HIRAETH

Chapter 4

Caleb's POV

I woke up near Auntie Em's Garden Gnome Emporium.

I could see the red neon lights from here. The greasy smell of fries and burgers that made me walk straight into Medusa made my throat contrict. I changed back to Caleb and his wounds burned painfully. The burn the whip made on my neck felt numb. I poured nectar on the wounds, but they barely worked. Curses. Curses of Gaea. I sighed and took out a bottle of water from my bag.I put my cap back on and poured water over my wounds. I had to use two bottles, and the whip mark still didn't dissapear. I felt it with the tips of my fingers. Now, it wasn't so numb, which meant it stung. I didn't want to use my last bottle of water. I hauled myself up, remembering what I had done. I remembered camping outside in the woods- then taking the Amtrak train. I nodded slowly. I could sleep at the train station. I trudged on, passing by places that made me nostalgic for the good old days. I wiped my tears. I wanted to hear Annabeth's voice again. See her face. I wanted to feel her- feel her love- feel her heart beating- feel her breathing. I stopped in my tracks. I might have lost her once. I wasn't losing her again.

I kept on walking to the train station. I slept on a bench outside, and woke up at dawn. I checked my money and cleaned myself up at a bathroom and got myself something to eat. I didn't really have an apitite, but I just chewed on the jelly beans for fun. I popped a blue jelly bean in my mouth, wondering if it would make me feel better.

Epic fail.

I soon got tired of eating jelly beans, and it was almost noon. I spotted the trio, slightly muddy and tired from yesterday's events. I bought a ticket and sat close to them, watching them closely. The two days gave me a lot of time. To sleep, and to get my scattered thoughts cleaned up. Time crept by so quickly. I took glimpses of Annabeth's face, making me feel a little motivated. I could do it. I could do anything for her. I could even pay the price.

The price for the trip back in time.

I stifled a laugh. I wished I could pay it with money. Then I could go to the changed future and live in it myself. But this Percy- was actually me. But we weren't the same. I- I was different. I shook my head. It was way too complicated. I just knew that I couldn't