Forgotten memories

Scorpi

Grover shuddered. "Satyrs hate going underground. No searcher in their right mind would ever try that place. No flowers. No sunshine. No coffee shops!"

"But," Annabeth said thoughtfully, "the Labyrinth can take you almost anywhere. It reads your thoughts. It was designed to confuse you, trick you, even kill you—but if you can somehow make the Labyrinth work for you—"

"It could lead you to the wild god," I interrupted.

"I can't do it," Grover muttered, hugging his stomach. "Just thinking about it makes me want to throw up my silverware."

"Grover, this might be your last chance," Annabeth pressed. "The council is serious. One week—or you learn to tap dance!"

Over at the head table, Quintus cleared his throat. I got the impression he didn't want to make a scene, but with Annabeth and me lingering so long at the table, it was getting hard to ignore.

"We'll talk later," Annabeth said, squeezing my arm a little too hard. "Convince him, will you?"

She returned to the Athena table. I walked back to mine, ignoring the curious stares of the other campers, finishing the rest of my food before glancing toward the Athena table. I caught Christine's eyes for a brief second before she looked away quickly.

***

Despite the lively atmosphere, a quiet tension lingered in me, a sort of unease that hadn't left since Christine's abrupt departure.

I watched her slip away from the crowded pavilion, each step measured and purposeful. Something felt off; subtle shifts in her expression didn't escape me. Concern gnawed at me, urging me to follow and figure out what was bothering her.

I left the table, my footsteps quickening as I caught sight of her rounding a corner. There she stood near the edge of camp, gazing toward the distant trees. Her grey eyes, usually sharp and determined, now held a flicker of turmoil.

"Christine," I called, trying to sound casual but concerned. She turned, our eyes meeting for a fleeting moment.

"Orion," she said, her tone neutral, but I could feel the undercurrent of something unspoken. "I was just... enjoying the view."

I closed the distance, brow furrowed. "Is everything okay? You seemed a little off back there."

She sighed, shoulders tense. "It's nothing, Orion. Just some thoughts."

I leaned against a nearby tree, folding my arms. "You can talk to me, you know. We've faced monsters and titans together. Whatever it is, we can handle it."

A conflicted expression crossed her face, and finally, she met my gaze. "It's not about monsters or titans. It's..." She hesitated, leaving the words hanging.

I stepped closer, voice gentle. "Christine, we're a team. Friends. You don't have to deal with this alone."

She looked away, a faint blush creeping across her cheeks. "It's more... woman-related."

Ah. I nodded, awkwardly. "Alright... just know I'm here when... yeah." She gave me a small smile and walked toward her cabin.

***

That night, after dinner, Quintus had us suit up in combat armor, like we were gearing up for capture the flag. But the mood among the campers was far more serious. Sometime during the day, the crates in the arena had disappeared—I had a sinking feeling their contents had been scattered into the woods.