I'm Good Side-Bad. ( Percy Jackson-- Leo Valdez FanFiction )

#13 A new strategy.

        Chapter 13: A new strategy.

        Shelby's POV

        By the time we had reached Kronos' lair, I was feeling depressed. For what reason, don't ask me. I just was. Oh, and I had told (more like screamed) Kelly, Thorn and Connor that I wouldn't be returning to Kronos' lair, right?

         I wasn't lying. I was at Kronos' lair, but not with him. I was hiding, waiting for the perfect moment for me to go and get my stuff. I didn't know why  wanted those bags. I had just packed the things that I hated the most because I thought that those would get spoilt here.

           Anyways, I was kneeling down behind a bush, waiting for night to fall. All the while since I escaped from the Underworld, I had a strong urge to talk to Leo. I really wanted to speak to him and apologise for the wound that I caused him to have.

           It was my fault. If it wasn't for my desire to impress Kronos, none of this would have happened. And you know what the worst part was? I still wanted to impress him. I didn't know what was wrong with me.

          What I had said to Kelly and Thorn back in the Underworld was true. I hadn't practiced any of it, then why did I still want Kronos to be impressed by me. He was treating me like dirt, and so were his minions.

         Leo was right. Kronos was an idiot. Now I felt bad for feeling bad earlier when Leo insulted Kronos. I feel worse. 

        Don't stay here. Kronos might find you here. After all, this is his domain and he is a titan. A powerful immortal being. You must run away, Shelby. Don't stay here. I heard someone speak, suddenly.

           I looked around frantically, trying to find the source of the voice. But I couldn't find anyone. The voice wasn't even familiar. And I couldn't even make out whether it was a man or woman. I know it was weird, but I just couldn't make out. I guess I was going insane.

          But the voice was right. Kronos might find me and then I would be in trouble. I mean, I insulted him and his followers, I turned out to be a spy and I hadn't made a very good first impression. And it was just a bunch of clothes, a book, a pen and that old backpack that I had been using since I was in the sixth grade. 

       I took a deep breath and got up. I turned around and quietly tip-toed to the deeper portions of the forest. I concentrated on increasing the speed of time once I was quite deep inside and quickly ran away to somewhere.

        I had thought of going home because I hadn't been for about a week. I had told mom that I had gone on a vacation with Leo so she wouldn't be freaking out but how long can two 16 year olds be on a vacation.

        Parents would definitely start thinking something was wrong. I didn't want to give mom that impression about Leo. So, home it was. I ran away, through the bushes and across a river and finally past the New York dumpster area. 

         When I reached the developed parts of the city, where there was a lot of crowd, I decreased  the speed of time and went back to walking. My home wasn't very far from the Empire State Building and to tell you the truth, I didn't know whether to be happy or sad about it.

          I reached home around fifteen minutes later. I rang the bell and waited patiently for my mom to open the door. "Shelby!" she exclaimed, pulling me into a hug, when she opened the door.

         I hugged her back. "Hey mom." I gave her a small smile.

         "Where is Leo and where is your luggage?" mom asked.