HIRAETH

Chapter 24

Caleb's POV

DREAM

I couldn't think.

I couldn't think straight as I walked home, my wounds bleeding through my clothes. I couldn't erase the mangled corpse of my mentor, and Gaea.

I told you to come alone.

Please.

I wished camp wasn't getting closer. I was wishing that I would just die on the way.

I could see the faces of campers when I would tell them.

No- I couldn't. I couldn't go. I stopped in place, and my knees buckled. I barely stood, blood dripping down my head and through my eyelashes. The night sky shone brightly with stars, and it could not of been a better night to die.

I had nowhere to go.

I couldn't go to the ocean. Posiedon would find me. The gods wouldn't welcome me. Mom would freak out.

I sighed and trudged on towards camp, my left leg dragging behind me. Red mixed into the darkness of the night, dripping on to the ground. I was tromping through the strawberry fields, stumbling a little. I was going straight, but the world was tilting to the side now.

Help.

I opened my mouth to say anything, but I couldn't make a sound.

"Help." I croaked out through the darkness, my lips getting numb in the cold. My head pounded so loud I couldn't hear anything.

I collasped on the frozen strawberry fields, staring at the frostbitten ground. 1

~

I woke up on one of the infirmary beds.

I tried to sit up and winced, as I couldn't lift my neck up properly. I supported my body with my arms, trying not to move my back and neck as possible. I leaned foward slowly, letting out a big sigh. All the feelings I had last night became more vivid, pressing down on me until I felt like I couldn't breathe. I needed to know something. I needed to do something.

I swung my legs off the bed and stifled a scream as I fell off the bed. I clenched my teeth, remembering what had happened last night.

The curtain to the side slid open, and Will helped me up.

"Sit down."

Ignoring his words, I tried to stand, using him to. He pushed me to the bed and pointed to a pair of crutches leaning on the wall.

"You can't use your legs for now. Just stay here until-"

Using the bed, I stood up and grabbed the crutches. Leaning on my right foot, I limped out of the infirmary, Will following me.

"Where's Annabeth?"

"She's in your cabin. Percy-"

I froze into place. "For how long?"

".... a day."

I sighed and changed my course o the cabins, and Will grabbed me.

"She told us to leave her alone."

I faltered. "But I need to go."

Will gave up trying to stop me. "Alright, but come to the infirmary after."

I limped as fast as I could to the Posiedon cabin, and stood still in front of the door. I bit my lip and pushed the door, surprised to see that it wasn't locked.

"Get out."

Her watery words seemed to pierce through my heart. I tried to take a step back, my crutches stumbling. I stared at her crouched form, wearing my shirt and hugging my pillow tight, refusing to see me.