Torturous Betrayal

Chapter 17

I was sick and in an unfamiliar place. Sorry. Please correct me. Constructive criticism is much appreciated. Any suggestions?

Percy's POV

I stayed down. Gaea was powerful and even on a good day, which was not right now, I probably couldn't beat her with strength and power. I had to play smart. I nearly snorted at the thought. I was necessarily known for thinking things through. But I had to trick her into thinking that I was truly broken both physically and mentally. Then I had to find a way out of here. Wherever 'here' is.

"Good little demigod scum," I heard a voice whisper next to me. It didn't sound like Gaea. I curse under my breath as I realize who it is. Well, more like what.  That's great. Just great.

The arai is back. 

"Nice to see you again little half blood,"

"Wish I could say the same for you," I tell her. I know I should bite my tongue but, eh.

She clucked her tongue, making sound like a mother getting onto her misbehaving child. I've really only heard that from my mother a hand full of times. I don't think she ever had the heart to patronize me properly. He thought of my mother and how confused and worried she must be sickens me to my core. I shake my head in an attempt to clear my head. I can't think about that right now. I have to focus on the task at hand and that's escaping. Hopefully, the whole ADHD wouldn't get in the way to much.

The arai grabbed my arm, pulling me from my thoughts. Her grip was like an iron clamp. She started dragging towards the center of the room. It was a quite difficult because of the awkward position I was in.

After continuing in like that for a while the arai gave a huff of frustration, or irritation, probably both, and flipped me over so that my stomach was facing upwards. This is much better for me because I can look around to see if I can guess where I'm at. Even if it one if the most uncomfortable positions I've ever been in. Unless you're counting conversations, of course.

I take a minute to look at what's around me. It's the exact same view I had from the wall except without the chains on the wall. I try to not let the disappointment get to me. I thought surely there would be some type of something that would give me a clue as to where I am. No such luck.

I'm shaken from my thoughts when the arai suddenly pulls me to my feet. I'm dehydrated and starving and dizzy due to blood loss and I lose my balance. My head bangs on something and all I can think is OW!!! The bump is going to leave a mark.

I push myself back to standing and realize that I didn't bang my head on the floor. In front of me is a life-size bronze bull. It reminds me of Hephestus's bulls that attacked camp a couple years ago. I almost want to laugh. Is this supposed to be a torture device? An image flashes across my mind of me with a red cape, the bronze bull charging at me.

The arai comes out from behind and goes to the size of the metal bull. She pushes in one of the panels on the side of the bull. There is the sound creaking and groaning as the panels shift to make a hole on the side of the automaton. The realization of what was about to go down hot me like a brick to the face.

They were going to put inside the bull.

I'm part terrified, half anxious. Mostly terrified. The only thing I can think if this being used for is suffocation. I wonder if suffocating feels anything like drowning?

The arai grabs my arm again and pulls me towards her at the side of the and try's to just shove me into the opening. It doesn't work quite like she wanted and I end up banging my head on the rim of the opening. My visions goes cloudy for a moment before my body folds itself in half automatically and I land hard on my bum. I try and blink my eyes fast to clear my vision and I hear a woosh before my vision clears. It takes me a second to register the fact that she closed the door.

I'm stuck inside a giant, bronze bull. It be funny if I didn't fear for my life. Then again that's kind of a constant for me.

I sit there for forever in the dark before I noticed that I was sweating excessively. It was starting to get hot inside the bull. I didn't think anything of it at first because, of course it's going to get hot in such close quarters. But soon it started to get really hot, like Mt. Saint Helen's when it blew up hot. I touched part of the interior to see how hot it was and pulled back as soon as i came in contact with it. The tip of my finger felt raw from the heat but I couldn't look at it to asses the damage because it was so dark. I curled up on my back as all as possible trying not to lay any exposed skin. It didn't work to well.

This part is pretty detailed so read at your own risk

I ended up burning through my tattered shirt. The metal felt like it was burning straight threw me. I could feel the flesh bubbling and melting off. The air grew heavy and it felt like my lungs bleeding and on fire. It felt like my entire body was on fire. I treks to remain calm, to reason with myself, but the lack of clean oxygen made my brain fuzzy. I felt like I did when I was in Alaska and I fell through the earth. I knew I wouldn't last ling like this. But I old to hold out.

"For what?" the little demon on my shoulder said, "What do you have to live for?"

I tried to get more air in my lungs but there wasn't any left. My vision was getting foggy and I knew I'd pass out soon.  I tried to think of something happy. Anything happy.

Mom. My mother always made me happy. I saw flashes of memories from before I found out I was a demigod.

And then everything blacked out.