HIRAETH

Chapter 26

Caleb's POV

I was in some type of cellar.

Which meant dark, humid, and scary.

Probably the scariest thing was that it hurt.

Thankfully my body didn't rot. And it didn't reach my face yet. But I could literally feel it creeping up my neck- maybe even faster in the dark.

Sometimes I couldn't breathe. I wanted to scream, but my mouth was clamped shut by tape.

Gods it hurt so much.

I couldn't feel the darkness. Not even my arms tied to the chair. I couldn't understand what position I was in.

Waves of pain crashed upon me, rythmatically but getting stronger. I tried to keep my head above it, but it just kept on pushing me down.

Caleb.

Caleb.

Caleb.

Percy.

Percy.

Percy.

Percy.

PERCY.

PERCY!!!!!

My son.

Voices echoed in my head. I straightened up abruptly at the last voice.

Tell me when it hurts.

Tell me when you can't stand it anymore.

Tell me when you need me.

Tell me everything.

"It hurts."

"I need you."

~

DREAM

There was a lot of screaming.

I floundered my way through the seaweed, running out of breath from swimming.

Blood trailed in the water, healing as I went. Panic was filling my mind so fast I was going even faster, making me feel like my face was peeling off.

I stopped abruptly, staring at the scene in front of me.

Posiedon met my eyes, but averted them as soon as he saw me.

No.

I need you.

Gods-

NO

One last strong current pushed me away, and I ran from the throne room where my father was dying by Oceanus's sword.

~

"Caleb."

I opened my eyes slightly, not wanting to move. Enoch was standing in front of me, staring at me with worried eyes.

"Let's go."

I groaned, stretching out my limbs. "Go where?"

"Somewhere out of this war."

Something hit me hard in the head. I took a deep breath, trying to calm my ringing head.

War.

I stood up. I couldn't just sit here. I had saved Michael before.

I could again.

I starting running, and I could hear a roar echo through the city. I stopped abruptly.