been the same since he got back," Hazel murmured to Madeleine. "Well―Jason and Nico haven't, either. But I mean Leo. He just seems... distant. Like half of him is here and half of him is still stuck on that island."

Oh, if anyone understood that, Madeleine sure did.

Later in the day, Annabeth joined Madeleine. She brought her lunch, apparently catching onto the fact that Madeleine wasn't really eating. She sat on the edge of Madeleine's bed and Madeleine forced herself to eat. It was easier to be in Annabeth's presence than Frank's and Hazel's. As much as Madeleine loved them, Annabeth had seen the same shit that Madeleine had. There was no reason for them to act okay with each other, because they both knew that they weren't.

"He'll be okay," Annabeth murmured, as Madeleine nibbled on the crust of her sandwich. "He's Ethan. He'll be okay."

"I know," Madeleine replied, but her sadness was inconsiderate of whatever she thought she knew, and kept surging at her in waves.

In the evening of that day, Percy finally found her in her cabin. He, unlike Annabeth, sprawled across her bed and pulled Madeleine into his arms. It was not the same as having Ethan by her side, but it was nice to be held by someone so familiar and warm.

"You're depressed," Percy mumbled into her hair.

"The world is ending, Jackson," Madeleine replied, in a hollow imitation of her usual snark. "Who wouldn't be depressed?"

Percy kissed the top of her head and she fell asleep in his arms. She was grateful for the company, because she didn't think she would have been able to sleep alone.

When Madeleine woke up, Percy was gone. She laid there in her stark disappointment and loneliness and sadness and worry, all festering inside of her like some kind of god awful stew. Finally, she dragged herself out of bed and stumbled into the dining hall, her wrinkled clothes feeling awful pressed to her body, and got a glass of water. Leo was sitting at the table, drumming his fingers on the wood while he studied some kind of booklet. They glanced at each other, then seemed to decide, through mutual understanding, not to speak.

Madeleine returned to her room, sipping her water. She closed the door behind her and rummaged around in her drawers of clothing, looking for the items she wanted―ah, yes. There they were. Drew's pink sweatpants and one of Lee's old gray shirts.