𝓓𝓮𝓵𝓲𝓬𝓪𝓽𝓮

𝑿𝑿𝑰𝑿...𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝑯𝒆𝒔𝒑𝒆𝒓𝒊𝒅𝒆 𝒔𝒊𝒔𝒕𝒆𝒓𝒔

𖥔 ݁ ˖ ⭑
‧₊˚ ⋅ જ⁀➴๋࣭ ⭑๋࣭ ⭑

ᴊᴜɴᴇ 11ᴛʜ, 2004

Elara stood at the edge of the Demeter cabin, her heart pounding in her chest. The scent of freshly tilled earth and blooming flowers filled the air, but instead of bringing her peace, it only heightened her anxiety. She could feel the familiar tightness in her chest, the telltale sign of an impending panic attack. Her breath came in short, shallow gasps as she tried to steady herself, gripping the wooden railing with white-knuckled hands.

The memories of running from the monster flooded Elara's mind. The glowing red eyes that had killed her beloved father, the fear that had driven her to hide in the forest, and the relentless taunts and bullying from the Demeter cabin. They had called her names, made her feel small and powerless.

The pressure inside her built to an unbearable level, and she felt a burning sensation on her back where her birthmark was. It felt as if the mark was on fire, searing her skin and sending waves of pain through her body.

Her powers, usually a source of comfort and control, now spiraled out of control. Vines erupted from the ground, twisting and writhing with a mind of their own. They lashed out violently, wrapping around anything and anyone in their path. Campers screamed and scattered, trying to avoid the thrashing plants. Elara's vision blurred with tears as she sank to her knees, unable to control the chaos she had unleashed.

Chiron, the camp's centaur, galloped over, his eyes wide with concern. "What's happening?" he shouted, trying to assess the situation. He attempted to approach Elara, but a vine snapped at him, forcing him to retreat.

Luke Castellan, with his quick reflexes was already at Elara's side, attempting to soothe her. "Lara, you need to breathe," he urged, his voice steady but filled with urgency. "Focus on my voice. You're safe here."

But Elara couldn't hear him over the roar of her own panic. The vines continued their rampage, one of them wrapping around a camper's leg and pulling them into the ground. Luke's attempts to calm her were futile. He turned to Clarisse, who had just arrived on the scene. "Clarisse, get Lysander! Now!" he commanded, knowing that only her he might be able to reach her in this state.

Clarisse who usually didn't take orders from anyone nodded and sprinted towards the Ares cabin, where Lysander was likely training. Meanwhile, Luke did his best to shield Elara from the chaos, even as the vines threatened to overwhelm them both. He could only hope that Lysander would arrive in time to help her before things got even worse.

Lysander was in the middle of sparring practice when Clarisse burst into the Ares cabin, her face flushed with urgency. "Sander! It's Elara! She's having a panic attack and her powers are out of control. We need you, now!"

Without a second thought, Lysander dropped his training sword and sprinted after Clarisse. His twin golden rings glinted in the sunlight as he ran, a symbol of his strength and determination. He could already feel his heart racing, not from the exertion, but from the fear of what he might find when he reached his sister.