The Crossroads: The Stolen Memories

Recovery

I caught a last glimpse of Hecate then my surrounding changed.  I opened my eyes a little but it hurt so I closed them again.  I could hear arguing near me.  I sounded like Logan's voice.

"What did you do to her?"

"I already told you.  I gave her some of my strength.  That is good, she was going to die."  Said a voice I didn't recognize.

"How do you know she was going to die?  You might have made it worse."

"Look, I promise you I didn't make it worse.  I have done this before."

"Who are you anyway?"

She was about to answer when I finally got a word out of my mouth.  I said, "Guys."  It was so quite I could hardly hear myself but they seemed to hear it just fine.

"Zoe."  said Logan in the most relived voice.  I heard him walking towards me.  I once again tried to open my eyes.  The effort was painful.  It felt like glass piercing through my eyelids.  I finally managed to open my eyes at least partly.  Logan was kneeling by me looking very concerned.  Bianca was in the corner with a guilty look on her face.  In between them was a girl I didn't recognize.  She had blonde hair, bright green eyes and a purple shirt on.  There was a window by the bed I was laying on.  The sunlight poured in.  It looked like it was about mid-day. 

I tried to speak again but all that came out was a weak cough.

"Oh Zoe." Said Logan.  "We were so worried.  We tried giving you nectar and ambrosia.  Bianca patched up your little cuts.  You wouldn't wake up.  You have been asleep for a little longer than 4 days."

"Water?"  Was all I could manage in a weak, raspy voice.

Logan handed me a glass of it which was by the bedside table.  I gulped it down.  It helped but I would need much more to get my throat to not feel like the Saharan desert.

"Bianca, will you go get Zoe some more water?"

She nodded and the other girl followed her out.

I tried to sit up but it was a failed attempt.  I felt weak everywhere like every last bit of my energy was drained.  I kept my breathing slow and steady.  I suddenly wished I was back dreaming and talking to Hecate.  At least I could talk then.  I tried again to sit up and this time Logan helped me.  Once I was sitting up I leaned on Logan.  Only because if I leaned another way then I would fall.  I felt so useless.  How long will it be until I recover?

 Bianca and the other girl came walking in with a big bottle of water.  Bianca saw me leaning on Logan and grinned.  I glared at her but she knew I wasn't serious.  It was good that she was not acting as grim as the others.  

The girl in the purple shirt filled up my glass of water.  I drank it.  They also gave me some ambrosia and nectar.

"You nearly killed yourself Zoe.  What were you thinking?"  Said Logan finally breaking the silence.

My voice felt better.  "I was thinking that I wanted us all to get out of there or we were all going to die or be taken as prisoners.  But that's not important I am feeling better."  I stopped using Logan as a rest and stood up.  Colors played across my face and I nearly collapsed but Bianca steadied me.  "Well we might as well introduce ourselves to her."  I said extending out my hand for her to shake.  She did.  I said, "Pleased to meet you I'm Zoe River daughter of Hecate."

"I'm Analyse Sibley legacy of Bellona."  She did a little head bow.  A legacy, I thought.  I remembered one of the lines from the prophecy.  And retrieve her memories from the legacy.  I pushed to the back of my mind for now.

Zoe and Logan introduced themselves.  

"Well I hope I helped you."  Said Analyse.  "I gave you some of my strength and about 5 minutes later you woke up."  I noticed something different about Analyse that I hadn't before.  On her arm she had a tattoo with one line below it.

"You're from Camp Jupiter."

"Well what did you expect?  You are in California."

"Why aren't you at Camp Jupiter?"

"I don't like staying in one place for too long.  Plus I'm like nothing compared to my...  Well I don't know what you would consider it.  Aunt, cousin, sister.  Anyway, you know Reyna?"

"Yeah."

"Yeah.  She is praetor and everyone looks up to her.  Including me."

"Well that's cool I guess.  I think we should get on with our quest don't you?"

Everyone nodded.

"Where are we anyways?"  I asked.

"It's a hotel." Said Bianca.

"You afforded 4 nights at a hotel?"

"You saved us a lot of travel money."

"I guess so.  Well let's head to the underworld."  I said.  I honestly wasn't sure if I was up for this.  Every step I took was like walking barefoot on broken glass.  It still hurt to open my eyes and I was exhausted.  But I couldn't say that.  I had already wasted over 4 days.  I grabbed my backpack, which was luckily pretty light, and we headed off.