Daughter of Apollo

Chapter 33

Sumaya

"Guys?" Sumaya whimpered. "Look!"

Ahead of them was a small clearing. Three people were visible, two laying on the ground, the other crouched over their bodies. Blood was everywhere.

"You!!!" Sierra shouted. "Show your face, murderer!"

The person crouching was taken by surprise, and they turned around to face Sierra.

Sumaya took in a gasp.

The killer had blood and dirt smeared all over their face. Sumaya noticed a hideous, black, bloody scar running over their face.

No... Oh my... Sierra was right. Why didn't I listen to her??

"Jasmine!" Sierra screamed.

Sumaya's sister looked like a cornered animal, feral and like it would not hesitate to hurt you. She spoke.

"It's too late," Jasmine growled. "You can't save them!!" She let out a deranged laugh. Then her laughing face contorted into a small sneer. "No one can."

She bolted off.

Sumaya felt tears rush down her face. I was wrong...

The three girls approached the 2 bloody bodies. One was a boy, the other, a girl.

The boy gasped and started coughing weakly. It was Connor Stoll!

"Connor!" Annabeth's fear and surprise showed in her tone. She ran to his side, along with Sierra. Sumaya approached the other body, the girl, and sat beside her. Sumaya didn't recognize her. The girl's leaf-green eyes stared at the stars. She was dead, laying in a pool of her own blood. She was the one who was dragged!

Annabeth took a closer glance at the girl's face. "Miranda..." A tear glimmered down her cheeks. "Connor, what happened?"

Connor took a weak rasp of air. "We-we were meeting in the woods. I was...gonna ask her to the fireworks tomorrow. But...someone stabbed her clean in the back and started to drag her away... I ran after them, and i found her lying here... She was trying to warn me... The killer got the drop on me..." Tears fell from his eyes as he weakly turned his head towards Miranda.

"Connor..." Sierra looked at him mournfully. "You should save your strength. You've lost a lot of blood."

"Too much. You've lost too much blood, Connor." Annabeth was choking back tears as she corrected Sierra. "Jasmine was right. We can't save you."

"I...wouldn't want...you...to." Connor tried to smile. "Don't... Don't feel bad... I want to be with her... I'll tell Chris...and Clarisse they'll be avenged soon."

Sierra stood up with fury. "They will, Connor! I'll avenge them, if its the last thing i do!"

"That's...the spirit." Connor coughed. He slowly moved his hand, reaching out for Miranda's limp hand. He grasped it tightly. "At least... I'll see her again..." His eyes glazed, and his head hit the ground. But his hand remained entwined with Miranda's.