Ordinary (A Percy Jackson Story)

Chapter 6

I'm sorry I'm sorry I'm sorry I'm sorry!!!!! It's so short!!

Ethan's head pounded. Every thought bounced in his skull like a huge multi-ball, pinball game scoring in the gazillions.

He groaned like that would lessen the splitting headache. His head rolled to side, his shoulder blades screamed in agony. Awareness hit Ethan like running into a brick wall.

His head throbbed, and he forced his eyes open, blinking at the blurry world beyond. His stomach churned at the dim darkness. His breathes came out in short puffs.

Ethan raised his arms. Or at least tried to. His shoulders ached, in a way that suggested he shouldn't try that again. His wrists were twisted behind him. And they were tied.

His mind practically exploded with questions. His sluggish brain struggling to interpret the beginnings from the ends of each question. It was like waking through quicksand. Ethan could feel himself going under.

Where was he? Where was everyone else? What happened? How long had it been?

The events came back to him in pieces. Shattered fragments. Like a broken mirror. Each one left a wise taste in his mouth. His breathing sped up, oxygen seeming to be scarce.

His heart thudded so loud he could've sworn he heard it echo. Ethan's head snapped around trying to find something, anything that would help him. The dark shadows filled the place. He couldn't see any light source, no windows, no escape. A single bulb on a suspended line dangled over his head, off, as if it was just for show and didn't actually work.

Ethan struggled against the chafing rope that bound his wrists. There was a cloth over his mouth, muddling his grunting. His feet were bound to the legs of the metal chair he sat in. The chair legs were bolted to the cement ground.

He preferred the stereotypical IHOP booths.

Just saying.

He couldn't see a door but then again he could barely see beyond the three feet around his chair. The temperature was freezing, like they'd somehow moved him into the arctic. Who knows? Maybe they did.

Cold sweat broke out on Ethan's neck. A chill snaked through his limbs. His mind pressed on borderline panic. He forgot how to swallow his saliva that was left in his mouth and he nearly choked on the gag, when he tried to inhale.

He drew his hands into tight fists, digging his nails into his palm to focus himself. Calm himself, but it was useless. He felt like he was going to throw up, but his throat was as dry as sandpaper. Even if he did throw up, Ethan wasn't even sure what it would be. When did he last eat?

Hours? Days? He wasn't even sure how long he'd been knocked out.

He didn't even remember the date it was before everything had gone dark. He couldn't focus.

Oh gods, Luke and Bianca....

They were the only ones who knew what he was going through. They were the only ones who knew he was alive. They stood by him, like a makeshift family. Luke was like his older brother, the one always looking out for him. Like that one time he fell asleep and almost set himself on fire with his bedside lamp. Luke was the one Ethan would follow off the ends of the earth. Which he had done- mostly, kinda. Before Kronos had killed him.

Ethan didn't even want to think about Bianca.

His chest hurt even when he just tried to steer his thoughts away. What if he never saw her again? What if he never heard her quiet laugh escaping from down the hall over the sound of his music blasting when they were alone. What if he never saw her glossy midnight hair pulled underneath that green beanie, her sparkling eyes, her small smile. What if...