The Beginning of the End (J. Grace)

X: We have a war council with doughnuts

Grover's lucky he doesn't have to third-wheel Percy and Annabeth with me anymore.

The next morning, I stumbled through to Wise Girl's room, wanting to tell her what Jason had told me the night before. I didn't really care that he had explicitly instructed me not to: she's my best friend of ten years. Nothing's getting between that, and I refuse to let her get hurt. Ever.

Pushing open the door, I expected to see her awake with a glass of water and her laptop which Dedalus had given her back when we were navigating the labyrinth (0/10, would not recommend. Oh, and don't bring your kids, I'm an exception though, mine ran away and I went off running like a lunatic trying to find him).

"Hey, Bethy? I need to tell you something." I announced to the still, quiet, dark, empty room.

Wait- empty?

Where is she?

I rushed out and ran to Percy's room, anticipating that she'd be there... the room was empty too. Where is everyone? Am I dreaming? I have to be dreaming...

I raced down the hall and forced open the door to Dove's room, to make sure she was there.

"Aaaah!" She screamed as I slammed her door open, shooting bolt-upright and reaching for her dagger which rested on her bedside. Then, she squinted over in my direction and blinked numerous times. "Lara? What are you- ?"

"Just making sure you're still here." I gave her a half-hearted smile as she turned on the blinding lights. Then, to her worried look, continued: "Wise Girl and Seaweed Brain are missing."

"Gods of Olympus, really?!" Piper leaped up, rushing over to me with her hair somehow not a mess and looking amazing with sleep in her eyes. How does she do that? Not fair. Though, that was the least of my concerns right now.

"Yeah." I confirmed, drawing my eyebrows together and looking around her room. Half-hoping that they'd be in this small space, a near-exact replica of mine and everyone else's. "Have you seen them?"

"No." She shook her head quickly, panic rising in her voice.

I realised, with a jolt, that I was the oldest and therefore I was the responsible one. Never thought I'd hear that as a word used to describe me: responsible...

Nah, doesn't suit me very well.

I gulped down a sickening feeling and stood up a little straighter. "Can you make sure that everyone else is still here? I'll go look above deck." I suggested, hoping that it was an okay call to make.

It seemed so, because Dove nodded dutifully and dashed off to all the other cabins, leaving me to do what I'd said I'd do. Go look above deck. You know, maybe I should've searched before waking her up...

Never mind, it's only a matter of time before this ship's attacked again. We all need to be on high alert.

I searched the mess hall, the kitchen, the engine room and then, finally, the entire of the deck, hoping and praying to any God that may listen to me that I would be able to find them... nothing.

"Fuck." I muttered under my breath, running a hand through my hair (which was, surprisingly, brushed. Be proud of me please).

"Any luck?" A familiar, comforting voice asked from behind me which, in my mind, meant safety and security.

"No." I confessed while turning around and drawing my eyebrows together with confusion and fear.

Fear for the safety of my two friends.

Fear for what could have happened.

Fear for how it could've happened.

Fear for anyone else who may be missing too.