𝐅𝐀𝐒𝐓 𝐓𝐈𝐌𝐄𝐒 - jason grace

05. A MESSAGE TO CONNOR STOLL

MAIA DECIDED THE MONSTERS wouldn't kill her. Neither would the poisonous atmosphere, nor the treacherous landscape with its pits, cliffs, and jagged rocks.

Nope. Most likely she would die from an overload of weirdness that would make her brain explode. Especially because, somehow, she and Jason had befriended a titan, kind of, and were now blindly following him around Tartarus. They'd be besties by the end of their walk for sure, it seemed.

Sure. Why not?

They followed Bob through the wasteland, tracing the route of the Phlegethon as they approached the storm front of darkness. Every so often they stopped to drink firewater, which kept them alive, but Maia wasn't happy about it. Her throat felt like she was constantly gargling with battery acid.

Her only comfort was Jason. Every so often he would glance over and smile, or squeeze her hand. He had to be just as scared and miserable as she was, and she loved him for trying to make her feel better.

"Bob knows what he's doing," Jason promised.

"I know," She said softly, "This is all just really weird... One minute, We're getting grounded by Hedge, the next, we're stuck in literal hell... I guess it's just finally getting to me." Maia said, feeling tears form at the corners of her eyes.

"My love," Jason said softly, wrapping his arm around her shoulder, "our lives have never been normal. This is just another hurdle we have to face before we can get back to our friends. What matters is that we're together." He grinned at her, "and I am never letting you go again, that's for sure."

Maia smiled at Jason, leaning into his embrace. "I'm so lucky to have you, Jay. You're a ray of sunshine. And i definitely am in need of some sun down here."

"I'm lucky to have you, Mimi." he smiled at her.

"More like unlucky." Maia gave him a pointed look. The boy rolled his eyes at her.

"I love you." He smiled softly at the girl.

"I love you too."

Maia immediately felt bad for making Bob their third wheel, so, she figured sparking a little conversation with the Titan would be a good way to help pass the time.

"So, Bob..." She tried to sound casual and friendly, which wasn't easy with a throat scorched by firewater. "How did you get to Tartarus?"

"I jumped," he said, like it was obvious.

"You jumped into Tartarus," she said, "because we said your name?"

"You needed me." Those silver eyes gleamed in the darkness. "It is okay. I was tired of sweeping the palace. Come along! We are almost at a rest stop."

A rest stop.

Gods, that sounded so good to Maia. She and Jason hadn't had a proper chance to rest in so long.

Wherever Bob was taking them, she hoped it had clean restrooms and a snack machine. She repressed the giggles. Yes, she was definitely losing it.

Maia stumbled along, trying to ignore the rumble in her stomach. She stared at Bob's back as he led them toward the wall of darkness, now only a few hundred yards away. His blue janitor's coveralls were ripped between the shoulder blades, as if someone had tried to stab him. Cleaning rags stuck out of his pocket. A squirt bottle swung from his belt, the blue liquid inside sloshing hypnotically.

Maia wondered what truly went on in the Titan's mind. He must have felt extremely lonely, having completely lost his memory. He had to start over in his life. All his relationships with whoever it was he surrounded himself with were gone in the blink of an eye. It must have been terrible.