THIS IS ME TRYING

27: Kidnapped

SHE WAS standing face-to-face with a mirror, though her reflection wasn't hers. The glass was dirty and her vision was hazed with the blur and uncertainty that many of her dreams provided. It was hard to see anything else but the mirror in front of her, almost as if she had literal tunnel vision. She tried to take in her surroundings, but she couldn't draw her eyes away from the reflection in front of her. Because staring back at her were the eyes of her brother.

Percy? He was wearing, what looked like, stereotypical Godly clothing, with a golden crown of leaves placed on his blonde hair. He was styled and dressed to perfection, though his expression was saddening with every moment that passed. Percy?

Could he see her? Could he see her looking back? Did he know that she was alive? That they were both okay?

When Percy's expression hardened, Luna realised that her brother wasn't truly seeing her. Presumingly, he was just staring at his own reflection, enraged because he thought his sister was dead. She wanted to comfort him, so placed her hand on the glass in front of her. But Percy just stared.

She wondered where he was.
She wondered who was forcing him to stare at his own reflection.
Something was clearly bothering him.

She tried to speak to him, but no words escaped her mouth.

She could feel herself waking up.

Before her eyes peeled open, she was shown an image of a woman rapidly. Luna barely remembered what she looked like because of the speed it was revealed. But, one thing that she did notice— this older woman was dressed the same as Percy. And... when she saw the woman's eyes, something felt odd. When she looked at Percy, Luna could feel this invisible blockage that separated the two from seeing each other... but, when she was shown this woman, she felt seen.

For the first time, Luna's vision was watching her back. And she got the feeling that this woman was significant, in a strange way. But, Luna had this knowledge that this woman wasn't her Mother... no, she was somebody else. Maybe the certain somebody who was telling Percy to stare into his own reflection.

And the woman spoke, her voice soft alike her appearance,

"To save a friend you might be forced to do great evil. You might even sacrifice... the world."

Luna flinched awake.

Her eyes adjusted to the gloom around her, darting around wildly at her surroundings. She didn't recognise where she was; she couldn't remember how she got there. Luna breathed quickly, sitting up beside a small campfire. The orange flames danced in front of her, lighting up the space she was in. Luna was barricaded into a spacious cave with large rocks all around her, and piles of presumingly stolen items accompanied her stay. Her body had been covered in an old rug, which was rather itchy against her skin, but Luna relaxed slightly at this gesture... because what kidnapper made sure their victims were warm? Luna searched through her mind, desperately trying to remember something that would jolt her memory of what had happened.

And that was when a nearby voice spoke, "Gods, you're even weirder than I remember." Luna's head turned towards the familiar sound. She had only heard a few words, but it was enough for Luna to remember. And suddenly, flashing through her mind, the events replayed.

She had been captured with Clarisse.

Was she okay?

She remembered the giant approaching them in the distance. She remembered trying to help, but failing. She remembered Clarisse: their arguments, their taunting conversations, their shared panic when the monster appeared. Was it Luna's fault they were trapped in this cave? If she hadn't tried to conjure her magic, she wouldn't have fainted... Clarisse would've been able to cut through the ropes to escape. And Luna felt guilt surge through her. However, before she could debrief in her mind why she hated herself right now... Luna had a sudden thought. Who was Clarisse talking to? Who was in the cave with them?