Deleterious

THREE

  There's one thing that I'm an expert at doing, that is pretending that I am utterly fine even when I feel like slicing someone's throat. When my mother died, I didn't cry, I didn't do anything. Maybe it was because no one told me how she had died so I had no reason to believe she was dead, except maybe the matter of her not coming back therefore me not ever seeing or hearing from her ever again. When I was told by Annabeth that my father was dead, I didn't react at all. Perhaps it was because I never even knew the man. Even now, I did cry but not as much a normal person in my situation might have. I knew that my lack of emotion was probably due to the fact that I didn't believe it yet. In the times that Caroline and I were accomplices, she always admired that about me, my inability to react to anything. Speaking of Caroline I make a mental note to talk to her. After all we will be spending nearly an entire year together, if we do make it that far. For now, I shall think happy thoughts only or at least die trying. The place where we are supposed to meet our loved ones for probably the last time consists of a large tent that is a disgusting shade of yellow. The tent is very spacious, but it still gives me anxiety to think of the fact that I'd be sleeping in the same area with five other people. It freaks me out more that I'd in fact have to see Nic again after what happened, or what didn't happen between us. Seeing that it the bell already rang about twelve to fourteen times I slowly trudge to the direction of the large tent. When I get inside the tent I see that I am the last one to have arrived. The aura of depression is basically lurking all around the tent, except for Elliot who doesn't look fazed by the turn of events. He's an overconfident jerk alright. There's something off about him but I brush it off, it's probably just weirdness or a guy thing. The only place left with a pillow and a neatly folded blanket is next to none other than the one and only... Nicklaus Ruth. Having no other plan I trudge over and lay down. "Look I'm sorry for blowing up on you earlier today," I said. Immediately he responded, "Look Ris, it's totally fine, I get it you were in shock and things happened, and Vienna is not my girl, she was my brothers girl and the closest thing to a friend that I have." My fact goes red in embarrassment. "Oh, I'm sorry I didn't know," I responded. With that I turned away and as I fell asleep I felt someone laid the warm blanket over me. A few hours later I woke up and I knew it was still not even four in the morning. I quietly get up and tie my wavy blonde hair into a high- ponytail and then I swiftly unzip the stupid yellow tent and slip out. It's actually beginning to get dark. I walk a bit further and finally get to the security quarters and dart inside, what can I say, being a part of security has its perks. I go to the box with the night vision goggles, and grab one and I sneak outside without being noticed by Carl, the night duty guard who just comes to work to nap. Technically the goggles that I "borrowed" should only be used in cases of night emergencies, which are pretty rare, I guess it's just because we have only about twenty in stock. I put on the goggles and wait for a minute while my eyes adjust to them. Then I begin walking towards the meadow. I may or may not have been chosen to go on a suicide mission but, the muffling screams I heard have literally been giving me nightmares. I mean how bad could it be? Just as I'm about to approach the clearing where the meadow is I hear a voice that I wish I didn't know. Why do bad things always happen to me? What have I ever done to anger Satan? "You don't actually plan on doing what I think you're doing, do you?" asks the devil himself, Nicklaus. I whip around ready to physically harm that boy.

"Did you literally follow me here?" I asked.

"You didn't answer my question sweetheart, and I asked you first," he said proudly as if he had uttered the best comeback.

"Ugh, are you always so infuriating?" I ask trying to contain monster me.

"Easy there blondie, I was just pointing out the fact that you were attempting to deflect my prior question, no need to get all fired up," he said mockingly.